WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The Chinese government through its propaganda organ the Global Times threatened Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey and a handful of American lawmakers and officials seeking to legally empower victims of the COVID-19 pandemic to bring lawsuits in U.S. courts against the Chinese government. The Global Times wrote on May 14, "China is extremely dissatisfied with the abuse of litigation by the US against Ch  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release on May 20: Energy and Commerce Committee members held a bipartisan teleconference forum today with Greg Burel, former Director of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) from March 2007 until January 2020. Chairman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Ranking Member Greg Walden (R-OR) released a joint statement following the call: "Energy and Commerce Comm  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, chairwoman of the House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on Environment, issued the following news release: The House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology's Subcommittee on Environment held a teleconference with Mr. Dan Greenbaum, President of the Health Effects Institute; Dr. Rashid Shaikh, Director of Science Emeritus at the Health Effects Institute, and Dr. Francesca Dominici, Professor of Biostatistics, Population and  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 19: In response to questioning from U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) during a Senate Banking Committee hearing Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he agreed with Menendez that the nation's economic crisis and ability to recover will be greatly impacted if state and local governments are forced to gut essential services and lay off critical workers due to massive revenue shortfalls. Yes  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was joined by the entire Democratic bench of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in sending a pair of letters to Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to reinforce their opposition to his plans to convene a committee business meeting without any major legislation related to fighting COVID-19, against multipl  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez announced that the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce has endorsed his $500 billion SMART Fund that will provide states, counties and municipalities with the direct federal assistance they need to sustain essential public services the business community and broader economy depend upon. The senator's bipartisan bill answers the call from Governor Phil Murphy and leaders across the   more

GLEN ROCK, New Jersey, May 20 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: On May 19, 2020, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced he is an original cosponsor of new legislation to create strike teams of clinical and non-clinical staff to provide immediate support to nursing homes, long-term care facilities, and skilled nursing facilities experiencing outbreaks of COVID-19 in North Jersey and across the country. The new bill -- the Sending Outside Suppor  more

GLEN ROCK, New Jersey, May 19 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 18: This weekend, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) held an annual Fifth District Scout Honor Ceremony through video conference to celebrate the achievements of this year's Scouts who have earned the highest rank of the Boy Scout and Girl Scout programs. "I am honored to have the chance to celebrate the hard-earned achievements of this year's Scouts who have earned the highest r  more

GLEN ROCK, New Jersey, May 19 -- Rep. Josh Gottheimer, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Pete King (NY-02), Tom Reed (NY-23), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Fred Upton (MI-06), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) announced that they are introducing legislation to provide robust support to state and local governments on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The   more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) announced his office is taking virtual submissions for the annual Congressional Art Competition, allowing students from across Burlington and Ocean Counties to have their art displayed in the U.S. Capitol. Congressman Kim's office will be taking submissions until May 29th and will be announcing a winner shortly thereafter. "The Congressional Art Competition is a great tradition, a  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) released the following statement in response to a Politico report that members of the National Guard currently deployed to combat the Coronavirus Crisis face a 'hard stop' on their deployments, which would deny them benefits and take them off the frontlines of the fight. * * * "This is the wrong move at the wrong time. This is a national security crisis, and the National Guard are   more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: In a letter led by Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03), members of the full bipartisan New Jersey Congressional Delegation asked the Trump Administration to extend the deployment of the New Jersey National Guard beyond the current June 24th deadline. Currently, more than 1,000 Guardsmen and women from New Jersey, and more than 46,000 from across the country, have been deployed to assist in the response to the COVID-1  more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Rep. Andy Kim, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03), and New Jersey Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, called on the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to provide transparency on why attempts to secure a new site for an updated veterans health care facility in Ocean County failed, and answers on what the VA will do provide immediate relief for veterans struggling with a lack of access to parking and health care providers.   more

WHITE PLAINS, New York, May 22 -- Rep. Nita Lowey, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY17/Rockland-Westchester) announced $139 million in federal grants for the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and the New Jersey Transit Corporation through the Federal Transit Administration's (FTA) Federal-State Partnership for State of Good Repair (SGP) program to facilitate safer and easier travel to and from New York City. "Together, this funding  more

