Friday - March 29, 2024
U.S. Congressional Tipoffs Involving New Jersey Newsletter for Sunday January 19, 2020 ( 72 items )  

As Impeachment Trial Begins in Senate, Sen. Booker Releases Annotations of Key Historical Docs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: As the U.S. Senate begins the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump - only the third time in American history that a President has been impeached - today Senator Booker released his personal annotations to several foundational documents from the country's inception. Through the social medium platform Genius, the annotations provide an inside view of Booker's thoughts and analysis on the Founders' co  more

As Senate Impeachment Begins, Menendez Calls for Rigorous Investigation of Marie Yovanovitch Security Risk
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, spoke with CNN's Poppy Harlow about the Senate's impeachment trial of President Trump. The Senator also provided a reaction to the latest revelations from Rudy Giuliani's associate about the apparent surveillance of U.S. Ambassador to Ukra  more

As Senate Impeachment Begins, Menendez Calls for Rigorous Investigation of Marie Yovanovitch Security Risk
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- 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, spoke with CNN's Poppy Harlow about the Senate's impeachment trial of President Trump. The Senator also provided a reaction to the latest revelations from Rudy Giuliani's associate about the apparent surveillance of U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. Yesterday, Menendez wrote a letter to the State Depart  more

Bipartisan E&C Committee Leaders Request GAO Review of Indian Health Service Infrastructure
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- 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), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), Rep. Raul Ruiz, M.D. (D-CA) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) sent a letter to the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a review of the impact the Indian Health Service's (IHS) aging infrastructure has on patient access to quality health care  more

Bipartisan E&C Committee Leaders Request Info on Lagging Approvals for Complex Generic Drugs
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Bipartisan Energy and Commerce leaders sent a letter to U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Stephen Hahn, M.D. to request information on the FDA's process for approving complex generic drugs. The letter was sent by Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR), Health Subcommittee Chairw  more

Congressman Kim Announces Launch of Opioid Prevention and Education Now Agenda
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced the launch of the Opioid Prevention and Education Now (OPEN) Agenda, three bills aimed at increasing awareness of opioid and addiction solutions and transparency of the opioid approval process. "Over the past year, I've met with people throughout Burlington and Ocean Counties who have struggled with the opioid and addiction crisis. I've listened, and today I'  more

Congressman Kim Launches Website to Help Connect New Jerseyans With Community Resources
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) launched a new online resource for residents of Burlington and Ocean Counties to find organizations to help with everything from affordable housing to disability services. "I've heard from countless neighbors at our town halls, and my office has gotten a number of questions, about where to find community resources for those in need," said Congressman Kim. "We have a lot of great   more

Congressman Kim Passes Troop Pay Raise, Health Care for Seniors in First Year
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: In his first year in office, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) led the way in working to pass an aggressive legislative agenda focused on the priorities of Burlington and Ocean Counties: pay raises for service members at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, cost savings for seniors struggling to afford prescription drugs, and cleaner water for New Jersey families. "The bills I've introduced and worked to pass don't   more

Congressman Kim Releases Year-End Report Showing Focus on New Jersey First
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) released his 2019 year-end report, highlighting 15 town halls and more than 40 townships visited by the Congressman in his first year. "Serving Burlington and Ocean Counties starts with listening to our neighbors," said Congressman Kim. "That's why I've focused my first year on being as accessible to our communities as possible. Every town hall we've held and every township I've   more

Congressman Kim to Return Over $25,000 to U.S. Treasury From House Office Budget
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced his office will return over $25,000 to the U.S. Treasury from his 2019 Congressional budget. "Part of serving the people of Burlington and Ocean Counties is being a good steward of their hard-earned money," said Congressman Kim. "Over the last year, I've hired more staff in New Jersey than in Washington D.C. so I can focus on our communities, and have used my budget wit  more

Congressman Kim Votes to Pass Bill to Protect Older Workers From Discrimination
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) voted to pass H.R. 1230, the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act, a bill that would restore protections against age discrimination in the workplace. "Older Americans are working longer in life to keep their bills paid and food on the table, and too many simply cannot afford the cost of age discrimination," said Congressman Kim. "This bill would give our seniors a   more

