Press releases
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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1,279 rows where state = "NJ" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending
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| https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-blasts-trump-administration-denial-8-million-passaic-county | Congresswoman Pou Blasts Trump Administration Denial of $8 Million for Passaic County Schools | 2025-12-30 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Nellie Pou | P000621 | pou.house.gov | pou | https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | PATERSON, NJ — Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today hammered the U.S. Department of Education’s refusal to reverse its decision to strip $8 million in funding for Passaic County schools under the Full-Service Community Schools grant program. “Despicable does not begin to describe this unjust and outrageous decision. With its denial today, the Trump Department of Education is ripping support right from the hands of our students in Paterson and Passaic,” said Congresswoman Nellie Pou. “With zero warning, little explanation, no rational basis, and days before Christmas, Paterson schools were notified that $7.9 million in federal support they were counting on would be terminated. This critical aid funds a myriad of vital services including after-school programming, tutoring, counseling, food assistance, and health services – all of which will now cease to exist because of the Trump administration’s callousness and cruelty. “Despite the Paterson Public School District’s willingness to remedy any concerns the Administration had with its programming under the grant, the Education Department refused to engage and has now hung these students and educators out to dry. At a time when the Department of Education has rolled back support to K-12 schools from coast to coast, New Jersey students will now be forced to return to their classrooms in the new year with fewer tools to help them succeed, incurring consequences that will be felt for years to come. The President promised to dismantle public education in America, and today he is doing exactly that. These cuts must be reversed and this funding must be restored.” On December 18, Congresswoman Pou sent an urgent letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon highlighting the “catastrophic harm” these cuts would cause and demanded the funding be restored “before it is too late.” During Christmas week, Pou’s office had been in touch with administration officials to make clear the district’s willingness to work with the Department to address their priorities. Full-Service … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415233 | Rep. Smith condemns Communist China’s provocations and acts of aggression against Taiwan | 2025-12-29 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued the following statement in response to China’s deliberately provocative and antagonistic military exercises around Taiwan: “Communist China’s egregious violations of Taiwan’s air space, its ships’ crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and live-fire drills, which commenced on December 29, are belligerent provocations, which constitute the crime of aggression under international law. Communist China’s violations of the sovereignty of the democratic island nation—coupled with recent transgressions against U.S. treaty allies Japan and the Philippines—directly threaten peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. “China is a totalitarian tyrant, which abuses its own people at home and remains a predatory rogue state abroad. Congress stands with freedom-loving peoples in both nations—those in China, working against the oppressive Communist Party ruling their country, and the people of Taiwan, standing firm against this outside aggressor. By its actions, Communist China has put itself outside the community of nations.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-files-appeal-notice-in-ice-oversight-case-says-shes-not-backing-down | McIver Files Appeal Notice in ICE Oversight Case, Says She’s Not Backing Down | 2025-12-29 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | LaMonica McIver | M001229 | mciver.house.gov | mciver | https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | NEWARK, NJ – Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) filed a notice of appeal after, in November, a federal judge ruled to deny pretrial motions to dismiss the case against her. The appeal will focus on legislative immunity. The charges against McIver, brought by the Trump administration, stem from a lawful oversight visit to an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention center in Newark, New Jersey, in May 2025. McIver faces up to 17 years in federal prison. “From the beginning, I’ve fought back against this administration’s cruelty and attempts to silence dissent—this appeal is the next step in the fight. The Trump administration’s case is dangerous, baseless, and designed to stop me from doing my job. I won’t,” said McIver. “This appeal is for everyone who is standing up to this administration as they try to operate without oversight, silence the people who oppose them, and shut down those who protect the vulnerable. They want to make an example out of me, but I will not let them. I will not be bullied out of doing my job and protecting our communities. Not now, not ever.” McIver and counsel sought to have criminal charges brought against her by the Trump administration dismissed. A judge in Newark partially denied those motions, a decision on one count remains pending. The appeal noticed today will head to a Third Circuit panel. Last week, McIver returned to the Delaney Hall detention center for an oversight visit in the wake of the death of a detainee. This was her first time returning to Delaney Hall since charges were brought against her for her earlier oversight visit in May. ### | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415219 | Chairman Smith on President Trump’s decisive action to strike ISIS encampments in Nigeria | 2025-12-27 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee issued the following statement after the U.S. military’s coordinated strikes on ISIS settlements in northwestern Nigeria: “President Trump’s decisive action reflects the United States’ unyielding commitment to standing up to the Nigerian terrorists, who have been murdering, raping, torturing and violently harassing Christians and non-radical Muslims in the region for decades. “Coordinated under Secretary Pete Hegseth, the limited precision airstrikes against Islamist terrorists in Nigeria clearly demonstrate that violent actions against Christians and other religious groups have profound consequences. “The strikes also put the radical Islamist terrorists in Nigeria on notice that the United States will never condone or turn a blind eye to religious persecution and violence. “Significantly, the U.S. Department of State and Nigeria on December 19 signed a five-year bilateral America First Global Health Strategy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Nigeria’s health system with a strong emphasis on promoting Christian faith-based healthcare providers. The U.S. intends to commit $2.1 billion in health assistance in the combined investment of nearly $5.1 billion over the life of the MOU. “According to State, ‘The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence….’ Additionally, it was announced that the Trump Administration ‘expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.’ “In October, I and many of my colleagues applauded President Trump and welcomed his declaration of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ based on the religious persecution of Christians in that country. “I then chaired a hearing entitled, ‘President Trump’s Redesignation of Nigeria as a “Country of Particular Concern”: A Serious, Well-Founded Wake-Up Call,’… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415214 | TAPinto Gold Coast article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Federal Pause Hits Offshore Wind Projects Planned Off the Jersey Shore and Along the East Coast' | 2025-12-23 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Jim Lonergan Published December 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Trump administration has ordered a suspension of construction and lease activity for five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast, including Empire Wind, which is planned off the New Jersey and New York coasts. Federal officials cited national security concerns, specifically the potential for large offshore wind turbines to interfere with military and civilian radar systems used for aviation and maritime navigation. The pause, announced by the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Defense, applies not only to future permitting but also to projects that were already approved, under construction, or still in the development phase. Administration officials said the action is intended to allow time for additional review and coordination between federal agencies, the military, and project developers. The five offshore wind projects affected by the suspension are: Empire Wind 1 (New York–New Jersey coast), developed by Equinor Vineyard Wind 1 (off Massachusetts), the nation’s first large-scale offshore wind farm Revolution Wind (off Rhode Island and Connecticut), led by Ørsted Sunrise Wind (off New York), also developed by Ørsted Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), a Dominion Energy project off Virginia Together, these projects represent several gigawatts of planned renewable energy capacity and had been central to state and federal clean energy goals along the Eastern Seaboard. Photo Credit: shutterstock/ShutterDesigner Rep. Chris Smith (R–NJ), a long-time critic of offshore wind development, welcomed the administration’s decision, saying it validates concerns he has raised for years regarding radar interference and national security risks. Smith has argued that offshore wind turbines can create radar “clutter” that may weaken or disrupt systems relied upon by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Armed Forces. Click HERE for Rep. Smith's deeper explanation of the risks posed. Smith pointed to an April 202… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415216 | Shorebeat article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Trump Halts Construction of Remaining Offshore Wind Project Off N.J.' | 2025-12-23 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Daniel Nee Published December 23, 2025 President Donald Trump halted numerous offshore wind projects on Monday, citing national security concerns, officials said. The decision led to cheers from U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who has lobbied against the projects for years, and with consternation from some environmental groups that favored the projects. The order from Trump’s administration will stop five major offshore wind farms — including Empire Wind, located offshore in the New York bight, roughly between Monmouth County and portions of southern Long Island. Unlike some other wind projects, proposed and approved, Empire Wind would not likely have been visible from the New Jersey coast. Offshore wind development has been a persistent source of partisan wrangling, favored by New Jersey Democrats as well as officials in the former Biden administration. Trump, and GOP congressional leaders, pledged to eliminate the leases of offshore territory after concerns grew over potential negative effects on marine mammals, as well as subsidies for its foreign owner, the Norwegian firm Equinor. An executive order shutting down the projects has bounced between courtrooms since Trump took office in 2025, with the administration suffering a loss in court earlier this month when Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Patti Saris, appointed by President Bill Clinton, struck down the order. The decision is expected to be appealed, but Monday’s order effectively accomplishes the abolition of the projects – at least in the immediate future – for reasons related to national security. Offshore wind turbine. (Photo: Harald Pettersen/Statoil) The Department of the Interior halted the projects to allow for a “pause” so a review could be conducted in conjunction with the Department of Defense (War). Critics of the offshore development, most prominently Smith, have raised concerns that the massive turbines atop the structures could create radar clutter in busy airspace, most notably affecting Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a major transit … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415218 | Daily Caller article on Smith's Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act'"Murder Masquerading As Medicine": Senate Ignores Bill On CCP's Christian Organ Harvesting' | 2025-12-23 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Derek VanBuskirk Published December 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM ET A bill aimed at curbing the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forced organ harvesting of cultural and religious minorities, including Christians, has “languished” in committee for seven months as Senate leaders have failed to act. Republican New Jersey Rep. Christopher Smith, sponsor of the legislation that passed the House with a nearly unanimous vote, told the Daily Caller about the growing threat to Christians in China and the real consequences of delaying Senate action. H.R. 1503, the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025, is not Smith’s first attempt to confront the practice. A 2023 version of the bill passed the House 413-2 before dying in the same place the current bill now sits: the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. (Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images) Smith chaired his first hearing on forced organ harvesting in 1998, hearing testimony from Chinese security officials. While the practice was once limited in scope, it exploded into a billion-dollar state enterprise following the CCP’s 1999 crackdown on Falun Gong. Falun Gong, a spiritual practice drawing on Buddhist and Taoist traditions and once widely embraced in China, was the primary early target. Because practitioners abstain from tobacco and alcohol, they were considered ideal harvesting candidates, with the average age of those executed and immediately harvested being 28, Smith said. Taipei, TAIWAN: During a rally joined by thousands of Falun Gong practitioners at Taipei 23 April 2006, four demonstrators play in an action drama against what they said was the Chinese communists’ killing of Falun Gong followers and harvesting of their organs in concentration camps. (Photo: PATRICK LIN/AFP via Getty Images) “I want to know how long [the patients] have to wait [for a liver transplant].” David Matas and David Kilgour recorded from an undercover conversation they had with a Chinese doctor, as recorded in “Bloody Harvest: The Killing of Falun Gong for Their Org… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-menendez-clarke-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall | McIver, Menendez, Clarke Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall | 2025-12-23 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | LaMonica McIver | M001229 | mciver.house.gov | mciver | https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | NEWARK, N.J. – Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. She was joined by Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) for the visit. Last week, McIver learned of the death of a man who had been detained at Delaney Hall. In May, McIver, Menendez and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman conducted a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. The visit, which should have been a routine oversight visit, led to the Trump administration bringing charges against McIver. She now faces up to 17 years in prison for doing her oversight work. Today’s visit was the first McIver has made to Delaney Hall since being indicted. The members released the following statements after the visit: “I have a responsibility to serve the people and protect the people of the 10th Congressional District, and that is why I had to put aside my experience here and come back to represent them–to see what is happening inside of Delaney Hall. These are the things we’re hearing: people who have not had a court date in months, people who are waiting on loved ones who cannot visit them, and people who are not getting proper medical care. It is awful, and this detention center needs to be shut down. That's why we're here. We're going to continue to show up, continue to have oversight, and continue to do our jobs,” said Rep. McIver. “When we left, a detainee told us this is not the America that we dreamed of. They thought they would be able to come here and have a better life.” “What we saw inside Delaney Hall is the betrayal of the American Dream,” said Rep. Menendez. “These are people who believe in the promise of this country and are being ripped from our communities and held there on the American taxpayer’s dime. All while the GEO Group is making an enormous profit and providing substandard care. We will not let this stand and we will continue to work to hold this Administration and those who benefit from tea… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-mciver-and-clarke-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall | Menendez, McIver, and Clarke Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall | 2025-12-23 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | NEWARK, NJ –Today, Congressman Rob Menendez conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in Newark operated by GEO Group. He was joined by Reps. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) for the visit. “What we saw inside Delaney Hall is the betrayal of the American Dream,” said Congressman Menendez. “These are people who believe in the promise of this country and are being ripped from our communities and held there on the American taxpayer’s dime. All while the GEO Group is making an enormous profit and providing substandard care. We will not let this stand and we will continue to work to hold this Administration and those who benefit from tearing communities apart accountable." “I have a responsibility to serve the people and protect the people of the 10th Congressional District, and that is why I had to put aside my experience here and come back to represent them–to see what is happening inside of Delaney Hall. These are the things we’re hearing: people who have not had a court date in months, people who are waiting on loved ones who cannot visit them, and people who are not getting proper medical care. It is awful, and this detention center needs to be shut down. That's why we're here. We're going to continue to show up, continue to have oversight, and continue to do our jobs,” said Congresswoman McIver. “When we left, a detainee told us this is not the America that we dreamed of. They thought they would be able to come here and have a better life.” “No human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the walls of Delaney Hall, today. What our tour made overwhelmingly clear is that Jean Wilson Brutus’ death is a symptom of a larger culture of inhumanity that is inherent to for-profit detention centers like Delaney Hall. Nearly a thousand of our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our loved ones are confined to this facility indefinitely, where they are treated every day as … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415204 | Construction of Empire Wind suspendedCiting national security concerns—the critical issue Chris Smith has raised for years—the Trump administration halts construction of offshore wind projects | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a longtime opponent of offshore wind industrialization, issued the attached statement following the Trump administration’s announcement that the Depts. of the Interior and War have paused the leases for five major offshore wind farms—including Empire Wind off the New Jersey and New York coasts—due to national security concerns: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on May 7, 2025. “I am grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum for their leadership in assessing ocean wind’s threats to national security and radar interference. The safety and security of the American people should always be at the forefront of U.S. policy. “As I have argued from day one—ocean wind projects pose significant, catastrophic impacts to radar, putting military and civilian aircrafts and vessels at grave risk. “This concern has been raised in a number of studies, including the April 2025 Offshore Wind Energy report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an analysis I requested, along with many of my colleagues, and was also called for in my legislation passed by the House—by a margin of 244 to 189—nearly three years ago. “As early as 2023, I joined Fox News’ Madison Alworth in Middletown, NJ to highlight the numerous national security and navigational risks associated with offshore wind industrialization. Rep. Smith debates in favor of his FAA amendment on July 20, 2023. “That same year, the House passed my amendment requiring the President or his designee to certify that offshore wind projects ‘will not weaken, degrade, interfere with, or nullify the capability of radar relied upon the Federal Aviation Administration or the Armed Forces.’ “It is particularly important that among the five offshore wind projects suspended by the Trump administration, Empire Wind is one of them—a project I have vehemently opposed for years. “Empire Wind’s close proximity to major international airports, including Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and JFK, and critical… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415206 | Asbury Park Press article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'Is Lyme disease a military accident? New probe inspired by late Wall woman' | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Jerry Carino Published December 22, 2025 at 5:05 AM After nearly a decade of trying, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., has gotten the green light for a federal investigation into whether the military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease as part of a Cold War experiment gone awry — furthering the spread and intensity of the illness, which has hit New Jerseyans particularly hard. Smith’s Lyme disease amendment, attached to the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that was signed into law by President Donald Trump Dec. 18, directs the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to produce a report on the matter. The amendment flew under the media radar, but longtime Wall resident Rich Smith took notice. It’s another chapter in the legacy of his late wife, Pat Smith, who was one of the nation’s leading advocates for Lyme disease patients — in particular those who suffered from chronic or long-term Lyme. Pat Smith died in 2024 at age 78. “I think she would think it’s way past due and a very positive step in tracing the history of Lyme — one more step in the process of beating back this disease,” Rich Smith told the Asbury Park Press. “She’s smiling from above,” Chris Smith said. “She’s the pioneer.” U.S. Rep. Chris Smith R-N.J., is shown with Pat Smith, Lyme Disease Association President, before a panel discussion about Lyme disease held at the Wall Township Municipal building Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Thomas P. Costello/Asbury Park Press The challenge for Lyme patients In the 1980s, Lyme disease afflicted two of Pat and Rich Smith’s daughters, one of whom missed four years of school. Pat founded the nonprofit Lyme Disease Association and traveled the country to raise awareness. “She’s the one who got me into Lyme,” Chris Smith said. “She came to a town meeting in Wall in 1992 and said, ‘What are you doing about Lyme disease?’ I said ‘Nothing.’ We had lunch, and I’ve been working on it ever since.” Lyme disease affects nearly 500,000 people a year in the U.S., and New Jersey ha… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415211 | Patch article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'For The 2nd Time, Trump Pauses All Offshore Wind Farms, Including Empire Wind 19 Miles Off The Jersey Shore' | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Carly Baldwin Published Monday, December 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM ET LONG BRANCH, NJ — For the second time this year, President Donald Trump's administration put a pause on all offshore wind farm development in the United States, and Empire Wind — currently being built 19 miles off Long Branch — is affected. On Monday, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced here he is pausing the leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the U.S. His decision temporarily shuts down existing wind farms that have been in operation for years, including Vineyard Wind off Martha's Vineyard and Sunrise Wind off Rhode Island. It also stops all work on wind farms in development, including Empire Wind, which started installing monopiles into the Atlantic Ocean floor and was 40 percent complete as of August. Empire Wind is owned by Norwegian renewable energy company Equinor, the majority shareholder of which is the Kingdom of Norway. Clean Ocean Action took these photos July 30 of Empire Wind being built off Long Branch. That's a monopile, at right, being pushed into the sea floor. (Clean Ocean Action) Burgum said he made his decision due to national security risks identified by the Department of War. Burgum cited reports from the Dept. of War that said the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers can create radar interference called “clutter.” That radar interference can obscure legitimate moving targets and generates false targets near wind farms. "This pause will give the Department, along with the Department of War and other relevant government agencies, time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects," the Department of the Interior said Monday. These are the five existing or planned wind farms off the United States affected by the new order: Vineyard Wind 1 (OCS-A 0501) - off Marth's Vineyard, Massachusetts Revolution Wind (OCS-A 0486) - off Rhode Islan… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415213 | New York Post article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Trump admin scraps 5 offshore wind farms — including New York projects — citing "national security risks"' | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Josh Christenson Published December 22, 2025 WASHINGTON — The US Interior Department announced Monday that it was immediately pausing leases for five offshore wind farms — including two in New York — “due to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports.” The renewable energy projects included the Massachusetts and Rhode Island-headquartered Vineyard Wind 1 and Revolution Wind, a commercial wind farm in Virginia and New York’s Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind — several of which had gotten either funding or regulatory boosts from the Biden administration. Unclassified reports have previously cited radar interference, also known as “clutter,” prompting false alarms due to “the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers” of the wind farms,” the Interior Department noted in a press release. The projects were scrapped due to unspecified national security risks. Empire Wind / Vestas Wind Systems A/S Trump speaks before delivering remarks at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania on Dec. 9, 2025.AFP via Getty Images In some cases, radar would also “miss actual targets.” “The prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,” Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said. “Today’s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers,” he added. “The Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.” Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), whose brothers are both pilots, told The Post Monday that has been advocating against the offshore wind farms for years based on their potential to disrupt both aircraft and ships’ radar — for both civilians and military service members. “Camp Evans is located in my district, and that’s where the radars were created for World War II,” he explained, “and we kne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415215 | Save Jersey article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Citing national security concerns, Trump pauses all U.S. offshore wind construction' | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Matt Rooney Published December 22, 2025 This has been a long time in coming, Save Jerseyans. The negative impact of offshore wind development on tourism and marine life is well established. Back in early 2023, I wrote about the building body of evidence suggesting that giant, radar-confusing turbines off of the East Coast also posed a threat to navigation and national security. “Although the base of the tower is stationary, the nominal area of the turbine to the radar is dynamic since the machine is constantly tracking the wind,” explained Wind Systems Magazine way back in 2010. “Wind turbines are made of highly reflective materials—steel, fiberglass, and carbon fiber composite—and can scatter and return a significant amount of the energy. The turbine tower is the most reflective component, but since it is constantly stationary the rotor is the largest problem to the radar. In most cases the signature can be quite large and can affect the radars/operator’s ability to differentiate the wind farm from flying aircraft and weather storms. The Doppler effect is due to the moving rotor and can affect the moving target indicator of a radar.” “Anyone who has been paying close attention to the shoddy and reckless approval process for these offshore wind projects will not be fooled by this after-the-fact proposal—which is far too little and far too late,” added Congressman Chris Smith (R, NJ-04) in October 2024. “For years, we have been pointing out the lack of serious scrutiny and proper vetting for these projects—especially and including the likely dire impacts on national security and military readiness—but the Biden-Harris Administration has ignored our concerns,” Smith added. “In fact, the implementation of this agreement so late in the process begs the question of what national security threats have been downplayed or neglected by BOEM over the past few years during its reckless, fast-track approval process.” On Monday, the Trump Administration relied upon the clear threat to our homeland to issue a general … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-co-leads-127-members-of-congress-in-urging-dhs-to-withdraw-public-charge-proposal | Menendez Co-Leads 127 Members of Congress in Urging DHS to Withdraw Public Charge Proposal | 2025-12-22 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Vice Chair of Policy for Congressional Hispanic Caucus Highlights Harms to Immigrant Communities and Citizens WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressional Hispanic Caucus Vice Chair of Policy Congressman Rob Menendez today co-led 127 Members of Congress, including 17 Senators and 110 Members of the House, in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed public charge rule, warning it would harm U.S. citizen children, immigrant communities, and public health systems nationwide. “The Trump Administration’s proposed public charge rule is a clear effort to harm immigrant communities and make families afraid to access the services they need,” said Congressman Menendez. “This egregious proposed rule would not only hurt immigrants, but in many cases would restrict access to food, healthcare, childcare, education, and other essential resources for U.S. citizen children. My colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Democratic Caucus across the board will fight against this cruel and unwarranted effort to target families who have done nothing wrong.” “The proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens,” wrote the members, led by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat, CHC Vice Chair of Policy Menendez, CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, Democratic Women’s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fernández, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, in the House, and Sens. Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, and Alex Padilla in the Senate. The Trump administration's proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion. Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs. “The chilling effects triggered… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-demands-accountability-following-death-at-delaney-hall | Rep. Watson Coleman Demands Accountability Following Death at Delaney Hall | 2025-12-20 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Bonnie Watson Coleman | W000822 | watsoncoleman.house.gov | watsoncoleman | https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following news that an ICE detainee died following a brief detention at Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ. In May, Rep. Watson Coleman, along with Reps. Rob Menendez, Jr. and LaMonica McIver reported on substandard conditions following a tour of the facility. In June, four detainees escaped Delaney Hall by breaking through an aluminum exterior wall. “Reports of negligence and abuse have emerged from ICE facilities around the country and are indicative of the Trump Administration’s complete disregard for basic standards of health and safety of detainees. This has been on display at Delaney Hall since it opened this past Spring. “The warnings made by myself, my congressional colleagues, the Mayor, and others have been met by DHS with dismissal and frivolous legal action. Consequences of the administration’s belligerent enforcement and utter disregard for the health or legal rights of detainees continue to mount. “This incident should be thoroughly investigated and Delaney Hall should immediately be closed. I encourage my Congressional colleagues from both parties to actively engage their Constitutional duty of oversight at facilities around the country.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415201 | Jimmy Lai’s son, Sebastien, testified at CECC hearingRep. Smith on the shameful conviction of Hong Kong businessman and democracy/free speech champion, Jimmy Lai | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued the below statement following a Hong Kong court’s unjust conviction of Jimmy Lai—the founder of newspaper Apple Daily and an outspoken advocate for democracy and free speech—on fraudulent, politically motivated national security and sedition charges: “Jimmy Lai’s ‘guilty’ verdict by a Hong Kong court—clearly orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party—is an affront to justice everywhere. Promoting democratic ideals and free speech is not, and should not be, a crime. “In addition to Jimmy’s leadership as an advocate for democracy and free speech, he is a model of Christian conscience and a hero of the Catholic Faith. Though an evil regime seeks to crush him, his witness to Truth—and to Jesus as the Truth—will outlive and outshine his oppressors. “Right now, Jimmy has been deprived of medical care, and his health is declining due to harsh prison conditions. We call upon Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy on simple humanitarian grounds, as a humane gesture to him and his family.” At a Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing chaired by Smith in 2023, entitled “One City, Two Legal Systems: Political Prisoners and the Erosion of the Rule of Law in Hong Kong,” Jimmy’s son, Sebastien, gave compelling testimony about how his father has been vilified and targeted by the CCP and Hong Kong authorities: “My father has never advocated for violence. He is a man of peace. His only so-called ‘crime’ is to disagree and condemn the actions of the CCP and the Hong Kong authorities that seek to silence critical voices. For that, he faces the rest of his life in prison. “My father is a victim of an autocratic State which will not tolerate dissent or criticism. It is clear that there is no longer ‘One Country, Two Systems’ but that Beijing is now controlling Hong Kong. The [National Security Law] spells that out. His treatment is grossly unfair.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415202 | Smith authored the laws that created the position and elevated it to AmbassadorSmith commends Senate confirmation of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun as U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, today welcomed the U.S. Senate’s confirmation of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. “I am glad to see that the U.S. Senate has finally confirmed Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, who I am confident will be an extraordinarily effective and formidable force in the global fight against antisemitism,” said Smith, who, in 2004, wrote the amendment (PL 108-332) that created the State Department’s Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. In 2020, Smith authored the law—the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act—to elevate the Office of the Special Envoy to the high-level position of ambassador (PL 116-326). “When I first authored the legislative provisions to create the position back in 2004, Rabbi Kaploun was exactly the type of leader I had in mind: incredibly strong, remarkably productive, and wholly committed to countering the escalating threats and acts of violence against Jews,” continued Smith. “As acts of antisemitic violence and hate continue to rise—including the horrific December 14th terrorist attack on the Jewish community in Australia—President Trump’s nomination of Rabbi Kaploun sends a strong message to the international community: the United States will never tolerate, excuse, or accept antisemitism within its borders—and anywhere else in the world,” stated Smith, who has chaired 18 congressional hearings on global antisemitism. “I am grateful to President Trump for nominating such an impressive and accomplished candidate to serve as the Special Envoy, and I wish Rabbi Kaploun every success in his new position. “I look forward to working alongside Rabbi Kaploun and his Office of the Special Envoy to eradicate the spiritual cancer of antisemitism that metastasizes around the world,” concluded Smith. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415208 | Utility Dive article on Harris-Smith-Van Drew SPEED Act amendment'House passes permitting reform bill with anti-offshore wind amendment' | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Diana DiGangi Published December 19, 2025 The U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed permitting reform legislation, the SPEED Act, with an amendment that prevents the bill from applying to offshore wind projects. The SPEED Act would amend the National Environmental Policy Act to ease and speed the permitting of energy projects. It introduces new deadlines for opposition to projects – opponents would have to make a claim against a project no later than 150 days after final agency action is made public, for instance. It also mandates that “not later than 30 days after completing an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment for the proposed agency action, the lead agency, and any cooperating agency, shall issue a final agency action.” Getty Images The offshore wind carveout applies to “the issuance, modification, approval, or administration of any lease, easement, right-of-way, site assessment plan, construction and operations plan, or any other authorization for an offshore wind energy project,” the amendment says. The amendment was proposed by two New Jersey representatives, Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., along with Maryland’s lone Republican representative, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md. Smith said in a Thursday release that the amendment was “absolutely critical for preserving the Trump administration’s ability to continue its much-need reviews of ocean wind projects off of the Atlantic Coast due to overwhelming safety and national defense concerns.” He said that the amendment was designed to avoid nullifying the Trump administration’s actions against offshore wind, including a halt on offshore wind permitting which a federal judge struck down as illegal in a Dec. 8 ruling. In his own release, Harris said he “was engaged in deliberations with the House Natural Resources Committee for months to ensure the inclusion of this language, guided by a single principle: my constituents in Ocean City and communities across the Atlantic Coastline are not for sale.”… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415209 | CatholicVote article on PLC statement on CMS Section 1303 guidance'Pro-life caucus praises CMS guidance barring states from redirecting unused abortion funds' | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Elise Winland Published on December 19, 2025 Lawmakers in the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus welcomed new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Dec. 18 that clarifies that leftover abortion-related funds collected under Obamacare cannot be redirected to support state-level abortion programs. The statement was released by the caucus’ co-chairs: Republican Reps. Chris Smith of New Jersey, Andy Harris of Maryland, Bob Onder of Missouri, Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota, and Kat Cammack of Florida. The CMS guidance, released Dec. 9, centers on Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare, which requires qualified health plans that cover elective abortions to collect a separate payment from enrollees for abortion-related services. The law mandates that those funds be kept segregated from federal subsidies. According to the caucus’ statement, the new CMS guidance clarifies that any unused money from the segregated account must be returned to the health plan issuers at year’s end, rather than being reallocated by states for broader abortion programs. “We applaud CMS’s clear guidance that leftover money collected by qualified health plans (QHPs) to fund on-demand abortions, in compliance with Section 1303 of the PPACA, are returned to the QHP issuers,” the lawmakers said. “Leftover funds do not become available to states seeking to bankroll extreme abortion agendas.” The guidance addresses previous concerns that some state legislatures could seize unspent funds for state-run grant programs, effectively “blurring the line between federal taxpayer dollars and individual contributions,” according to the statement. The caucus also credited CMS leadership under Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for “preventing violations of Section 1303” and reiterated their commitment to upholding the Hyde Amendment’s longstanding prohibition on using federal taxpayer dollars for elective abortions. In the statement, lawmakers argued that the PPACA conflic… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/delaney-hall-detainee-dies-in-ice-custody-mciver-demands-accountability | Delaney Hall Detainee Dies in ICE Custody, McIver Demands Accountability | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | LaMonica McIver | M001229 | mciver.house.gov | mciver | https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | NEWARK, NJ – A man detained at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, died last week in ICE custody, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) was informed this week. McIver and others have repeatedly called into question the conditions at Delaney Hall since its opening earlier this year. That legally protected oversight and scrutiny has caused the Trump administration to attempt to curtail oversight, going so far as to rewrite the guidelines to try to eliminate the ability of members of Congress to conduct unannounced inspections of ICE facilities. This year has already been the deadliest in decades for deaths in ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) custody. Rep. McIver released the following statement: “The Trump administration has shown a complete disregard for human rights, human dignity, and human life. This tragedy is not an isolated incident, and we have seen neglect, abuse, and cruelty from this administration as they strip people of the rights this country affords everyone, including those in detention. This incident demands immediate answers,”said Rep. McIver. “We’ve heard about ICE detainees across the country being denied treatment and medication. I want to know exactly what happened, the circumstances of this individual’s confinement and treatment, and what care he did or did not receive.” “The Constitution grants Congress oversight authority for a reason. Someone must be able to speak for the voiceless, go where others are not allowed, and uncover the abuses that we know take place in the dark. Delaney Hall must be closed immediately and a full, independent, investigation needs to take place. I will continue to demand accountability and closely monitor the situation as we learn more,” Rep. McIver concluded. McIver fought the opening of Delaney Hall and has repeatedly called for increased scrutiny, timely oversight, and an end to the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall and across the country. Private and government run ICE facilities subjecting detainees to dangerous conditions has become the norm.… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-condemns-conditions-at-delaney-hall-following-death-of-individual-in-ice-custody | Menendez Condemns Conditions at Delaney Hall Following Death of Individual in ICE Custody | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Today, Congressman Rob Menendez released the following statement after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the death of an individual detained at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility operated by GEO Group: “The reported death of an individual who had been detained at Delaney Hall is deeply disturbing and follows months of serious concerns raised by myself, my fellow New Jersey delegation members, and many groups that have warned of the terrible conditions at this private immigration detention facility. The Trump Administration and ICE have completely disregarded safety, basic human rights, and common decency at detention centers across the country. “This Administration has attempted to impede the lawful oversight authority of myself and other Members of Congress in inspecting conditions at Delaney Hall and other detention centers, and incidents like this are exactly why. I am further disturbed by reports that there were delays in transporting this individual to University Hospital when minutes are able to make the difference between life and death in medical emergencies. While the Trump Administration will never hold itself accountable, my colleagues and I will continue to work to shut down Delaney Hall and private detention centers to prevent further avoidable tragedies.” Congressman Rob Menendez has been a leader in the House of Representatives on oversight of immigrant detention centers, and earlier this year present at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) in an incident that resulted in national attention to the issue. Congressman Menendez has worked to ban private immigrant detention centers and fought the Trump Administration’s illegal restrictions on oversight of detention centers. He has also conducted several unannounced visits of detention centers including Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center and has long advocated for the humane and dignified treatment of individua… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-bilirakis-min-schakowsky-sherman-amo-valadao-and-smith-introduce | Pallone, Bilirakis, Min, Schakowsky, Sherman, Amo, Valadao and Smith Introduce Armenia Partnership Security Act | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. — Earlier today, Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), along with Representatives Dave Min (CA-47), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Gabe Amo (RI-01), David Valadao (CA-22), and Chris Smith (NJ-04) introduced the Armenia Security Partnership Act. This bipartisan legislation is designed to strengthen U.S. policy toward Armenia while holding the Government of Azerbaijan accountable for continued aggression and human rights abuses. It requires the President of the United States to certify to Congress that Azerbaijan has taken meaningful steps to: Completely withdraw all military forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia; Unconditionally release all Armenian prisoners; Cease engaging in hostilities toward Armenia; and Recognize the right of return for ethnic Armenians to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and commit to the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious sites in the region. If the President is unable to make such a certification, the bill would: Require a comprehensive review of U.S. security assistance to Armenia to identify gaps in Armenia’s long-term defense needs and assess the threat posed by Azerbaijan; and Prohibit the reauthorization of the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, thereby enforcing existing statutory prohibitions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan. “Armenia is a key partner in a volatile region and deserves meaningful support as it faces continued threats to its sovereignty and security,” said Congressman Bilirakis. “This legislation sends a clear message that the United States will not turn a blind eye to aggression, human rights abuses, or the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians. Accountability must be at the center of our foreign policy.” Congressman Pallone added, “For far too long, Azerbaijan has been allowed to act with impunity to destabilize the South Caucasus, commit horrific human rights abuses, and threaten the Armenian people. Our bill is a great step in the right direct… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-calls-for-shutdown-of-delaney-hall-ice-facility-and-statement-on-death-of-detainee-at-delaney-hall | Booker Calls for Shutdown of Delaney Hall ICE Facility and Statement on Death of Detainee at Delaney Hall | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | NEWARK, NJ — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement: “I’m deeply concerned about the reported death of a 41-year-old man who was being detained at Delaney Hall yesterday. “For months, I have condemned the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall and the mismanagement of this facility by its private operator, GEO Group - and now this tragic death has compounded the long and grotesque list of atrocities the GEO Group is committing. The Department of Homeland Security’s continued refusal to comply with appropriate oversight of this facility and the GEO Group’s abuses are totally unacceptable. “Because of the inhumane conditions for immigrants at facilities like Delaney Hall, I oppose private detention centers in any form, and have introduced legislation each Congress to end the use of these private prisons for the detention of immigrants and to ensure that our immigration system is aligned with our country’s legal rights and American values. There must be a clear accounting of what happened in this tragedy, and Delaney Hall must be closed so that this stain can be removed from our community of Newark.