url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415879,Washington Examiner Op-Ed by Rep. Smith'Over 2 million people are alive today because of one law — and Washington wants to kill it',2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Rep. Chris Smith

Published September 30, 2026 at 5:00am ET

Fifty years ago — on Sept. 30, 1976 — Congress first enacted an amendment offered by the late, great Rep. Henry Hyde of Illinois to prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to subsidize the killing of unborn children by abortion.

During debate in the House, Henry said: “An innocent, defenseless human life, in a caring and humane society deserves better than to be flushed down a toilet or burned in an incinerator.”

“The promise of America,” he said, “is that life is not just for the privileged, the planned, or the perfect.”

According to Dr. Michael J. New of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, approximately 2.7 million people are alive today — and each year, another 60,000 evade the irreversible consequence of abortion and survive — because of Henry Hyde’s amendment.

Thanks to Henry Hyde, 2.7 million people — who would have otherwise been aborted — have experienced the joys and challenges of life and opportunities to thrive.

Beginning in 1981, I had the honor of serving alongside Henry Hyde in the House of Representatives.

He was brilliant, compassionate, tenacious, incredibly articulate, self-effacing, a man of great wisdom and humor — a one-of-a-kind lawmaker — who, to this day, remains the greatest defender of unborn children and their mothers.

He was so good at debate, you always wanted him to be your closer.

Henry believed sound moral principles and courage should inform and guide the decisions we make in government, and he addressed the 1990 class of incoming freshmen members of Congress with these words:

“This may sound odd, even ironic. You are here in the flush of victory. And yet it is precisely now that I ask you to contemplate the possibility of defeat — perhaps even the necessity of defeat. … If you don’t know the principle, or the policy, for which you are willing to lose your office, then you are going to do damage here.”

No one wants to lose an election. However, we do great “damage” when we sacrifice our core convictions on the altar of political expediency.

It’s truly sad that far too many politicians — who know better — have abandoned unborn children and their mothers to the abortionists for political gain or upward advancement.

The Hyde Amendment is under relentless legislative assault. Yet polling data consistently reflect what the 2026 Marist Poll found: A significant majority of people do not support taxpayer funding for abortion.

As pro-life advocates work to replace abortion violence — the culture of death — with compassion and empathy for women and children, the Hyde Amendment continues to stand as one of the most important human rights policies of the past 50 years.

However, the billion-dollar abortion industry continues to cleverly market the cheap sophistry of choice, while going to extraordinary lengths to downplay the suffering and pain experienced by the battered baby victims in the womb — as well as the coercion or pressure exerted on the mother to end the life of her unborn child.

The abortion pill — mifepristone — kills the baby by starving the child to death, while other methods of abortion dismember and decapitate the baby.

We now know that mifepristone is extremely dangerous to women. The Ethics and Public Policy Center conducted the largest-known study of the abortion pill ever, and is based on analysis of data from an all-payer insurance claims database.

This database includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023, and found that 10.93% of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion.

The real-world rate of serious adverse events following mifepristone abortions is at least 22 times as high as the summary figure of “less than 0.5%” in clinical trials reported on the drug label.

Someday, future generations will look back and wonder how and why such a seemingly smart and enlightened society could have permitted and perpetrated the violent deaths of more than 66 million children by abortion, often with government authorization, enabling, and subsidy.

History will note, however, the struggle of Henry Hyde and the millions of pro-life advocates who joined him in his quest to protect and defend the rights of the weakest and most vulnerable.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415880,FEMA Region 2 Administrator Hartnett to survey Nor’easter damage with Chris Smith,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"On Friday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) will join FEMA Region 2 Administrator Christopher Hartnett and local officials in surveying the extensive damage wrought by the severe Nor’easter from September 25-28, 2026.

“Last week, New Jersey—and especially the shore communities within our Fourth Congressional District—experienced a severe Nor’easter, bringing heavy rains, damaging winds, and substantial, prolonged flooding. The storm also caused significant and dangerous beach erosion, as well as thousands of power outages across the state,” said Smith, who secured millions of dollars in federal grants for Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts.

As the Nor’easter ripped through New Jersey, several communities in Ocean County were isolated from the mainland, first responders conducted hundreds of rescues from flooded homes and vehicles, and many schools in both Monmouth and Ocean County remained closed on Monday, September 28th.

“As the impacted towns in my district take stock of the damage and needs to rebuild, I am committed to helping our local leaders through this tenuous process—first, by surveying the damage first-hand and documenting the storm’s impacts to residents’ safety and quality of life,” continued Smith.

“While we still do not know the full extent of the Nor’easter’s damage, this visit will give us a greater understanding of how the federal government can best assist our shore communities during this perilous time.”

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-joins-north-jerseys-korean-american-community-at-the-25th-annual-korean-harvest-festival-of-new-jersey,PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Joins North Jersey’s Korean-American Community at the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Below: Gottheimer at the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey to celebrate Chuseok.

RIDGEFIELD, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) attended the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey. The festival brings together New Jersey’s diverse communities to enjoy and experience Korean culture. This year’s festival featured Korean dishes, music, art, games, and more to celebrate Chuseok, a South Korean holiday celebrating the full moon and harvest.

“The Korean American community is a critical part of North Jersey — they work every day to make the Fifth District an even better place to live, raise our families, and do business. I’m proud to be able to help celebrate Chuseok and remember that our greatest strength is diversity in the United States,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).

Gottheimer has worked with Korean American community and business leaders from North Jersey to support small businesses, lower taxes, keep communities safe, help make life more affordable, and combat hate against the Asian American and Pacific Islander community.

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Executive James Tedesco, Bergen County Clerk John Hogan, Bergen County Sheriff Anthony Cureton, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner Rafael Marte, NJ Assemblywoman Ellen Park, NJ Assemblyman Robert Auth, Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna, Englewood Cliffs Mayor Mark Park, Palisades Park Mayor Paul Kim, Palisades Park Councilman Christopher Kwak, Palisades Park Councilman Charlie Shin, Palisades Park Councilman Frank Donohue, the Korean American Association of NJ, The Ko-American Harvest Festival Committee, Korean Produce Association of NY, The Korean NY Daily.

Below: Gottheimer at the 25th Annual Korean Harvest Festival of New Jersey celebrating Chuseok.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-calls-on-the-u-s-doj-and-nj-attorney-general-to-investigate-lindens-targeting-of-jewish-community,RELEASE: Gottheimer Calls on the U.S. DOJ and NJ Attorney General to Investigate Linden’s Targeting of Jewish Community,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"LINDEN, NJ — Today, Wednesday, September 30, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced he is working with the U.S. Department of Justice and New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport to address serious concerns about the seven-year pattern of discriminatory zoning changes and selective enforcement by the City of Linden against its Jewish community. Gottheimer has now sent a letter to both U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche and New Jersey Attorney General Davenport, asking them to work together on a review.

“Religious freedom is one of the cornerstones of our democracy, and any attempt to exclude or harass a certain population based on prejudice, particularly by public officials, is deeply upsetting and disturbing,” wrote Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5).”For more than 35 years prior to the arrival of the Jewish community in Linden, there were no significant changes to the City’s zoning regulations. However, in the seven years since the Jewish community began to settle there, the City has enacted four major zoning changes. Each of these changes directly impacts the Jewish community’s religious life and unique family needs… I encourage the U.S. Department of Justice and New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to investigate these claims and, if necessary, take legal action to remediate these alarming actions by the City of Linden.”

The full letter can be found here.

Gottheimer’s September 2026 letter asks the U.S. Department of Justice and the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General to look into a seven-year pattern of zoning changes and selective enforcement by the City of Linden (Union County) aimed at its Jewish community. It builds on his May 2025 letter to the Department of Justice. The letter outlines:

Houses of worship: Months after approving a synagogue in May 2017, the City raised the minimum lot size for houses of worship from 25,000 to 75,000 square feet. It then made combining lots effectively impossible.

Residential zoning: Between 2023 and 2025, the City proposed counting basements, attics, and garages toward floor area, requiring garages (which would cut living space by about 29 percent), and barring basement kitchens and bathrooms. After community pushback, the City dropped the basement-counting provision.

The October 7 sweep: On October 7, 2025, which fell during Sukkot and on the anniversary of the Hamas terror attack, City officials issued more than 34 violations. They allegedly went only to addresses listed in a Yiddish community circular.

Services and infrastructure: In 2025, Mayor Derek Armstead personally blocked dumpsters requested ahead of Passover. School buses carrying Jewish children were ticketed and stopped. The permit for Corner Bite, a kosher pizzeria, was revoked retroactively.

Legal basis: The concerns raise issues under the First and Fourteenth Amendments; Article I, Section 3 of the New Jersey Constitution; the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA); the Fair Housing Act; the New Jersey Law Against Discrimination; and the Open Public Meetings Act. On the last point, the City scheduled meetings during Passover week and turned away Jewish residents on April 18, 2025.

###",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2101,Congressman Van Drew Recognizes Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - As Childhood Cancer Awareness Month comes to a close, Congressman Van Drew released the following message:

""No child should have to spend their childhood fighting cancer. But every day, children and families across the country are facing treatments, hospital stays, and uncertainty that most of us can hardly imagine,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is a chance to recognize those kids and the families who are right there beside them. It is also a reminder that we have to keep supporting the research, treatments, and doctors working to give these children the best possible chance. To every child fighting cancer, and every parent, sibling, and loved one going through it with them, we are thinking about you and praying for you. And we are going to keep supporting the doctors, researchers, and families doing everything they can to beat this disease.""",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2102,Congressman Van Drew Applauds President Trump's Executive Order Addressing Alpha-gal Syndrome,2026-09-30,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew applauded President Trump's executive order addressing alpha-gal syndrome, a tick-borne allergy that can cause serious reactions to certain foods, medicines, and other products containing mammal-derived ingredients. The order includes efforts to improve treatment options and explore clearer labeling for food and drug products that may contain alpha-gal.

""Alpha-gal is something I have been working on for a long time because I have heard directly from people who have to think about it every single day,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""They have to constantly worry about what is in their food, what is in their medicine, and whether something they use could cause a serious reaction. President Trump's executive order is a very important step because it focuses on two of the biggest things I have been pushing for: better treatment options and clearer labeling.

""My Alpha-gal Allergen Inclusion Act would formally add alpha-gal to the list of major food allergens under federal law so people have clearer information about when it may be present in the products they use. Now, with the administration also directing federal agencies to explore labeling for food and drug products and look at potential treatments, we have real momentum behind this issue. I am going to keep working to build on that and move my bill forward so people living with alpha-gal have the protections and treatment options they deserve.""",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415877,Smith welcomes release of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,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-Chairman of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, today welcomed the long-awaited release of Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu, an imprisoned Azerbaijani economist, anti-corruption advocate, and former New Jersey resident. Dr. Ibadoghlu has safely arrived in Berlin for urgently needed medical treatment.

“I am overjoyed that Dr. Gubad Ibadoghlu is finally free and safe in Germany, where he can receive the medical care he so urgently needs,” said Smith, who has consistently advocated for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s release and access to medical care since his arrest in 2023.

“This is a wonderful day for Gubad; his wife, Irada; their children; and all those who have stood with this courageous family,” he continued.

“Gubad’s son, Emin—a New Jersey resident—and the entire Ibadoghlu family were extraordinary in their steadfastness and determination. They never stopped working for Gubad’s freedom, building support for him across governments, parliaments, human rights organizations, universities, and civil societies around the world. Their persistence and courage have been remarkable, and today, they have every reason to rejoice.”

Smith also expressed his gratitude for the German government and other U.S. officials, who worked tirelessly to secure Dr. Ibadoghlu’s release and safe arrival in Germany.