Congressman Van Drew Announces Committee Assignments to 116th Congress
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Jefferson Van Drew, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Van Drew announced his significant committee assignments in the House of Representatives for the second session of the 116th Congress. Congressman Van Drew was appointed to the Homeland Security Committee, which oversees the Department of Homeland Security and all the agencies under the DHS umbrella created for our national security. This includes the Coast Guard which has a training fa  more

GAO Denies Protest by Raytheon of Portsmouth, Rhode Island
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a decision denying a bid protest filed by Raytheon of Portsmouth, Rhode Island. According to the GAO, Raytheon Company "protests the award of a contract to Lockheed Martin Corporation, of Moorestown, New Jersey, under request for proposals (RFP) No. N00024-17-R-5152, issued by the Department of the Navy, Naval Sea Systems Command, for a ship self-defense system (SSDS) to develop, integrate, and maintain a combat management s  more

GAO Issues Report on Counternarcotics, Treasury Reports Some Results from Designating Drug Kingpins, but Should Improve Information on Agencies' Expenditures
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on counternarcotics. The report (GAO-20-112) is entitled "Treasury Reports Some Results from Designating Drug Kingpins, but Should Improve Information on Agencies' Expenditures". The report was sent to Sen. Patrick J. Leahy, D-Vermont, chairman, Senate Appropriations Committee, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, chairman, House Foreign Affairs Committee, Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, chairman, House Foreign Affairs sub  more

GAO Issues Report on National Maritime Strategy, DOT Is Taking Steps to Obtain Interagency Input and Finalize Strategy
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- The Government Accountability Office has issued a report on the national maritime strategy. The report (GAO-20-178) is entitled "DOT Is Taking Steps to Obtain Interagency Input and Finalize Strategy". The report was sent to Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi, chairman, Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, chairman, Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Texas, ranking member of the House Armed   more

House Financial Services Committee Issues Testimony From Jeffrey Williams
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The House Financial Services Committee issued the following testimony on Jan. 14 by Jeffrey Williams at a hearing entitled "On the Brink of Homelessness: How the Affordable Housing Crisis and the Gentrification of America Is Leaving Families Vulnerable": My name is Jeffrey Williams and I'm a father, a husband and a tenant. My wife Kelly and I have three children together--and we have been very much affected by the affordable housing crisis. In 2011, we moved to the Commo  more

House Financial Services Subcommittee Issues Testimony From New Jersey Office of Homeland Security & Preparedness
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- The House Financial Services subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy issued the following testimony on Jan. 15 by Jared M. Maples, director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, at a hearing entitled "A Persistent and Evolving Threat: An Examination of the Financing of Domestic Terrorism and Extremism": It is an honor to speak with you and share the intelligence gathered by my Office regarding sources of d  more

Legislation to Combat Age Discrimination Passes House
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a cosponsor of the Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (HR 1230), welcomed today's passage of key legislation pushing reform to provide equal opportunity for older workers in America and legally recognize age discrimination in the workplace. "With close to 35 percent of the U.S. population over the age of 50, we must act now to stop discrimination and e  more

Members of House Foreign Affairs Committee Issue Statement on Threats Against Human Rights Defender Esperance
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, ranking Republican member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, issued the following joint statement with chairman of the committee, Rep. Eliot Engel, D-New York, and members - Reps. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, Francis Rooney, R-Florida, Gregory Meeks,D-New York, Andy Levin, D-Michigan, and Ted Yoho, R-Florida, to express solidarity with Haitian human rights defender Pierre Esperance and to condemn the threats made against him following his C  more

Menendez Demands Immediate Briefing Following Menacing Text Messages Suggesting Ambassador Yovanovitch Was Stalked by Giuliani Associates
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter demanding the State Department immediately brief him about what Secretary Pompeo and the State Department knew regarding any threats to the safety of U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. The Senator's letter follows the release of ne  more