SOMERVILLE, New Jersey, May 21 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: This week Congressman Tom Malinowski wrapped up his May Congress in Your Kitchen series. These virtual gatherings are an effort to continue to serve and stay connected with constituents during this public health crisis. Congress in Your Kitchen has provided residents from each of the six counties in New Jersey's 7th Congressional District the opportunity to share their views and concerns an  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 15: The House of Representatives passed The Heroes Act, the latest legislation to address the coronavirus health and economic crisis. This bill will provide desperately needed support for struggling families and essential workers, with funds for testing and tracing measures, key support for frontline workers and strengthened assistance for the American people. Representative Malinowski has been  more

CHERRY HILL, New Jersey, May 21 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture will allow households in 13 new states, including New Jersey, the ability to order groceries online with their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Beginning next week, New Jerseyans on SNAP will be able to shop for groceries online from Amazon starting May 27 and participating Wal  more

CHERRY HILL, New Jersey, May 23 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) announced that Rowan University and Rutgers University-Camden will receive a combined $250,365 in federal funding from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for research into COVID-19-related medical care. "The work being done at both Rowan and Rutgers-Camden will allow the facilities to support coronavirus-related programs and train   more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Donald W. Norcross, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement: U.S. Congressman Donald Norcross (NJ-01) voted in favor of the Heroes Act, a comprehensive relief package to support essential workers, help our families and local businesses, and expand testing and tracing resources to fight the disease and responsibly reopen our economy. * * * "This is about response, relief and recovery: Improving our response by greatly expanding testing, providing relief for fam  more

LONG BRANCH, New Jersey, May 22 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 21: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) participated in a telephone town hall hosted by AARP. Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Heroes Act that includes new protections to keep nursing home patients safe, increases funding for SNAP and other nutrition programs, delivers another round of direct economic stimulus checks to most Americans, and provides funding   more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) denounced reckless military actions conducted by Azerbaijan in a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Secretary of Defense Mark Esper. He sent another letter to the Co-Chairs of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group, urging them to condemn the large-scale military exercises currently being held by the Azerbaijani mili  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Ranking Member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, sent a letter to Secretary of Health and Human Services Alex Azar demanding the Trump Administration update and resubmit the "report" it  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee, issued the following statements on Trump administration's report on testing and demographic data associated with COVID-19 as required by the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act: "The Trump Administration's four-page report on COVID-19 demographic  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- 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), Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Brett Guthrie (R-KY) sent a letter to White House Coronavirus Task Force Coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx urging the Trump Administrat  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) called for an immediate investigation of turmoil at the United States Postal Service (USPS), purportedly stemming from a pattern of interference engineered by the Trump administration in its efforts to destabilize the post office. "I write to request an investigation by the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General to determine whether undue p  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) is urging swift action to ensure Dominican Americans can vote. In letters to Dr. Julio Cesar Castanos Guzman, President of the Central Electoral Board of the Dominican Republic, and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Pascrell urges both to provide help to enfranchise Dominican Americans in the fast-approaching July 5th general elections in the Dominican Republic.   more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Paul Gosar (R-AZ-04), Ro Khanna (D-CA-17), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), and Lance Gooden (R-TX-05) introduced legislation to reform and close loopholes in the H-1B and L-1 visa programs. Their H-1B and L-1 Visa Reform Act will reduce fraud and abuse, provide protections for American workers and visa holders, and require more transparency in the recruitment of   more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. wants stores to continue to honor American currency as a form of payment during and after the current coronavirus public health crisis. Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote a letter to Kevin Johnson, President and CEO of Starbucks, after the company said it would shift to more "cashless experiences" for customer transactions. In the letter, Rep. Payne, Jr. said such a move could   more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. wants the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to continue federal support of two New Jersey testing sites and help the state conduct 25,000 coronavirus tests per day. Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote a letter to Peter Gaynor, FEMA Administrator, supported by the entire New Jersey Congressional delegation that said, "New Jersey has been on the frontlines of the coronavi  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. co-wrote a letter with Rep. Gus Bilirakis (D-Fl) to the leadership of the House of Representatives on May 11 to support specialty providers of "do-not-postpone" surgeries in the next coronavirus legislation. In the letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, Rep. Payne, Jr. wrote that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Se  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Donald M. Payne Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Donald M. Payne, Jr. was proud to vote for the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act to support Americans as well as state and local governments during this public health and economic crisis. The $3 trillion emergency appropriations bill is the fifth one passed in the last three months to help the country survive the coronavirus global pandemic. It would   more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement after the passage of the HEROES Act with bipartisan support in the House: The Heroes Act provides billions in relief to New Jersey, including an estimated $1.5 billion in direct support to the towns and counties of the 11th Congressional District. It also repeals the state and local tax (SALT) deduction cap for 2020 and 2021, a priority Representative Sherrill has long championed to get money back into the p  more