Dr. Ibadoghlu’s son, Emin Bayramli, said, “We want to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who has helped and supported our family throughout this difficult journey. We are especially grateful to Congressman Chris Smith, who have stood with our family from day one and have never stopped advocating on our behalf. We would also like to thank the German government, the State Department, and the Administration for their continued support and for all the assistance they have provided to our family.”

“While we celebrate Gubad’s freedom today, I call upon Azerbaijani authorities to fully drop the criminal charges that remain against him following his release on medical grounds, as well as the charges against his brother,” stated Smith.

“We must also remember the more than 300 political prisoners who remain in Azerbaijan. Their families are still waiting, and I will continue to advocate for their freedom and ensure that their cases are not forgotten.”

For more than three years, Smith has remained a persistent and tenacious advocate for Dr. Ibadoghlu’s release and access to medical care.

As his Defending Freedoms Project advocate, Smith has led congressional appeals to senior U.S. officials—including officials traveling to Azerbaijan and meeting with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev abroad—and has repeatedly raised Ibadoghlu’s case in congressional hearings and public statements. Most recently, Smith pressed for his immediate release and the lifting of restrictions preventing him from obtaining medical treatment abroad.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415878,Smith authored the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (PL 113-150)Smith applauds State Department’s new visa restriction policy to combat international parental child abduction,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,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 author of the landmark Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (PL 113-150)—the law created to help return kidnapped American children—issued the below statement following U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s announcement that the State Department will be implementing a new policy to “restrict visa issuance to individuals responsible for, or complicit in, impeding the prompt resolution of international parental child abduction cases, as well as their immediate family members”:

“As the author of the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act (PL 113–150)—which listed specific diplomatic tools and gave the State Department other authorities to enact critical, groundbreaking policies to combat international parental child abduction—I want to thank Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs Mora Namdar for taking such bold and decisive action to prevent and punish this incredibly heartbreaking and life-altering crime.

“The specified policy, which will restrict visa issuance to foreign nationals found to be responsible for, or complicit in, cases of international parental child abduction, is another critical addition to the United States’ toolkit for reuniting families and securing the return of abducted children to the U.S.

“This escalated action is exactly what the Goldman Act envisioned over ten years ago—a United States visa is a privilege, not a right, and it is reserved for those individuals who fully comply with U.S. law and policy.

“Any judge, official, law enforcement officer, or individual, who deliberately obstructs the court-ordered return of an American child to their left-behind parent, should not be afforded the opportunity to travel to the United States.

“I commend Secretary Rubio and Assistant Secretary Namdar for taking critical steps to ensure that American children abducted from their parent(s) are returned, and that all noncompliant actors are held accountable.”

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-secures-over-2-million-hire-more-clifton-firefighters,Congresswoman Pou Secures Over $2 Million to Hire More Clifton Firefighters,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,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 announced that she helped secure a $2,139,724.80 federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant for the Clifton Fire Department. Awarded through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the funding will allow the department to hire additional firefighters.

“Clifton’s firefighters put themselves in harm’s way seven days a week. They deserve to have the people they need beside them when the alarm sounds,” said Congresswoman Pou. “I am proud to help bring more than $2.1 million home to Clifton to put additional firefighters on the job. More firefighters mean a stronger department and more support for the men and women already serving on the front lines. I will always fight to make sure our local fire departments have the federal money they need to protect our communities and bring their firefighters home safely.”

“As a vibrant, growing community, Clifton’s fire heroes need every dollar of federal resources to do their jobs. Thanks to this federal funding secured by Congresswoman Pou, Clifton will be able to hire more firefighters and protect our residents when the worst strikes,” said Clifton Mayor Ray Grabowski.

Congress created the SAFER program in 2003 to address staffing shortages at fire departments across America. While existing federal fire grants largely helped departments purchase equipment and improve training, SAFER was designed specifically to help communities put more firefighters on the job and ensure departments have adequate personnel to respond to emergencies. Earlier this year, Congresswoman Pou sent a letter to the leaders of the House Appropriations Committee requesting increased funding for the SAFER program.

SAFER was created through the efforts of the late Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr., who was also the longtime head of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

Administered by FEMA, SAFER supports two primary activities: hiring additional career firefighters and recruiting and retaining volunteer firefighters. Over 20 years, the program has provided billions of dollars to fire departments across America.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/pou-introduces-resolution-celebrating-bangladeshs-global-leadership,Pou Introduces Resolution Celebrating Bangladesh’s Global Leadership,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,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), the co-chair of the Congressional Bangladesh Caucus, has introduced a bipartisan House resolution congratulating the People’s Republic of Bangladesh on assuming the presidency of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly and reaffirming the importance of the longstanding partnership between Bangladesh and the United States. The Republican lead cosponsor is Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC-02).

“Bangladesh’s leadership at the United Nations is a proud moment for Bangladeshis around the world, including the thousands of Bangladeshi Americans I am honored to represent in North Jersey,” said Congresswoman Pou. “Our two nations share deep economic, security, and personal ties that have grown stronger over more than half a century. As co-chair of the Bangladesh Caucus, I want Congress to recognize this historic achievement and continue building a relationship that benefits the people of both our nations.”

“We are grateful for Congresswoman Nellie Pou’s leadership in introducing this important resolution and working hard to deepen the ties between the United States and Bangladesh,” said Paterson Second Ward Councilman Shahin Khalique.

Pou represents one of the largest Bangladeshi-American communities in the United States. In Congress, she has worked to elevate the voices of Bangladeshi Americans in Washington and strengthen the relationship between the United States and Bangladesh. As her new resolution notes, an estimated 300,000 people of Bangladeshi heritage live in the United States.

The United States and Bangladesh established diplomatic relations in 1972 and maintain important economic, military, security, and humanitarian ties. The Congresswoman’s resolution finds that bilateral trade in goods and services totaled an estimated $13.7 billion in 2025 and highlights Bangladesh’s major contributions to U.N. peacekeeping and its hosting of more than one million Rohingya refugees.

Bangladeshi Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman was elected President of the 81st General Assembly on June 2, 2026 and began serving as President when the session opened on September 8, 2026.

###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-hosts-hispanic-heritage-month-roundtable-with-north-jersey-community-leaders-and-advocates,PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Hosts Hispanic Heritage Month Roundtable with North Jersey Community Leaders and Advocates,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer Hosts Roundtable for Hispanic American Heritage Month.

BERGENFIELD, NJ — Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a Hispanic Heritage Month Roundtable in Bergenfield, bringing together community leaders, advocates, educators, local elected officials, county officials, faith leaders, veteran advocates, and workforce professionals from across North Jersey to celebrate the contributions of the Hispanic and Latino community and discuss the challenges families continue to face.

“It’s this diversity of Hispanic and Latino cultures, honestly, that makes North Jersey strong and such a vibrant place to live, work, and raise a family,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “If we work together to lift one another up and highlight the diversity that gives us our strength, in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.”

In New Jersey’s Fifth District, more than 151,000 constituents are part of the Hispanic and Latino community, with towns like Hackensack, Englewood, and Bergenfield — where roughly a third of residents are Hispanic — among the fastest-growing ethnic groups in the state.

This roundtable was hosted during National Hispanic American Heritage Month, which is celebrated every year from September 15th to October 15th to honor the cultures and contributions of both Hispanic and Latino Americans. First, this observance originated as Hispanic Heritage Week under President Lyndon Johnson in 1968. Then, it was expanded by President Ronald Reagan in 1988 to cover this 30-day period, from mid-September to mid-October.

This event discussed a range of priorities, including access to affordable and culturally competent health care and mental health care, rising costs and housing affordability, community safety and immigration enforcement concerns, language barriers, and barriers to education.

Gottheimer was joined by Camelia Valdes, Passaic County Prosecutor; Raúl Ruiz, President of the New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers; John Lucas, President of the Statewide Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of New Jersey; Gladis Cuadros, Career Services Supervisor at the Women’s Rights Information Center; Matilde Villacorta, Career Counselor at the Women’s Rights Information Center; Ramon Hache, Ridgewood YMCA President and former Bergen County Commissioner; Francisco Galindo, Director of Coaching and Mentoring at ALPFA New Jersey; Bolívar Flores, Vice President of the New Jersey Coalition of Latino Pastors and Ministers; Larry F. Mantilla, President of Latino Veterans of NJ; Zoila Cassanova, Surrogate Judge of Passaic County; Roberto Diaz, Hackensack Councilman; Daisy Velez, Washington Township Councilwoman;Germaine Ortiz, Bergen County Commissioner; Nathalie Salinas, Councilwoman and Vice President of the Fair Lawn Latin Heritage Committee; Arvin Amatorio, Mayor of Bergenfield; Hernando Rivera, Bergenfield Councilman; Matthew Gonzalez, Social Media and Student Outreach Fellow at the New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development; and Gladys Ciron-Ricci, Program Officer at the New Jersey Center for Hispanic Policy, Research and Development.

Below: Gottheimer Hosts Roundtable for Hispanic American Heritage Month.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-calls-nj-federal-officials-survey-damage-after-storm-anticipating,"Pallone Calls for NJ, Federal Officials to Survey Damage After Storm, Anticipating Federal Disaster Declaration",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,"Frank Pallone, Jr.",P000034,pallone.house.gov,pallone,https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"LONG BRANCH, NJ – Following heavy rain and coastal flooding caused by a powerful nor’easter that impacted areas across New Jersey, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today called on the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the New Jersey Office of Emergency Management (NJOEM), as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to conduct a prompt survey to assess the damage to the state in anticipation of the necessity for a federal disaster declaration.

“In some parts of my district 6 to 7 feet of tidal flooding inundated businesses and homes, municipal infrastructure such as piers and bulkheads are severely damaged, and cars on the street are submerged in flood water,” Pallone wrote. “While it appears that flood control projects, berms, and raised homes saved many areas from even worse damage, the destruction left behind from this storm is significant.”

Pallone also thanked Governor Sherrill for her proactive state of emergency declaration, and reiterated his willingness to work with state officials to provide the necessary federal funds to help towns, businesses, and residents recover from the storm.

Full text of the letter is available here and below:

Dear Commissioner Potosnak and Acting State Director Hengemuhle:

Over the weekend, my district and areas across New Jersey were hit by a powerful nor’easter storm that resulted in intense rainfall, tidal surges, and forceful winds. I appreciate your willingness to conduct a prompt survey to assess damage to our state. This is necessary in my effort to secure a federal disaster declaration, should the damage survey thresholds be met.

From power outages to substantial coastal erosion, this nor’easter has brought dangerous conditions to our state. In its most recent forecast, the National Weather Service warned that the nor'easter would likely continue heavy rain and tidal surges on mid-Atlantic and northeastern states through Monday night. Coastal sections of New Jersey are seeing significant flooding. In some parts of my district, six to seven feet of tidal flooding inundated businesses and homes, municipal infrastructure such as piers and bulkheads are severely damaged, and cars on the street are submerged in flood water. While it appears that flood control projects, berms, and raised homes saved many areas from even worse damage, the destruction left behind from this storm is significant.

I appreciate Governor Sherrill’s proactive state of emergency declaration, and I urge the DEP and OEM to gather information on the full extent of the damage as soon as it is safe to do so.

Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. I stand ready to work with you to provide the necessary federal funds to help towns, businesses, and residents recover from this devastating storm.

Sincerely,

FRANK PALLONE, JR.

Member of Congress

CC: US Army Corps of Engineers

Federal Emergency Management Agency",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-urges-ferc-protect-pjm-customers-stronger-data-center-rules,Pallone Urges FERC to Protect PJM Customers with Stronger Data Center Rules,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,"Frank Pallone, Jr.",P000034,pallone.house.gov,pallone,https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) wrote to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) today urging the Commission to use its authority to approve and strengthen recent proposals put forth by PJM surrounding its handling of data centers.

