WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Bill follows Booker's effort to survey law enforcement agencies using facial recognition software * * * U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced legislation barring the use of surveillance technology, such as facial recognition, in federally-funded public and assisted housing. The No Biometric Barriers to Housing Act prohibits the use of facial recognition and other biometric identification tec  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - New Jersey home to 13 minority-serving institutions * * * U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), whose father graduated from a Historically Black College and University (HBCU), today urged Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell to restore funding for HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other minority serving-institutions (MSIs). Mandatory funding be  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ron Wyden (D-OR), along with Congressmen John Lewis (D-GA) and Richard Neal (D-MA), called on the Government Accountability Office to study the Opportunity Zones tax incentive program following multiple reports of possible wrongdoing by senior administration officials in implementing the 2017 tax incentive program. The Opportunity Zones program, based on bipartisan legis  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, condemned the brutal murder of nine American citizens in Northern Mexico and urged renewed efforts by the U.S. and Mexico to combat violent crime in Mexico: "I was sickened to learn about the vicious murder of nine Americans in Mexico, including six children. Mexican authorities must  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin, urging him to fully utilize the tools available under U.S. law and consider additional sanctions against Nicaraguan officials who have committed serious human rights abuses: "President Ortega's thugs killed hundreds of Nicaraguans l  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Eleven Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats sent a letter (https://energycommerce.house.gov/sites/democrats.energycommerce.house.gov/files/documents/FCC.2019.11.8.%20Letter%20re%20Location%20Privacy.CAT_.pdf) to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai today expressing growing concern that the FCC is failing to protect consumers'  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Transportation Secretary secretly visited project last year, without informing lawmakers, despite repeated invitations * * * New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez today called on U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Elaine Chao to explain why, despite viewing the Hudson River tunnels secretly last year and seeing the crumbling state of the rail crossings between New York a  more

MAHWAH, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted Faith Leaders from across the Fifth Congressional District at Ramapo College to discuss rising forms of hatred in our communities, what peaceful resolutions can be accomplished, how best to provide for North Jersey children and seniors, and how to bring communities together. "North Jersey is an incredible area because it represents such a diverse g  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-256) on legislation (H.R. 360) to require the secretary of Energy to establish a voluntary Cyber Sense program to test the cybersecurity of products and technologies intended for use in the bulk-power system. The report was advanced by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, on Oct. 28. Excerpts of the report follow: I. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY Reps. Robert E. Latta (R-OH) and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) introduced H  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-255) on legislation (H.R. 362) to amend the Department of Energy Organization Act with respect to functions assigned to assistant secretaries. The report was advanced by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, on Oct. 28. Excerpts of the report follow: I. Purpose and Summary Reps. Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) and Tim Walberg (R-MI) introduced H.R. 362, the "Energy Emergency Leadership Act", on January 9, 2019. H.R  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-257) on legislation (H.R. 1781) to amend titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act to provide the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission and the Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission with access to certain drug payment information, including certain rebate information. The report was advanced by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, on Oct. 28. Excerpts of the report follow: I. Purpose and S  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Health Subcommittee Chairwoman Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA) announced today that the Health Subcommittee will hold a markup on Wednesday, November 13, at 10 am in the John D. Dingell Room, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building. "Next week the Health Subcommittee will continue its ongoing work to impr  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- The House Energy and Commerce Committee issued a report (H.Rpt. 116-254) on legislation (H.R. 359) to provide for certain programs and developments in the Department of Energy concerning the cybersecurity and vulnerabilities of, and physical threats to, the electric grid. The report was advanced by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, on Oct. 28. Excerpts of the report follow: I. PURPOSE AND SUMMARY Reps. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and Robert E. Latta (R-OH) introduced H.R.   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Justice in Aging, a national organization that uses the power of law to fight senior poverty by securing access to affordable health care, announced their endorsement of the Helping Seniors Afford Health Care Act, H.R. 4671. The bill, introduced by Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03), Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-03) and Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE-AL), would increase access to affordable health car  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez today joined a group of Democratic senators in a new push to pass funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and other minority-serving institutions (MSIs). In a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), the senators called for the immediate passage of the bipartisan FUTURE Act which would reautho  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Health care, benefits, jobs, veteran-owned small business, housing among issues raised during roundtable discussion * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today met with local veterans and leaders of veteran service organizations (VSO) and non-profits serving veterans to discuss the issues affecting the community in New Jersey. High   more