Pallone, Doyle Request FCC, DHS Briefings on Efforts to Defend Against Iranian Cyberattacks
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- 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 Communications and Technology Subcommittee Chairman Mike Doyle (D-PA) sent letters to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) requesting briefings on the agencies' efforts to ensure the security of American telecommunications netw  more

Ranking Member Menendez: Save Our Seas 2.0 Act Passes Senate Unanimously
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: The U.S. Senate voted unanimously to pass the Save Our Seas (SOS) 2.0 Act, S. 1982, legislation introduced by Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) , Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) to address the plastic debris crisis threatening coastal economies and harming marine life. SOS 2.0 builds on the success of the  more

Rep. Chabot Issues Statement on Taiwan's Presidential Election
WASHINGTON, Jan. 11 -- Rep. Steve Chabot, R-Ohio, issued the following joint statement with Albio Sires, D-New Jersey; Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Florida; and Gerald E. Connolly, D-Virginia, on Republic of China's presidential election: "As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Taiwan Caucus we wish to extend our heartfelt congratulations to President Tsai Ing-wen on her reelection as the President of Taiwan. "We stand ready to work with her Administration to strengthen our close relationship, deepen our e  more

Rep. Gottheimer Addresses Financing of Domestic Terrorism, Anti-Semitism, Extremism in Financial Services Hearing
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer, a member of the House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on National Security, International Development and Monetary Policy, addressed the growing threat of the financing of domestic terrorism, extremism, white supremacists, and anti-Semitism during a subcommittee hearing, which included Director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Pr  more

Rep. Gottheimer Issues Statement on Senate Passage of Bipartisan U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement commending the Senate passage of the bipartisan free trade deal, the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, following the House passage in mid-December: "I commend the Senate for passing this bipartisan deal on USMCA, which will be an incredible boost for jobs across our country and which will bring our trade relationships with Mexico and Canada into the modern era. "With those on both sides of the aisle uniting  more

Rep. Gottheimer Joins Safety & Security Summit to Address Anti-Semitism
HACKENSACK, New Jersey, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) took part in the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey's community safety and security summit. Gottheimer spoke with Fifth District residents on clawing back federal investment through the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, to keep houses of worship and schools protected, and on combating hate in the community. "The attacks throughout New Jersey an  more

Rep. Gottheimer Launches North Jersey Anti-Bullying Task Force
RIDGEWOOD, New Jersey, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced a Five-Point Anti-Bullying Action Plan to improve data and incident reporting, to increase conversations between schools and parents, to help schools take more proactive steps with the right policies, to find and share the best practices on the local level, and to ensure social media companies are properly combating cyberbullying.   more

Rep. Gottheimer, North Jersey Officials Work Together to Ensure Safety On Local CSX Railways
GLEN ROCK, New Jersey, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Work of Gottheimer, local officials is prompting quick CSX repairs throughout the Fifth District * * * On Tuesday, January 14, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) sent a letter to CSX Corporation President and CEO James Foote to commend the track repairs completed at the New Milford Avenue crossing in Dumont and to address serious safety concerns and deteriorating condit  more

Rep. Kim Issues Statement on Korean-American Day
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement on Jan. 13 on Korean-American day: "Today isn't just a celebration of the nearly 120 years of contributions by the Korean-American community to our country, but a recognition of a new generation of Korean-American leaders forging their own paths and making an impact. "As I look at my two baby boys, I see that future, and remain optimistic about what the Korean-American community will achieve in the coming year.  more

Rep. Malinowski Issues Remarks at Temple Shalom's Tree of Life Memorial Service
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following remarks at Temple Shalom's Tree of Life Memorial Service on Jan. 11: Shabat Shalom. I'm Tom Malinowski and I'm not from Roxbury, but you have made me feel at home every time I've come to Temple Shalom, and I'm very grateful for that. Thank you Rabbi Inna for your kind words. Ladies and gentlemen, your rabbi is a distinguished religious leader, a cantor, and a great comedian. Back in the State Department, we had a  more