PARSIPPANY, New Jersey, May 21 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) sent recommendations to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) outlining key steps the agencies can take to help New Jersey small businesses and to fix the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) programs. On April 29, 2020, Representative Sherrill released a small business   more

PARSIPPANY, New Jersey, May 19 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), Pete King (NY-02), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Tom Reed (NY-23), Tom O'Halleran (AZ-01), Fred Upton (MI-06), Ted Lieu (CA-33), Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Elise Stefanik (NY-21) announced that they are introducing legislation to provide robust support to state and local governments on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic. The  more

PARSIPPANY, New Jersey, May 21 -- Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: The Regional Recovery Task Force released their third report outlining recommendations to congressional leadership on mass transit as we adapt to the COVID-19 pandemic. The report follows the task force's meeting with Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Chairman and CEO Patrick Foye, who also served from 2011 and 2017 as the Executive Director for the Port Authority of New York and Ne  more

WEST NEW YORK, New Jersey, May 22 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 21: Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) assisted the Hudson County Board of Health, West New York Housing Authority employees, along with the Mayor and Commissioners of the town as they kicked off an initiative to test residents of senior living facilities in West New York, New Jersey. Over the next 7-10 days all residents of the town's senior buildings and low-income housing facilities will  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following statement regarding President Trump for his overnight removal of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick: "This is now the third time this President has removed an inspector general from their position seemingly because they were doing their jobs. "These actions are just the latest in a pattern of blatant disregard for any form of independent oversight, meant to hold all branches of our government accountable to  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) voted in favor of the Heroes Act, legislation introduced by House Democrats to respond to the ongoing impacts of the COVID-19 epidemic. "Americans across the country are suffering the from the physical and economic impacts of the coronavirus," said Rep. Sires. "The Heroes Act seeks to address the challenges so many are struggling with by supporting programs for workers, the u  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Rep. Chris Smith released the following statement regarding the loosening of restrictions allowing up to 25 people on for-hire party fishing boats in New Jersey. "Like so many businesses in New Jersey, the party fishing boats--or 'head boats,' as they are known locally--have taken a financial beating because of COVID-19 restrictions. Working with Ray Bogan, the effective legal counsel for the United Boatme  more

SOMERVILLE, New Jersey, May 23 -- Rep. Tomaz Malinowski, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Representatives Tom Malinowski (NJ-07) and Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02) introduced the Landowners' Right to Due Process in Rehearings at FERC Act to ensure that landowners are able to exercise their legal right to challenge energy projects that disrupt their property prior to construction. This legislation grants due-process rights to petitioners who request a rehearing on a pipeline project  more