NEWARK, New Jersey, Nov. 8 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced that several public housing agencies (PHAs) throughout New Jersey will receive a combined total of $2,999,860 in federal funding that will expand access to affordable housing for individuals with disabilities. The Department of Housing and Urban Development's Mainstream Voucher Program also creates partnerships between PHAs and local org  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 6 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Doug Jones (D-Ala.) were joined by a group of colleagues to call on Senate Republicans to hold a vote on the FUTURE Act, bipartisan legislation to renew now-expired funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs), Hispanic-Serving Institutions (HSIs), and other minority-serving institutions around the country. The funding for these institutions ex  more

CAMDEN, New Jersey, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - City awarded $16.2 Million federal grant to improve Camden's infrastructure, spur economic growth * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez today joined Congressman Donald Norcross (N.J.-01), Mayor Frank Moran, Cooper's Ferry Partnership and other state and local officials to break ground on construction for the Camden Connections to the Future Project, carrying out critical improvements to the  more

CHERRY HILL, New Jersey, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Congressmen Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced the Bringing Registered Apprenticeships to Veterans Education (BRAVE) Act - a bill that aims to educate veterans about registered apprenticeship programs and help their overall transition back into civilian life. The announcement of the BRAVE Act comes just before Veterans Day (Nov. 11) and National Apprentice  more

CHERRY HILL, New Jersey, Nov. 6 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) joined South Jersey health care providers, health care recipients and community leaders at the Cherry Hill Free Health Care Clinic in discussing the need for affordable, quality health care and calling on Congress to pass H.R. 3, the Lower Drugs Costs Now Act - a bold proposal to cut the cost of prescription drugs for all Americans. The cal  more

NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) encouraged New Jerseyans to sign up for health insurance during the Open Enrollment season. He was joined by local health care advocates who provided information on signing up for health care coverage for 2020. The Affordable Care Act's (ACA) Open Enrollment season began on November 1st, and residents can sign up for health insurance at Heal  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) announced that the Office of National Drug Control Policy will award two grants totaling $200,000 to Hudson County coalitions combating substance use among children. The Secaucus Coalition won $125,000 in federal Drug-Free Communities (DFC) funds to strengthen local efforts to prevent youth substance abuse. Separately, the Hudson County Coalition for a Dru  more

PATERSON, New Jersey, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Trump's Title X gag rule has caused hundreds of clinics to lose needed federal funding * * * U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr., New Jersey's only member of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee, today reacted harshly to reports (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/nearly-900-women-s-health-clinics-have-lost-federal-funding-n1069591?cid=par-twitter-feed_20191023) that nearly 90  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Bipartisan bloc reiterates need for affordable, sustainable flood insurance * * * U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Garret Graves (R-LA-06), Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), David Rouzer (R-NC-07), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL-26), and Francis Rooney (R-FL-19) today applauded the decision by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to delay implementation of new flood insurance rates from Oct  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Sixty-four bipartisan members stress need for affordable insurance rates in letter * * * Today, U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Garret Graves (R-LA-06), Charlie Crist (D-FL-13), David Rouzer (R-NC-07), Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D-FL-26), and Francis Rooney (R-FL-19) led a letter signed by 64 Members of Congress demanding affordable insurance rates in a long-term National Fl  more

PATERSON, New Jersey, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Letter to CEO Jack Dorsey requests company's plans to prevent interference in upcoming national count * * * Today, U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), Carolyn Maloney (D-NY-12), and Tom Malinowski (D-NJ-07) led a letter signed by 58 Members of Congress demanding details on Twitter's actions to prevent any undue influence on the 2020 Census count.  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Paul Cook, R-California, issued the following news release: Rep. Paul Cook (R-Apple Valley) cosponsored H.R. 4941, the bipartisan Veteran Employment Transition (VET) Act, to help veterans identify employment opportunities during their transition to civilian life. The bill was introduced by Rep. Andy Kim (D-New Jersey). Many veterans are not aware of the various training and employment programs available to them. Currently, the Department of Defense (DoD) and Veterans  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force the for Combating Anti-Semitism - Reps. Eliot Engel, D-New York, Nita Lowey, D-New York, Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, Kay Granger, R-Texas, Ted Deutch, D-Florida, Randy Weber, R-Texas, Marc Veasey, D-Texas, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, issued the following joint statement on the FBI stopping an attempted bombing of a synagogue in Colorado: "We applaud the FBI for thwarting a white supremacist's alleged plans to bomb   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Twitter tells bipartisan lawmakers it's revamping policies governing Foreign Terrorist Organizations on its platform * * * U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Tom Reed (NY-23), Max Rose (NY-11), and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-1) announced that Twitter suspended content affiliated with Foreign Terrorist Organizations, including Hamas and Hezbollah, from its platform. Twitter's action fol  more