“Americans are deeply frustrated and concerned that the rapid and unceasing development of data centers is driving up their monthly energy bills. At the end of the day, protecting Americans’ power bills is FERC’s responsibility,” Pallone wrote in his letter to FERC Chairman Laura Swett. “While I support many of the provisions included in the proposals, I am concerned that they do not go far enough and believe [FERC] should use its authority to improve PJM’s proposals to protect families across the mid-Atlantic region.”

Pallone explained that data centers are responsible for an increase in PJM capacity market costs of nearly $30 billion since the summer of 2024. Meanwhile, demand for electricity over the next decade is expected to explode, with PJM forecasting a roughly four percent increase in peak demand each year driven almost entirely by data centers.

PJM is therefore suggesting it implement three reforms: requiring data centers to pay for new power plants to make PJM’s grid reliable, requiring data centers to bring their own new generation capacity online, and creating a registry of data centers within PJM’s boundaries.

Pallone writes that while he supports these goals, FERC should impose the following improvements to strengthen them:

Ensure that data centers are responsible for all the costs they cause, not just for new power plants designed to shore up reliability;

Make the requirement for data centers to bring their own new generation capacity online permanent; and

Make the proposed data center registry public so that every American has access to the information they need to protect and empower their communities.

“Last year, my constituents saw an outrageous 20 percent increase in their power bills, fueled by skyrocketing prices in PJM’s capacity market. Over 90 percent of the increased demand PJM expects to see on its system by the end of the decade is from data centers,” Pallone continued. “If FERC gets this right, then it will have granted American families a measure of protection from the costs imposed by data centers. If the Commission falls short, then American families will pay the price.”

Pallone has publicly and repeatedly called for substantial federal guardrails to protect communities against data centers’ impact on their air, water, power grid, and monthly utility bills. If Congress fails to adopt strong guardrails, he has said a federal moratorium on data centers should be put in place.

While the guardrails proposed by PJM are not sufficient to fully protect consumers, Pallone writes that they represent important progress, and FERC should incorporate the critical improvements highlighted in his letter and approve them.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/pou-introduces-safe-water-schools-act-protect-students-lead,Pou Introduces Safe Water for Schools Act to Protect Students from Lead,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,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), a member of the House Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, last week introduced H.R. 10596, the Safe Water for Schools Act, legislation to help schools across the country replace aging drinking water fountains and monitor their water for dangerous lead contamination.

“Every parent should be able to send their child to school knowing the water they drink is safe,” said Congresswoman Pou. “Last year, testing in Paterson in our district found lead in water fountains and faucets throughout our schools, including dangerous levels that forced some fixtures out of service. This is a problem we can fix. My new bill will help schools in New Jersey and across America replace old fountains, monitor water, and keep lead away from our children. Safe drinking water isn’t political and should be something every family can count on, no excuses.”

The Safe Water for Schools Act would reauthorize a federal grant program under the Safe Drinking Water Act at $7 million annually from fiscal years 2027 through 2029. The program helps local school districts replace older drinking water fountains and cover the costs of monitoring lead levels in school drinking water.

The legislation is endorsed by the New Jersey School Boards Association and the American Federation of Teachers.

The need for this investment has hit close to home in the Garden State. Testing conducted in Paterson Public Schools last year found excessive lead levels in fountains and faucets at 10 schools. Fourteen fixtures registered above the federal action level (15 parts per billion, or ppb), while testing found some amount of lead in a whopping 29.5 percent of the district's fountains and faucets.

Congresswoman Pou has made improving water infrastructure a major focus of her first term in Congress. Earlier this month, the House overwhelmingly passed the Water Resources Development Act, which includes more than a dozen priorities Pou championed to advance flood protection and water projects across North Jersey. The legislation also includes Pou’s bipartisan CLEAN-UP Act, designed to remove barriers that have delayed environmental remediation and flood mitigation projects by the U.S. Army Corps.

Earlier this Congress, Pou also introduced H.R. 5072, the Water Crisis Prevention Act, to strengthen the federal response to major water infrastructure failures and direct a federal review to improve infrastructure resilience against flooding.

Pou helped secure $500,000 to improve the Lower Saddle River channel and, with Senator Andy Kim, delivered another $1.2 million this year for stormwater improvements along River Street in Paterson.

###",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2099,Congressman Van Drew Issues Statement on FCC Review of Verizon Copper Service Proposal,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew welcomed the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) decision to prevent Verizon's application to discontinue copper-based telephone service in portions of New Jersey from being automatically approved while the Commission conducts further review. Earlier this month, Congressman Van Drew sent a letter to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr urging the Commission to reject Verizon's proposal.

""This is a good first step, and I appreciate Chairman Carr and the FCC for taking these concerns seriously,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""People across South Jersey reached out to us because they are genuinely worried about losing a service they still depend on, especially in rural areas where cell coverage is not always reliable. I will continue working with Chairman Carr and the FCC as they review this proposal, and I am still asking that it ultimately be rejected.""",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/reps-watson-coleman-bynum-krishnamoorthi-calls-for-review-of-epas-microplastics-monitoring-and-research,"Reps. Watson Coleman, Bynum, Krishnamoorthi Calls for Review of EPA’s Microplastics Monitoring and Research",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Bonnie Watson Coleman,W000822,watsoncoleman.house.gov,watsoncoleman,https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Congresswoman Janelle Bynum (D-OR), Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) led 21 of their colleagues in a letter requesting Government Accountability Office Comptroller General Brown, to conduct a review of the Environmental Protection Agency’s efforts to monitor and evaluate the risks of human exposure to micro- and nanoplastics.

The lawmakers argue that to continue protecting Americans’ health, they need to understand what the EPA has accomplished in its work on microplastics and what progress still needs to be made. They also emphasize the urgency of this review amid emerging research connecting microplastics to adverse health consequences and serious environmental risks.

In the letter, the lawmakers write:

“Even as the EPA's FY2023-FY2026 research plan approaches its conclusion, Congress lacks a clear assessment of what the EPA has accomplished in its work on microplastics and what work remains necessary to support reliable monitoring, risk assessment and potential regulatory action.”

Later, they write: “Addressing microplastic pollution is critical for protecting the health of Americans and safeguarding our waterways and ecosystems. Our constituents deserve to know what microplastic exposure means for their families’ health, and the requested information above will be critical in informing Congress’s work in tackling this challenge.""

The letter was also signed by Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Representatives Jesús G. ""Chuy"" García (IL-04), Jared Huffman (CA-02), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-D.C), Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05), Mike Quigley (IL-05), Melanie Stansbury (NM-01), Dave Min (CA-47), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Laura Friedman (CA-30), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Judy Chu (CA-28), Kevin Mullin (CA-15), Sylvia R. Garcia (TX-29), Adelita S. Grijalva (AZ-07), Steve Cohen (TN-09), Mike Levin (CA-49), Betty McCollum (MN-04), Nanette Diaz Barragán (CA-44), and Zoe Lofgren (CA-18).

Researchers at the Environmental Protections Agency (EPA) define microplastics as plastic particles ranging in size from 5 millimeters to one nanometer. Microplastics have been found in every ecosystem on the planet, as well as in food, beverages, and animal and human tissue. When Environment Oregon sampled 30 of Oregon’s most iconic rivers, lakes, and urban waterways, they found microplastic fibers in 100% of the samples.",1,2026-10-01T11:23:28Z,2026-10-01T11:25:15Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2098,Congressman Van Drew Provides Update on Storm Response Across South Jersey,2026-09-27,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Van Drew provided an update on the ongoing response to the nor'easter impacting South Jersey and the work underway to prepare for recovery efforts.

""Teams are already in the district assessing conditions and damage, and that work will continue throughout the week,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""In the coming days, I will be personally meeting with officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Army Corps of Engineers, including the FEMA Administrator and the Secretary of the Army, both in the district and on the ground. We are going to stay on top of this and make sure our communities get every federal resource and dollar they are eligible for. We have been through storms like this before. South Jersey is strong, and we will recover. My office will be there every step of the way.

""If you are without power, or if there is another storm-related issue in your community that you believe needs attention, please fill out the form below. This will help my office know where problems remain so we can follow up with the appropriate agencies, utilities, or local officials.

""Finally, I want to thank our first responders, emergency management teams, utility crews, law enforcement, firefighters, and everyone else who has been working to keep our people safe. We are incredibly grateful for everything they have done and continue to do.""",1,2026-09-28T11:29:07Z,2026-09-28T11:30:58Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415873,Storm Resources,2026-09-26,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"TOMS RIVER, NJ , Sep 26, 2026

Important Storm Resources:

Call 911 for emergencies

Report power outage to JCP&L - text “OUT” to 544487 or call 1-888-LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877)

If you see downed power lines: Call 911 immediately if you see a downed power line. Stay at least 30 feet away and instruct others to do the same.

State of NJ’s 24-hour helpline: 211

State of NJ’s preparedness info: ready.nj.gov

National Weather Service for Central and Southern NJ

Additional resources:

Ocean County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM): (732) 929-2044

Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office of Emergency Management (OEM): (732) 577-8700

** Be sure to keep cell phones fully charged during this emergency**

Sept 2026 National Weather Service Map.",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415871,The Daily Wire exclusive article on Smith legislation'Federal Pro-Life Protection Hits Major Milestone As New Attacks Emerge',2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Leif Le Mahieu

Published September 25, 2026

Fifty-years ago, a Republican congressman from Illinois named Henry Hyde took action to successfully protect American dollars from being used to end the life of an unborn child.

To honor the lawmaker’s legacy, Senator James Lankford (R-OK) on Friday introduced a resolution calling for the continued support of the Hyde Amendment, a measure prohibiting the use of federal dollars to fund abortions. Lankford credits the amendment with saving over 2.5 million babies, according to a copy of a resolution first obtained by The Daily Wire.

Lankford’s resolution marks the 50th anniversary of the passage of the Hyde Amendment, which occurred on September 30, 1976. Since that time, the Hyde Amendment has been repeatedly passed ensuring that federal dollars are not paying for abortions. In recent years, some Democrats have pushed to end the amendment and force Americans to pay for abortions.

Credit: YsaL via Getty Images.

“For 50 years, the Hyde Amendment has been an important protection for American taxpayers. Every child is valuable. No American should ever wonder if the check they’re sending to the IRS on April 15 will be used to pay for someone’s elective abortion,” Lankford Told The Daily Wire. “Hyde was a bipartisan agreement five decades ago, and it has been included in appropriations bills every year since. We should keep that commitment in place.”

The resolution says its purpose is to recognize the Hyde Amendment’s “enduring legacy of saving the lives of more than 2,600,000 unborn children and respecting the conscience rights of the American people.” It adds that it wants to “encourages the people of the United States to reflect upon the history and significance of the Hyde amendment and the loss of 63,000,000 babies through abortions that have taken place since Roe v. Wade.”

A companion resolution was introduced in the House by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ).

“I had the honor of serving alongside Rep. Hyde in the House for more than two decades, and I can personally attest to his unrivaled brilliance, unparalleled compassion, and unwavering commitment to protecting and defending the rights of the unborn—the weakest and most vulnerable among us,” he said.

Credit: Photo by Diana Walker/Getty Images.

The Hyde Amendment, supported by members of both parties at the time, came three years after the Supreme Court ruled that there was a constitutional right to an abortion — a decision that would later be struck down by the high court in 2022.

‘‘We who seek to protect that most defenseless and innocent of human lives, the unborn — seek to inhibit the use of federal funds to pay for and thus encourage abortion as an answer to the human and compelling problem of an unwanted child,” Hyde said at the time.