Rep. Malinowski Restores Workplace Protections for Older Workers
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 15: The House passed H.R. 1230, The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (POWADA), a bipartisan bill that restores protections against age discrimination in the workplace. Congressman Malinowski is a co-sponsor of this legislation. In 2017 the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission received over 20,000 complaints of age discrimination, which accounted for 23% of all discriminat  more

Rep. Pallone Details Plan to Combat Climate Change
WEST LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) discussed the framework of the CLEAN Future Act, a bold legislative proposal to combat climate change. He was joined by First Lady Tammy Murphy and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Catherine R. McCabe as well as environmental and youth advocates. Pallone emphasized the urgency of the climate crisis and the need for  more

Rep. Pallone Hosts 2020 Census Job Fair, Urges New Jerseyans to Participate in Census
LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) hosted a job fair for the 2020 Census and urged all New Jerseyans to participate in the census. An accurate count ensures New Jersey receives its fair share of more than $800 billion in federal funding for health care, infrastructure projects, and safety net programs. Individuals who are interested in applying for jobs or want more information about  more

Rep. Pallone Issues Remarks at Committee Hearing on Cannabis Policies for New Decade
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on Jan. 15 at a Health Subcommittee hearing entitled, "Cannabis Policies for the New Decade": "Today the Subcommittee will have an important hearing about federal cannabis policies. While state laws and public perception around cannabis and its derivatives have evolved over the years, much of the federal framework that regulates cannabis has stay  more

Rep. Pallone Issues Remarks at Hearing on Hydrofluorocarbons
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on Jan. 14 at a House Environment and Climate Change Subcommittee hearing entitled" "Promoting American Innovation and Jobs: Legislation to Phase Down the Use of Hydrofluorocarbons": We are here this morning to discuss H.R. 5544, the bipartisan American Innovation and Manufacturing Leadership Act. This legislation is supported by both industry an  more

Rep. Pallone Issues Remarks at Hearing on Media Marketplace Diversity
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on Jan. 15 at a Communications and Technology Subcommittee hearing entitled "Lifting Voices: Legislation to Promote Media Marketplace Diversity": "It is timely that we are holding this hearing today to discuss the lack of ownership and employment diversity in the media marketplace. Earlier this week, there was a lot of criticism about the Academy  more

Rep. Pallone Issues Remarks at Hearing on Opioid Crisis
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following opening remarks on Jan. 14 at a House Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing entitled: "A Public Health Emergency: State Efforts to Curb the Opioid Crisis": Today's hearing continues the Committee's ongoing, bipartisan efforts to combat the opioid epidemic. Whether fueled by prescription drugs or illicit synthetic opioids, this epidemic is a constantl  more

Rep. Pallone: Bipartisan Committee Leaders Raise Concerns Over Increased Use of Stimulants Including Cocaine, Methamphetamine
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Bipartisan Energy and Commerce Committee leaders wrote to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar, Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Acting Secretary Chad Wolf and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Acting Administrator Uttam Dhillon regarding their concerns over reports of increasing use of stimulants, such as cocaine and metham  more

Rep. Pascrell Issues Statement on Phase One Trade Agreement With China
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), a member of the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade, blasted the announced phase one trade agreement with China. "This so-called deal is nothing to celebrate," said Rep. Pascrell, a longtime critic of Trump's trade policies and China's authoritarian government. "Trump's announcement is the equivalent of an arsonist demanding credit for putting away his ma  more

Rep. Payne Issues Statement on Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Letter to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. issued the following statement about the letter from the Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. CMS officials found that the medical center's transplant program failed to fix several mistakes repeatedly and put patients in "immediate jeopardy." "I find the situation regarding the  more

Rep. Rose Helps Lead Over 30 Dems in Calling for Vote on NO BAN Act to Repeal Anti-Muslim Travel Ban
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Max Rose, D-New York, issued the following news release: * * * - Following reports of the Administration expanding the anti-Muslim Travel Ban to additional countries, Congressman leads coalition of moderate Democrats call for passage of legislation that would repeal existing ban, and prevent expansion or future discriminatory bans * * * Congressman Max Rose joined together with Congressmembers Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Stephanie Murphy of Florida to lead a  more

