WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: NEWARK, N.J. Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) applauded the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's (Port Authority) adoption of an hourly wage increase for airport service workers at Port Authority-operated airports. "Port Authority airport service workers play an indispensable role at three of our nation's busiest airports-from cleaning cabins and handling sensitive cargo, to escorting passeng  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the GME Data Transparency Act of 2024, legislation that will require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to collect attrition data related to the Graduate Medical Education (GME) program. The data will include probation, transfers, withdrawals, and dismissals of residents from their programs, and the types of residency specialties funded by th  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation that would establish a new U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant program to provide community land trusts (CLTs) an incentive to convert vacant housing into readily available housing for unhoused individuals. CLTs are nonprofit, community-based organizations that acquire, own, and manage land for the common good. CLTs provide long-term  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Tammy Baldwin (D-MI) led a group of over 40 Senators to urge Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) to keep any new dangerous, hyper-partisan policy provisions that would curtail the freedoms of women and LGBTQ+ individuals out of must-pass government funding legislation. House Republic  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) sent a letter to Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), FBI Director Christopher Wray, and Secretary Pete Buttigieg of the Department of Transportation (DOT) requesting the agencies provide municipal and county officials with a comprehensive briefing regarding the unauthorized drone activity over New Jersey communities. He also requ  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) introduced the Flood Insurance Affordability Tax Credit Act to give low and middle-income households enrolled in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) a 33 percent refundable tax credit to combat rising flood insurance premiums. Many Americans are struggling to afford the cost of rising flood insurance premiums, including thousands  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-IL-02) introduced the Increasing Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending Act to include holistic demographic data of federal loans and grants recipients. Currently, data tracking of federal awards such as grants, loans, and contracts does not include the recipients' ethnicity, race, or sex. Congresswoman Kelly introduced companion legi  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act to reform civil forfeiture laws and protect Americans' rights from government abuse. "Civil asset forfeiture allows federal law enforcement to seize the property of Americans who haven't even been charged with or convicted of a crime," said Senator Booker. "Under this system, polic  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and U.S. Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requesting a briefing on how the agencies are working with federal and local law enforcement to identify and a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Daniel Goldman, D-New York, issued the following news release: The 'Water Resources Development Act' (WRDA) of 2024 Includes Key Measures Fought for by Goldman to Authorize Vital Funding for New York's 10th Congressional District The Bill Includes Authorization of $160 Million for Environmental Infrastructure Improvements, Mandates Comprehensive New York-New Jersey Harbor and Tributaries Focus Area Feasibility Study (HATS) to Protect Against Multi-Hazard Flood Risks  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Jerrold Nadler (NY-12) today secured the authorization of $60 Million for environmental infrastructure improvements for Manhattan and authorization of measures mandating a comprehensive flood protection plan for the New York-New Jersey Harbor following the House of Representatives passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. The 'Water Resources Development Act' of 2024 incl  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1), Chairman of the National Intelligence Enterprise Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI), sent a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to urgently investigate and disclose information about the increasing reports of  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) issued the following statement urging immediate federal action to address the mounting concerns surrounding unexplained drone activity in the Philadelphia region and neighboring New Jersey: "The growing reports of unexplained drone activity in the Philadelphia region and our neighboring state of New Jersey demand immediate and decisive federal action. As  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-New York, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, and U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requesting a briefing on how the agencies are working with federal and local law enforcement to identify and address the source of re  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Mark Green, R-Tennessee, chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee, issued the following news release: Following numerous sightings over New Jersey, the Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence and Subcommittee on Transportation and Maritime Security held a joint hearing Tuesday to examine the full scope of the homeland security threats posed by unauthorized, unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), or drones. Testimony was provided by Keit  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) issued a statement urging immediate federal action to address the growing concern over unexplained drone activity in New Jersey: "I join thousands of New Jersey residents in deep frustration regarding the growing concerns over drones operating in our skies. The safety and privacy of our residents must be a top priority, and right now, both are being put at r  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) was appointed to serve on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce for the 119th Congress. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. "I am honored to be selected to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where I look forward to working with my colleagues  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) released the following statement after the passage of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 in the House of Representatives: "I commend the passage of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation's passage will significantly improve our servicemember's quality of life while  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) sent several letters to the CEOs of major U.S. artificial intelligence companies to follow up on the voluntary commitments they've made, expressing deep concerns over a series of significant security lapses that threaten the safety and security of advanced AI technology. Congressman Kean's letter calls for immediate Congressional oversight and urges the AI co  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Oregon, issued the following news release: 45 Senators: "Partisan, discriminatory, and harmful policy riders have no place in must-pass legislation such as appropriations bills" Oregon's U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley, Wisconsin's U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, and New Jersey's U.S. Senator Cory Booker led a group of over 40 Senators to urge Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Murray (D-WA) and Vice Chair Susan Collins (R-ME) to keep any new dangerou  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06) joined storm and fire survivors at the U.S. Capitol to push for comprehensive and equitable disaster recovery solutions. Pallone joined advocates, organized by the New Jersey Organizing Project, in calling for the permanent authorization and full funding of the U.S. Department of House and Urban Developments (HUD)'s Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Reco  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. sent a letter today to Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC) Executive Director Bob Beal, advocating for fair treatment of New Jersey's fishing industry under the proposed 2025 Atlantic Striped Bass management measures. Pallone stressed the need to rebuild striped bass stocks while ensuring New Jersey's fishing industry is not unfairly penalized compared t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced today that his H.R. 6829, the HEARTS Act, has passed the U.S. Senate, marking a significant victory for public health. The bill, which overwhelmingly passed the House in September, now heads to President Biden's desk for signature into law. The HEARTS Act--formally known as the Cardiomyopathy Health, Education, Awareness, Research, and Training in Sch  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) announced the inclusion of an updated New York-New Jersey Harbor and Tributary Study (HATS) in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA 2024). The study, which was first authorized in 2013 as a response to Hurricane Sandy, aims at improving flood protections and storm resiliency. The new language ensures community feedbac  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Jeff Van Drew (NJ-02) today announced the inclusion of their New Jersey Shore Hot Spot Erosion Mitigation Study in the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (WRDA). This study will address hot spot erosion--localized areas of accelerated sediment loss that leave beaches, dunes, and nearby properties dangerously exposed to storm surges and flooding. Hot spo  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- The office of Rep. Chrissy Houlahan, D-Pennsylvania, issued the following statement on Dec. 13, 2024: * * * Today, Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA), shared the following statement on drone sightings in the northeast: "There has been a lot in the news recently about possible unusual drone sightings in the New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania area. I want to update you from Washington, D.C. on what my office and I know about this situation. Although there have   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. August Pfluger, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the U.S. House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counterterrorism, Law Enforcement, and Intelligence, led a hearing yesterday to examine the full scope of threats posed to our homeland security by unmanned aerial systems (UAS), or drones. Recently, there have been several unexplained drone sightings in the United States, specifically in New Jersey and New York.  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * Today, Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) celebrated the announcement from the Biden Administration that the President has issued commutations for 1,500 individuals serving home confinement sentences for non-violent infractions. "For years, Rep. Cori Bush and I have been pushing for the Biden Administration to commute the sentences of folks on home confinement from the CARES Act," said Re  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 13, 2024: TEANECK, NJ -- Today, December 13, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced that he is urging federal law enforcement agencies, led by the FBI and DHS, to allow state and local law enforcement to deploy assets that can safely take down drones that shouldn't be in our skies. Picatinny Arsenal, the Army facility in Morris County, has had 11 confirmed sightings of unautho  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: * * * Announces New Action to Ensure Drone Safety in New Jersey * * * Today, December 10, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new action to prevent misuses of drones, support our local law enforcement, inform the public, and make sure our counties, our state, and our country remain safe should a threat arise. A recording of the announcement can be found here (ht  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-1), a union electrician and longtime advocate for worker safety, applauds the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for releasing updated guidance on personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard workers from electrical arc hazards. "Electrical workers are essential to our nation's infrastructure and clean energy future. As someone who has worked on  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: Today, Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) voted to pass the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). This legislation is vital to New Jersey's 1st Congressional District, which has faced damage from flooding, destructive storms, and tornadoes in recent years. "By investing in storm and wastewater management and flood mitigation infrastructure, we can better protect our cities, tow  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: Today, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives. The legislation included several key national defense priorities for South Jersey that Congressman Donald Norcross fought for. Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA Priorities Secured by Rep. Norcross: * $105 million to purchase CH-47F Block II Program aircraft, which will be manufactured by South Jersey w  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Rob Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: ELIZABETH, N.J. - Today, Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) announced that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has awarded $3,129,752 in grant funding to the City of Elizabeth to replace known lead drinking water service lines. "Universal access to clean, safe drinking water is a basic human right, and with our partners at the EPA and throughout New Jersey, we're ensuring that we mee  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 9, 2024: Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) tonight is on Long Beach Island with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, who has led efforts to determine the source and possible risks related to the drone activity that has been reported in Ocean County over the last few days. Rep. Smith issued the following statement: "I have been speaking with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, Monmouth County She  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: * * * Coast Guard lifeboat followed by swarm of drones in close pursuit * * * In a letter today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) urged U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to immediately provide all capabilities at his disposal to identify and address the widespread drone activity across New Jersey as serious concerns continue to mount over potential threats to the homeland. Smith's letter (ht  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 13, 2024: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today issued the following statement in response to the Biden Administration's recent comments made by White House National Security spokesman John Kirby and in a DHS/FBI joint statement on the unidentified drone activity across New Jersey: "The Biden Administration continues to be dismissive of New Jersey residents who have witnessed these drones in swarms, includ  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 13, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew addressed the ongoing issue of unidentified drones following a night with a record number of sightings reported across the state from local officials. "Almost a month has gone by, and we still have no answers from our government. The number of drones we are seeing is only increasing," said Congressman Van Drew. "While it has been verified that Iran does   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew directly addressed the people of South Jersey, calling for a more open and honest dialogue from officials to residents regarding the unidentified drones flying over the state. He emphasized the importance of transparency in understanding the potential national security implications of these events. In a recent article from an independent source, Business   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 14 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 13, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew provided an update on the ongoing investigation into the unidentified drones that have been spotted across New Jersey and now several other states. Recent reports from officials indicate that the drones have been hovering near critical infrastructure, including the PSEG Nuclear Power Plant in Salem County, where two drones--approximately the size of small  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew sent a letter to President Biden demanding immediate action to eliminate the threat of the drones by imposing flight restrictions and issuing an order to neutralize them as soon as possible. Notable passage from the letter: "It has come to my attention that New Jersey drone incursions may be an operation by the Iranian government to undermine the nation  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 11, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew joined Harris Faulkner on Fox News to discuss his serious concerns over the potential link of the drones flying over New Jersey to adversarial nations, such as Iran, and the urgent need to immediately take action to neutralize the threat. He also testified at a Subcommittee on Aviation hearing, where he emphasized the increasing threats posed by vulnera  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Over the past few days, Congressman Van Drew has been investigating the disturbing reports that have emerged of drones flying over New Jersey. He has been meeting with officials to gather information on these incidents, which he believes could be part of a much larger national security threat. "What we have uncovered so far is deeply troubling," said Congressman Van Drew. "There is circumstantial   more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Nydia M. Velazquez, D-New York, issued the following news release on Dec. 12, 2024: This week, Congresswoman Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY) voted in favor of S. 4367, the Thomas R. Carper Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2024. The bill included provisions to invest $125 million in projects to improve climate resiliency and water infrastructure throughout Brooklyn and Queens and measures to better address comprehensive flood risk through the U.S. Army Corps of Eng  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Dec. 10, 2024: Today, Congressman Van Drew celebrated the successful passage of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) with the inclusion of the New Jersey Shore Hot Spot Erosion Mitigation Study which will imminently become law. This measure will protect South Jersey's coastlines by authorizing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop and implement projects to mitigate one of the biggest t  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Marc Veasey (TX-33), Ann Wagner (MO-02), and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (IA-01) sent a joint letter to Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra encouraging the Department to take steps to expand access to colorectal cancer screenings. "We are writing to urge you to ask the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) to commence a  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 13 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) secured key provisions in the biannual Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) that will help ensure towns across New Jersey have support from the federal government to tackle key water and infrastructure issues including mitigating flooding and preparing for extreme weather events. "We're no strangers to flooding in the Garden State. Storm after storm, New Jersey f  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 10 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: LIVINGSTON, NJ Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced today that Livingston High School student Ethan Yang is the winner of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey's 11th District for his app, ServeHub. ServeHub's primary use is scheduling and tracking volunteer hours. It additionally organizes all media, tracks participants from each volunteer event, and sends email reminders to th  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), member of the House Armed Services Committee and former Navy Helicopter Aircraft Commander, demanded answers from Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin in response to the concerning increase of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) across Northern New Jersey. "New Jersey residents have come to me to share their deep concerns about the unidentified drones flying acro  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 9 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) supported passage of the Amtrak Transparency and Accountability for Passengers and Taxpayer Act legislation that would require Amtrak to release more information to the public about the timing and location of their board meetings, allow Americans to observe their meetings, and produce publicly available minutes. Sherrill has led advocacy to hold NJ TRANSIT and  more

WASHINGTON, Dec. 11 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), former Navy Helicopter Aircraft Commander and member of the House Armed Services Committee, voted to pass the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA): "This year's NDAA supports our military readiness, our service members, and protects our national defense. It raises wages for young service members, some of whom had reportedly been us  more