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-trumps-cannabis-executive-order | Booker Statement on Trump’s Cannabis Executive Order | 2025-12-19 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, issued the following statement in response to Donald Trump’s Executive Order on Cannabis rescheduling: “After decades of ignoring the evidence, the federal government has finally come to terms with what a majority of states have long acknowledged cannabis has medical uses and a lower potential for abuse than drugs like methamphetamine and heroin. For too long, federal law has lagged behind medical and scientific research. Based on this research, the FDA recommended last year that cannabis be rescheduled as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. I am pleased that President Trump has directed the DOJ to complete the rulemaking process and implement this change. “Rescheduling will provide tax relief for businesses operating legally in New Jersey. The change also opens the door for expanded scientific research, allowing medical professionals and institutions to study its potential benefits and risks with far fewer regulatory hurdles. “However, rescheduling cannabis alone will not eliminate the harms of federal prohibition. Millions of Americans, especially Black and Brown communities, will continue to face criminal penalties for recreational use or for using medical marijuana products that lack federal approval. Thousands will remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related offenses. Nor will this change restore access to public housing or nutrition assistance for people who use marijuana recreationally. “While President Trump has moved to reclassify cannabis in accordance with scientific and medical evidence, his administration’s broader approach to marijuana stands in stark contrast. This administration continues to use marijuana offenses as pretext to detain and deport nonviolent immigrants. The Department of Justice rescinded enforcement guidance that had deprioritized charging low-level cannabis crimes, and President Trump just signed legislation that will recriminalize intoxicati… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415198 | Congressional Pro-Life Caucus statement on CMS Section 1303 guidance | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Today, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus—Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Andy Harris (R-MD), Bob Onder (R-MO), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Kat Cammack (R-FL)—issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releasedguidance on the use of segregated funds, obtained in accordance with Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA): “We applaud CMS’s clear guidance that leftover money collected by qualified health plans (QHPs) to fund on-demand abortions, in compliance with Section 1303 of the PPACA, are returned to the QHP issuers. Leftover funds do not become available to states seeking to bankroll extreme abortion agendas. “The CMS guidance clarifies that no funds reallocated from Section 1303 separate accounts at the end of the year may be used to pay for elective abortion. “Previously, it was suggested that state legislatures could seize unspent Section 1303 funds and use the money for state-run grant programs, blurring the line between federal taxpayer dollars and individual contributions. “We are thankful for CMS’s steadfast leadership, under Dr. Mehmet Oz, in preventing violations of Section 1303. “The Pro-Life Caucus remains committed to preventing taxpayer dollars from being used for elective abortions and protecting Hyde’s longstanding, lifesaving legacy.” The Hyde Amendment, which has passed annually with bipartisan support for nearly 50 years, protects federal taxpayer dollars from paying for elective abortion or health plans that cover elective abortion. The PPACA violated the Hyde Amendment by expressly allowing funding for plans that covered elective abortion. Although President Obama issued an executive order claiming that the PPACA would comply with the Hyde Amendment, it instead required health plans that chose to cover elective abortion to keep elective abortion funding completely separate from federal dollars. These plans must collect abortion-related funds in a separate account that is paid for only w… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415200 | House adopts key amendment to preserve Trump administration review of offshore wind projects as part of SPEED Act | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | During debate on HR 4776, the SPEED Act, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted Amendment #4, offered by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) and cosponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), which is absolutely critical for preserving the Trump administration’s ability to continue its much-need reviews of ocean wind projects off of the Atlantic Coast due to overwhelming safety and national defense concerns. The amendment was drafted following a December 5th letter to President Trump, led by Smith and cosigned by Harris and Van Drew, which raised concerns over the legislation’s potential to undermine the Trump administration’s ability to review offshore wind industrialization, should the bill be enacted. With the adoption of the Harris/Smith/Van Drew amendment, the provisions of the SPEED Act will no longer nullify the administrative actions undertaken by the Trump administration prior to the bill’s enactment. This amendment preserves vital tools for President Trump to deliver on his promise to end the ill-conceived ocean wind industrialization experiment off the New Jersey coast. The SPEED Act and the critical Harris/Smith/Van Drew amendment passed the House on Thursday, December 18th and is now pending in the Senate. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases/conaway-durbin-tillis-maloy-introduce-legislation-strengthen-and-improve | Conaway, Durbin, Tillis, Maloy Introduce Legislation to Strengthen and Improve Enforcement of Illegal Tobacco Products | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. | C001136 | conaway.house.gov | conaway | https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington D.C. — Today, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced the bicameral and bipartisan Strengthening Task Force Operations to Prevent Illicit Vaping Act (S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act). This legislation would establish and strengthen a federal multi-agency task force to coordinate enforcement, information sharing, and strategy to combat the illegal importation, distribution, and sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes. “The rise of illegally imported and unregulated e-cigarettes is a growing threat to public health, legitimate businesses, and the integrity of our enforcement system,” said Congressman Conaway. “As a physician, I understand the urgency of protecting Americans from illegal and dangerous tobacco products. The S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act strengthens federal task forces on the front lines, equipping them with the tools and coordination necessary to disrupt illegal vaping networks. This bill takes a responsible, enforcement-focused approach to safeguarding communities and ensuring a lawful, transparent marketplace.” “If we hope to prevent the next generation of children from getting hooked on nicotine, we must enforce our existing laws and finally crack down on the illegal e-cigarette products that are flooding stores nationwide,” said Senator Durbin. “My bipartisan legislation, the S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act, would cement DOJ and FDA’s task force dedicated to preventing the unlawful sale of these unauthorized vape products.” “The flood of illegal and unregulated e-cigarettes, particularly from China, undermines public health, skirts federal law, and disadvantages businesses that play by the rules,” said Senator Tillis. “The S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act strengthens coordination among federal agencies to crack down on these illicit products, protect kids from unauthorized nicotine devices, and ensure our laws are enforced as Congress intended.” “There are clear laws on the books governing tobacco… | 1 | 2026-06-04T06:38:12Z | 2026-06-04T06:39:44Z |
| https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-introduces-bill-to-rename-newark-penn-station-in-honor-of-congressman-donald-payne-jr | McIver Introduces Bill to Rename Newark Penn Station in Honor of Congressman Donald Payne, Jr. | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | LaMonica McIver | M001229 | mciver.house.gov | mciver | https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Today, on what would have been his 67th birthday, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced a bill to rename Newark Penn Station for Donald M. Payne, Jr. Located at 1 Raymond Plaza West Newark, NJ, the station would be renamed the Donald M. Payne, Jr. Transit Center at Newark Penn Station to honor the late Donald Payne, Jr., a devoted public servant and transit champion, who dedicated 12 years to serving New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District in the House of Representatives. “I knew that I had a giant’s shoes to fill when I was elected to serve New Jersey’s 10th Congressional District, succeeding Congressman Payne. Donald Payne, Jr. was a towering leader in our community, championing New Jerseyans from all walks of life—especially through his tireless advocacy for transportation infrastructure,” said Rep. McIver. “Renaming this beacon of transportation for our community is fitting. The Congressman was a trailblazer whose legacy has shaped my leadership and left an enduring imprint on the heart of the 10th District.” “Donald Payne, Jr. wasn't just a colleague, he was like family to me. I’ll always cherish the 10 years I spent working with Don on issues important to us such as access to child care and fighting cancer. He was always fighting for Newark and the communities that needed him most. It's fitting that on his birthday we should remember him by introducing this bill to rename Newark Penn Station in his honor,” said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman. “As a Newark native, Congressman Don Payne understood how central Newark Penn Station is to daily life in the city. On his birthday, I’m proud to support renaming the station in his honor, reflecting his years of service and his advocacy for transportation investments that helped connect Newark to the rest of the region and support the city’s economy,” said Rep. Frank Pallone. Born on December 17th, 1958, Honorable Donald Milford Payne, Jr. graduated Hillside High School and attended college at Kean University in Union. After serving as N… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-demands-state-health-commissioner-deny-application-close-long-branch | Pallone Demands State Health Commissioner Deny Application to Close Long Branch Hospital | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today released the following statement following the final New Jersey State Health Planning Board meeting on the future of Monmouth Medical Center: “At this point, Commissioner Brown has all the information he needs to do the right thing and keep Monmouth Medical Center Hospital in Long Branch open. The State Health Planning Board has raised serious, unresolved concerns about access to care, transportation barriers, existing health disparities, and the strain this move would place on surrounding hospitals. If the Commissioner were to decide to close the Long Branch hospital after all of that has been put plainly on the record, it would be a conscious decision to ignore the facts, the data, and the voices of this community. Long Branch deserves real health care access, not more excuses.” “We have been crystal clear: the consequences of closing Monmouth Medical Center Hospital in Long Branch would be immediate and lasting. Patients would face longer travel times for emergency care, particularly seniors. The loss of a full-service hospital would push patients farther from trauma care, inpatient beds, and a comprehensive emergency department. This would delay treatment when minutes matter and increase the risk of worse health outcomes.” “Over time, the closure of the Long Branch Hospital would weaken the entire regional health care safety net. Nearby hospitals would be forced to absorb additional patients despite already operating near or at capacity, leading to longer wait times, fewer available beds, and increased pressure on emergency departments. Long Branch, a diverse, working-class community with well-documented health disparities, would bear the brunt of that strain, widening gaps in care and leaving residents with fewer options and less stability.” “The Commissioner should not let a low-income community become a hospital desert because RWJ Barnabas wants to capture a wealthier population in Tilton Falls.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-demands-restoration-79-million-new-jersey-schools | Congresswoman Pou Demands Restoration of $7.9 Million to New Jersey Schools | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Nellie Pou | P000621 | pou.house.gov | pou | https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ–09) is calling for the immediate restoration of nearly $8 million in New Jersey school funding abruptly cut by the Trump administration in an urgent new letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon. “I write to express grave concerns over the Department of Education’s recent decision to terminate Paterson, New Jersey School District’s Full-Service Community School grants. This unfounded decision will cause catastrophic harm to students and impede their ability to succeed both in and out of the classroom. I am demanding that the Department of Education reconsider this decision and reverse course before it is too late,” writes Congresswoman Pou to Secretary McMahon. Full-Service Community School grants support a myriad of resources in New Jersey including social, health, nutrition, and mental health services, early childhood education programs, juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs, and educational programs to support the next generation of workers. The cuts impact eight Passaic County schools in the Ninth District: Passaic MLK School No. 6, Passaic High School, Joseph A. Taub Middle School, Paterson International High School, Paterson Eastside High School, Paterson School No. 16, Paterson School No. 6, and Alonzo T. Moody Academy High School. In total, $7.9 million in federal grants will be slashed from these schools ($2.8 million for 2026, $2.8 million for 2027, and $2.3 million for 2028). Nationwide, 18 Full-Service Community School grants are being eliminated by the Trump administration. The text of Congresswoman Pou’s letter to Secretary McMahon is below. Dear Secretary McMahon: I write to express grave concerns over the Department of Education’s recent decision to terminate Paterson, New Jersey School District’s Full-Service Community School (“FSCS”) FY 2022 and FY 2023 grants. This unfounded decision will cause catastrophic harm to students and impede their ability to succeed in and out of the classroom. I am demanding that the Depart… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-railway-safety-bill-cleared-house-panel | Congresswoman Pou Railway Safety Bill Cleared by House Panel | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Nellie Pou | P000621 | pou.house.gov | pou | https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, DC – Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today advanced her railway safety legislation through a key panel. A member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Pou authored the SAFE TRACKS Act (State Actions for Employing Transportation Risk Assessments and Crossing Knowledge Strategies), which aims to improve safety at rail crossings nationwide and help prevent suicides. After being approved unanimously by the full committee today, the bill now heads to the full House. The bipartisan legislation is co-led by Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL-12). “High risk railroad crossings remain a serious threat in communities in northern New Jersey and across our country,” said Congresswoman Pou. “While we have made progress, particularly through the landmark 2021 roads and bridges law, we must continue to pursue railway improvements. My SAFE TRACKS bill will require states, railroads and other stakeholders to work more closely together to reduce pedestrian deaths. These changes will save lives and I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this measure enacted into law.” FRA tracks safety data at the nation’s more than 200,000 railroad crossings. 2016 FRA data shows that Midland Avenue’s railroad crossing in Elmwood Park, New Jersey ranked the sixth most dangerous crossing in the United States, and the most dangerous on the East Coast. Between 2021 and the present, two of New Jersey’s ten deadliest rail crossings were in the Ninth District – located in the cities of Garfield and Paterson – where four incidents led to two deaths. During this period, FRA also reported that Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties had 57 pedestrian or suicide incidents along rail lines – resulting in over 40 deaths and over 20 injuries. The SAFE TRACKS Act would strengthen federal oversight of highway-rail grade crossing safety by building on existing federal regulations which require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to review and approve State Action Plans that identify high-risk highway-ra… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/-booker-gallego-whitehouse-push-administration-to-ensure-tariff-exemptions-actually-result-in-lowering-grocery-costs | Booker, Gallego, Whitehouse Push Administration to Ensure Tariff Exemptions Actually Result in Lowering Grocery Costs | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) sent a letter to Chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Andrew Ferguson questioning how the Commission is working to ensure grocery companies do not use this Administration’s reckless tariff policies as cover for price gouging and that the recently announced tariff exemptions on coffee, bananas, cocoa, and other tropical products actually result in lower grocery prices. “It was a necessary but late step to remove these tariffs. However, while eliminating these tariffs reduces costs for grocery importers, we are concerned that consumers may not see the full corresponding price decreases,” the Senators wrote. “We are concerned that the highly concentrated grocery industry – combined with the Trump Administration’s insufficient antitrust and consumer protection enforcement – creates a perfect storm that could enable giant grocery chains to engage in price gouging or other anti-competitive behavior.” To ensure President Trump’s reckless trade policies are not a “green light” for price gouging, the Senators push the FTC to: Require large grocery stores and food importers to report their costs and retail, and wholesale prices and the extent to which tariff reductions have decreased their costs. Investigate and prosecute companies engaging in “unfair or deceptive acts or practices in or affecting commerce.” Additionally, the Senators requested answers to the following questions: How will you ensure President Trump’s recent tariff removals do not result in sustained elevated prices? What steps will the FTC take to enforce competition and consumer protection laws against individuals and corporations in the grocery and food industry that attempt to price gouge consumers? If consumers have paid excessive prices for these goods since the tariff removals due to price gouging, what steps will the FTC take to ensure that consumers are made whole? | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-waters-introduce-fair-competition-act-to-safeguard-small-businesses-and-strengthen-antitrust-laws | Booker, Waters Introduce Fair Competition Act to Safeguard Small Businesses and Strengthen Antitrust Laws | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee and a member of the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship, introduced the Fair Competition for Small Business Act of 2025, legislation to protect small businesses from anti-competitive pricing practices that favor large retailers. U.S. Representative Maxine Waters (D-CA-43), Ranking Member of the Financial Services Committee, introduced companion legislation in the House. Independent grocers are the backbone of communities across the country, providing jobs, access to food, and stability in both rural and urban neighborhoods. According to the National Grocers Association, independent grocers support over 1.1 million jobs and generate over $41 billion in wages annually. Yet large retail chains use their market power to secure discounts and favorable payment terms from suppliers that smaller grocers lack the leverage to negotiate. As a result, independent grocers are often charged higher prices for the same products—costs that are passed on to consumers—making it nearly impossible for them to compete with large retailers and jeopardizing their ability to remain in business. Although the Robinson-Patman Act prohibits suppliers from charging competing buyers different prices, federal regulators have historically failed to enforce the law, leaving small businesses to fend for themselves against large retailers. The law currently allows state attorneys general to enforce it, but their authority is limited to seeking injunctive relief; they cannot obtain monetary damages on behalf of affected businesses. This flaw limits states’ ability to fully protect small businesses when the federal government fails to enforce the law and limits small businesses’ ability to recover losses from discriminatory pricing. The Fair Competition for Small Business Act protects small businesses and addresses this legal gap by explicitly authorizing state attorney generals to bring civi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases/conaway-wasserman-schultz-introduce-legislation-track-tobacco-products | Conaway, Wasserman Schultz Introduce Legislation to Track Tobacco Products | 2025-12-18 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Herbert C. Conaway, Jr. | C001136 | conaway.house.gov | conaway | https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington D.C. — Today, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced the tobacco Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability for Compliance in Enforcement Act (The Tobacco TRACE Act). This legislation would establish a national track-and-trace system requiring all tobacco products to carry unique, secure tracking codes by June of next year, improving accountability and enforcement across the supply chain. “For too long, gaps in our tobacco oversight system have allowed illicit products to slip through the cracks, undermining public health and law enforcement alike,” said Congressman Conaway. “The Tobacco TRACE Act brings accountability into the 21st century by establishing a secure, national track-and-trace system for tobacco products. By requiring unique, tamper-resistant tracking codes by June 1, 2026, this legislation will strengthen enforcement across the entire supply chain, crack down on illegal tobacco trafficking, and ensure manufacturers and distributors are playing by the rules. This is a commonsense step to protect consumers, support compliance, and give regulators the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.” “Overly lax oversight of tobacco means illegal and harmful versions of this already-deadly product are more likely to end up on shelves, erode public health and needlessly increase medical system costs," said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. "By swiftly establishing a strong track-and-trace system, we will help get these bad-actor products off the market, ensure everyone plays by the rules, and ultimately, reduce tobacco use. Consumers need regulators to have all the tools they need to do this work. This bill does that.” For the Tobacco TRACE Act bill text click here. The Tobacco TRACE Act is cosponsored by: Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) The Tobacco TRACE Act by the following organizations: American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign forTobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics… | 1 | 2026-06-27T21:44:12Z | 2026-06-27T22:31:39Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415195 | Lakewood Alerts article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'Congressman Smith Joins RFK Jr. for Lyme Disease Roundtable' | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Lakewood Alerts Published December 17, 2025 Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday for a roundtable discussion focused on advancing diagnostics, treatment options, and long-term care for Lyme disease patients. The discussion, convened by Kennedy at HHS, brought together senior federal officials, lawmakers, medical experts, and patients. Participants included Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), and specialists in Lyme and tick-borne diseases. Smith, who has authored multiple laws aimed at increasing federal investment in Lyme disease research, said the meeting addressed both current gaps and future opportunities in diagnosing and treating the illness. “This chronic, life-altering disease—which continues to rise throughout the United States, including and especially in my home state of New Jersey—deserves the federal government’s undivided attention and assistance,” Smith said. During the roundtable, Kennedy announced several initiatives intended to strengthen federal efforts on Lyme disease. Among them was the renewal of the $10 million LymeX Innovation Accelerator, a public-private partnership supported by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation that focuses on developing improved diagnostic tools. Smith has previously advocated for federal funding to sustain the program. Kennedy also said CMS will expand its Chronic Care Management program to include individuals with Lyme disease and related conditions. The move is intended to increase access to coordinated medical care and reduce financial barriers for patients with long-term or persistent symptoms. “One of the reasons we wanted to host this meeting is to announce to the world that the gaslighting of Lyme patients is over,” Kennedy said. He added that HHS aims to ensure physicians nationwide are better equ… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-announces-2025-congressional-app-challenge-winners | Kean Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winners | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Thomas H. Kean, Jr. | K000398 | kean.house.gov | kean | https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | (December 17, 2025) LEBANON BOROUGH, NJ — Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. The winning team, Maxwell Brohm of Califon and Zander Leon of Kinnelon, are students at the Morris County School of Technology. Their winning app, ChronoIQ, is designed to enhance students’ time management skills, promoting greater efficiency while minimizing stress and academic pressure. The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a district-wide competition for middle and high school students that encourages coding and inspires student interest in computer science and other STEM fields. This year, the CAC received more than 4,600 applications nationwide and it has become the most prestigious competition in computer science for students, as well as the largest competition of its kind in the country. “I am excited to announce Maxwell Brohm and Zander Leon as the winners of this year’s Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District,” said Congressman Kean. “Today’s students are balancing demanding academic schedules alongside extracurricular activities and personal commitments, and ChronoIQ offers a smart, practical solution to help them manage their time more effectively. Maxwell and Zander's app reflects the remarkable talent, creativity, and problem-solving skills we have in NJ-07. I would also like to commend every student who participated in this year's competition and thank the judges for their time and dedication.” Reflecting on what inspired their app, Brohm and Leon said, “Our inspiration for ChronoIQ came from our own struggles with time management. We both have struggled with procrastination, which causes a lot of stress during school and at home. Staying up late to finish assignments has even affected our health. That’s why we created ChronoIQ, to help students stay organized, lower stress, and live healthier lives.” As winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, the students are e… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-pallone-and-menendez-say-kean-and-van-drew-betrayed-nj-by-not-signing-discharge-petition-to-protect-aca-premium-tax-credits | ICYMI: Pallone & Menendez Say Kean and Van Drew Betrayed NJ by Not Signing Discharge Petition to Protect ACA Premium Tax Credits | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rob Menendez called out New Jersey Congressmen Tom Kean Jr. and Jeff Van Drew for not being among the four Republicans who signed the discharge petition to force a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. “Every House Democrat and four House Republicans signed this discharge petition because we know exactly what happens if these tax credits expire: premiums spike and millions of households get priced out of coverage,” Pallone said. “And even though Congressmen Kean and Van Drew both said they support extending ACA premium tax credits they did nothing to back it up. These credits expire at the end of the year and signing the discharge petition forces Speaker Johnson to schedule a vote. Unfortunately, Kean and Van Drew broke their promise to lower the cost of health care for New Jersey families.” In October, Kean and Van Drew wrote a letter expressing support for extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, a position that directly aligns with the three-year extension included in the discharge petition. Congressman Rob Menendez, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees health policy, said, “Today, several House Republicans joined Democrats in forcing a vote to extend the ACA premium tax credits, which will save Americans and New Jerseyans from skyrocketing healthcare premiums. This petition was an opportunity to show support for New Jerseyans and prevent them from losing their coverage or dealing with the possibility of not being able to afford health insurance at all. That is why I am surprised and disappointed that Reps. Van Drew and Kean – who made public pledges of support for extending ACA tax credits – refused to sign it.