Rep. Sherrill Introduces Legislation to Expand Opioid Resources for Medical and Health Professionals
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 17: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) and Representative Andy Kim (NJ-03) introduced the Solutions not Stigmas Act (H.R. 5631) to allow medical and other health professional schools to access federal grant funding to enhance patient-provider education. Specifically, it would provide resources for schools to develop their curricula to address existing stigma and bias, improve patient care, and  more

Rep. Sherrill Votes to Protect Older New Jersey Workers From Age Discrimination
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) voted yesterday for a bipartisan bill to protect older New Jersey workers from age discrimination. The Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act (H.R. 1230) addresses the 2009 Gross v FBL Financial Services Supreme Court decision that has made it harder for older workers to prove discrimination. It would return to the pre-2009 evidentiary standard to ensur  more

Rep. Sires Issues Joint Statement on Threats Against Human Rights Defender Esperance
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following joint statement: Reps. Albio Sires (D-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Michael McCaul (R-TX), Francis Rooney (R-FL), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Andy Levin (D-MI), and Ted Yoho (R-FL) expressed solidarity with Haitian human rights defender Pierre Esperance and condemned threats made against him following his Congressional testimony in December. "We denounce in the strongest possible terms any effort to silence, intimidate, harass,   more

Rep. Sires Issues Remarks at Subcommittee Hearing on Strengthening Security, Rule of Law in Mexico
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following remarks: Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Chairman of the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, Civilian Security, and Trade, delivered the following remarks at the subcommittee hearing on strengthening U.S. security assistance to Mexico: "I have been sickened to watch in recent months as Mexico has experienced one violent incident after another. In October, the Sinaloa cartel took control of the city of Culiacan, sh  more

Rep. Smith Issues Remarks on 20th Anniversary of Trafficking Victims Protection Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following remarks: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, held a hearing on the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The following are excerpts of his remarks: This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the Trafficking Victims' Protection Act (TVPA), and the occasion provides an opportunity for reflection and assessment of the TVPAs efficacy, accomplishments and l  more

Rep. Smith: Cryptocurrency, Labor Standards & Protections, Faith-Based Partnerships, Online Threats Must Be Addressed in Future
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: The battle against modern day slavery was the focus of a bipartisan congressional hearing held by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairman of Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission along with Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), Wednesday on Capitol Hill. The main U.S. weapon in the fight to save lives and bring justice to traffickers who ensnare victims of sex and labor trafficking--the landmark Trafficking Vict  more

Rep. Smith: The Trafficking Victims Protection Act at 20: A Look Back - and a Look Ahead
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: A hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission on the effect that the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), authored by Commission Co-Chair Chris Smith (R-NJ) 20 years ago, has had in addressing the scourge of sex and labor trafficking around the world. Signed into law in 2000, the TVPA is a landmark piece of legislation that has impacted various countries' approaches to human trafficking. With   more

Representative Malinowski Fights to Protect Students Defrauded by Predatory For-Profit Colleges
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: The House passed H.J.Res. 76, to block the Department of Education from implementing a rule that would hurt students who were defrauded by predatory colleges. Instead of implementing the rule from 2016 that was designed to protect defrauded borrowers, the Trump Administration wrote its own rule, which forces defrauded borrowers to navigate a burdensome process to get relief, severely restr  more

Reps. Andy Kim, Mike Levin, and Doris Matsui Lead Congressional Letter Opposing Proposed Inspection Cuts to Nuclear Waste Storage
WASHINGTON, Jan. 14 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Representatives Andy Kim (NJ-3), Mike Levin (CA-49), and Doris Matsui (CA-6) led a letter to Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) Chairman Kristine Svinicki opposing proposed cuts to nuclear waste storage inspections. The NRC proposal would result in a 52 to 80 percent reduction in inspections at Independent Spent Fuel Storage Installation (ISFSI) pads across the country. The administration effort comes a  more

Reps. Gottheimer, Rose, Murphy Lead Over 30 Dems in Calling for Vote on NO BAN Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 18 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Following reports of the Administration expanding the anti-Muslim Travel Ban to additional countries, moderate Democrats call for passage of legislation that would repeal existing ban, and prevent expansion or future discriminatory bans * * * Congress members Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Max Rose (NY-11), and Stephanie Murphy (FL-07) led a group of 32 Members of Congress to House leadership urgi  more