NEWTON, New Jersey, Nov. 8 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - $30,000+ investment will increase Sussex Board of Elections on-site security, improve monitoring systems * * * New Jersey's Fifth Congressional District is continuing to claw more federal dollars back to our communities away from the Moocher States, to help improve North Jersey's return on investment. Sussex County has clawed back more than $30,000 from the U.S. Department of Homeland  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement after the Federal Communications Commission announced that it has approved the merger of T-Mobile and Sprint: "While I am still reviewing the decision, the dissenting statements of the Democratic commissioners raise troubling issues about the process undertaken at the FCC for drafting this approval order. "I plan to follow up with the Commission to get  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement blasting the Trump administration for submitting a notification to the United Nations initiating the process of withdrawing the U.S. from the Paris Climate Accord: "Rarely have we seen a president so flagrantly betray the trust and economic futures of the American people, but President Trump has no shame. With his actions today, President Trump is engag  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Energy Subcommittee Chairman Bobby L. Rush (D-IL) today demanded answers from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) about its efforts to change key provisions of the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA). FERC's recent notice of proposed rulemaking (NOPR) would change PUR  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Montclair State University, Borough of Pompton Lakes, Morris County Prevention is Key, and Madison Area YMCA are four of 150 new grants for the Drug-Free Communities (DFC) Support Program * * * Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced today that Montclair State University, the Borough of Pompton Lakes, Morris County Prevention is Key, and Madison Area YMCA are receiving four of 150 new   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security and Trade, issued the following statement regarding a report released by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democrats, which showed that 2020 election considerations influenced the Trump Administration's decision to end temporary protected status for nearly 400,000 individuals from Haiti, Honduras and El Salvador: "I am deeply disturbed to see  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following information: Last week in Washington, the House voted on guidelines and rules for the official impeachment inquiry and the House Foreign Affairs Committee passed my bipartisan resolution. I sought answers from Boeing executives on the lack of oversight and accountability that caused the 737 MAX tragedies and met with representatives of United Steelworkers. * Legislation * Meetings * Boeing * Foreign Affairs Legisla  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- The co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force the for Combating Anti-Semitism - Reps. Marc Veasey, D-Texas, Eliot Engel, D-New York, Nita Lowey, D-New York, Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, Kay Granger, R-Texas, Ted Deutch, D-Florida, Randy Weber, R-Texas, and Brian Fitzpatrick, R-Pennsylvania, on the FBI stopping an attempted bombing of a synagogue in Colorado: "We applaud the FBI for thwarting a white supremacist's alleged plans to bomb the Temple Emanuel synagogue in Puebl  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee Chairman Paul Tonko (D-NY) criticized the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) announcement today that it is pursuing a rollback of Obama-era coal ash rules, put in place in 2015 to protect Americans from coal ash - the toxic byproduct  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement after the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it was delaying the implementation of Risk Rating 2.0: "I'm pleased that FEMA has delayed implementation of its new method for setting flood insurance premium rates and urge the Agency to commit to providing full transparency in both the process it undertakes and the impact Risk Rating 2.0 will have on flood insurance affordability, economic developmen  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration formally initiated the one-year process for the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement: While the President announced his intentions to pullout on June 1, 2017, today was the first opportunity to formally request the United States be removed from the global agreement. "Despite more than two years of s  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the Trump administration initiated the one-year process for the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris climate agreement: While the President announced his intentions to pullout on June 1, 2017, today was the first opportunity to formally request the United States be removed from the global agreement. "Despite more than two years of sou  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Announces New Effort to Hold Turkey Accountable for Human Rights Abuses in Syria * * * Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, delivered a speech on the Senate Floor making the case for a recalibration of the U.S.-Turkey relationship based on its aggressive behavior in the region  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator Publishes Dozens of Internal State Department Documents Revealing Trump Administration Officials Injected 2020 Electoral Considerations Into TOPS Decisions for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti as Top Foreign Relations Committee Democrats, Menendez Called on State Dept. Inspector General to Investigate the Bastardization o  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Senator Publishes Dozens of Internal State Department Documents Revealing Trump Administration Officials Injected 2020 Electoral Considerations into TPS Decisions for El Salvador, Honduras, and Haiti * * * A Senate Foreign Relations Committee Democratic staff report released Thursday and commissioned by U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the Committee's ranking member, details how the Trump   more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, today introduced a privileged resolution to require Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to detail the extent of Turkey's human rights abuses  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Middle East, today introduced a privileged resolution to require Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to detail the extent of Turkey's human rights abuses in Syria. The effort sets up a fast-tracked debate and vote in th  more

WASHINGTON, Nov. 5 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Jeff Van Drew announces a fix to a 2016 objection from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service that made it cost prohibitive for local towns to conduct a beach renourishment project that protects life and property from flood and coastal storm damage. The project impacts Avalon, Stone Harbor and North Wildwood. The 2016 objection by the Service, a sudden and unexpected reversal of policy, had  more