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-menendez-say-kean-and-van-drew-betrayed-nj-not-signing-discharge | Pallone & Menendez Say Kean and Van Drew Betrayed NJ by Not Signing Discharge Petition to Protect ACA Premium Tax Credits | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rob Menendez called out New Jersey Congressmen Tom Kean Jr. and Jeff Van Drew for not being among the four Republicans who signed the discharge petition to force a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year. “Every House Democrat and four House Republicans signed this discharge petition because we know exactly what happens if these tax credits expire: premiums spike and millions of households get priced out of coverage,” Pallone said. “And even though Congressmen Kean and Van Drew both said they support extending ACA premium tax credits they did nothing to back it up. These credits expire at the end of the year and signing the discharge petition forces Speaker Johnson to schedule a vote. Unfortunately, Kean and Van Drew broke their promise to lower the cost of health care for New Jersey families.” In October, Kean and Van Drew wrote a letter expressing support for extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, a position that directly aligns with the three-year extension included in the discharge petition. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-introduces-legislation-to-curb-profiteering-by-president | Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Legislation to Curb Profiteering by President | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Bonnie Watson Coleman | W000822 | watsoncoleman.house.gov | watsoncoleman | https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced comprehensive legislation to curb profiteering by the President and his family, the Stop Padding Presidential Pockets Act. Since the start of his second term, President Trump has engaged in a number of schemes that used his position as President to increase his personal wealth. Multiple reports confirm that the President’s net worth has increased by $3 billion from 2024 to 2025. The President has amassed a vast fortune while cutting services to millions of everyday Americans who are living paycheck-to-paycheck. The Stop Padding Presidential Pockets Act will Require anyone who receives Secret Service protection and travels in furtherance of the business interests and financial benefits of the President to reimburse the treasury for costs incurred by the Government pertaining to that travel, including for the provision of Secret Service protection; Amend the Federal Tort Claims Act so that no sitting president or their immediate family members can file or benefit from a claim while the president is in office; Amend the Presidential Libraries Act so that the president and their immediate family cannot solicit gifts or donations for their future Presidential library and museum; Require the President and Vice President to remove themselves from any of their personal business activity and put all their financial holdings into a blind trust; and Require the immediate family of the President and Vice President to provide quarterly reports of their financial holdings and refrain from joining boards of for-profit organizations. “The President has made a killing for himself and his family by wielding the power of the Office while everyday Americans are struggling,” said Watson Coleman. “When the people elect a President, they are putting their trust in him or her to execute the responsibilities of that office with the public good in mind. The President has violated that trust and so measures must be taken to ensure this or any future President puts the ne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/-booker-kim-reintroduce-the-federal-firearm-licensing-act | Booker, Kim Reintroduce the Federal Firearm Licensing Act | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, legislation that would require individuals to obtain a federal firearm license before purchasing or receiving a firearm. Studies show that states that have enacted firearm licensing laws significantly reduced gun violence. The Giffords Law Center reported that Connecticut’s gun homicide and gun suicide rates decreased by 28 and 33 percent, respectively, after passing its firearm licensing law. In contrast, after repealing its firearm licensing law, Missouri experienced a 47 percent increase in gun homicides and a 24 percent increase in suicides. Licensing laws are a common-sense approach to public safety supported by 77 percent of Americans, according to a 2019 Quinnipiac University poll. “Every day, Americans face the relentless scourge of gun violence, most recently the shooting at Brown University, which claimed the lives of two students and left nine others critically wounded. With each new tragedy, we are painfully reminded of Congress’s continued failure to pass commonsense legislation that could end this nightmare and finally make our communities safe. The data is clear: firearm licensing laws drastically reduce gun-related deaths,” said Senator Booker. “If a license is required to drive a car, it should be required to own a gun. TheFederal Firearm Licensing Act brings this common-sense idea to every community in the nation, mandating background checks and proper training before a license is issued. With this legislation, we could save lives, prevent gun violence, and finally make our communities safer.” “Families are demanding Congress step up and deliver commonsense steps that prevent guns from getting into the wrong hands and protect innocent lives from the scourge of gun violence in our country. Too many families are heartbroken, and too many communities have been torn apart by senseless gun violence. Let’s step up with … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/12/18/2025/booker-norton-reintroduce-legislation-to-safeguard-marijuana-rights-in-federally-assisted-housing | Booker, Norton Reintroduce Legislation to Safeguard Marijuana Rights in Federally Assisted Housing | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) reintroduced the Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act to permit the use of marijuana in federally assisted housing, including public housing and Section 8 housing, in compliance with the marijuana laws of the state where the property is located. Under current federal law, users of illegal substances, including marijuana, are prohibited from being admitted into federally assisted housing. Federal law also allows landlords to evict residents of federally assisted housing for illegal drug use. Adult-use marijuana, medical marijuana, or both are currently legal in New Jersey, D.C., and 39 other states, and over 90 percent of Americans support legalized medical marijuana. “Tenants should not be discriminated against, evicted, or denied federally assisted housing for legally using marijuana or treating a medical condition in states where it is permitted,” said Senator Booker. “The Marijuana in Federally Assisted Housing Parity Act would end these discriminatory practices and ensure tenants are not punished for personal choices made in accordance with state law.” “Individuals living in federally funded housing should not fear eviction simply for treating their medical conditions or for seeking a substance legal in their state,” Congresswoman Norton said. “Increasingly, Americans are changing their views on marijuana, and it is time that Congress caught up with its own constituents. With so many states improving their laws, this issue should have broad bipartisan appeal because it protects states’ rights.” For the last several years, Congress has prohibited the Department of Justice from using federal funds to prevent jurisdictions from implementing their medical marijuana laws. This bill would similarly allow individuals to use marijuana in federally assisted housing in compliance with the state’s marijuana laws and would require the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to develop regulations t… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-introduce-bill-advancing-conservation-for-upper-raritan-river | Booker, Kim Introduce Bill Advancing Conservation for Upper Raritan River | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced the Upper Raritan River Watershed Wild and Scenic River Study Act. This legislation would direct the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study evaluating the Upper Raritan River and its key tributaries for potential inclusion in the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. U.S. Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ-07) and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12) introduced companion legislation in the House in October of this year. The study would examine the eligibility and suitability of the Upper Raritan River—including the North Branch, South Branch, and Lamington/Black River tributaries—for designation under the Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers Program, which safeguards free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural, and recreational values. Designation under this program would be a critical step toward empowering local communities to shape a long-term, cooperative plan for the Upper Raritan’s protection and sustainable use. “The Upper Raritan River is a vital resource for New Jersey that sustains our ecosystems and economy, supplies our communities with clean drinking water, supports local farms, and provides recreation for families,”said Senator Booker. “This critical step reflects our common commitment to collaborative, community-led stewardship that will preserve critical river systems for the long-term benefit of New Jerseyans now and in the future.” “When we look after a local natural resource like the Upper Raritan River, we are looking after the health and success of generations of New Jerseyans to come. From clean drinking water to a favorite place for families to visit, the impact of this watershed ripples across ecosystems and communities and I’m proud to be a part of this bipartisan effort to protect it and all it has to offer our state for years to come,” said Senator Kim. “The Upper Raritan River is part of the lifeblood of New Jersey, helping sustain our communities, ecosystems, and local ec… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-passage-of-fy-2026-national-defense-authorization-act | Booker Statement on Passage of FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act | 2025-12-17 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement: “I’m pleased that the final version of this year’s National Defense Authorization Act includes some improvements I’ve been fighting for, such as an amendment I filed to protect the integrity of Picatinny Arsenal, funding for critical military construction projects in New Jersey, a pay increase for service members, and additional funds for educational resources for children with disabilities in military communities through Impact Aid, as well as my amendment to require the State Department to offer both men and women’s sizing options when issuing life-saving tactical gear to federal law enforcement officers and Diplomatic Security agents. “That said, authorizing funding increases without safeguards to hold Donald Trump and his administration accountable would amount to Congress surrendering its constitutional duty to provide a check on this rogue administration and the damage it is doing to our national security departments and agencies. “I will always stand up for New Jerseyans and to protect our national security, but I cannot give the Trump administration a blank check to continue terrorizing our communities and cutting essential funding for our state.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415190 | New diagnostics, effective treatmentsRFK Jr., Smith push solutions to tick-borne disease pandemic | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith and Sec. Kennedy at the HHS' Lyme Disease Roundtable on December 15, 2025. Yesterday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a “game changing” discussion about new and improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and prognoses for Lyme disease patients. The HHS’ Lyme Disease Roundtable discussion, convened by Sec. Kennedy, was also attended by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Lyme disease experts, and patients. “As Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, I was honored to join Secretary Kennedy and other distinguished stakeholders, such as my fellow members of Congress, experts, and patients, in discussing the present state and future possibilities of Lyme disease diagnostics, treatments, and therapies,” said Smith, the author of numerous laws to enhance federal funding for Lyme disease research. “This chronic, life-altering disease—which continues to rise throughout the United States, including and especially in my home state of New Jersey—deserves the federal government’s undivided attention and assistance,” stated the longtime advocate for Lyme patients. “I want to thank, first of all, Congressman Chris Smith, who is the Chair of the Lyme Caucus and who has been responsible for getting some of the funding that we need to make sure that this works,” said Sec. Kennedy. “One of the reasons we wanted to host this meeting is to announce to the world that the gaslighting of Lyme patients is over. “We want to make sure that every physician in the country can recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease and test for it and then direct patients to the best possible treatments,” continued Sec. Kennedy. Throughout the roundtable discussion, Sec. Kennedy—who described the personal impact of Lyme disease on his family—announced numerous, sign… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415193 | Thanks to President Trump for direct engagementChris Smith on the release of Belarusian political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski; announces January hearing on remaining prisoners | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a longtime champion of human rights and democracy in Belarus and author of landmark U.S. legislation—the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004—welcomed the December 13th release of 123 political prisoners by the government of Belarus—a release made possible through the energetic efforts of President Trump. “I rejoice with everyone released and their families—today, they are free, and God willing, the remaining prisoners in Belarus will be free one day as well,” said Smith. Among those freed were Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, prominent opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Viktar Babaryka, and one American citizen. Thanks to President Trump’s direct engagement, more than 200 political prisoners have now been released, including several U.S. citizens. “As the prime author of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 and multiple reauthorizations, as well as the current Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2025 (HR 3225), I have worked for decades to hold the Lukashenko regime accountable and secure freedom for Belarus’s political prisoners,” stated Smith, who co-chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. “Full credit should be given to President Trump for this remarkable achievement—his bold diplomacy and personal engagement have delivered life-saving results for 123 innocent people, who were languishing in brutal detention. Now, they are with their families. I have had the privilege of meeting some of the released prisoners, and their stories of courage amid unimaginable hardship are deeply inspiring,” continued Smith. “We must not forget the more than 1,000 political prisoners who remain behind bars in harsh and often life-threatening conditions. Their immediate and unconditional release is clearly a top priority for President Trump. In order to build on the President’s momentum, I plan to hold a congressional hearing in January focused on the remaining prisoners.” Smith has led U.S. legislative efforts on Belarus for over two decades, authoring the original… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415194 | The Lakewood Scoop article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'RFK Jr., Smith Push Solutions to Tick-borne Disease Pandemic' | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By The Lakewood Scoop Published December 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM Congressman Chris Smith, the longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined Kennedy this week at a high-level Lyme Disease Roundtable convened by HHS to address what both leaders described as a growing public health crisis. The discussion brought together federal health officials, members of Congress, medical experts, and Lyme disease patients to explore new diagnostics, therapies, and long-term care options. Lyme disease cases continue to rise throughout the country, with New Jersey among the hardest-hit states. Smith, who has authored and championed numerous laws to increase federal funding for Lyme research, said the disease has been ignored for far too long. Kennedy credited Smith with securing critical funding and helping elevate the issue nationally, stating that federal agencies are now committed to ending what he described as the “gaslighting” of Lyme disease patients. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that physicians nationwide can recognize symptoms, properly test for Lyme, and guide patients to effective treatment. During the roundtable, Kennedy announced several significant initiatives, including the renewal of the $10 million LymeX Innovation Accelerator, which will support the development of improved diagnostic tools through a public-private partnership, and the expansion of Medicare’s Chronic Care Management program to include Lyme disease patients, reducing financial barriers and improving coordinated care for those suffering from chronic symptoms. Smith praised the announcements as a turning point, calling the discussions “beacons of hope” for patients who have long struggled to obtain answers and proper treatment. He said stronger diagnostic standards and improved therapies are critical steps toward finally addressing what many patients describe as an invisible yet debilitating illness. The meeting follows another major development in federal Lyme research efforts: the recent House passa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415197 | Jewish Insider article on letter from co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism'After Sydney Hanukkah massacre, House lawmakers urge Australia to act to protect Jewish community' | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Marc Rod Published December 16, 2025 The co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism are urging Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to act more forcefully to protect Australia’s Jewish community and implement months-old recommendations from the country’s antisemitism envoy. In a letter to Albanese sent Monday, the ten lawmakers said that the attack, which killed at least 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration, “comes in the wake of the Australian Jewish community repeatedly raising the alarm and urging swift action to counter the spread of unchecked antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations occurring in Australia for far too long.” The lawmakers said that there have been repeated “warning signs,” including firebombings of synagogues, graffiti, assaults and threats of violence, which “have now led to a tragic reality.” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a press conference in Canberra on August 11, 2025. They noted that Jillian Segal, the Australian special envoy to combat antisemitism, released 49 recommendations to be implemented across a range of institutions in July, and questioned what the Australian government has done to enact that plan and how it will protect the Jewish community going forward. The lawmakers called on Albanese to “move swiftly and decisively” to implement those recommendations. “While we appreciate Australia joining the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism led by the United States, we urge your government to implement and actively utilize this document and its recommendations within,” the letter continues. “We also encourage you to further insulate Australia from malign foreign influence, like that of Iran and possibly others, which has been found to be supporting antisemitic attacks in Australia.” The letter states that Australia’s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terrorist organization “is an important first step, but it cannot be the last step if Australia is to address the antisemitism brewi… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-delivers-500000-federal-grants-support-local-fire-departments | Kean Delivers $500,000 in Federal Grants to Support Local Fire Departments | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Thomas H. Kean, Jr. | K000398 | kean.house.gov | kean | https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | (December 16, 2025) LEBANON BOROUGH, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that $510,531 in federal grant funding will be delivered to six fire departments in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District to support their public safety missions. The funding was provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program. Congressman Kean played a key role in securing these funds for local fire departments. In February 2024, he hosted a webinar to explain the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program and assist departments in navigating the application process. Congressman Kean also submitted letters of support for fire departments that requested assistance. The funding was made possible through Congressman Kean’s legislation, the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which provided critical federal resources to support many fire departments across New Jersey and over 1,000 other departments nationwide. His bill, which was signed into law in July 2024, reauthorized for five years the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program, the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program. “I am thrilled to announce that we brought home over $500,000 in federal dollars to support six fire departments in New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “Every day, our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families and neighbors, and these grants will help departments purchase essential equipment, enhance training, and strengthen readiness to keep communities safe. I remain committed to supporting our first responders and I encourage other departments in the district to apply for these grants. My office stands ready to assist throughout the process.” “We are grateful for this $75,000 AFG grant and for Congressman Kean’s support in securing these funds for Summit,” said Summit Mayor Eli… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-introduces-bill-aimed-at-lowering-household-energy-costs-during-inflation | McIver Introduces Bill Aimed at Lowering Household Energy Costs During Inflation | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | LaMonica McIver | M001229 | mciver.house.gov | mciver | https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced the Utility Price Lift In Flux & Transition (UPLIFT) Act, a bill aimed at easing the burden of household energy costs during inflation spikes through the creation of a new federal tax credit. The tax credit would offer relief and stability to Americans by addressing the rising, unpredictable costs of their utilities. “Making paying the bills a little easier is exactly why I am introducing the UPLIFT Act. Every month, millions of American families face the burden of rising energy bills. Under this administration, that burden is growing. In the face of inflation and spikes in utility costs, Americans are struggling to keep the lights on and their homes livable,” said Rep. McIver. “Heat and cool air are necessities, not luxuries, and too many households—especially working-class and elderly Americans—are being forced to make painful decisions because those bills are just too high. I am proud that this bill takes responsive steps to give our communities breathing room when inflation hits hardest. Lowering costs is exactly the kind of work I came to Washington to do.” “As the Trump administration’s policies send heating and electricity prices soaring twice as fast as inflation for millions of households across the country, Congress needs to ensure those spending more of their income on their energy bill get needed financial relief,” said Meghan Pazik, senior policy advocate with Public Citizen’s Climate Program. “Policymakers need to provide economic solutions for low-income and vulnerable communities from these electricity price surges. Congresswoman McIver’s UPLIFT Act is a step in the right direction to address the growing affordability crisis and give those hit hardest a chance with targeted, timely, and direct support.” “United for a Fair Economy supports the UPLIFT Act. At a time like this, when the very wealthy are controlling more wealth and power while others struggle, the UPLIFT Act is a common-sense solution to help families in nee… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-announces-125-million-grant-for-jersey-city-public-schools | Menendez Announces $1.25 Million Grant for Jersey City Public Schools | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) today announced a $1,249,501 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DoED) for Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS). The grant, part of DoED’s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration program, will fund JCPS’s Project STARR, which will implement dual-focused school psychology practical training and internships to prepare school psychology graduate trainees to deliver early and intensive mental health services in addition to school psychology competencies. “I am proud to announce this funding which advances a critical priority – the mental health of our children,” said Congressman Menendez. “In working with Jersey City Public Schools, we have now delivered federal funding which will put more mental health professionals into Jersey City schools and provide children with mental-health services at a time when many children need all of the support that can be given to them. I have and always will fight for every single resource that we can secure to support our children and our public schools.” “We are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to receive the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Program Grant,” said Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez. “The grant represents a critical investment in our students’ well-being. This funding is essential for the Jersey City Public Schools District to continue and expand our dedicated school-based mental health services, ensuring our students have the consistent support they need to thrive academically and personally.” "Thank you Congressman Rob Menendez for securing this generous grant, and for your continued support of the Jersey City School District," said Jersey City Board of Education President Noemi Velazquez. "At a time when Washington is cutting funding for the much needed educational programs, it is heartwarming to know that we can depend on a friend and champion like you in Congress, advocating for our children. Your tireless efforts and sound commitment to your community neve… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-lee-reintroduce-bipartisan-bill-to-improve-the-eqip-conservation-program | Booker, Lee Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Improve the EQIP Conservation Program | 2025-12-16 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, and Mike Lee (R-UT) reintroduced the Environmental Quality Incentive Program (EQIP) Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill that would reshape EQIP to be more equitable and effective. Established in 1998, EQIP is a voluntary conservation initiative that offers farmers and ranchers federal cost-share grants to adopt environmentally beneficial practices on their land. Unfortunately, the USDA currently turns away over half of the farmers seeking conservation assistance due to high demand; in 2023, over 75,000 farmers were turned away from EQIP. This legislation would strengthen EQIP by ensuring more farmers and ranchers can participate in the program, particularly small farmers; funding the most effective conservation practices; and giving states greater flexibility in implementing the program. “To make the EQIP Program more effective, this bill would re-focus support towards farmers that need it most by targeting funding to more producers and prioritizing conservation practices with significantly greater environmental benefits,” said Senator Booker. “With this bill, we will see more federal funding go toward providing vital financial support to our small family farmers and ranchers.” “Big Ag is hogging taxpayer dollars for their bloated, ineffective projects,” said Senator Mike Lee. “The EQIP program is meant to benefit small farmers too, but when bigger players monopolize grant pools, fewer farms get their fair share and taxpayers end up funding pointless projects. The EQIP Improvement Act will lower the payment cap for single projects to reduce runaway spending on money pits, give states flexibility to prioritize their critical farming initiatives, and slash spending on ineffective waste. Both farmers and taxpayers will be better off with these changes in place.” “I am hopeful that the EQIP Improvement Act of 2025 will level the playing field, allowing more smaller farms to access … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415188 | Daily Mail article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'US military under investigation over claims it weaponized ticks to spread insidious disease' | 2025-12-15 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Stacy Liberatore, US Science & Technology Editor Published 11:01 EST, 15 December 2025 Scientists have long debated a chilling question: Did the US military weaponize ticks during the Cold War? Now, Congress is demanding answers with a newly filed amendment that directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether federal agencies experimented with pathogen-laden ticks as tools of war. The provision, authored by New Jersey Representative Chris Smith and filed on Friday, calls for a review of military, National Institutes of Health and US Department of Agriculture projects conducted between 1945 and 1972 involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales, two families of bacteria linked to tick-borne illnesses. Smith, who co-chairs the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, said the effort is driven by New Jersey's unusually high infection rates and concerns for civilians and military personnel stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. 'The hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans suffering from Lyme disease deserve to know the truth about the origins of their illness,' Smith said. Smith is not the first public official to raise such questions, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has previously suggested that Lyme disease may have emerged from a failed US bioweapons program in the 1970s, allegedly involving research at Plum Island, New York. Scientists, however, have repeatedly rejected those claims, calling them a debunked conspiracy and pointing to evidence that Lyme-causing bacteria existed in North America long before the 20th century. Lyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is reported in 30,000 to 40,000 cases annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though the agency estimates that as many as 476,000 infections may occur each year and go undiagnosed. Congress is demanding answers with a newly filed amendment that directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether federal agencies expe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415189 | TAPinto Gold Coast article on Smith's statement condemning antisemitic violence'Congressman Smith Condemns Deadly Antisemitic Attack at Hanukkah Event in Australia' | 2025-12-15 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Jim Lonergan Published December 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., condemned a deadly antisemitic terrorist attack this weekend at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, including children and elderly attendees. The attack occurred during a public Hanukkah gathering near the beach, where families and community members had assembled to celebrate the holiday. Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism. Multiple attackers were involved, and police said the rapid intervention of bystanders and first responders prevented an even higher death toll. The incident has sent shockwaves through Australia and prompted heightened security around Jewish institutions nationwide. In a statement, Smith expressed condolences to the victims and the Australian Jewish community, calling the attack a stark example of the global rise in antisemitic violence. “My heart breaks for the victims, their families, and the entire Australian Jewish community enduring this unimaginable tragedy,” Smith said. “The savagery and cruelty of this attack on Jewish families echoes the worst antisemitic violence we have seen since the October 7 Hamas atrocity.” Smith also praised the actions of a bystander who intervened during the attack, tackling and disarming one of the gunmen. He said the individual’s actions likely saved many lives. A longtime advocate for combating antisemitism, Smith is the author of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2021. He used the moment to renew calls for stronger international efforts to confront antisemitism and hold perpetrators accountable. Under the law, President Trump nominated Yehuda Kaploun in April to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, with the rank of ambassador. Smith noted that nearly nine months later, the nomination is still awaiting final Senate confirmation. The delay … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-co-leads-legislation-to-safeguard-emergency-alerts-funding-protect-public-safety-communications | Menendez Co-Leads Legislation to Safeguard Emergency Alerts Funding, Protect Public Safety Communications | 2025-12-15 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08), along with Representatives Tim Kennedy (NY-26), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Nanette Barragan (CA-44), introduced the Supporting and Advancing Federal Emergency Communications through Infrastructure (SAFE Comms) Act, legislation to ensure that local broadcasters can continue to deliver lifesaving emergency alerts despite disruptions to the federal grant program that supports them. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to administer and disburse funds through the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program, guaranteeing that already-approved funds to improve emergency alerting reach communities across New Jersey and the nation. “FEMA programs like the Next Generation Warning System are crucial to ensuring that our communities stay up-to-date with life-saving emergency information,” said Congressman Menendez. “With Republican cuts to public broadcasting, we must continue to fund and protect this program so local public media stations can provide timely alerts to New Jerseyans in the most critical moments.” “As Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, it is my priority to ensure that the bedrock of our emergency alerting system - local stations - receive promised support from Congress,” said Congressman Tim Kennedy. “In the face of this President’s assault on FEMA and its lifesaving programs, we must guarantee the continuity of the Next Generation Warning System. I’m proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that local communities in Western New York and across the U.S. continue to benefit from critical federal investments in emergency alerting infrastructure.” “Local public TV and radio stations are a lifeline during emergencies, especially in rural and underserved communities,” said Congresswoman Nanette Barragán.“The Next Generation Warning System Grant Program helps these stations get the resources they need to send timely alerts when people need them most. I’m proud to join Reps. Kenned… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-congressional-progressive-caucus-announce-taskforce-on-rebuilding-and-reimagining-the-government | Rep. Watson Coleman, Congressional Progressive Caucus Announce Taskforce on Rebuilding and Reimagining the Government | 2025-12-15 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Bonnie Watson Coleman | W000822 | watsoncoleman.house.gov | watsoncoleman | https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the creation of the Congressional Progressive Caucus’s Taskforce on Rebuilding and Reimagining the Government. The taskforce, created in response to the harm the Trump Administration has done to the functioning and responsiveness of the federal government, will examine the recent erosion to in the effectiveness of federal agencies within the Executive Branch and make legislative proposals to address the shortcomings of the federal government, restore and improve agencies’ critical roles and functioning, and protect them from destructive actions by their executive leadership, and develop bold new ideas to reorient these agencies wherever appropriate to deliver more immediate, visible, and direct benefits for the American people. The taskforce will culminate in a report published by the end of 2026, as well as legislative proposals. Congresswoman Watson Coleman is an Executive Board Member of the CPC who led its Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force. She also chairs the Democratic Caucus’s Taskforce on Poverty and founded and chaired the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health in 2019. “We’ve seen the damage one administration can do to the working of the federal government when our institutions are weak. However, a people’s lack of trust in the ability of the Federal Government to deliver for them far preceded the Trump Presidencies,” said Watson Coleman. “We have a responsibility to both strengthen our democratic institutions as well as ensure they are oriented toward serving everyday people. This is no small task, but the Progressive Caucus has some of the most brilliant, forward-thinking, and creative minds in Congress who I know are up to the task of rebuilding and reimagining a government that works for everyone.” “A functioning democracy requires a government that people can trust to improve their lives,” said Rep. Omar. “I am proud to join this taskforce to rebuild and reimagine a federal govern… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-slams-republicans-for-refusing-to-extend-aca-tax-credits-doubling-premiums-for-over-20-million-americans_im-going-to-tell-you-right-now-we-are-going-to-fight-for-you | Booker Slams Republicans for Refusing to Extend ACA Tax Credits, Doubling Premiums for Over 20 Million Americans: “I’m going to tell you right now, we are going to fight for you” | 2025-12-15 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | In case you missed it, after Senate Republicans failed to extend the ACA tax credits and voted to increase premiums for over 20 million Americans, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) is continuing to stand up to President Trump and fight for an affordable health care system for American families. In national, local, and radio interviews, digital videos, and conversations with his constituents, Booker is making it clear that the fight for affordable health care is not over. Booker promised he would continue to work to lower costs and find solutions after Trump and Republicans gutted the country’s health care system, “Health care in America is already broken. We should be working to fix it, to expand coverage, to lower costs. But instead of doing something more to help, they’re about to pull the rug out for millions of Americans, kneecapping hospitals and clinics, making it harder for the average American to access the care that they need.” MS NOW: Ana Cabrera Reports December 11, 2025 Sen. Booker: “I’m really stunned that the Republican party has decided to declare war on Americans' health security and health care. Remember they are doing two things that will take effect next year. They are not renewing these subsidies which will cause tens of millions of people to see either their health care lost completely or massive premium increases. That’s at the beginning of the year. And remember, they took a trillion dollars out of Medicaid which will mean again, millions and millions of Americans losing health care.” Fox5 New York December 12, 2025 Sen. Booker: “It is going to cause mayhem in our hospital emergency rooms as people turn to them for their primary care. I've had hospital systems tell me, point blank, we are going to have to cut many of the services we provide to the community, so it has a cascading effect in our state. But a number of congressional republicans, House republicans, are openly breaking with the president and saying, we want to extend these cuts.” @SenBooker December 11, 2025 Sen Booker: “… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415185 | Calls on U.S. Senate to confirm Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat AntisemitismSmith condemns antisemitic terror attack targeting Jewish community during Hanukkah in Australia | 2025-12-14 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | The author of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2021— Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—condemned the horrific, antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The attackers opened fire on a peaceful Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 innocent people—including children and the elderly—and injuring dozens more. “My heart breaks for the victims, their families, and the entire Australian Jewish community enduring this unimaginable tragedy, and my wife, Marie, and I pray for the swift recovery of the wounded. The savagery and cruelty of this attack on Jewish families echoes the worst antisemitic violence we’ve seen since the October 7th Hamas atrocity. It is a stark reminder of the truly dark nature of the spiritual cancer of antisemitism that metastasizes around the world,” said Smith, who, in 2004, wrote the amendment that created the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, now known as the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism. “I commend the extraordinary courage of the bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen—he saved many lives.” Smith, a longtime advocate for combating antisemitism through legislation and congressional hearings, called for immediate international action to root out this hatred. Pursuant to Smith’s law, last April, President Trump nominated Yehuda Kaploun to serve as the Special Envoy with the rank of Ambassador to “serve as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts across, the United States Government relating to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries…” Smith said, “Nearly nine months later, the U.S. Senate may finally confirm Yehuda Kaploun.” In April, President Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I am proud to nominate Yehuda Kaploun as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador-at-Large. “Yehuda is a successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his peopl… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watson-coleman-statement-on-bondi-beach-shooting | Watson Coleman Statement on Bondi Beach Shooting | 2025-12-14 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Bonnie Watson Coleman | W000822 | watsoncoleman.house.gov | watsoncoleman | https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases | scraper | Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia which killed 11 people. “The horrific murders at Bondi Beach displayed for all to see the hate that still exists in this world. I am praying for the victims, their families, and all people impacted, including the Jewish community around the world as they begin Hanukkah this evening. “I’m grateful to the authorities who took action and the bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, whose courageous act, tackling and disarming one of the shooters, saved countless lives. “We are all children of God. We must learn to see in each other the humanity God granted us. May He comfort those impacted and may he grant us all the ability to extinguish hate and create a more peaceful world.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415180 | Export Compliance Daily article on Smith's House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'House Lawmaker Seeks Terror Label for Sudan's RSF' | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Marc Selinger Published December 12, 2025 Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said Dec. 11 the U.S. should designate Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia a Foreign Terrorist Organization. At a hearing on Sudan’s civil war, which pits the militia against the Sudanese Armed Forces, Smith accused the RSF of a host of crimes, including a recent deadly attack on a kindergarten. His comments came about six weeks after a bipartisan group of six senators said the U.S. should consider designating the RSF an FTO or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (see 2511040018). Also at the subcommittee hearing, Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., the panel's ranking member, urged the Trump administration to sanction entities in the United Arab Emirates that back the RSF. She also called for blocking weapons sales to the UAE until it stops providing material support to the RSF. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., tried unsuccessfully last month to force a Senate vote on a bill to suspend arms sales to the UAE (see 2511210036). | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415184 | Fox News article on Smith's House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'As world fixates on other wars, Sudan sees 12 million forcibly displaced in devastating conflict' | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Chris Massaro Published December 12, 2025 at 10:18 AM EST While the world’s attention has focused on Russia’s war in Ukraine and Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, Sudan remains the world’s largest displacement crisis, with some 12 million people driven out of their homes. "Sudan is under the darkest of clouds, a catastrophe that has, for far too long, been met with paralysis by the international community," Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., chair of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, said during his opening statements during a December 11 hearing on crimes against humanity in Sudan. Smith said the hearing was a global call to action and that there must be an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring factions. Smoke rises as clashes continue in the Sudanese capital on April 16, 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The death toll in ongoing clashes between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reached 56, while the injured is 595. (Photo by Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) "Crimes against humanity — particularly by the Rapid Support Forces — including mass rape, ethnic targeting and systematic looting, must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable," Smith added. The conflict in Sudan has received renewed attention after President Donald Trump vowed to secure a peace deal in the African nation following his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in November. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, recently said repeated drone strikes on Dec. 4 in Sudan’s South Kordofan region struck a kindergarten and nearby hospital, killing 114 people, including 63 children. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, held a hearing on Sudan’s devastating civil war on Thursday. (Rep. Chris Smith's Office) "Disturbingly, paramedics and responders came under attack as they tried to move the injured from the ki… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-amo-introduce-bill-promote-drone-and-aviation-safety-advance-research | Kean, Amo Introduce Bill to Promote Drone and Aviation Safety, Advance Research & Development | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Thomas H. Kean, Jr. | K000398 | kean.house.gov | kean | https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | (December 12, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) announced the introduction of the Drone Safety Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation designed to advance research on drones and support the future of advanced air mobility. The bill strengthens federal research and development (R&D) efforts focused on drone safety and autonomous aviation within the national airspace system. It also directly supports ongoing work at federal aviation laboratories—including the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace located in New Jersey—to ensure safe, efficient, and modern evolution of aviation technology. “As technology rapidly advances and drones become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it is critical that air traffic for these systems is managed safely and transparently,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “I introduced the Drone Safety Enhancement Act with Representative Amo to direct the research needed to modernize our national airspace and support responsible integration of emerging technologies. Continued R&D in autonomous aviation is vital to America’s competitiveness and to guaranteeing our airspace remains safe, efficient, and prepared for the future.” “I’m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Drone Safety Enhancement Act with Congressman Tom Kean to ensure the federal government is collaborating across agencies and with leaders in academia and industry to enhance our understanding of drones and advanced air mobility,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “We must harness emerging technologies for good.” Specifically, the bill would: Require the NASA Administrator, the FAA Administrator, and leaders of other relevant federal agencies to collaborate on research related to unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility. This includes research on unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) and autonomous aviation capabilities. Require congressional briefings on the progress of this research 18 months after the bill’s enactment… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-applauds-court-ruling-forcing-trump-administration-restore-disaster | Pallone Applauds Court Ruling Forcing Trump Administration to Restore Disaster Preparedness Funding for Highlands, Communities Across Country | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today issued a statement following the successful lawsuit against the Trump Administration’s illegal attempt to unilaterally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC program): “Disaster preparedness shouldn’t be a partisan issue, and this court order means the Trump Administration can’t shut down a program designed to keep New Jersey communities safe. This is great news for Highlands, which had a $12 million award taken away by President Trump. I’m going to keep pushing to make sure this Administration follows the law and delivers every dime. Our state is on the front line every hurricane season, and we know that every dollar invested in disaster preparedness saves property and lives. Trump is hellbent on abolishing FEMA and illegally gutting vital disaster assistance programs, and this lawsuit confirms that the power to legislate lies with Congress—and not a power-hungry president." The BRIC program is the core of FEMA’s disaster mitigation efforts and has invested approximately $4.5 billion in funding nationwide and $180 million in New Jersey for projects such as evacuation shelters, grid strengthening, wastewater management infrastructure, road fortification, and flood walls. After the Trump Administration moved to unilaterally cancel funding for the program, attorneys general from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit to block the Administration’s actions, arguing they were in direct violation of the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Separation of Powers outlined in… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-wants-answers-concerns-raised-state-health-planning-board-meeting-next | Pallone Wants Answers To Concerns Raised by State Health Planning Board at Meeting Next Week on the Future of Monmouth Medical Center | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | LONG BRANCH, N.J. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today released the following statement in response to the State Health Planning Board’s decision to hold a special public meeting, Thursday December 16th, to consider RWJ Barnabas Health’s proposal to move Monmouth Medical Center hospital from Long Branch to Tinton Falls: “At their last meeting on December 4th, the state health planning board echoed the concerns of community members who spoke out against the proposed removal of Monmouth Medical Center hospital from Long Branch. The Board had several questions about health disparities in the Long Branch area, transportation, and the impact on nearby hospitals and whether RWJ Barnabas Health would keep medical services in Long Branch long-term. The Board asked serious questions that deserve answers with full analysis so we can better understand the impact of RWJ Barnabas’ proposal. Instead of moving the hospital away from families who need it most, the State should invest in a solution that works for everyone. As I have said from the beginning of this process, I continue to try and find a path forward in Long Branch to keep critical inpatient and outpatient acute care services with a full-service emergency department. We had a compromise that achieved that objective and if there’s enough political will, we can make it a reality.” Pallone has led opposition to RWJ Barnabas Health’s plan to close Monmouth Medical Center hospital in Long Branch from day one, arguing that the plan would worsen health care outcomes for area residents and deepen the national health care crisis for the region. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-statement-impeachment-resolution | Congresswoman Pou Statement on Impeachment Resolution | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Nellie Pou | P000621 | pou.house.gov | pou | https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ–09) issued the following statement after voting present to table H. Res.939. “The American people are counting on us to address the challenges created by this Administration. This President and this Republican Congress promised to make life in America more affordable — yet they have failed miserably. “It is clear that President Trump’s disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law requires that Congress reclaim its oversight duties over his administration and exercise its authority in the way our founders intended. “Impeachment calls for transparency, and a presentation of facts and evidence to the public, in order to hold any President to account for high crimes and misdemeanors. Under the current House MAGA leadership, those conditions are simply not available. “In order to hold any President to account for high crimes and misdemeanors, impeachment requires a transparent process with hearings, testimonies and investigations with the support of the majorities in the House and Senate — all conditions that are simply not available under the current Republican leadership. “Because there is no viable process for impeachment at this time, I voted present on today’s motion to table the resolution. I want to be clear: this vote does not excuse the illegal actions of this president and his administration, Congress has other avenues for accountability that we can and should be utilizing. “I am committed to upholding the rule of law, defending our Constitution and protecting democracy.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-votes-pay-raise-troops | Congresswoman Pou Votes for a Pay Raise for Troops | 2025-12-12 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Nellie Pou | P000621 | pou.house.gov | pou | https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON — Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ–09) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. “This week, I voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. Though far from perfect — this funding gives a well-deserved pay increase to military personnel, provides support to our allies and friends like Ukraine and Taiwan, repeals outdated sanctions to Syria, and strengthens our national security,” said Congresswoman Pou. “I am proud of our Democratic caucus which stood firm and defeated the inclusion of harmful amendments that attempted to please the president at the expense of the American people. I hope this bill is a testament to the bipartisan work that is possible, even in this Congress and I urge my colleagues on both sides to continue working together for the security, safety, and well-being of the American people.” The funding authorizes a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers, expands bonuses and special pays, extends childcare services for military families, boosts the family separation allowance, and orders a review to ensure housing allowances keep pace with rising rents. This bill repeals outdated Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, originally imposed during the rule of former dictator Bashar al-Assad. It provides $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine and extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415165 | Lakewood Alerts article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'Is Lyme Disease a U.S.-Made Biological Weapon? Rep. Chris Smith Triggers Federal Probe' | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Lakewood Alerts Published December 11, 2025 A long-debated question about the origins of Lyme disease is poised for federal scrutiny after Congress approved an amendment requiring an investigation into whether the U.S. military once weaponized ticks. The provision, authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 and now awaits the President’s signature. Smith’s amendment, now Sec. 1068 of the defense bill, directs the Government Accountability Office to examine Cold War-era biological weapons research and determine whether federal agencies used ticks as delivery mechanisms for pathogens. The review will encompass military, NIH, and USDA projects from 1945 to 1972 involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales, two families of bacteria linked to tick-borne illnesses. Smith, who co-chairs the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, said the push is rooted in New Jersey’s unusually high infection rates and concerns for both civilians and military personnel stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. “The hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans suffering from Lyme disease deserve to know the truth about the origins of their illness,” he said. The amendment follows two similar efforts Smith advanced in 2019 and 2021, which cleared the House but were blocked in the Senate. His renewed push has drawn attention in part because of claims featured in Kris Newby’s book Bitten, which cites interviews and files from Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, the scientist credited with discovering Lyme disease. Burgdorfer, according to the book, said he and other researchers experimented with pathogen-loaded ticks for potential battlefield use. Smith said the GAO probe could either confirm or definitively dispel theories about government involvement in the spread of Lyme disease. “If the investigation concludes that our bioweapons program was not involved, we turn the page,” he said. “But we need answers.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415166 | Opening statement of Chairman Smith at hearing on SudanStopping the Bloodshed: U.S. Response to Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | The following are excerpts of Chairman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) opening statement at the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee’s December 11th hearing—his seventeenth hearing chaired exclusively on Sudan—entitled “Stopping the Bloodshed: U.S. Response to Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan”: Last week, I had the honor of attending President Trump’s convening of two African leaders to bring an end to decades of bloodshed and war in eastern Congo. It is through the President’s leadership, and the tireless efforts of his staff, that the leaders were able to sign an historic accord—the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity—the gravity of which, we hope, will result in a lasting peace between Rwanda and the DRC. The President is a man of peace—peace through strength—and I am encouraged by his focus and engagement on Sudan. Sudan is under the darkest of clouds, a catastrophe that has, for far too long, been met with paralysis by the international community. The people of Sudan have been subjected to unbearable pain, suffering, and loss of life—even slavery—for decades. Three decades ago, I chaired a hearing in 1996 on the scourge of slavery in Sudan and Mauritania, where we heard testimony that chilled the soul. I went to Khartoum in August of 2005 and met with President Omar al Bashir and other government officials to press for an end to the genocide in Darfur. The meeting was necessarily contentious. Bashir denied any wrongdoing or complicity in the Darfur genocide. In 2009, however, Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, and in 2010, he was the first person ever charged for the crime of genocide. After meetings with Bashir and other government officials, my staff director, Greg Simkins, and I visited two refugee camps in Darfur—Kalma camp and stayed overnight at another, Mukjar—an experience that profoundly motivated me to do more to end the mass violence. When our helicopter landed at the remote Mukjar camp, thousands of women an… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415176 | WATCH: Rep. Chris Smith highlights House hearing on Sudanese Civil War and religious liberty concerns there | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, sat down with Tony Perkins on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss religious persecution throughout the globe, the violence perpetrated by Hamas and other radical Islamist groups, and his recent House hearing on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan. The full interview can be viewed by clicking here. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415178 | The National article on Smith's House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'US politicians condemn RSF and SAF over human rights abuses in Sudan' | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By The National Published December 11, 2025 Members of the US Congress on Thursday called for accountability in the civil war in Sudan, urging both sides to declare a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands. The Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee met to discuss the US response to the humanitarian crisis. "There will never be peace in Sudan unless there's accountability for the atrocities committed by Gen [Abdel Fatah] Al Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces and [Gen] Mohamed Dagalo … of the Rapid Support Forces, the RSF," Representative Chris Smith said. "These two have savaged Sudan with impunity." The war between the armed forces and the RSF erupted in April 2023, when simmering tension between the military and the paramilitary group broke into open conflict. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced almost 13 million and pushed some regions into famine. "From our perspective, there are no good actors in this conflict," Vincent Spera, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs. The armed forces and RSF have been accused of war crimes and human rights abuses. The US has imposed sanctions on Gen Al Burhan and Gen Dagalo, as well as people and entities involved in human rights violations. Mr. Spera pointed to the army being placed under sanctions in May for its use of chemical weapons in 2024. The UAE embassy in Washington issued a statement on Sudan, condemning attacks on civilians and lamenting the humanitarian crisis in the East African nation. The embassy said the UAE has consistently called for an arms embargo across Sudan and said there is no substantiated evidence that it has provided any support to the RSF or any warring parties. "Claims suggesting otherwise are an attempt to misrepresent the facts and distract from the urgent need for a ceasefire and for accountability among those perpetrating violence on the ground," the statement said. Congressman Gregory Meeks condemned the RSF and the Sudanese milit… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mciver-cleaver-reintroduce-bill-to-protect-and-prepare-workers-for-economic-impact-of-ai | Reps. McIver, Cleaver Reintroduce Bill to Protect and Prepare Workers for Economic Impact of AI | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | LaMonica McIver | M001229 | mciver.house.gov | mciver | https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Washington, D.C. – Today, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-5), and Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) reintroduced the Workforce of the Future Act, legislation that would require a detailed study to grow our understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), its impact on the economy and workforce, and determine the skills necessary for workers to succeed. Additionally, the bill would provide workers, teachers, and students with the resources to develop integral skills required to participate in the workforce of the future. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Mazie Hirono (HI), and Adam Schiff (CA). “Working people deserve innovation that expands opportunity—not eliminates it. Strengthening our understanding of how AI is impacting jobs in real time and investing directly in education makes sure Americans are not caught flat-footed as AI accelerates,” said Congresswoman McIver. “By prioritizing training that delivers economic gains to young people and underrepresented communities, the Workforce of the Future Act puts power back where it belongs: with the people who keep our economy running.” “While there is much excitement about the potential of AI and the benefits it can bring to our communities, there is also much concern about the impacts it will have on American workers, their jobs, and their wages. It is critically important that we take steps today to prepare our nation and our workforce for the economic consequences that are rapidly approaching with thegrowing adoption of AI,” said Congressman Cleaver. “The Workforce ofthe Future Act will provide the investments necessary to ensure American workers are ready and able to capitalize on those opportunities and that nobody is left behind.” "Artificial intelligence is increasingly disrupting our economy, contributing to layoffs and occupational changes,” said Senator Blunt Rochester. “Building off the work done by Senator Laphonza Butler in the last Congress, I’m proud to introduce the Workforce of the Futu… | 1 | 2026-04-04T05:28:40Z | 2026-04-04T05:30:10Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-announces-sea-bright-edison-will-receive-50000-funds-firefighter | Pallone Announces Sea Bright, Edison Will Receive $50,000 in Funds For Firefighter Equipment and Training | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | EDISON, N.J. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that the towns of Edison and Sea Bright will receive over $50,000 in federal funding to upgrade and modernize their firefighting equipment. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)’s Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) funding grant, which is a program Pallone has fought to support and protect in the face of President Trump’s efforts to abolish FEMA. The funding will help Sea Bright obtain funds to purchase new Automated External Defibrillators, a LUCAS Automated Chest Compression System, a new Rapid Intervention Air Bag system for firefighters in distress, and training for the new equipment. The funding will also help Edison obtain funding for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Response certifications for firefighters. “I’m glad that Edison and Sea Bright were able to secure these grants to provide local firefighters with new and updated equipment, and ensure they have the training they need to use it,” Pallone said. “It’s essential that our first responders have the resources they need to respond to emergencies. I’ll continue to work to make sure that New Jersey’s towns continue to receive federal funding to keep their residents and first responders safe.” “Sea Bright is grateful to receive this Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA, which will directly support our ongoing efforts to enhance public safety for residents and visitors,” said Mayor Brian Kelly. “This funding will allow Sea Bright Fire Rescue to upgrade critical equipment and continue delivering the highest level of service to our community.” “Thank you, Congressman Frank Pallone, for helping Edison secure funds for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,” said Mayor Sam Joshi. “This will significantly enhance our firefighting capabilities, ensuring that our brave first responders have improved safety and resources they need to protect our community. We are grateful for this investment in our public safety and committe… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/12/11/2025/booker-paul-reintroduce-justice-for-breonna-taylor-act | Booker, Paul Reintroduce Justice for Breonna Taylor Act | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) reintroduced the Justice for Breonna Taylor Act. The legislation would prohibit no-knock warrants, which allow law enforcement officials to forcibly enter a home without announcing their authority or purpose. Congressman Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. “It’s been more than five years since Breonna Taylor’s horrific death, and Congress has still failed to pass a public safety bill prohibiting no-knock entries at the federal level,” said Senator Booker. “The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act is bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would ensure no one has to experience the terror of police barging into their home unannounced. Many cities and states, including Louisville, Kentucky, where Breonna was fatally shot, have already banned no-knock warrants. It’s past time we take federal action to ensure a tragedy like Breonna’s death never happens again.” “Kentucky recognized that no-knock warrants pose serious and unnecessary risks to both the public and law enforcement, and wisely restricted their use. The federal government should follow Kentucky’s lead and ensure this high-risk tactic is constrained,” said Senator Paul. The bill is named in memory and honor of Breonna Taylor, a Louisville resident and EMT who was killed during a police raid on her home in March 2020, which was conducted under the authority of a no-knock warrant. The Justice for Breonna Taylor Act would require federal law enforcement officers to provide notice of their authority and purpose before they could execute a warrant, and it would require the same of any state or local law enforcement agency that receives funds from the Department of Justice. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-brownley-pingree-reintroduce-legislation-to-tackle-food-waste-in-america | Booker, Brownley, Pingree Reintroduce Legislation to Tackle Food Waste in America | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, reintroduced the Zero Food Waste Act, legislation that would reduce the amount of food wasted in the United States. U.S. Representatives Julia Brownley (D-CA-26) and Chellie Pingree (D-ME-01) reintroduced companion legislation in the House. In the United States, up to 40 percent of all food is wasted. Billions of dollars are spent growing, processing, transporting, storing, and disposing of food that is never consumed. Landfills are now the third-largest source of methane in the U.S., and food is the single largest input by weight in our landfills and incinerators. The Zero Food Waste Act would create a new Environmental Protection Agency-administered grant program for food waste reduction projects, including measuring food waste, identifying the most effective strategies to mitigate it, and implementing interventions that would prevent food from being wasted, such as repurposing inedible food into non-food products, or finding consumers for foods that would otherwise not be eaten. “On top of already strained grocery budgets, food waste costs each American consumer around $700 per year. Nearly 40 million tons of food go to waste each year, which is a costly misuse of the significant resources that go into growing, transporting, buying, and preparing food, said Senator Booker. “The Zero Food Waste Act will create grants to make sure foods that otherwise would’ve needlessly gone to the landfill get eaten, upcycled into other products, or composted instead. We can keep more money in Americans’ pockets, simply by making sure the food we grow gets eaten or put to good use.” “Families are stretching every dollar right now, yet enormous amounts of perfectly good food are still being thrown away instead of reaching people who need it. The Zero Food Waste Act aims to fix that disconnect. Our bill tackles hunger and rising food costs head-on by helping communities recover surplus food, expa… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-introduces-legislation-to-ensure-responsible-national-guard-deployments | Booker Introduces Legislation to Ensure Responsible National Guard Deployments | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Notification of Troop Involvement and Congressional Engagement (NOTICE) Act, legislation that would require the President to notify Congress and provide a clear justification before deploying the National Guard for law enforcement purposes. Since January 2025, President Trump has deployed the National Guard to several American cities without clear justification, raising legal and constitutional concerns. Most of these deployments have been made under a section of federal law that allows the President to take operational control of the National Guard under limited and extraordinary circumstances to repel foreign invasion, suppress rebellion, or when regular forces are unable to enforce federal law. The current law does not require the President to notify Congress with a justification for using the National Guard for domestic law enforcement, leaving this authority vulnerable to abuse. The NOTICE Act would require the President to provide Congress a clear justification for deploying National Guard domestically, restoring balance to Congress’ constitutional oversight authority. “Over the last 10 months, Donald Trump has assumed control of the National Guard to send troops into American cities without a clear objective or purpose. Under the guise of crime control, he has weaponized the military against our own citizens as punishment directed at Democratic-led cities,” said Senator Booker. “These actions are a gross abuse of his limited authority to federalize the National Guard. This is happening in plain sight and must not be normalized. The NOTICE Act requires the President to notify Congress within 24 hours of any National Guard deployment so we can provide meaningful oversight, ensuring these decisions are within constitutional bounds and our communities and members of the military are kept safe.” “This legislation helps prevent the President from wielding unchecked power when deploying our National Guard—protecting Americans from executive over… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-urge-collaboration-in-letter-to-white-house-as-administration-considers-next-us-attorney-for-new-jersey-nominee | Booker, Kim Urge Collaboration In Letter to White House as Administration Considers Next U.S. Attorney for New Jersey Nominee | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) sent a letter to the White House urging the administration to work with them to identify a suitable candidate for the role of US Attorney for New Jersey following the resignation of Alina Habba. The legislators wrote: “We are now at an inflection point where we can ensure that the people of New Jersey have a chief federal prosecutor who has the requisite experience and integrity to faithfully execute the duties of that office. The time is now for us to work together to identify a candidate who can meet those requirements.” The legislators conclude: “Rather than prolong this issue at the expense of the people of New Jersey and the orderly functioning of the federal legal system, we urge you to work with us to select a U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in the manner required by the Constitution and federal law. To do otherwise would be a disservice to the people we serve, whose interests must remain the shared focus of all our efforts. A full copy of the letter can be found here and below: Dear Mr. Warrington: We write today to renew discussions between our offices to find a suitable candidate for the vacant position of U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. After two federal courts ruled unequivocally that Alina Habba was unlawfully leading the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Jersey, Ms. Habba resigned from the role on December 8. We are now at an inflection point where we can ensure that the people of New Jersey have a chief federal prosecutor who has the requisite experience and integrity to faithfully execute the duties of that office. The time is now for us to work together to identify a candidate who can meet those requirements. At the beginning of this Administration, we engaged in good faith discussions with the White House Counsel’s Office to identify qualified candidates for the U.S. Attorney vacancy. While those conversations were ongoing, we learne… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-congressional-republicans-refusal-to-extend-aca-subsidies | Booker Statement on Congressional Republicans Refusal to Extend ACA Subsidies | 2025-12-11 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement after Republicans blocked a bill that would lower health care costs for millions of Americans: “Since the beginning of this year, President Trump and Republicans have launched an all-out assault on Americans’ health care that has led to spiking prices and a health care affordability crisis. They slashed $900 billion from Medicaid, kicked 17 million people off their health insurance, and turned their backs on the science that saves lives. Today, my Republican colleagues had the chance to lower health care costs, and instead they voted to more than double premiums costs for over 20 million Americans. “These votes have also exposed how Republicans have no real plan to address Americans’ skyrocketing health care bills: their proposal fails to extend the ACA tax credits and would do nothing to help people afford the thousands of dollars in premium increases they will start seeing in January. On top of that, it would increase deductibles by thousands of dollars, leaving families across the country one medical emergency away from bankruptcy. “Republicans’ failure to extend the ACA tax credits will deliver a devastating blow to the millions of Americans who rely on them to afford their health care. I’ve heard stories from families across New Jersey who don’t know how they will choose between affording high-quality health care for their kids and making other ends meet in an economy that’s already squeezing them dry. “I will continue fighting to ensure that we have a health care system that people can afford. The American people deserve leaders who are working for their best interests, and not afraid to stand up to President Trump. It’s past time for my Republican colleagues to remember who they work for.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415161 | The Epoch Times article on the CECC's 2025 Annual Report'CCP's History of "Broken Promises," Human Rights Abuses Harms US, World: Congressional Commission' | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Catherine Yang Published December 10, 2025 China has regressed with respect to rule of law, according to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s (CECC) 2025 annual report, released Dec. 10, which highlights the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) long history of breaking promises. The commission was created in 2000 to monitor human rights and rule of law in China. “Broken promises are not an exception; they are a feature of how the CCP deals with the world and with its own people,” commission co-chairs Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said in a statement in the report. “These broken promises affect Americans,” they stated. For example, Americans traveling to China for work or study can become subject to exit bans and arbitrary detention, Chinese forced labor becomes intertwined with U.S. supply chains, national security laws grant the regime “sweeping access” to American data, and the regime carries out its human rights abuses extraterritorially through transnational repression such as overseas police stations. The annual report includes dozens of recommendations aimed at curbing longstanding CCP practices that harm the United States and international community, including several bills that lawmakers have introduced this year. Officers of China's military and police arrive for the third plenary session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 12, 2019. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images The chairs called on the United States and free world allies to reject Beijing’s attempts to incentivize and divide, because otherwise “Americans pay the price—in security, in prosperity, and in credibility.” “Upholding human dignity helps keep markets fairer, travel safer, technology freer, and alliances stronger. It reduces the leverage authoritarian states—led by a totalitarian [People’s Republic of China]—wield over people and partners,” the chairs stated. In addition to producing an annual report, the CECC maintains the Political Prisoner Database, which contained 11,262 record… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415162 | Major 2026 defense bill includes Smith amendment to combat LymeSmith amendment to probe whether the U.S. military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease passes House | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | A critical amendment authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to investigate whether the U.S. military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26 NDAA) (S. 1071), which has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives, headed to the Senate, and is expected to be signed by President Trump upon its final passage. Smith’s amendment—now Sec. 1068 of the bill—directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—the Congressional “watchdog”—to investigate the Cold War-era Department of Defense (Department of War) bioweapons program and determine whether they ever used ticks as hosts or delivery mechanisms for biological warfare agents. “New Jersey has one of the highest Lyme rates in the United States—the disease is present in all 21 counties,” noted Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus. “The pervasive presence of Lyme disease in New Jersey not only carries concerns for civilians, but also for the military personnel stationed in the state—especially and including those serving at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, part of which is located within my congressional district.” Specifically, Smith’s amendment in the NDAA compels the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an exhaustive review of research conducted by the military, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal agencies between the period of January 1, 1945 and December 31, 1972, regarding experiments involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales—two forms of tick-borne bacteria. “Now that this vital provision has advanced out of the House, we are one step closer to finally determining whether the U.S. government’s bioweapons program contributed to the proliferation of Lyme disease,” stated Smith. “If the GAO investigation concludes that our government’s bioweapons program was not involved, we turn the page. “The hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans suffering from Lyme disease—in additio… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415163 | Catholic News Agency article on Smith's work to promote religious freedom'Trump to create sanctions plan for Nigeria, congressman says' | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Madalaine Elhabbal Published December 10, 2025 at 15:30 PM U.S. President Donald Trump is crafting a sanctions plan to increase pressure on the Nigerian government amid ongoing Christian persecution, according to a leading member of Congress. President Trump “is in the process of crafting a comprehensive action plan including sanctions to pursue reform,” according to Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, who described Nigeria as “ground zero,” and the “focal point of the most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world today.” Smith, a Catholic who chairs the house Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, mentioned the plan during his Dec. 9 speech at “The Emergency Summit on Crimes Against Christians,” organized by For the Martyrs, a nonprofit that aids persecuted Christians. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Rep. Marlin Stuzman, R-Indiana, also spoke at the event. Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, speaks about a sanctions plan to increase pressure on the Nigerian government amid ongoing Christian persecution on Dec. 9, 2025. | Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA The veteran New Jersey congressman praised Trump’s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and affirmed that “Religious freedom will now be at the forefront of the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship.” The president can choose from a menu of sanctions for a CPC-designated country under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), ranging from diplomatic measures to economic sanctions. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment. During his remarks, Senator Josh Hawley said Nigeria “has recently drawn global attention and has drawn the attention of our own president.” “I applaud President Trump for standing up for persecuted Christians. I applaud the president for putting Nigeria back on the watch list where it belongs,” Hawley said. The Missouri senator quoted the Book of Revelation while praising Christians persecuted around the world, saying: “They love not their lives, … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415170 | SeafoodSource article on the CECC's 2025 Annual Report'US commission on China calls on Congress to do more to curtail forced labor in seafood supply chain' | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Chris Chase Published December 10, 2025 The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s (CECC) latest annual report – released to coincide with International Human Rights Day – features seafood prominently as it calls on Congress and the U.S. government as a whole to do more to combat forced labor. Seafood from China has been under scrutiny by the U.S. government, in part thanks to a report released by The Outlaw Ocean Project which released findings of a multi-month investigation into the global seafood supply chain. That investigation found extensive evidence of forced labor in processing facilities operated by multiple Chinese companies connected to the U.S. supply chain and U.S. companies. A later report revealed further evidence of Uyghur and forced labor being used by the Chinese processing industry, and Outlaw Ocean followed that report up with one in 2024 on the presence of North Korean laborers, the abuses they suffer, and the seafood produced by them present in the U.S. supply chain. The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China is calling for more action to tackle the presence of forced labor in China's seafood supply chain | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China Since that time, the U.S. government has placed an increased focus on Chinese seafood and removing seafood linked to forced labor from the supply chain. The CECC first called for an investigation into allegations from the first Outlaw Ocean report on Uyghur labor and later called on the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden to collaborate across departments to determine whether seafood processed in China using North Korean labor was making its way into the U.S. Those efforts have continued in 2025, as U.S. lawmakers demanded the elimination of Chinese-sourced seafood from its military, called for harsh sanctions against Chinese seafood over human rights violations, and recently the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Stop Illegal Fishing Act which would impose s… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-votes-fy2026-national-defense-authorization-act-supports-pay-raise | Kean Votes for FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Supports Pay Raise for Servicemembers and Picatinny Arsenal Mission | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Thomas H. Kean, Jr. | K000398 | kean.house.gov | kean | https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | December 10, 2025 (December 10, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) released the following statement after voting yes on the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act: “Tonight, I voted in support of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen our national security, promote peace through strength, and deliver real improvements for our servicemembers. “This year's NDAA makes major strides in protecting our homeland. It provides critical resources to ensure continued security at our southern border, counters growing threats from foreign adversaries like China, and strengthens counterterrorism efforts. The SAFER SKIES Act, which is included in the bill, empowers authorities with the necessary tools to defeat drones when they present a threat to the public. Our bill also advances America’s military dominance by revitalizing the defense industrial base and investing in key priorities like missile defense, autonomous systems, and new warships. “For the state of New Jersey, the final NDAA includes a version of my amendment to bolster ammunition capabilities, which will support the critical work being done at Picatinny Arsenal. To support our servicemembers and their families, the bill provides a 3.8% troop pay raise, expands access to childcare and healthcare, and improves housing. These improvements will ensure that those who serve our country can focus on their mission without worrying about the well-being of their loved ones. “I look forward to seeing this legislation, which puts our national security and servicemembers first, head to the President’s desk for signing.” ### Issues:National Defense | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-republicans-block-congressman-menendezs-amendments-to-protect-the-clean-water-act | House Republicans Block Congressman Menendez’s Amendments to Protect the Clean Water Act | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Robert Menendez | M001226 | menendez.house.gov | menendez | https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | Yesterday, Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08) challenged House Republicans for refusing to consider his amendments to H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, a Republican bill that would weaken the Clean Water Actand erode critical protections that keep our nation’s water systems safe, undercut states’ authority to protect the environment, and jeopardize the health of American families. Rep. Menendez’s amendments included critical protections for water quality and requirements for the EPA to certify that this legislation will not damage water quality in estuaries. “Ensuring that our water remains clean has historically been a bipartisan issue, but now House Republicans are jeopardizing the safety of our water systems,” said Rep. Menendez. “I am disappointed but not surprised that House Republicans rejected our efforts to reduce the harm that this bill will bring in dismantling key protections of the Clean Water Act. Our communities deserve better than this legislation and that is what I will always fight for.” To protect New Jersey’s waterways and estuarine ecosystems, Congressman Menendez’s amendments required that this legislation not go into effect until the EPA Administrator certifies that it will not deteriorate water quality in the nation’s estuaries. Another amendment would have struck the section of this bill requiring that cost to polluting entities and be considered when developing water quality criteria, which are currently a purely health-based standard. Congressman Rob Menendez has proudly represented New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District since 2023. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and sits on the Subcommittees on Environment, Energy, and Communications and Technology. Congressman Menendez has consistently fought against corporate polluters and for clean water protections, including his recent push for the EPA to accelerate the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, which has polluted the Passaic River and Newark Bay. ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://norcross.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2903AB58-83F7-4712-BBCF-7522303D9B25 | FY26 National Defense Authorization Act Passes House of Representatives | 2025-12-10 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Donald Norcross | N000188 | norcross.house.gov | norcross | https://norcross.house.gov/press-releases | page_html | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives. The FY26 NDAA improves military readiness and strengthens American industry by cutting red tape, fixing outdated systems, and supporting defense innovation. The FY26 NDAA also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers and authorizes $1.5 billion in new construction of barracks, dormitories, housing, and child development centers. “The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a commitment to our nation’s security and a steadfast investment in the courageous men and women in our armed forces. After a year-long effort, we have delivered a robust bill that ensures that our troops are manned, trained, and equipped with the best to carry out our nation’s mission and return home safely. It provides a $3.8% pay raise to all servicemembers, and it cuts down on red tape to make certain that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to keep our country safe,” said Congressman Donald Norcross. “This bipartisan legislation strengthens our industrial base, supports our allies, and streamlines procurement and decision-making. As ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee, I was honored to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen our national defense, invest in our industrial base, and deliver for South Jersey.” Fiscal Year 2026 NDAA Priorities Secured by Rep. Norcross: Over $618 million for CH-47 helicopters, which will be manufactured by South Jersey workers. Nearly $2.5 billion for the KC-46 refueler aircraft, which flies out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst. Required an Army study to on the consequences of ammunition research and development away from Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, New Jersey. Required the Secretary of Defense to submit regular reports when they are housing undocumented immigrants on military bases, including if migrants are held at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. $9.9 million investment to enhance Army comma… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-03-30T11:08:25Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415160 | CatholicVote article on Smith's upcoming House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'Rep. Chris Smith calls attention to bloodshed in Sudan' | 2025-12-09 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Elise Winland Published December 9, 2025 Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is spotlighting Sudan’s deepening civil war and the mounting atrocities against civilians ahead of a new congressional hearing on the conflict. Smith, a Catholic who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, will lead his 17th congressional hearing on Sudan Dec. 11. He said the scale of mass violence since the Sudanese Civil War began in 2023 demands urgent action from U.S. officials and the international community. “Since 2023, as many as 18,000 civilian deaths have been committed in Sudan — with estimates as high as 150,000 — and more than 10 million people have been displaced as a direct result of the Sudanese Civil War,” Smith said in a statement. “The catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan — which includes the systemic killings, rapes, abductions, detentions, and child soldier recruitments of innocent civilians — demands our attention.” As CatholicVote previously reported, the war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a stalled plan to integrate the RSF into the national army. Adobe Stock The upcoming hearing will review the current status of the war, the widespread crimes attributed to the Sudanese government and armed groups, and the deepening humanitarian emergency facing civilians. The first panel will feature Deputy Assistant Secretary Vincent D. Spera of the State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs. A second panel will include Samaritan’s Purse Vice President Ken Isaacs, Family Research Council President and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chair Tony Perkins, and Human Rights Watch Deputy Washington Director Nicole Widdersheim. Church leaders have also raised alarms over the conflict. In two appeals last month — during his Nov. 2 Angelus address and again in a Nov. 16 social media post — Pope Leo XIV urged prayer for victims of violence in Sudan and highlighted the persecution of Christians there. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-announces-winners-2025-congressional-app-challenge | Pallone Announces Winners of 2025 Congressional App Challenge | 2025-12-09 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | New Brunswick, NJ - Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for high school and middle school students in New Jersey’s 6th Congressional District. Eric Dai and Vaibhav Sitaraman from Edison Academy Magnet School won this year’s competition. Their app RoadWatch is an initiative to enhance road safety and address infrastructure issues. Their app uses an AI-powered dashcam to detect road infrastructure issues, alert drivers, and report incidents to local governments. “The Congressional App Challenge is an important platform for students to showcase their technical and creative skills,” said Pallone. “I congratulate Eric and Vaibhav for their winning app and applaud all of this year’s participants for their creativity. Year after year, the Congressional App Challenge brings out the best, brightest, and most innovative ideas from students across our district. I continue to be impressed by the ingenuity displayed by the winning teams each year and would like to thank the judges for their engagement and attention to this year’s contest. As the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have seen how innovative technology creates new industries and opportunities for all Americans. I will continue to support investments in STEM education in New Jersey and across the country.” RoadWatch's proposes to transform drivers into a network of road-monitoring sensors with minimal cost, time, and effort. The application is compatible with both iOS and Android, and can be connected to a Raspberry Pi or regular dashcam using Bluetooth. These devices continuously capture footage while driving, with AI models analyzing the video stream for multiple purposes. The AI scans for issues such as potholes, cracked pavement, broken streetlights, and construction zones, and can even determine their severity based on the number of reports and the size of anomalies. In addition, the model can detect other environmental hazards, such as the presence of animals … | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-cornyn-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-expand-access-to-tutoring-for-underserved-students | Booker, Cornyn Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Expand Access to Tutoring for Underserved Students | 2025-12-09 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Cornyn (R-TX) reintroduced the bipartisan Partnering Aspiring Teachers with High-Need Schools (PATHS) to Tutor Act, legislation that would ensure that students in high-need communities receive targeted academic support through intensive, structured tutoring opportunities. It would also strengthen the pipeline of future teachers by placing teacher candidates in tutoring roles. U.S. Representatives Susie Lee (D-NV-03) and David Valadao (R-CA-22) introduced companion legislation in the House. “Across New Jersey and the nation, far too many students in underserved communities are falling behind academically because they lack access to meaningful support,” said Senator Booker. “The PATHS to Tutor Act expands access to high-quality one-on-one and small-group tutoring while strengthening the teacher preparation pipeline by engaging nearly 600,000 aspiring teachers nationwide. This bipartisan legislation narrows the educational opportunity gap and provides both students and future educators with the tools needed for success. “Sadly, far too many students in Texas do not receive the educational tools they need to succeed," said Senator Cornyn. "The PATHS to Tutor Act will expand access to small group tutoring in high-need areas while simultaneously reducing economic burdens on our teachers by allowing this tutoring to count toward national service and their TEACH grant service requirement. Texas students deserve every resource we can give them to achieve on a level playing field, and this legislation will give them just that.” “We need to make it easier, not harder, for qualified future teachers to start their professional careers and help more students get the targeted help they need,” said Congresswoman Susie Lee. “The PATHS to Tutor Act is a win-win for our education system — strengthening opportunities for future teachers and supporting all students, regardless of their needs or what zip code they live in.” “A good education is the key to future o… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/new-videos-senator-booker-highlights-toll-of-spiking-health-care-costs-on-nj-residents-in-new-videos-as-aca-fight-looms | NEW VIDEOS: Senator Booker Highlights Toll of Spiking Health Care Costs on NJ Residents in New Videos as ACA Fight Looms | 2025-12-09 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | NEWARK, N.J. – As Senator Booker (D-NJ) continues fighting to lower health care costs for New Jersey families, Senator Booker’s Office is releasing a set of new videos highlighting the voices and stories of New Jerseyans who will no longer be able to afford their health care if the Trump administration and Congressional Republicans continue stripping working families of their ACA subsidies, urging Senate Republicans to join with Democrats in voting to lower the cost of health care. WATCH HERE | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415159 | Thurs., December 11: Rep. Chris Smith to chair Foreign Affairs hearing“Stopping the Bloodshed: U.S. Response to Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan” | 2025-12-08 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | On Thursday, December 11th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his seventeenth congressional hearing on the civil conflicts in Sudan and the resulting human rights abuses against civilians in the country. “Since 2023, as many as 18,000 civilian deaths have been committed in Sudan—with estimates as high as 150,000—and more than 10 million people have been displaced as a direct result of the Sudanese Civil War,” said Smith. “The catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan—which includes the systemic killings, rapes, abductions, detentions, and child soldier recruitments of innocent civilians—demands our attention.” WHAT: Congressional hearing on the status of the Sudanese Civil War, the widespread atrocity crimes and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Sudanese government against civilians, and the corresponding humanitarian crisis in Sudan. WHEN: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM WITNESSES: (Partial list) PANEL 1: oThe Honorable Vincent D. Spera, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State PANEL 2: oMr. Ken Isaacs, Vice President, Programs and Government Relations, Samaritan’s Purse oMr. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (FRC), Vice Chair of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom oThe Honorable Samuel Dale Brownback, Former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom oMs. Nicole Widdersheim, Deputy Washington Director, Human Rights Watch WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, other members of the HFAC Africa Subcommittee, and witnesses ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-habba-resigning-not-moment-too-soon | Pallone on Habba Resigning: “Not A Moment Too Soon” | 2025-12-08 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement after Alina Habba, President Trump’s pick for Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced her resignation from her illegally obtained post: “Donald Trump and his right-wing partisans are not above the law. Alina Habba is gone, and not a moment too soon. Her illegal appointment caused major problems for federal courts here in New Jersey and she abused her power to go after Trump’s political opponents. Partisan politics have no place in New Jersey’s or America’s justice systems.” Habba’s resignation comes after a Third Circuit court ruling confirmed that Habba was not legally serving as Acting U.S. Attorney, under the provisions of the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act—a 2007 law which requires Senate confirmation of U.S. attorneys within 120 days, and which Pallone helped pass. | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-joint-statement-following-resignation-of-alina-habba | Booker, Kim Joint Statement Following Resignation of Alina Habba | 2025-12-08 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | NEWARK, NJ – Today, Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) issued the following statement regarding Alina Habba’s resignation as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey: “Today’s resignation of Alina Habba from her role as U.S. Attorney for New Jersey brings to a close a troubling chapter and confirms what we have warned from the start. Habba’s installation through an irregular and unlawful process undermined the credibility of the office and eroded the public’s trust in the state’s chief federal prosecutor. The courts’ rulings only confirmed our longstanding concerns—that this appointment was driven by political loyalty, not qualifications or respect for the rule of law. “In light of this leadership vacuum, the administration must now act swiftly and responsibly. We hope that they will work with us to put forward a qualified nominee––one with deep prosecutorial experience, unquestioned integrity, and a genuine commitment to delivering impartial justice––and to give the Senate a full, fair opportunity to consider that nominee. New Jersey deserves no less, and we will not compromise on the safety of our communities.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-white-house-farmer-aid-announcement | Booker Statement on White House Farmer Aid Announcement | 2025-12-08 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON, D.C. — In response to the Trump administration’s announcement of emergency assistance to farmers, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement: “This financial assistance package is necessary to mitigate the harms of the Trump administration’s chaotic trade and tariff policies, but it fails to do enough for farmers growing fruits and vegetables. Specialty crop farmers are facing high input costs, labor shortages, mounting debt, and the reckless cancellation of USDA programs that funded food purchases from farmers for local schools and food banks. “While the emergency financial assistance announced today is needed, the farm crisis we are facing is rooted in a dysfunctional federal safety net for farmers. The United States lost over 140,000 farms between 2017 and 2022, despite recurring bailouts for commodity crop growers. As Congress works in the coming months to draft a new Farm Bill, we need to dramatically rethink our farm safety net and create a system that provides incentives to farmers to move to new profitable production practices and to grow healthy foods to feed their local communities.” | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/in-the-face-of-rising-antisemitism-and-mainstreaming-of-neo-nazi-white-supremacists-booker-joins-schumer-senate-democrats-to-condemn-neo-nazi-hate-urge-gop-senators-to-join-condemnation | In the Face of Rising Antisemitism and Mainstreaming of Neo-Nazi White Supremacists, Booker Joins Schumer, Senate Democrats to Condemn Neo-Nazi Hate; Urge GOP Senators to Join Condemnation | 2025-12-08 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | WASHINGTON D.C. —Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and every Senate Democrat introduced a resolution that strongly rejects the views of and platforming of Nick Fuentes and condemns Tucker Carlson’s platforming of Fuentes. The resolution also condemns Nazism and white supremacy in all its forms and urges all elected officials to condemn them as well. “Hate speech and antisemitism have no place in our country, and it is critical that we call out this dangerous rhetoric and stand firmly with Jewish communities,” said Senator Booker. “Antisemitism is rising at levels we have not seen in generations — and instead of condemning it, too many Republican leaders are enabling it. When extremists like Nick Fuentes are praised, platformed, or excused, that hate doesn’t stay on the fringes. It spreads. It emboldens. It becomes dangerous,” said Leader Schumer. “Senate Democrats are united in saying: enough. Hate has no place in America. I urge every Republican to join us — not with silence, not with excuses, but with action — by condemning this poisonous neo-Nazi ideology.” “The normalization of this antisemitic, white supremacist extremism has fueled a cycle of violence from Charlottesville to Pittsburgh and Poway, to El Paso and Buffalo, and beyond. It threatens every single one of our communities and the core of our democracy – yet we’ve seen political leaders continue to embrace and platform this deadly hate and those who peddle it, like Nick Fuentes. We’re grateful to Senator Schumer for his leadership in calling out this dangerous extremism, and hope each and every one of his colleagues will do the same,” said Jewish Council for Public Affairs CEO Amy Spitalnick, who previously led the successful lawsuit against the neo-Nazis responsible for the Charlottesville violence. “The platforming of individuals who promote hateful, antisemitic, and white supremacist rhetoric is dangerous and entirely at odds with American values,” said Meredith Jacobs, CEO of Jewish Women Int… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415154 | Rep. Smith on Taiwan's special defense budget announcement | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued the following statement, welcoming President Lai Ching-te’s announcement that Taiwan would be investing $40 billion to meet defense needs: “President Lai understands that cutting edge deterrence capabilities are needed to protect Taiwan—a democratic Chinese society free from tyranny, where the people are able to achieve both liberty and wealth. “Free and prosperous Taiwan presents a stark contrast to mainland China, which, under Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party, enjoys neither; people struggle under a forced labor regime and a ‘9-9-6 economy’ to simply make ends meet—while propping up the dictatorship. “I strongly encourage Taiwan’s legislature—and all political parties—to approve President Lai’s proposal and work with the President to advance other key measures to support Taiwan’s military and the men and woman who serve to defend their nation. “Taiwan is America’s frontline in the Pacific, and Taiwan’s security is America’s security. I urge my fellow Americans to stand firmly with Taiwan.” ### | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415155 | CatholicVote article on the PROTECT Our Kids Act'House passes bill to prevent China's communist teachings in American schools' | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Elise Winland Published December 5, 2025 The House approved legislation Dec. 4 to bar federal funding from any K-12 school that receives money from the People’s Republic of China (PRC), as lawmakers sharpen scrutiny of Beijing’s attempts to influence American education. The measure, the PROTECT Our Kids Act (HR 1069), passed by a vote of 247-164, with all 164 opposing votes coming from Democrats. Republican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, a Catholic, said the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., is needed to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) “pervasive and insidious influence” in U.S. classrooms. He argued the measure would help shield students from CCP propaganda and bolster national security. “The PROTECT Our Kids Act is a vital tool for helping to stop the spread of the PRC’s lies about communism and the operations of the Chinese government, as well as promote the importance of protecting national security interests in America’s schools,” Smith said. “This legislation helps ensure that American students can no longer be misled and misinformed by foreign governments, such as the PRC, about the empty promises of communism.” Shutterstock The House also advanced a related bill Dec. 3. Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, introduced the Combatting the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act, which passed with 242 votes. Joyce’s bill would bar federally funded schools from accepting money or contracts from the Chinese government or its affiliates and would require schools to disclose any foreign funding to the Department of Education. He said the legislation responds to China’s expanding attempts to shape American classrooms. “The CCP’s attempts to shape narratives in our classrooms threaten the fairness and independence of American education,” he said. “Given China’s growing influence in education worldwide, taking commonsense steps to protect our children and safeguard the integrity of our school systems is essential.” The legislation comes amid heightened concern over what Smit… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415156 | Breitbart article on Smith-Lee letter to OPM'GOP Lawmakers Demand OPM Halt Taxpayer-Funded Abortions for Members of Congress, Staff' | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Katherine Hamilton Published December 5, 2025 Two dozen Republican lawmakers say members of Congress and their staff have access to taxpayer-funded healthcare plans that include coverage for elective abortions, in violation of federal law. Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) led a bicameral letter on Friday to U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor demanding the agency stop “administering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith (NJ) Amendment.” The letter explains that, since 1984, federal laws have prohibited the use of appropriated funds “to pay for an abortion, or the administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the Federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions” except in cases of rape or incest or if the life of the mother is in danger. Lawmakers said the provisions restrict OPM from administering government contributions in connection with any health plan for federal employees that covers elective abortion. Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Women's March “However, OPM is currently subsidizing plans that cover elective abortion in clear violation of the Smith Amendment,” the letter alleges. “While the Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits Members of Congress and designated Congressional staff to purchasing health plans offered through an Exchange, under a current Obama-era rule in effect since plan year 2014, OPM administers government contributions…for Members of Congress and Congressional staff enrolled in any Gold level health insurance plan offered through the District of Columbia’s Health Exchange Small Business Health Options Program (DC SHOP)—also known as DC Health Link—including plans that cover elective abortion.” The letter points out OPM’s claim on its website that abortion coverage is enabled by segreg… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415158 | SeafoodSource article on the Stop Illegal Fishing Act'US House committee approves Stop Illegal Fishing Act' | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | By Nathan Strout Published December 5, 2025 The U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved the Stop Illegal Fishing Act, legislation that authorizes U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and vessels that engage in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) fishing. The authors of the bill say the measure is necessary to crack down on large foreign fishing fleets that have dodgy records on the environment and human rights – particularly China’s distant-water fleet. “Fleets of illegal fishing vessels are devastating sensitive fish populations, harming food security and local economies around the world. Nearly half of these vessels, 44 percent, originate from China. If Beijing won't hold these exploitive vessels and individuals accountable, the U.S. must. That is why we’ve introduced legislation that would grant the president power to impose sanctions on any individual or entity engaging in IUU fishing,” U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-New York) and U.S. Representative Young Kim (R-California) said in a joint statement. The Stop Illegal Fishing Act would give the president the authority to impose sanctions on individuals who own vessels engaged in IUU fishing, those who hold leadership positions at companies engaged in IUU fishing, and captains and senior crew members on the vessels. Sanctioned individuals could have their U.S.-based assets frozen and their visas revoked. If passed, the legislation would require a report from the president to produce a list of all individuals and vessels sanctioned under the new law within 180 days. U.S. Representative Brian Mast (R-Florida), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was highly critical of China’s distant water fishing practices. “It is a serious threat to coastal nations worldwide,” he said. “What it really is, it's harassment. It is mostly a middle finger from the Chinese Communist Party to neighboring and coastal countries. The Chinese Communist Party oversees the largest illegal fishing fleet. Th… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-welcomes-health-board-move-defer-decision-would-close-long-branchs | Pallone Welcomes Health Board Move To Defer Decision That Would Close Long Branch’s Hospital | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Frank Pallone, Jr. | P000034 | pallone.house.gov | pallone | https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases | scraper | LONG BRANCH, N.J. — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today welcomed the decision by the State Health Planning Board last night to defer their decision to issue a recommendation on the closure of Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) hospital in Long Branch. The decision by the Board to postpone issuing their final recommendation comes after the State’s final hearing in Trenton yesterday, where Pallone led hundreds of members of the community in expressing opposition to RWJ Barnabas Health’s plan to relocate all of Monmouth Medical Center’s acute care facilities and hospital license in Long Branch to a new facility in Tinton Falls—a plan which would devastate vulnerable communities in Long Branch and the surrounding area. “Everyone deserves access to life-saving health care at a hospital. This fight isn’t over and I’m glad the State Health Planning Board understands just how disastrous this would be,” Pallone said. “The decision by the board to defer is unprecedented and demonstrates the legitimate and serious concerns with RWJ Barnabas Health’s application. I’m going to continue making the case that the current proposal fails Long Branch residents and puts hospital access throughout the region at risk. Premiums are going up, people are losing their insurance, and families are making tough choices. Closing Long Branch’s hospital would only make our health care crisis worse.” The Board’s decision to defer their recommendations comes after a lengthy and mismanaged public comment process where Long Branch area residents were literally shut out in the cold. The Board requested further information on the use of mass transit by patients to the new facility; staffing sourcing; an extension on the services that would remain in Long Branch; and how moving the hospital license and facilities out of Long Branch would detrimentally affect health equity. For decades, Monmouth Medical Center hospital has provided essential health care to residents who already face barriers such as transportation challenges, chronic illness, a… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-hosts-roundtable-with-new-jerseyans-to-discuss-republicans-refusal-to-address-spiking-health-care-costs-for-nj-families | Booker Hosts Roundtable with New Jerseyans to Discuss Republicans’ Refusal To Address Spiking Health Care Costs for NJ Families | 2025-12-05 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Democrat | Senate | NJ | Cory A. Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | booker | https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press | scraper | NEWARK, N.J. – This morning, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) hosted a roundtable discussion with New Jersey residents who spoke about their concerns that their health care could become even more expensive if Senate Republicans do not work with Democrats to extend ACA subsidies. The roundtable comes as Democrats seek to address the crisis of spiking health care costs as the ACA subsidy fight looms in Congress later this month. “This morning, I heard from my neighbors in Newark about one of their deepest worries: the rising cost of their health care at a time when the price of everyday necessities continues to climb––from energy to groceries,” said Sen. Booker. “No family should have to choose between affording essential health care and making ends meet. Yet, this is exactly what Donald Trump and Congressional Republicans are forcing hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans to do with their refusal to bolster ACA subsidies. Republicans control the White House, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. It's time Republicans work with us to address the pain their policies have caused and lower costs for working families.” “We help thousands of state residents enroll in health insurance every year, people who can afford to see a doctor thanks to the Affordable Care Act,” said Maura Collinsgru, Director of Policy and Advocacy for New Jersey Citizen Action. “But with the GOP's 900 billion in cuts—to the ACA, Medicaid, and Medicare—more than 350,000 New Jerseyans are expected to lose coverage. We call on all Republicans, especially our Representatives Kean, Smith, and Van Drew, to work with Democrats to repair the damage they're responsible for. That starts with restoring the ACA premium tax credits they cut now so people renewing their ACA coverage during open enrollment will not be forced to choose between keeping a roof over their head or having access to health care for themselves and their families." BACKGROUND: TRUMP & GOP ARE RAISING THE COST OF NEW JERSEY FAMILIES’ HEALTH CARE | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
| https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415150 | Combating foreign influence in American K-12 schoolsHouse passes the PROTECT Our Kids Act to prevent the People’s Republic of China’s communist teachings in American schools | 2025-12-04 | 2025 | 2025-12 | Republican | House | NJ | Christopher H. Smith | S000522 | chrissmith.house.gov | chrissmith | https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx | scraper | With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PROTECT Our Kids Act (HR 1069), legislation to “prohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People’s Republic of China” (PRC). “The PRC’s goal in influencing American students is not an altruistic one; they are not seeking to merely ‘enlighten’ American children and expand their worldviews,” said Smith. “The purpose of these so-called ‘Confucius Classrooms’ is to undermine and subvert American business, national security, and civic interests by manipulating malleable students into perceiving China favorably on the global stage. “For many years, I have been sounding the alarm on the PRC’s pervasive and insidious influence on American students in our colleges and universities,” continued Smith, the author of legislation to require Confucius Institutes, think tanks, academic programs, or nongovernmental organizations funded by the PRC to register under section 2 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 612). “Students in our elementary and secondary schools are especially vulnerable to the PRC’s fabrications—we must immediately end these pernicious programs. “The PROTECT Our Kids Act is a vital tool for helping to stop the spread of the PRC’s lies about communism and the operations of the Chinese government, as well as promote the importance of protecting national security interests in America’s schools,” noted the China policy expert. “This legislation helps ensure that American students can no longer be misled and misinformed by foreign governments, such as the PRC, about the empty promises of communism. “China, led by the dictator thug General Secretary Xi Jinping, has been a standalone leader in perpetrating mass human rights abuses; a foreign government, especially of this nature, should have absolutely zero… | 1 | 2026-03-30T01:40:41Z | 2026-04-06T20:09:11Z |
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