Reps. Pallone, Wyden Urge Inspector General to Vigorously Scrutinize Tennessee's Illegal Medicaid Block Grant Request
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: * * * - Tennessee's request would illegally alter Medicaid's basic financing structure, violating the plain language of the statute and clear Congressional intent * * * House Energy and Commerce Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Senate Finance Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR) sent a letter to the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS  more

Sen. Booker Issues Remarks on Anti-Semitic Attacks
HACKENSACK, New Jersey, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following remarks on Jan. 12: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivered remarks to the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey's Security and Safety Summit, where he condemned recent anti-Semitic attacks in the state and across the country, and called for concrete action to better protect the Jewish community. Following the tragic shooting in Jersey City and recent stabbing in Monsey, today's summit focused on unity  more

Sen. Booker Issues Statement on Senate Passage of U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement after the Senate passed the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement: "When evaluating the USMCA, it was important to consider our country's economic realities and to weigh how much benefit American workers could receive from the increased exports and expanded commerce that this trade agreement could bring. It has always been important to me that trade agreements prioritize New Jersey's ability to compete in the global ec  more

Sen. Booker Pays Tribute to Staffer Moen
WASHINGTON, Jan. 13 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following floor statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on Jan. 8, paying tribute to William Moen Jr.: I rise today to recognize a member of my staff in the great State of New Jersey. We are all fortunate to have offices full of staff members passionate about working for the betterment of our country. William Moen, Jr., or Bill Moen, as we affectionately call him, is a shining example of what patriotism looks l  more

Sen. Booker, Kennedy Introduce Legislation to Combat Abuse of Bears
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Kennedy (R-LA), introduced the Bear Protection Act, which would protect bears from poaching and torture and prohibit the import, export, possession, transport and sale of bear organs. "North American black bears are under threat from poachers and smugglers who supply the global trade in bear parts and products," Senator Booker said. "This bipartisan legislation wi  more

Sen. Graham, Ranking Member Feinstein Issue Statement on Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Keep Dangerous Drugs Off Streets
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, issued the following news release: Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) and Ranking Member Dianne Feinstein (D-California) made this statement following the Senate's passage of their legislation, the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act. The measure is also cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-N  more

Sen. Menendez Applauds Passage of Bipartisan Bill to Keep Fentanyl Off the Streets
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez applauded Senate passage of the bipartisan Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act that will ensure fentanyl products remain classified on Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act, a designation reserved for highly addictive substances with no accepted medical use. The bill is also sponsored by Senators Lindsey Gr  more

Sen. Menendez Condemns Rise of Anti-Semitism, Stands in Solidarity With NJ's Jewish Community
HACKENSACK, New Jersey, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez spoke at the Jewish Federation of Northern New Jersey's Security and Safety Summit where he denounced the rise of anti-Semitism in the region and across the country, and also recommitted himself to standing up against hate and to fighting for resources to protect the Jewish community at home and around the globe. According to the Anti-Defamation League, anti-Semiti  more

Sen. Menendez Demands Immediate Briefing Following Menacing Text Messages Suggesting Amb. Yovanovitch Was Stalked by Giuliani Associates
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, sent a letter demanding the State Department immediately brief him about what Secretary Pompeo and the State Department knew regarding any threats to the safety of U.S. Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. The Senator's letter follows the release of new evidence as part of the House impeachment investigation. The evi  more

Sen. Menendez Expresses Concern About India's Citizenship Amendment Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- 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, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express his serious concerns about India's Citizenship Amendment Act and the potential for the establishment of a National Register of Citizens. The Citizenship Amendment Act seeks to give citizenship to most religious minority groups in the country except for Musl  more

Sen. Menendez Expresses Concern About India's Citizenship Amendment Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- 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, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express his serious concerns about India's Citizenship Amendment Act and the potential for the establishment of a National Register of Citizens. The Citizenship Amendment Act seeks to give citizenshi  more

