{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-sherrill-urge-hhs-to-enact-comprehensive-public-health-response-to-monkeypox-virus-distribute-additional-vaccines-and-test-kits-to-new-jersey", "Booker, Sherrill Urge HHS to Enact Comprehensive Public Health Response to Monkeypox Virus; Distribute Additional Vaccines and Test Kits to New Jersey", "2022-08-16", "2022", "2022-08", "Democrat", "Senate", "NJ", "Cory A. Booker", "B001288", "www.booker.senate.gov", "booker", "https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press", "scraper", "Newark, NJ \u2013 U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11) urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to increase testing and vaccine availability for New Jersey given the disproportionate risk that the state faces as the number of monkeypox virus (MPV) cases increase across the United States.\n\n\u201cWith more than 9.2 million people spread across 8,723 square miles between two of the largest metropolitan areas in the country\u2014New York City and Greater Philadelphia\u2014New Jersey is the most densely populated state in America,\u201d wrote the lawmakers in a letter to HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra. \u201cCurrently, New York leads the country with the most cases of MPV in the United States\u2026.Recent history suggests that New Jersey follows New York\u2019s lead in terms of the spread of infectious diseases.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers note: \u201cExperts are concerned that the virus will become entrenched if the outbreak is not met with an adequate public health response. Unfortunately, MPV testing efforts have been hampered by processing challenges that have resulted in underreporting and a lack of data to help the federal government allocate resources appropriately. In addition, implementation of a rapid and efficient mass vaccination program is essential to containing and eradicating MPV in communities across New Jersey and the United States.\u201d\n\nAlthough New York has received additional doses on top of their standard population size allocation, New Jersey has yet to receive the basic allocation for the state\u2019s expected disease burden. The lawmakers requested that New Jersey receives its \u201cfair share on behalf of New Jersey residents\u201d and \u201cadditional allocation given [its] interwoven relationship with Philadelphia and New York City.\u201d\n\nBooker and Sherrill also urged Secretary Becerra to ensure that \u201c[a]ny federal response and aid directed to the LGBTQ+ community must not inadvertently stigmatize the ongoing public health crisis, but there should be targeted outreach to get resources to impacted communities.\u201d The lawmakers concluded by reiterating their call for an increase in \u201ctesting and vaccine availability for the State of New Jersey given the disproportionate risk faced by residents and visitors.\u201d\n\nFull text of the letter can be found here.\n\nChristian Fuscarino, Executive Director of Garden State Equality, a New Jersey organization dedicated to lifting up the diverse voices of LGBTQ+ communities, applauded Booker and Sherrill for the letter, stating, \u201cWe must ensure that high-risk populations and communities that face barriers to healthcare have easier access to vaccinations. We commend Senator Cory Booker and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill for educating our federal partners on why New Jersey must receive a similar percentage of vaccine allocation as our neighbors in New York City and Philadelphia. Their voices are invaluable at this critical time.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-08T02:59:24Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-sherrill-urge-hhs-to-enact-comprehensive-public-health-response-to-monkeypox-virus-distribute-additional-vaccines-and-test-kits-to-new-jersey"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4255139976739883, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}