In recent years, the Hyde Amendment has faced challenges from Democrats who have floated appealing the amendment. In 2019, then Senator Kamala Harris called for Hyde to be repealed claiming it was blocking access to “reproductive health care.” Those efforts have so far fallen flat when Democrats controlled Congress and would likely require a 60-seat majority in the Senate.

Earlier this year, President Donald Trump suggested that Republicans should be “a little flexible on Hyde.”

“You have to be a little flexible on Hyde, you know that. You’ve got to be a little flexible,” Trump said. “You’ve got to use ingenuity. You’ve got to work. We’re all big fans of everything.”

Despite that comment, Trump has moved to keep dollars from going toward abortions. The president signed an executive order in January 2025 to enforce the Hyde Amendment and crack down on taxpayer funding for abortion.

There still appears to be some federal dollars paying for abortions. A recent report from the Government Accountability Office found that almost a quarter of Affordable Care Act plans cover abortions. Some lawmakers argues this violates the provisions of the Hyde Amendment.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-celebrates-bergen-county-seniors-at-annual-senior-citizens-festival,PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Celebrates Bergen County Seniors at Annual Senior Citizens Festival,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer with Bergen County seniors.

PARAMUS, NJ — Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) attended Bergen County’s Annual Senior Citizens Festival. Gottheimer helped serve lunch, greeted and thanked local seniors and veterans for their contributions to the community, and enjoyed the festival’s games, music, and food at Van Saun County Park. He also spoke to seniors about his focus on helping them battle back senior scams and ensure their veterans benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid are protected.

“Bergen County’s Annual Senior Citizens Festival is one of the great North Jersey traditions, and there’s nothing I enjoy more than spending the day with our Fifth District seniors,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Bergen County seniors make invaluable contributions to our North Jersey community, and I’ll always work to make their lives more affordable by cutting taxes, lowering the cost of prescription drugs and healthcare, and helping them access the Social Security they’ve earned.”

Gottheimer is fighting to support Jersey’s seniors by:

Lowering the cost for prescription drugs and health care: Gottheimer helped pass legislation to lower prescription drug costs by capping the cost of insulin under Medicare at $35 per month for thousands of residents from the Fifth District and for more than 77,000 residents across New Jersey. The legislation also caps annual out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 under Medicare. Gottheimer is also working to expand Medicare coverage for lung cancer and expand Alzheimer’s testing, helping seniors get timely answers about their health and the care they need.

Making life more affordable for Jersey seniors by helping lower property taxes: Gottheimer announced that New Jersey’s Fifth District has now clawed 357% more federal tax dollars back from Washington and the Moocher States since he took office, helping to lower property taxes, make life more affordable and safer, and improve North Jersey communities amount to an average of more than $750 clawed back for each household in the Fifth District.

Protecting Social Security and helping North Jersey seniors access their benefits: Gottheimer has helped more than 6,100 seniors access their earned Social Security checks since taking office and is continuing to fight to protect the vital Social Security program that North Jersey seniors paid into for their entire lives.

Stopping financial scams targeting our seniors: Building on his past record of protecting seniors, Gottheimer introduced the GUARD Act, which passed the House by a vote of 414-7 on September 15, 2026. The GUARD Act empowers state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to fight back against the fraud epidemic targeting older Americans.

As an active member of the Expand Social Security Caucus, Gottheimer is also working to pass bipartisan legislation to support organizations that operate senior legal hotlines. This will help seniors access free legal information, advice, and referrals on topics related to health, long-term care, finances, housing, and disability.

Below: Gottheimer with Bergen County seniors.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-hosts-local-veterans-100th-birthday-celebrates-american-heros-achievements,"PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Hosts Local Veteran’s 100th Birthday, Celebrates American Hero’s Achievements",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer celebrates August “Augie” Caccavone’s 100th Birthday.

FORT LEE, NJ — Today, Friday, September 25, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a 100th birthday celebration for local WWII veteran August “Augie” Caccavone, honoring his life and his service to his country.

Watch Gottheimer’s remarks here.

“Augie is a living symbol of perseverance, strength, and service. From fighting in the Battle of the Bulge to earning the Bronze Star for his heroism, he represents the very best of the Greatest Generation,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “It’s an honor to celebrate this incredible milestone with him. Augie and every veteran who wore the uniform had our backs when our country needed them most, and we will always have theirs — that’s a promise I’ll never stop working to keep.”

Retired U.S. Army Sergeant August “Augie” Caccavone is a lifelong Bergen County resident and a proud World War II veteran. A veteran of the Battle of the Bulge, Augie served as a Sergeant in the 7th Army and was awarded the Bronze Star for destroying two German machine guns. He also served in the Philippines and with the 8th Army in Japan, exemplifying courage in defense of our nation. At 100 years old, Augie remains an active member of VFW Post 2342, where he continues to support fellow veterans with kindness and good humor.

Gottheimer was joined by; Bergen County Clerk John Hogan; Deputy Commissioner of the NJ Dep. of Veterans Affairs Esther Chucaralao; 108th Mission Support Group Commander, Colonel Eric Balint; Bergen County Commissioner Dr. Joan Voss; Senator Gordon Johnson; Fort Lee Mayor Mark J. Sokolich; Fort Lee Councilman Harvey Sohmer; Fort Lee Council President Bryan Drumgoole; Fort Lee Councilman Paul Yoon; Upper Saddle River Mayor Arman Fardanesh; Vernon Township Mayor Anthony Rossi; Alpine Mayor Paul Tomasko; Leonia Mayor Bill Ziegler; Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna; Palisades Park Mayor Paul Kim; Palisades Park Councilman Charlie Shin; Palisades Park Councilman Christopher Kwak; Tenafly Councilwoman Jenny Jackson; Harrington Park Mayor Joon Chung; Allendale Mayor Amy Wilczynski; Allendale Council President Susanne Lovisolo; Waldwick Councilwoman Alyson Wingate; Waldwick Councilwoman Angela Smith; Glen Rock Councilman Jon Hendl; Paramus Councilman Alfredo Nadera; New Milford Councilman Matt Seymour; Fort Lee Police Chief Matthew Hintze.

Below: Gottheimer celebrates August “Augie” Caccavone’s 100th Birthday.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases/mejia-secures-six-new-jersey-water-infrastructure-priorities-in-house-passed-bill,Mejia Secures Six New Jersey Water Infrastructure Priorities in House-Passed Bill,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Analilia Mejia,M001246,mejia.house.gov,mejia,https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"For Immediate Release: September 21, 2026

Contact: Beth Wiesinger | NJ11AMPress@Mail.House.Gov

The bipartisan water resources bill includes provisions to advance flood protection, protect wetlands, address harmful algal blooms, and improve access to U.S. Army Corps programs across NJ-11

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congresswoman Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) announced that six priorities she championed to strengthen flood protection and protect waterways across New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District were included in the House-passed version of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 2026, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives last week by a vote of 415-9. The bill now awaits consideration by the Senate.

The legislation includes provisions directing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) to advance flood mitigation efforts along the Whippany River, Rockaway River, and Den Brook, and throughout the Passaic River Basin. It also expands support for natural flood protection, calls for additional federal attention to harmful algal blooms affecting Lake Hopatcong, and makes it easier for communities to navigate USACE programs and access technical assistance.

“Flooding is one of the greatest natural threats to families and businesses across New Jersey—it is something our communities have experienced again and again. I fought to make sure that the voices of our communities were heard and that these initiatives moved forward,” said Congresswoman Mejia. “These projects will help us better prepare for flooding, protect our waterways, and give local communities more tools to build the resilient infrastructure they need, before disaster strikes. I will continue working to make sure New Jersey gets its fair share of federal support as we confront the growing impacts of climate change.”

The House-passed WRDA includes six priorities championed by Congresswoman Mejia:

Whippany River Flooding: The bill directs USACE to expedite its ongoing study of flooding along the Whippany River, helping move the project closer to potential design, funding, and construction of flood-control improvements.

Rockaway River and Denville Flooding: The legislation calls for an update on efforts to reduce flooding along the Rockaway River and Den Brook, including solutions that can protect homes and businesses without relying solely on major construction projects.

Passaic River Basin Flooding: WRDA directs USACE to accelerate its work on the Passaic River Basin and report on the status of flood-management efforts, helping identify projects that could provide flood protection while broader regional strategies continue to move forward.

Protecting Wetlands and Natural Flood Protection: The bill expands support for wetlands, floodplains, green infrastructure, and other natural solutions that can reduce flooding and strengthen long-term resilience. These natural systems can absorb and store stormwater while complementing traditional infrastructure.

Lake Hopatcong and Harmful Algal Blooms: WRDA requires an update on USACE efforts to combat harmful algal blooms, with Lake Hopatcong identified as a priority area. Harmful algal blooms can threaten water quality, restrict recreational activities, and affect businesses that depend on the lake.

Making USACE Programs Easier for Towns to Use: The legislation includes reforms intended to provide communities with additional technical assistance and a more workable federal feasibility process. These changes can help smaller municipalities with limited staff and resources navigate USACE programs and advance local water infrastructure projects.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-mejia-supports-victims-calls-for-immediate-resignation-of-lt-governor-caldwell,"Rep. Mejia Supports Victims, Calls for Immediate Resignation of Lt. Governor Caldwell",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Analilia Mejia,M001246,mejia.house.gov,mejia,https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"For Immediate Release: 9/25/2026

Contact: Beth Wiesinger | NJ11AMPress@Mail.House.Gov

Glen Ridge, NJ — Congresswoman Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) released the following statement on the independent investigation into Lieutenant Governor Dale Caldwell:

""Lieutenant Governor Caldwell’s conduct is deeply disappointing and falls far short of the standard we should expect from anyone entrusted with public office. I stand with the victims who had the courage to come forward, and they deserve to be heard, supported, and protected. I have spent my life fighting for accountability and justice for workers facing harassment, which is why I support the actions taken by Governor Sherrill and her call for the Lieutenant Governor’s resignation,"" said Congresswoman Mejia. ""When harassment and ethical violations go unchecked, it sends a message to the public and to state employees that this kind of conduct is tolerated. That is simply unacceptable. Government officials have a responsibility to protect workers, stand up for our values, and fight every day to make life better for everyday New Jerseyans.""

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2097,Congressman Van Drew Statement on Nor'easter This Weekend,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement as South Jersey prepares for a strong coastal storm this weekend.

""We are praying for the best, but preparing for the worst,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""My office is in touch with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the White House so that if South Jersey is hit hard, we can make sure our communities get any federal help they need as quickly as possible. South Jersey has been through major storms before, and we know how important it is to be ready before conditions get bad. Be prepared for possible flooding and power outages, and pay close attention to updates from your local officials. We will be monitoring the storm closely, and if our towns need help, we will do everything we can to make sure South Jersey gets it.""",1,2026-09-28T11:29:07Z,2026-09-28T11:30:58Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415869,The Daily Signal exclusive article on Smith letter to Sec. Rubio and Pres. Trump'China Hawk Urges Trump and Rubio to Discuss Chinese Prisoner Release in New Letter',2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Pedro Rodriguez

Published September 24, 2026

FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—The chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China sent a letter to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday, urging them to discuss with Chinese leader Xi Jinping the release of worshippers and American citizens who remain imprisoned in China.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., penned the letter after he held two hearings in late September on the detainees, including media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai, Christian worshippers, Uyghur Muslims activists, Falun Gong, and American citizens detained for minor crimes.

“They are people—sons and daughters, fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters—whose families have spent years waiting and pleading for their loved ones to come home,” the letter, exclusively obtained by the Daily Signal, reads. “I respectfully ask that you raise the following cases directly with President Xi and press for their release, including through medical or humanitarian transfer where appropriate.”