Sen. Menendez, Bipartisan Group of Colleagues Request Meeting With HUD Secretary on Radon Dangers in Public Housing
WASHINGTON, Jan. 16 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 21,000 Americans die from lung cancer caused by radon exposure each year * * * U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues requesting a meeting with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Ben Carson to understand why the agency has failed to protect tenants living in federally subsidized ho  more

Sen. Menendez, Booker Announce Another $3M to Buyout Flood-Prone Properties in Cumberland County
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker announced $3,194,446.00 in federal funding from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to assist with a flood mitigation and resiliency project in Downe Township, Cumberland County. "Our state was ravaged by Superstorm Sandy and communities are still trying to recover," said Sen. Menendez. "This grant will help Downe take preventative measures to ensu  more

Sen. Menendez, Colleagues Request Senate Banking Committee Hearings on HUD's Inaction in Disbursing Billions of Dollars for Puerto Rico
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 16: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee, led a letter cosigned by committee colleagues Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) requesting Chairman Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Ranking Member Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), to immediately hold hearings on the Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD)   more

Sen. Menendez, Latino Pastors Coalition Kick-Off 2020 Census Campaign, Urge Everyone to Get Counted
NEWARK, New Jersey, Jan. 14 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 13: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez and the New Jersey Latino Pastors and Ministers Coalition, a group representing 375 churches and over 37,000 parishioners across the state, kicked-off a yearlong effort to ensure everyone in the Hispanic community gets counted in the 2020 Census. The U.S. Constitution requires an accurate count every ten years of all persons living in the United States, reg  more

Sen. Menendez, NJ Puerto Rican Leaders Demand Immediate Federal Response to Recent Earthquakes
NEWARK, New Jersey, Jan. 18 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on Jan. 17: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined leaders of New Jersey's large Puerto Rican community to demand the Trump Administration take immediate action to assist the thousands of American citizens affected by the 6.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the island on Jan. 7, the hundreds of powerful aftershocks that continue to rattle the island, and the delayed recovery from Hurricane M  more

Sen. Menendez: National Security Senators Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Develop 5g Alternatives to Huawei
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on Jan. 14: * * * - Would leverage U.S. strengths, reassert American leadership, and encourage Western-based competitors to Huawei * * * A bipartisan group of leading national security Senators introduced legislation to encourage and support U.S. innovation in the race for 5G, providing over $1 billion to invest in Western-based altern  more

Sens. Graham, Feinstein Issue Statement on Temporary Reauthorization & Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act
WASHINGTON, Jan. 17 -- Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, and Dianne Feinstein, D-California, chairman and ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statements after Senate passage of the Temporary Reauthorization and Study of the Emergency Scheduling of Fentanyl Analogues Act: The measure is also cosponsored by Senators Dick Durbin (D-Illinois), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Maggie Hassan (D-New Hampshire), John Cornyn (R-Texas) and Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey). "I  more

Sens. Menendez, Booker and Colleagues Support Puerto Rico's Request for a Major Disaster Declaration to Respond to Earthquakes
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: * * * - Earthquakes make HUD's inaction on $8.3 billion in mitigation funding appropriated by Congress in 2018 even more unconscionable, Senators say * * * In a letter to President Trump, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) joined Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and 30 colleagues in expressing their strong support of Puerto Rico's request for a major disaster dec  more

Sens. Menendez, Booker Announce $46M in Federal Funding to Combat Homelessness Across NJ
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker announced that a combined $46,031,871 in federal grants have been awarded to more than 200 organizations and communities across New Jersey to bolster homelessness prevention programs. "This critical federal funding will help thousands of men and women, families and veterans across New Jersey access safe and reliable housing and obtain the services they need   more

Trump Nominee for Florida Circuit Judge Confirmed by Senate
WASHINGTON, Jan. 15 -- The U.S. Senate confirmed the nominations of two individuals for positions in the Trump Administration on Nov. 20: Barbara Lagoa, of Florida, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit. Adrian Zuckerman, of New Jersey, to be Ambassador to Romania.  more