NEW YORK, May 21 -- Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-New York, issued the following news release: Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) and Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ) led a bipartisan group of New York and New Jersey Members in a letter to Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY), and Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) expressing strong support for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's request  more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- 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 Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chair Diana DeGette (D-CO) sent a letter to Blue Flame Medical LLC with a series of questions following reports that the company failed to follow through on contracts to provide critical medical supplies and personal protective equipment (PPE) to sta  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Congressman Max Rose (NY-11) introduced the Homeless Veterans Credit Repair, Enhancement, and Debt Improvement for Tomorrow (CREDIT) Act to help end veteran homelessness and housing instability. Credit and financial counseling services remain a top ten unmet need for our nation's homeless veterans. The bill directs the Secretary of the Department of Veterans  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Albio Sires, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Congressman Albio Sires (D-NJ), Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX), and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) sent a letter to Acting Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf and Acting Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Matthew Albence raising alarm over the deportation of Hector Garcia Mendoza. They were joined by 15 of their Democratic colleagues in calling for answers as to whether ICE vi  more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Under a new bill introduced by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Peter King (R-NY), on Friday, May 15th, states hit hardest by COVID-19--like New Jersey and New York--would receive more federal COVID-19 disaster assistance than less-affected states. Smith's bill, the New Jersey, New York, and Highly Impacted States COVID-19 Relief Fund Act (H.R. 6914), provides $500 billion to the states and territories, dispe  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Tom Suozzi (D-NY) introduced the World Press Freedom Protection and Reciprocity Act, legislation to protect journalist around the world who are too often censored, jailed, tortured or killed for exercising the freedom of expression and to ensure that U.S. media personnel overseas are given the same access and protections granted to foreign journalists in the U.S.   more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced bold legislation to expand access to comprehensive health coverage for immigrants by reducing unfair and unjust barriers that currently exist. The HEAL (Health Equity and Access under the Law) for Immigrant Women and Families Act has three main pillars. First, it expands access to Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to anyone that is federa  more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- 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, announced he will introduce new legislation to protect Inspectors General for the State Department and other Foreign Affairs agencies from removal and bolster Congress's ability to review attempts to remove Inspectors General. The Senator's bill would also require that Acting Inspectors General be career offici  more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- 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, announced he will introduce new legislation to protect Inspectors General for the State Department and other Foreign Affairs agencies from removal and bolster Congress's ability to review attempts to remove Inspectors General. The Senator's bill  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- 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, called on the Department of Justice to review whether former Florida Republican Congressman David Rivera violated the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) in his work for the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela's state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A. (PDVSA). The Senator's lette  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- 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, called on the Department of Justice to review whether former Florida Republican Congressman David Rivera violated the Foreign Agent Registration Act (FARA) in his work for the regime of Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela's state oil  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement on May 20 congratulating Tsai Ing-wen on her second inauguration as President of Taiwan: "Taiwan's democracy is one of the world's great success stories, and the Taiwanese people's embrace of the rule of law and of democracy is an inspiration the world over," the Senator said. "As the international community works together to combat COVID-19,  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following opening remarks release on May 21 at the beginning of a business meeting: "Mr. Chairman, I have a two preliminary matters that I would like to address. As an initial matter, I ask for unanimous consent to enter into the record of this meeting a number of items related to the nomination of Michael Pack. These materials include letters from all of the d  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement after the committee approved his resolution (S.Res. 406) recognizing the decades of cooperation between the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and its 10 members, Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. "For more than fifty years, ASEAN has helped unite one of the   more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement in reaction to the Trump administration's withdrawal from the Open Skies Treaty: The Open Skies Treaty is a key part of America's international arms control strategy. The Open Skies Treaty allows the 34 signatory countries, including the United States and Russia, to conduct reconnaissance flights over each other's territory in order to monito  more

NEWARK, New Jersey, May 18 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: As the Senate prepares to consider the House-passed $3 trillion coronavirus rescue bill (Heroes Act), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) outlined a series of proposals that would provide additional resources to support frontline health care professionals and workers, small businesses, families, and states affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Last month, Sen. Menendez unveiled the State and Municip  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on May 21: Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) tonight is releasing a video of the entire Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting that took place earlier today. The footage, which was taken by Menendez's team, comes after Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) unilaterally prevented the press and public from viewing the contro  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 21: Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) tonight is releasing a video of the entire Senate Foreign Relations Committee business meeting that took place earlier. The footage, which was taken by Menendez's team, comes after Committee Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) unilaterally prevented the press and public from viewing the controversial meeting by refusing to allow an official Senate live-stream vide  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 21: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ted Cruz (R-Tx.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) applauded the approval by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of S. Res.454, a resolution calling for the immediate release of Cuban democracy activist Jose Daniel Ferrer, who was i  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on May 21: Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senators Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Ted Cruz (R-Tx.), Ben Cardin (D-Md.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) today applauded the approval by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee of S. Res.454, a resolution calling for the imm  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined a group of colleagues in sending letters to JetBlue and Delta expressing concern about the companies' decision to cut the hours of their employees after receiving financial assistance under the under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act). The senators are calling on the airlines to immediately reverse their decision. "Your decision   more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) joined a group of colleagues in sending a letter to Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Director Kathy Kraninger requesting information from the agency regarding its examinations of the companies that service federally-held student loans. The senators made clear that the CFPB must provide necessary information quickly to Congress and lay out a plan for how it i  more