President Donald Trump (right) talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping during an arrival ceremony on Sept. 23, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“At this critical moment, I ask that you make the freedom and humanitarian treatment of these individuals a priority in your discussions with Beijing,” the letter adds. “Several of these prisoners face serious medical conditions that warrant immediate consideration for medical or humanitarian release or transfer.”

During the first summit between the second Trump administration and the Chinese Communist Party earlier this year, Trump raised the issue of releasing Pastor Ezra Jin, who was imprisoned for operating a non-state-approved church in China, which eventually led to his release from a Chinese prison.

In his letter to the president and the secretary of state, Smith urged them “to bring that same commitment directly to the table with President Xi.”

Among the prisoners are eight leaders of Zion Church, who were originally imprisoned with Jin, as well as three Light of Zion Church leaders—Pastor Gao Quanfu, Pang Yu, and Tang Bingyi—who are still in confinement after refusing to register their house churches and submit to Communist Party monitoring.

Lai, who has already served six years of his 20-year sentence for running a non-state-sponsored media outlet, now faces serious health concerns and has just received notice that his eldest daughter is undergoing cancer treatment in the United Kingdom.

The two American prisoners detained in China, Dawn Michelle Hunt and Nelson Wells Jr., have been imprisoned for more than a decade, “following procedures that raise serious due process concerns,” the letter adds.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2096,Congressman Van Drew Urges FCC to Reject Verizon Plan to End Copper Service in South Jersey,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew sent a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr urging the FCC to reject Verizon's proposal to discontinue copper-based telephone service in parts of New Jersey, including Salem County.

""Many people in South Jersey still depend on these copper lines, especially in rural areas where cell service can be unreliable,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""These lines are used for medical-alert systems, alarm monitoring, elevator phones, and dependable 911 access. I have heard the concerns from people across South Jersey, and I agree with them. I am asking the FCC to turn this proposal down and make sure residents are not left without a reliable option.""",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-introduces-ai-kill-switch-legislation,Kean Introduces AI Kill Switch Legislation,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(SEPTEMBER 24, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) introduced the AI Emergency Button Act to require artificial intelligence developers to install an emergency kill switch.

“While AI can be a helpful tool, it is essential that humans remain in control of complex artificial intelligence systems,” said Congressman Kean. “This legislation would ensure that advanced artificial intelligence systems include a technical capability for a human operator to shut down the system.”

Senator John Kennedy (R-LA) introduced the AI Emergency Button Act in the Senate earlier this month.

In July, Congressman Kean introduced the Spot the Fakes Act with Representatives Gottheimer (NJ-05) and Liccardo (CA-16) to require that all AI-generated content carry a label embedded in its metadata, giving Americans the transparency they need to verify the authenticity of the content they view.

In September 2025, Congressman Kean introduced the LIFT AI Act with Congressman Amo (RI-01) to improve artificial intelligence literacy for students K-12. The bill passed the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology in June of this year.

Read the text of the bill HERE.

###",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415853,The Epoch Times article on Smith hearing'Families Call for Release of Loved Ones in China as Xi Visits US',2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Eva Fu

Published September 23, 2026

WASHINGTON—These are the faces that Beijing doesn’t want the world to see.

They are political prisoners, ranging in age from their early 20s to nearly 80, each held behind bars because their beliefs or speech do not align with the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

Each of them is a father or a mother, a son or a daughter. In the United States and elsewhere, someone is thinking of them, waiting for the day they will be allowed to go home.

Among those waiting are a mother of an 8-year-old, and a daughter undergoing chemotherapy, wishing to hold her father’s hand.

As the U.S.–China summit looms over Washington, advocates see an opening to make that happen.

One phone call to Beijing from the Oval Office, they argue, and these detainees could walk free.

On Capitol Hill, the plight of the political prisoners has galvanized bipartisan lawmakers ahead of the bilateral talks.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said at a presser that he believes the “release of the hostages” is on the agenda.

Five Democratic lawmakers have also presented the president with the names of 22 prisoners he could bring up with Chinese counterparts.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) hosted two hearings this month championing their cause.

“It’s like that could be me. That could be my wife if she lives in China,” he told The Epoch Times.

“We’re all God’s children. If we don’t raise [this cause], who will?”

Butterfly in the Kitchen

On the kitchen counter of her Florida home, Ziba Murat keeps an embroidered image of a swallowtail butterfly.

It’s a small, tangible piece of Gulshan Abbas, Murat’s reticent mother, who’s now in Chinese jail under a 20-year sentence on terrorism-related charges. The United States has deemed those accusations as unfounded.

Ziba Murat holds a photo of her mother, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, at Murat's home in Virginia in 2024.

Ziba Murat keeps a framed image of a butterfly that was cross-stitched by her mother, jailed political prisoner Dr. Gulshan Abbas, in her kitchen.

It was hard for Murat to connect the person she knows so intimately with the reality of life in prison. Abbas, as Murat remembers, smiled quietly at jokes and embroidered for hours with a patience Murat never possessed.

Even after retiring, Abbas continued to go out of her way to help Uyghur patients, getting up early to meet them at the hospital just so they could see the right doctor and have everything they needed, Murat told The Epoch Times.

Murat misses her. She misses her mother’s humming in the kitchen and the wonderful stir-fries she cooked during the months she spent visiting the United States.

When it was time for Abbas to leave in 2016, Murat wanted her to stay.

She remembers her mother telling her: “I have a 10-year-visa. I can come back anytime I want.”

Murat said she had a sinking feeling as she watched her mother disappear through airport security. That was the last time they saw each other in person.

(L–R) Ziba Murat; her mother, Dr. Gulshan Abbas; and her younger sister Zamira Murat during a 2015 visit to the United States by Abbas, in this file photo.

For the next two years, the two talked on the phone every day. Then in 2018, days after Abbas’s sister Rushan made a public speech denouncing the Party’s mass detention of Uyghurs, Abbas became unreachable. It took two years for her family to learn of her imprisonment and sentencing in a secret trial.

Holding her baby daughter, Murat walked around Congress frantically looking for help. Never a news junkie, she became glued to the screen, scanning for the slightest hint of change in U.S.–China policy.

Guilt gnawed at Murat as she wondered what she could have done, thinking about how she was here in the United States living her life while her mother was suffering in a Chinese jail.

Murat still can’t bring herself to tell the truth to her 8-year-old daughter.

When the girl saw a photo of Rushan holding a photo of Abbas, she asked Murat what was going on.

Murat responded that her grandmother was “very far away” and that they were asking people to bring her back.

Through all these years, Murat said, the girl hasn’t hugged her grandmother. She knows her grandmother through stories, photographs, and the hope that one day they will finally meet.

“That’s the cruelty of transnational repression,” Murat said at a Sept. 16 event on China’s religious freedom. “It did not harm only one person. It steals birthdays. It steals holidays, ordinary family moments that you can never get back.”

Dr. Gulshan Abbas's image is shown during a congressional hearing by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party titled “The Chinese Communist Party's Ongoing Uyghur Genocide,” in Washington on March 23, 2023.

Ziba Murat with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) during a visit for the State of the Union address in Washington on Feb. 24, 2026.

Ziba Murat with Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Mich.), head of the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party, in Washington in March 2026.

A Card From Jail

Alisa Zhou experienced that cruelty when she was around 7 years old.

It was 2000, one year after the Chinese regime went all out against her faith, Falun Gong.

The meditative practice spread widely by word of mouth in the 1990s, reaching an estimated 70 million practitioners by decade’s end. Then, in 1999, the Chinese leadership ordered a full-fledged eradication campaign. Overnight, the practitioners became outlaws.

Zhou was too young to make sense of it all, and her father tried to shield her from the hard reality. When her mother, Wang Youmei, vanished suddenly, he told Zhou that she had gone on a business trip far away.

But the persecution found a way to reach Zhou. After her mother’s arrest, Zhou’s best friend, with whom she walked to and from school every day, stopped playing with her. Then her father took her to an unfamiliar place.

Her mother was there. She handed Zhou a bag of snacks and a handwritten card.

One message is etched into her memory: her mother’s wish that her children “grow up healthy and happy.”

The young Zhou cried as she took in the words. Some time later, she grasped that her mother was in jail.

There were a lot more tears during those nights when Zhou was alone. To encourage herself, she wrote down “truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance”—the three core principles of Falun Gong—and hung it on her bedroom wall.

More than two decades later, the same three words keep Zhou going after her mother’s fifth arrest this April.

She had learned about it while driving to Virginia Beach for a weekend retreat. Back at work on Monday, she burst into tears when her boss greeted her with “How was your weekend?”

Zhou is now an American citizen. But despite living in the free world, the persecution follows her like a shadow, she said.

“There’s not a moment where I can shake it off,” she told The Epoch Times. Whenever she trawls the internet for information on China, she’s haunted by revelations of new arrests and deaths.

Believing in truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance poses no threat to anyone, Zhou said, but if the CCP is out to get someone, “there’s no shortage of excuses.” She said she can’t fathom how a state could turn on its own people.

Neither can Smith, the co-chair of the bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China that monitors human rights in the communist country.

“I’ve been in Congress for 46 years. I don’t get it,” he said.

“These [people] are assets to your country. ... This is the salt of the earth—Christian believers, Falun Gong practitioners, the Uyghurs, Tibetan Buddhists. Why would you look to hurt these people?

“Let them thrive, and your nation thrives.”

To Hold a Daughter’s Hand

It’s difficult to know how many political prisoners there are in China. The Chinese regime doesn’t provide such information and asserts that it doesn’t hold them.

A database from human rights nonprofit Dui Hua Foundation, last updated in December 2025, recorded more than 50,000 entries. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China has tracked more than 11,000 cases. Neither comes close to the true number, advocates say.

“It’s millions of people that have to go through that,” Sam Brownback, former ambassador at large for international religious freedom, told The Epoch Times. “These are people that have families like I do, and they’ve just done what they believe is right and stood up for freedom.”

In Hong Kong, the number of political prisoners has also been rising over the six years since Beijing imposed a national security law to crush dissent.

One of the most prominent is Jimmy Lai, founder of one of the largest pro-democracy newspapers in Hong Kong, which folded following a 500-strong police raid in 2021.

His daughter Claire was diagnosed with cancer weeks ago and just started chemotherapy in London.

Lai received the news at the maximum-security prison where he’s serving a 20-year sentence.

At a Sept. 16 hearing highlighting Lai’s case, Claire’s brother Sebastien pleaded for compassionate release so that their father could “sit beside his daughter in her hardest moment” and hold her hand.

“She wants nothing more than to have him with her for this fight,” Sebastien Lai said.

Sebastien Lai said he hears about his father’s health declining every single day.

In a report two days before the hearing, the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation found that Hong Kong prison guards have rehearsed Jimmy Lai’s death.

“It’s really scary to hear,” Sebastien Lai said.

The Hong Kong authorities’ actions against his father are a “real disgrace,” he said. “They went through all this kangaroo court show trial and found nothing. His record is unblemished, yet they still keep going.”

The Long Game

Jimmy Lai is one of an estimated 2,000 Hong Kong pro-democracy figures ensnared under the national security law.

Former student leader Joshua Wong is currently awaiting sentencing for “foreign collusion” for lobbying Western lawmakers, and potentially faces life in prison.

For democracy activist Frances Hui, who has a HK$1 million (about $127,000) bounty on her head, the word that comes to mind is “horror.”

“I knew [Wong] when he was 16; I don’t know if he will ever come out alive, or if I will ever be able to see him,” she told The Epoch Times.

Wong was already serving a four-year, eight-month prison term. Seven months before Wong was due to be released, prosecutors began a second trial.

“They waited until the very end to come up with this charge. It’s just so apparent that they are trying to keep him behind bars for as long as they can,” Hui said.

The two met when they were both teenagers campaigning for Hong Kong’s democratic freedoms. Wong, in Hui’s telling, had a lot of energy, taking interviews even while on hunger strike and physically frail.

“He inspires so many of us,” Hui said, suggesting that the Party authorities are acting out of fear.

“They are afraid that if he gets out next year, he will create something that they can’t control.”

The regime is playing the long game, she said, betting that over time, the outside world will “forget the prisoners as they slowly go quiet.”

The families of the prisoners fear forgetting, too.

At a recent human rights panel, Uyghur lawyer Rayhan Asat held up a photo of her brother, Ekpar, who was detained upon returning from a 2016 U.S. exchange program.

They had seen each other that March. She was studying at Harvard Law School and expecting to see him at her graduation ceremony in two months. She regrets not taking many videos of them together. After 10 years of separation, it’s now difficult to imagine what he sounds like.

“That’s a very painful thought,” she said.

Hope for a Miracle

The release of Pastor Ezra Jin in July is helping to keep their hopes alive.

After nearly nine months in custody, the Zion Church leader walked onto a plane bound for the United States and was reunited with his family.

Chinese authorities charged him with fraud and illegal business operations—allegations frequently used to prosecute religious activities in China. They told him they could imprison him for 15 years but would be lenient if he pleaded guilty. He refused.

On July 3, he was pulled from prison and sent in an empty train car to the airport. Even after stepping onto the plane, Jin said, he had no idea where he was going. He had no paperwork or visa.

He arrived on July 4—America’s 250th birthday. It felt like a dream. The previous day, he was a prisoner. The following evening, he was sitting by the seaside, watching fireworks with family he hadn’t seen in eight years.

Many had thought it was mission impossible, he said, as he accepted an award in July celebrating his freedom. He thanked Trump and many human rights advocates for their support.

“When we stand together, changes do happen,” he said.

This article was published on September 23, 2026 and can be found online at:",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415866,"On the eve of Trump-Xi meeting in Washington, D.C.Capitol Hill hearing features heartfelt appeals to Xi Jinping: let these wonderful people go",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"At yesterday’s Capitol Hill hearing chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), lawmakers heard compelling, emotional testimony about the people imprisoned and persecuted by the Chinese government, the families and religious communities working for their freedom, and the retaliation faced by those who speak out on their behalf in China.

“Behind every statistic about political prisoners is a person with hopes and dreams, and a life filled with isolation and pain. Behind every person in a Chinese prison is a family waiting, praying, and hoping that someone will not forget them. And behind many of those families is an entire community that feels threatened and intimidated,” Smith said during his opening remarks.

“Today, we appeal to Xi Jinping to release women and men of conscience and goodness—as a tangible good faith expression of good will, benevolence, respect, and strength. We appeal to Xi Jinping’s heart,” continued Smith, the Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).

“We again ask President Trump—who helped Pastor Ezra Jin gain his freedom—to appeal to Xi Jinping to show compassion and courage.”

At the hearing—entitled “The Faces of Repression: Prisoners, Families, and Communities Targeted by the CCP”—members of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) heard from multiple highly anticipated witnesses, including Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, the founder and pastor of China’s underground Zion Church, who was recently released from Chinese detention after spending more than 260 days in custody.

During the first panel of witnesses, Pastor Jin—accompanied by his daughter and translator, Grace Jin Drexel—testified before Congress for the first time since his long-awaited release in July. Pastor Jin described the persecution, harassment, and intimidation inflicted upon his church and congregants by the Chinese government, explaining that “the government put pressure on the landlords to terminate our leases, police came to stop church activities and demanded that attendees register their ID cards, [and] police came and cut off the water and power of our meeting place.”

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri and his daughter and translator, Grace Jin Drexel, testify before the CECC at their September 22nd hearing.

Eventually, after years of relentless harassment, the Chinese government “mobilized several hundred police to forcibly shut down the Zion Church sanctuary, and the congregation was scattered,” according to Pastor Jin. Zion Church’s services were then moved to online platforms, such as Zoom, where their number of congregants only grew.

Shortly thereafter, however, Pastor Jin and other church leaders were arrested and detained by Chinese authorities on the bogus charge of “illegal use of the internet.” The charges were later changed to “illegal business operations” and “fraud.”

“During detention, our basic rights were severely restricted. We were not able to have normal correspondence with our families. The only channel for communicating with the outside world was through lawyers,” said Pastor Jin.

“On July 3, without any notice whatsoever, I was taken out of the detention center and brought to Guangzhou Airport, where the prosecutor’s office withdrew the indictment against me, and I was put on a plane bound for the United States,” he continued. “It was only through the U.S. Embassy’s consular officer that I learned this happened because President Trump had specifically requested my release from President Xi Jinping during his visit to China!”

Concluding his testimony, Pastor Jin called upon U.S. Congress to “continue to pay attention to religious persecution and human rights within China,” and he expressed hope that “this meeting between the two heads of state can produce genuine consensus and breakthroughs in improving China’s human rights situation and ending the persecution of religious believers.”

The hearing’s second panel contained other high-profile witnesses, including Nelson Wells Sr., the father of detained American citizen Nelson Wells Jr.; Tim Hunt, the brother of detained American citizen Dawn Michelle Hunt; Rushan Abbas, the sister of detained Chinese political prisoner Dr. Gulshan Abbas and the founder and Executive Director of the Campaign for Uyghurs; and Erping Zhang, a spokesperson for Falun Gong and the Director of Government and Advocacy at the Falun Dafa Information Center.

Nelson Wells Jr., an American citizen from Louisiana, was arrested in China in 2014 and sentenced to 22 years in prison after being duped by a so-called friend into carrying bags allegedly containing narcotics. “For that one mistake—that one betrayal, his life, his wife’s life, his children’s lives, and our lives will never be the same,” said Nelson Wells Sr.

Nelson Wells Sr., the father of detained American citizen Nelson Wells Jr., speaks to lawmakers at the CECC's September 22nd hearing.

Testifying before the Commission, Wells Sr. described his son’s declining health, as well as the abusive treatment he endures while in prison:

“Over the years, Nelson has been targeted as one of the few Americans and the only Black American in the prison, which has exposed him to harsher treatment and sometimes physical attack. He has suffered from debilitating chronic pain, seizures (a Chinese MRI report shows he has brain atrophy), malnutrition, internal issues, dental pain, severe depression and thoughts of self-harm… And now, as of a few weeks ago, we discovered that he has been diagnosed with Hepatitis C—the news of which has devastated Nelson and our family.”

Through tears, Wells Sr. continued, “We need President Donald Trump, our President, a father himself, to personally advocate on Nelson’s behalf to President Xi when the two meet this week. We have come a long way and are at the last mile. We believe that he—and perhaps only he—can bring Nelson, can bring Dawn home.

“When our country asked us to serve, my wife and I did so unreservedly and without hesitation. I even served hardship posts, including during the Gulf War. President Trump, now I am asking for your help—father to father—on behalf of my child. He is a man, but as every parent here knows, he is still my child, and I cannot leave him behind. I am asking you also not to leave him—an American citizen—behind,” he concluded.

Tim Hunt—whose sister, Dawn, an American citizen from Chicago, was also arrested in China in 2014 and sentenced to life imprisonment after being lured into a fraudulent sweepstakes scheme—spoke powerfully and movingly about the hardships his sister and his family have endured since her arrest.

“She has aged dramatically. Her posture is that of someone much older. She is slumped over. She is frail. Her teeth have yellowed and shifted. Her hair is much grayer than it was just two years ago. Those are the things I could see,” said Hunt.

Hunt revealed that in January, Gene Hunt—his and Dawn’s father—sadly passed away at 92 years old, “with his only daughter still in prison.”

Tim Hunt, the brother of detained American citizen Dawn Michelle Hunt, speaks to lawmakers at the CECC's September 22nd hearing.

“Our father died knowing that his little girl was incarcerated. Dawn was not home when he died. She could not be there with him. He could not tell her that he loved her one last time. He could not see her one last time. He could not give her words of encouragement. He could not help her prepare for a life of freedom. And he could not be there for her if she struggled after twelve years of incarceration,” stated Hunt.

Towards the end of his testimony, Hunt urged lawmakers to push for and secure Dawn’s and Nelson’s releases: “Please use your voices. Please ask President Trump to ask President Xi to release Dawn. And please ask for the release of Nelson Wells Jr. as well… I need help for the average American. The two-job American. The three-job American. The American who served his country with honor and pride.”

Rushan Abbas, a prominent Uyghur activist, discussed how her sister, Dr. Gulshan Abbas, was punished by the Chinese government for Rushan’s advocacy in the United States. “I come before you first and foremost as a sister to an innocent woman who has been jailed in China for the past 8 years in retaliation for my advocacy in the U.S. as an Uyghur American,” said Rushan.

“Her imprisonment is a blatant act of transnational repression—an attempt to punish me for speaking the truth and to send a chilling message to Uyghurs everywhere: speak out, and your family will pay the price,” she continued.

“But Beijing’s cruelty did not silence me. It transformed the course of my life. I walked away from my professional career and became a full-time advocate for my people, determined to turn the pain they inflicted on my family into a relentless fight for freedom, justice, and accountability.”

Abbas urged Congress to pass three bills authored and introduced by Rep. Smith—the Transnational Repression Policy Act (HR 4829), the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025 (HR 1503), and the Uyghur Genocide Accountability and Sanctions Act of 2025 (HR 4830)—which, together, would strengthen the United States’ framework for addressing, preventing, and prosecuting many of China’s human rights abuses.

Witnesses Rushan Abbas and Erping Zhang speak at the CECC's hearing, ""The Faces of Repression: Prisoners, Families, and Communities Targeted by the CCP.""

Erping Zhang, a spokesperson and advocate for Falun Gong—a spiritual practice in the Buddhist tradition that has been the subject of decades-long persecution and repression at the hands of the CCP—echoed Abbas’ recommendations and urged the United States to continue speaking up for Falun Gong practitioners.

“The Party has tried all means to bankrupt us, to silence us, and to delegitimize us… What it has done to Falun Gong is one of the most comprehensive demonstrations available of how the Party behaves when it believes it is threatened,” said Zhang.

“It is therefore one of the best available predictors of how it will behave toward the United States which the CCP regards as its ultimate adversary. We believe that Falun Gong matters, more than ever, to China, to the United States, and to the world, and thus hope the CCP’s repression of our community can receive the attention it deserves,” he concluded.

Throughout the hearing, Rep. Smith and various witnesses raised the importance of his bipartisan Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Michelle Hunt Unjustly Detained in Communist China Act (HR 5491), which would mandate a coordinated U.S. government response to the unjust imprisonment of American citizens in China—and the use of family members as hostages to silence or punish American citizens critical of the CCP.

“The bill would strengthen the government’s ability to identify Americans unjustly detained in China, coordinate their cases, engage with their families, pursue humanitarian releases and prisoner transfers, and identify additional tools for holding responsible Chinese officials accountable,” said Smith.

“Because when an American is unjustly detained, that person’s family should not have to navigate the Chinese Communist Party’s system alone.”

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-joins-bergen-community-college-hispanic-heritage-month-celebration,PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Joins Bergen Community College Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration,2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer joins students, faculty, families, and community members for a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Bergen Community College.

PARAMUS, NJ — Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined students, faculty, families, and community leaders at Bergen Community College to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month.