WASHINGTON, May 18 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Senator Bob Menendez, Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, and Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, launched an investigation into President Trump's firing of State Department Inspector General Steve Linick. Writing to the White House, the Department of State, and the State Department Office of Inspector General, the lawmakers request  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- 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, along with 19 of his Democratic Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to raise significant concerns about the objectives of the Department of State's Commission on Unalienable Rights. Senator Menendez has questioned the purpose of the Commission since its formation as a 10-member body l  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Ranking Member Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) was joined by the entire Democratic bench of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in sending a pair of letters today to Chairman Jim Risch (R-Idaho) to reinforce their opposition to his plans to convene a committee business meeting without any major legislation related to fighting COVID-19, against multiple objections from committee members, and while limiting pres  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Sen. Patty Murray, D-Washington, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., D-New Jersey, chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statements on the Trump administration's report on testing and demographic data associated with COVID-19: "What Congress required was a comprehensive report on health disparities related to the COVID-19 pandemic. What we got from President  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on May 21: U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, issued the following statements after the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved their bipartisan bill to bolster U.  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- The Senate Special Committee on Aging issued the following testimony by Steven H. Landers, president and CEO of VNA Health Group, at a hearing entitled "Caring for Seniors Amid the COVID-19 Crisis" on May 21: My name is Steve Landers,/1 I am a family medicine / geriatric medicine physician and my clinical practice focuses on home visits to low mobility older adults. I also serve as President and Chief Executive Officer of Visiting Nurse Association Health Group,/2 a large   more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) will formally introduce bipartisan legislation to deliver critical, federal resources to states and communities on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight. The State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act targets $500 billion in emergency funding to every state, county and community in the country, while prioritizing a  more

WASHINGTON, May 20 -- Sen. Cory Booker, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and a group of their colleagues sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer urging the inclusion of provisions to protect the health and safety of property service workers in the next coronavirus relief bill, including personal protective equipment, hazard pay, and strengthened labor protections.   more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), along with Representative Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.-03), led a bicameral group of almost 100 colleagues in urging U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Alex Azar to fulfill HHS' commitment to its Healthy People 2020 objectives by collecting data on sexual orientation and gender identity during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release: Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) have introduced the Open Technology Fund Authorization Act to expand the U.S. government's support for internet freedom by addressing authoritarian regimes' escalating efforts to censor, restrict, and surveil the internet. Senators Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) are  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker joined Congressman Andy Kim (N.J.-03) and members of the New Jersey congressional delegation urged the Trump Administration to extend the deployment of the New Jersey National Guard beyond the current June 24th deadline. Currently, more than 1,000 Guardsmen and women from New Jersey, and more than 46,000 from across the country, have been deployed to assist in   more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker and Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (N.J.-09) applauded the announcement that New Jersey Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients will be able to use their benefits to order groceries online from approved online retailers. This will help protect the program's recipients amidst the COVID-19 outbreak in the state. "We must ensure our most vulne  more

WASHINGTON, May 19 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) will formally introduce bipartisan legislation to deliver critical, federal resources to states and communities on the frontlines of the COVID-19 fight. The State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Act targets $500 billion in emergency funding to every state, county and community in the country, while prioritizi  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 21: Ahead of Memorial Day, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) introduced bipartisan legislation that would ensure all World War II (WWII) veterans are eligible for health care services provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Due to current limitations in the law, there are WWII veterans who are prevented from receiving VA health care benefits. The WWII   more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Cindy Hyde Smith (R-Miss.) introduced bipartisan legislation to eliminate the cost-share payments required of states and communities included in federal disaster declarations in 2020. The bill is cosponsored by Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Gary Peters (D-Mich.). The Local Community Emergency Relief Act of 2020 is the second Senate proposal offered this week to   more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), a senior member of the Senate Finance Committee that sets national health policy, and Patty Murray (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a group of 30 of their colleagues in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary blasting the Administration's intention to fina  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations' Subcommittee that oversees human rights, led their Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. The resolution underscores the sacrifices that journalists around the world have borne in pu  more

WASHINGTON, May 21 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on May 20: Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations' Subcommittee that oversees human rights, today led their Senate colleagues in introducing a bipartisan resolution to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. The resolu  more

WASHINGTON, May 23 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) led a group of colleagues in a letter to Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy White House Counsel Scott Gast, to request that former GlaxoSmithKline vaccine executive Dr. Moncef Slaoui - recently appointed by President Trump to serve as the Administration's "therapeutics czar" - divest himself of any financial interests in the ph  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Bob Menendez, D-New Jersey, ranking Democratic member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following news release on May 21: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in approving a bipartisan resolution to commend the State Department professionals for their dedication repatriating United States citizens and legal  more

WASHINGTON, May 22 -- Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, issued the following news release on May 21: U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), ranking member and chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led the Senate Foreign Relations Committee in approving a bipartisan resolution to commend the State Department professionals for their dedication repatriating United States citizens and legal permanent residents during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Resolution now mo  more