“New Jersey’s Hispanic and Latino community is central to who we are — our small businesses, our schools, our hospitals, and our neighborhoods are all stronger because of it,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “During Hispanic Heritage Month, I’m here to do what I always try to do: listen and keep fighting for the families of the Fifth District every single day.”

Gottheimer was joined by County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Commissioner Germaine Ortiz, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Bergen County Commissioner Rafael Marte, Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner Dr. Joan M. Voss, President of Bergen County Community College Dr. Eric M. Friedman, President & CEO of Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Deborah Visconi, Consulate General of Ecuador in New Jersey & Pennsylvania – Acting Consul General Dr. Ramiro Hidalgo Tandazo, Consulate General of Peru in New Jersey & Pennsylvania – Consul General Dr. Ramiro Hidalgo Tandazo.

Below: Gottheimer joins students, faculty, and community members for a Hispanic Heritage Month celebration at Bergen Community College.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-gillen-van-drew-introduce-legislation-reduce-commuting-expenses,"Kean, Gillen, Van Drew Introduce Legislation to Reduce Commuting Expenses",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(SEPTEMBER 23, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recently, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07), Congresswoman Laura Gillen (NY-04), and Congressman Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02) introduced the Lowering Commuting Costs Actthat would help hardworking families save money on their daily commutes to work.

""Commuting costs strain hardworking New Jerseyans' bottom lines,"" said Congressman Kean. ""The Lowering Commuting Costs Act would create a new deduction for taxpayers to save thousands of dollars of costs incurred when commuting, whether on train fare, on congestion pricing tolls, and more. I am proud to co-lead this bill to help families keep more of their hard-earned money and reduce the monetary strain of daily commutes.”

“Hardworking Long Islanders are forced to pay skyrocketing costs just to get to work, making the cost of living crisis even worse,” said Rep. Gillen. “With the rising price of gas, LIRR fares and the NYC congestion tax, working families are left with no affordable way to get to their jobs. This bipartisan bill will help families save money as they commute to work and contribute to the economy by creating the first-ever tax credit for personal commuting expenses.”

“For millions of Americans, just getting to work every day is expensive,” said Rep. Van Drew. “Gas is expensive, tolls are expensive, and for a lot of families, those costs add up to thousands of dollars a year. If businesses can deduct the cost of doing business, working people should be able to deduct what it takes to get to and from their jobs. I am proud to join Congresswoman Gillen on this bill and give some of that money back to the people who earn it.”

The Lowering Commuting Costs Act would establish a federal income tax deduction of $340 a month for individuals or $680 for joint filers, for personal commuting expenses, including the cost of gas, public transit, and tolls such as New York City’s congestion pricing.

Congressman Kean has championed efforts to provide tax relief and lower costs for New Jersey families in the U.S. House of Representatives. Congressman Kean also led the fight to restore the full State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction for middle-class families. In the 2025 Reconciliation law, Congressman Kean successfully fought to quadruple the SALT deduction to $40,000, delivering a major victory for New Jersey homeowners. In March 2026, he introduced the Tax Relief for Renters Actthat would put more money back into the pockets of Americans by allowing renters to claim a deduction of one month’s rent on their personal taxes each year. In January 2026, he introduced theMake American Housing AffordableAct, legislation that would establish a new tax credit for Americans purchasing their primary home.

Read the text of the Lowering Commuting Costs Act HERE.

###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415867,"The Epoch Times article on Smith hearing'""Bring Them Home"": Americans Push to Free Loved Ones Jailed in China'",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Eva Fu

Published September 23, 2026

WASHINGTON—With the U.S.–China summit approaching, Americans who have loved ones detained in China are pleading with President Donald Trump not to forget them.

One of them is 20-year U.S. Army veteran Nelson Wells, whose son, Nelson Wells Jr., has been in Chinese prison for 12 years on charges that the family says are dubious.

At a hearing held by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China on Sept. 22, Wells appealed to the U.S. president “father to father.”

Weeks ago, his son was diagnosed with hepatitis C. He is set to be released in 2041. But with Wells Jr.’s deteriorating health, including chronic pain, high blood pressure, diabetes, and seizures, Wells said he’s not sure whether his son could last that long.

“He’s sick. His family has suffered. There’s no justice in allowing him to die in prison,” Wells said.

He said Wells Jr.’s daughter, now 12, “has never seen her father outside photographs” and prays at night “for someone who can bring him home.”

Trump can be that someone, he said.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who hosted the hearing, agreed that the United States cannot look away.

Freeing political prisoners needs to be on the U.S.–China summit agenda, he told The Epoch Times.

“It has to be—period,” he said.

The congressman said he hopes the president can convey “a sense of urgency and compassion” for “these suffering individuals.”

Seated next to Wells at the witness table was Tim Hunt, whose sister, Dawn Michelle Hunt, like Wells’s son, was arrested in China in 2014 for alleged drug smuggling. Both families deny the accusations.

While visiting his sister in July, Hunt said, he didn’t recognize the sibling he had last seen two years ago.

“She has aged dramatically. Her posture is that of someone much older. She is slumped over,” he said. He noticed how her teeth had yellowed and shifted, and how her hair had grayed.

When they met, he said, she kept asking when she would be freed, and he couldn’t give her an answer.

In January, their father passed away at age 92.

“He lived a long life before he died, with his only daughter still in prison,” Hunt said, tears rolling down his face. “He could not see her one last time.”

Wells put his arm around Hunt while wiping off his own tears.

His deepest hope is to “bring them home alive, and bring them home this year,” Wells said.

‘Can’t Delay It Further’

More than 200 Americans are currently detained in China, according to the Dui Hua Foundation, a human rights group focused on the country.

The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has also heavily suppressed religious and ethnic minority groups, such as Uyghurs, Christians, and practitioners of the spiritual practice Falun Gong, subjecting them to arbitrary arrests, harsh sentences, and other forms of abuse.

Those imprisoned include many who have families in America.

Rushan Abbas, executive director at Campaign for Uyghurs, described the case of her sister, Gulshan Abbas, as an example of the CCP’s transnational repression.

Gulshan Abbas disappeared days after Rushan Abbas spoke in public about the mass detention and torture of Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region. The former was sentenced to 20 years in prison in a secret trial.

“Behind every statistic is a human being, a family torn apart, and a voice the CCP is trying to silence,” Rushan Abbas said.

Erping Zhang, a spokesperson for Falun Gong, noted the case of Alisa Zhou, a Maryland accountant in the audience whose mother has been detained in China since April.

Her mother’s arrest followed months of covert Chinese police surveillance of two Falun Gong study groups, Zhang noted in his written testimony.

American Grace Chen, who’s in the U.S. Army, was a teenager when the Chinese authorities arrested her parents in 2020. Only after their release in 2025 did Chen learn about the “horrors” that her father experienced, Zhang said at the hearing. Chen’s father was denied sleep, scalded with hot water, and forced to drink urine, according to Zhang.

Her parents are still in China.

Trump in July helped Pastor Ezra Jin of Beijing’s Zion Church gain his freedom. Jin also testified at the hearing, with his daughter, Grace Jin Drexel, as the translator.

He said later in an interview that he considers the upcoming meeting between Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to be the best shot to raise the political prisoners’ case.

“We can’t delay it further,” Jin said. He added that he hopes the freedom he enjoys can soon extend to many others who still don’t have it—including eight church fellows arrested at the same time as him in October 2025 and two Light of Zion Church leaders, Gao Quanfu and his wife, Pang Yu.

Wells has about 10 minutes of call time with his jailed son each month. He has saved this month’s allotment for after the summit, hoping to deliver some good news, he told The Epoch Times.

Hunt said he is cautiously hopeful. Speaking slowly at the hearing, he told the audience that if his sister and Wells’s son can’t come home at the same time, he hopes that Wells’s son gets the priority.

“He still has a mother and a father that are alive. He still has that family that can support him. He needs that,” Hunt said.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415868,The Epoch Times article on Smith hearing'Congress Warned About Beijing's Repression on US Soil',2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Eva Fu

Published September 23, 2026

WASHINGTON—The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP’s) sweeping repression targeting one faith group is creating a challenge to the United States and allowing Beijing to expand its toolbox to persecute other communities, a Falun Gong spokesperson testified to Congress.

Erping Zhang described a wide spectrum of Beijing-linked tactics targeting the spiritual community, playing out in America—including assault, anonymous violent threats, spying, disinformation, and frivolous lawsuits.

The tactics can be used against “any group the CCP decides is a problem,” Zhang told the Congressional-Executive Commission on China on Sept. 22.

“The regime’s actions undermine the basic rights of Americans and the rule of law,” he said in his written testimony.

“The impact of this activity reaches far beyond our own community, creating a playbook of tactics that the regime can use against other targets while undermining U.S. democracy, freedom, and sovereignty.”

Zhang pointed to a June report by the Falun Dafa Information Center, which identified more than 600 cases of transnational repression incidents across 30 states.

Falun Gong practitioners have faced these threats for simply practicing their faith in the United States, Zhang said.

Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a meditation practice with spiritual teachings based on the core tenets of truthfulness, compassion, and forbearance. In the 1990s, 70 million to 100 million people began practicing, with many crediting Falun Gong for uplifting their physical and mental well-being. In 1999, the Chinese communist regime marked it for eradication.

Organizations monitoring the persecution have verified thousands of deaths, which they say represent a drop in the ocean.

Between March and April, nearly 800 practitioners in China reported experiencing harassment, arrest, or house raids, according to Minghui.org, a clearinghouse for such information. The oldest of them was 94.

Since 1999, Falun Gong practitioners have been “detained by the millions, tortured, sexually abused, forced into producing goods that reached American shelves, subjected to forced organ harvesting,” Zhang said. “That apparatus was later turned onto the Uyghurs.”

Several Chinese officials hit with U.S. sanctions for repressing Uyghurs in China’s Xinjiang region have a history of persecuting Falun Gong, an Epoch Times review of their records found.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who chaired the congressional hearing, noted that the repression doesn’t end at the prison gate.

To see “spiritual disciplines like Falun Gong suffer so horribly in China underscores that we have to do more, not less,” he said.

Be it Falun Gong practitioners, Christians, or Uyghurs, Smith said, “they are the best citizens imaginable.”

“Very often, they have a code of conduct that’s written on their hearts,” he told The Epoch Times. “Why wouldn’t you want more of that? I don’t get it.”

Beyond China, the Falun Gong community has become a top target for the regime’s “unrestricted war” against religious freedom, Zhang said in his written testimony.

In 2023, the Department of Justice charged two Chinese agents for trying to bribe an IRS official to act on a fake whistleblower complaint against Shen Yun Performing Arts, a New York-based arts company founded by Falun Gong practitioners. John Chen, one of the alleged agents acting under Chinese authorities’ orders, stated his goal was to help the regime “topple” Falun Gong, according to court documents. Both Chen and the other Chinese national pleaded guilty.

Since March 2024, more than 300 anonymous death threats and bomb threats linked to Chinese individuals have been sent, targeting Falun Gong and Shen Yun, as well as lawmakers supportive of Falun Gong, and several civil institutions, according to Falun Dafa Information Center.

The center also counted dozens of cases in which individuals impersonated Falun Gong practitioners to make fake threats.

In late January, foreign influence research group Graphika flagged a cluster of websites linked to Chinese companies that push Beijing’s propaganda overseas while masquerading as legitimate Western media, corroborating an Epoch Times report finding similar operations on X.

Zhang said Falun Gong has long served as a target of Beijing’s repression tactics.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415850,The Washington Times Op-Ed by Rep. Smith'A presidential appeal to release unjustly detained U.S. citizens',2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Rep. Christopher H. Smith - Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Political prisoner in China Jimmy Lai illustration by Linas Garsys / The Washington Times

OPINION:

President Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping will meet in Washington this week with trade, technology, Taiwan and Iran on a crowded agenda.

These critical, wide-ranging disputes require intense focus and attention but are unlikely to be resolved in a single day. Yet, the summit can produce one immediate result: bringing home Americans unjustly detained in China and political prisoners such as Jimmy Lai, whose time behind bars must come to an end.

Mr. Xi should leave the U.S. knowing four names by heart: Nelson Wells Jr., Dawn Michelle Hunt, Youlin Chen and Min Zin.

Mr. Trump already understands why detention cases require leader-level diplomacy. In May, Mr. Trump personally raised the case of Mr. Lai, the 78-year-old Hong Kong publisher nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, who is serving a 20-year sentence for his peaceful advocacy. We hope the president will raise Mr. Lai again. Only Mr. Xi can approve a release of that political significance. Only Mr. Xi can do the same for Americans whose cases have already become U.S. priorities.

Mr. Wells and Ms. Hunt have spent more than 12 years behind bars. Mr. Wells is a Louisiana-born father of three. Ms. Hunt is a Chicago artist. They were prosecuted in a judicial system controlled by the Communist Party. Testimony at hearings I have chaired has documented failures of evidence, legal defense and due process in these cases.

Mr. Wells was first sentenced to life; his sentence was later reduced to 22 years, which could keep him imprisoned until 2041. Ms. Hunt received a death sentence with a two-year reprieve, which was later commuted to life. Their health is now deteriorating.

Mr. Wells’ family reports seizures, diabetes and high blood pressure. He also has endured physical attacks in prison.

Ms. Hunt needs blood transfusions, has experienced sexual abuse and mistreatment while in prison, and has severe, untreated medical problems, including tumors in her uterus and ovaries. Her father died this year without seeing her come home.

The administration has already asked China to release Mr. Wells and Ms. Hunt on humanitarian grounds. Family advocates say Chinese officials have indicated Beijing is prepared to consider release if the request comes from a sufficiently senior level. More than a year of diplomatic work has therefore brought these cases to the point where only political intervention can move them. That leaves the essential appeal for the summit: to make these requests directly to Mr. Xi.

After all, the final decision is Mr. Xi’s. Beijing can choose clemency, medical parole, commutation or transfer, but no Chinese judge, foreign minister or Politburo member can authorize the release of two Americans sought by the U.S. president without approval from the top. That is how authority works in China’s autocratic system.

The president was recently asked by a reporter about Mr. Wells and Ms. Hunt. He had their names repeated and said he would speak with Mr. Xi about many matters.

Thank you, Mr. President. These names are worth repeating until Mr. Xi no longer needs the reminder. This is not for rhetorical effect. It is to ensure that imprisonment remains a top U.S. concern and an irritant in bilateral relations until they are home.

Tragically, Mr. Chen and Mr. Zin now require the same attention. Mr. Chen, a Boston-area seismologist who worked on U.S.-funded research, has been held since November 2024 after Chinese authorities stopped him at Beijing’s airport as he tried to return from a family visit. He was accused of “espionage” and has been held without charge.

Mr. Zin, a respected scholar of Burma-China relations, was invited to an academic gathering by Chinese hosts and detained upon arrival. He also faces a bogus espionage accusation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has designated both men as “wrongfully detained” and promised to use State Department resources to secure their release.

There may be U.S. officials and pundits who object to using presidential time to raise these cases, but their objections would not be persuasive here. Raising these cases does not require trading away a tariff concession, a technology restriction or a security interest to secure the release of a U.S. citizen. Mr. Wells and Ms. Hunt are already the subjects of a humanitarian request; Mr. Chen and Mr. Zin are formally designated wrongful detention cases by our State Department. Presidential attention simply takes existing U.S. policy to the level where a decision can be made.

The release of unjustly detained U.S. citizens is a tangible result of a meeting that every American understands and will celebrate.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415851,"Opening statement of Co-Chairman Smith at CECC hearingThe Faces of Repression: Prisoners, Families, and Communities Targeted by the CCP",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The following are excerpts of Co-Chairman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) opening statement at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China’s (CECC) September 22nd hearing, entitled “The Faces of Repression: Prisoners, Families, and Communities Targeted by the CCP”:

Behind every statistic about political prisoners is a person with hopes and dreams, and a life filled with isolation and pain. Behind every person in a Chinese prison is a family waiting, praying, and hoping that someone will not forget them. And behind many of those families is an entire community that feels threatened and intimidated.

Perhaps, that is what the Chinese Communist Party wants. It wants the prisoner isolated. It wants the family frightened. And it wants everyone watching to conclude that speaking out is either futile or simply too costly.

But today, we are here to say: we will not look away. The real cost is failing to speak out. Silence is not an option. Today, we appeal to Xi Jinping to release women and men of conscience and goodness—as a tangible good faith expression of good will, benevolence, respect, and strength. We appeal to Xi Jinping’s heart.

We again ask President Trump—who helped Pastor Ezra Jin gain his freedom—to appeal to Xi Jinping to show compassion and courage.

Pastor Jin founded Beijing Zion Church, which grew to a congregation of approximately 1,500 people before Chinese authorities forcibly shut down its sanctuary in 2018. Even after the physical church was closed, the congregation continued to meet, worship, teach, and evangelize across China. By 2025, Zion Church had nearly 100 meeting points in 40 cities.

The response from the Chinese Communist Party was a nationwide crackdown. In October 2025, authorities carried out arrests in 11 cities, taking approximately 30 pastors and church leaders into custody. Eighteen were ultimately criminally detained. Pastor Jin was one of them. His amazing daughter, Grace, came before this Commission and told us what his imprisonment meant for him and their family.

Both Congress and the President listened and acted. The House passed my resolution, H.Res. 1259, asking the President to help secure Pastor Jin’s release during engagement with Xi Jinping. President Trump personally pushed for Pastor Jin’s freedom, and he was released and reunited with his family this summer. That is something worth celebrating.

Pastor Jin himself has said that he believes the direct intervention of President Trump with President Xi was instrumental in securing his freedom. And he returned to America after eight months apart from his family. But Pastor Jin’s freedom also reminds us of the people who are still behind bars. Eight of his Zion Church colleagues remain detained.

And according to our Commission, their families have raised concerns about extreme temperatures, malnutrition, inadequate medical care, and mistreatment in detention. Even the lawyers attempting to defend them have faced pressure.

We also must remember Americans who remain imprisoned in China. Nelson Wells, Sr. has been here before, almost two years to the day. On September 18th, 2024, he testified at the CECC hearing, “Bringing Home Americans Detained in China,” I chaired about his son, Nelson Wells Jr., who has now spent more than a decade imprisoned in China.

Nelson Jr. was arrested in 2014 after traveling to China for medical treatment. He was initially sentenced to life imprisonment; that sentence was later reduced to 22 years, leaving him incarcerated until 2041. His family has also reported serious and debilitating medical problems.

Mr. Wells’ testimony was heartbreaking. He told us about the call that changed his family’s life—the call telling them that their son had been arrested in China. And he told us about the deterioration of Nelson’s health. His father and mother have spent years trying to bring their son home.

The tragedy of Dawn Michelle Hunt’s imprisonment has also taken a devastating toll on her family. After more than 12 years without his daughter, Dawn’s father, Gene Hunt, passed away on January 25, 2026, without ever seeing her come home.

Her brother, Tim Hunt, is with us today and has continued the fight their father began, promising to do everything he can to bring Dawn back to her family. Dawn is reportedly in declining health, making the family’s plea for her humanitarian release all the more urgent.

Gene’s greatest wish was to see his daughter free; his family now carries that hope forward and asks that Dawn be given the opportunity to come home. That is why I introduced HR 5491—the Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Michelle Hunt Unjustly Detained in Communist China Act. The legislation recognizes that we need more than expressions of concern—we need a coordinated American response.

The bill would strengthen the government’s ability to identify Americans unjustly detained in China, coordinate their cases, engage with their families, pursue humanitarian releases and prisoner transfers, and identify additional tools for holding responsible Chinese officials accountable. Because when an American is unjustly detained, that person’s family should not have to navigate the Chinese Communist Party’s system alone.

And this repression is not limited to Christians, Americans, or any one community. Last week, our Commission heard a compelling appeal from Jimmy Lai’s son, Sebastien. Both Sebastien and his sister, Claire, are asking that their heroic father be freed.

Gulshan Abbas is a retired Uyghur doctor, who was detained in Xinjiang and sentenced to 20 years in prison. Her detention came just days after her sister, Rushan Abbas—who will testify today—spoke publicly here in Washington about the persecution of Uyghurs. Gulshan’s case is an example of transnational repression because of the obvious connection between her detention and her sister’s advocacy in the United States.

We must also remember the Falun Gong practitioners, who have endured decades of persecution. Falun Gong was banned by the Chinese government in 1999, and practitioners who refuse to renounce their beliefs have faced imprisonment, forced organ harvesting, and other forms of repression. The Commission’s 2025 annual report identified 485 Falun Gong practitioners among cases of active detention.

But once again, the repression does not necessarily end at the prison gate. Falun Gong practitioners living here in the United States have reported surveillance, harassment, threats, physical assaults, property damage, and reprisals against relatives in China. The Justice Department has also prosecuted individuals for acting as agents of the People’s Republic of China in efforts targeting Falun Gong practitioners in the United States.

Today’s hearing is a heartfelt appeal to Xi Jinping.

Let these wonderful people go.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-during-childhood-cancer-awareness-month-gottheimer-announces-new-bipartisan-legislation-to-fight-pediatric-cancer,"RELEASE: During Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, Gottheimer Announces New Bipartisan Legislation To Fight Pediatric Cancer",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer announces “Kylie’s Law” at Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen.

MONTVALE, NJ — Today, Tuesday, September 22, 2026, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, at Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen in Montvale, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced the introduction of the bipartisan Kylie’s Voices for Childhood Cancer Act, or “Kylie’s Law,” with his colleague Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

Named in honor of a close family friend of Gottheimer, Kylie Kupperman, the bill would require states to include at least two pediatric cancer experts on the coalitions that write state cancer control plans, ensuring children’s needs aren’t overlooked in blueprints built largely around adult cancer.

Kylie was born in Englewood, New Jersey, and grew up in Chappaqua, New York. Just weeks before her fourth birthday, she was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, a rare and fast-growing pediatric brain tumor. After undergoing months of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation, she was declared cancer-free. Just as she was starting her freshman year at the University of Delaware, her cancer returned. She tragically passed away on September 10, 2025, at age 19.

Every state has a Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition that shapes its long-term cancer plan, but only about a third of states build specific childhood cancer goals into those plans. New Jersey ranks third in the nation for pediatric cancer incidence, with roughly 440 children and teens diagnosed every year and nearly 1,900 cases across Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex Counties over one recent 25-year stretch.

Watch Gottheimer’s remarks here.

“Kylie should be starting her junior year of college right now — and wow, you should have heard how her friends gushed about her — and how her brother and sister who played games and music for her — and carried her up the stairs when she was too weak.” said Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5). “But, instead of being at the University of Delaware, her parents are here today, along with friends from Jersey, Chappaqua, and beyond, to honor and celebrate her memory, and to continue fighting Kylie-style, so that no other family has to go through what they went through.”

Kylie’s Law will:

Require Pediatric Representation on State Cancer Coalitions. States receiving federal funding for their comprehensive cancer control plan would be required to include at least two pediatric cancer experts on their coalitions.

Establish a National Pediatric Cancer Advisory Committee. Directs the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a new Cancer Control Plan Pediatric Cancer Advisory Committee, bringing together representatives from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)’s National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, Title V and Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA)-funded state programs, and pediatric cancer survivors and caregivers. The committee would develop best practices for addressing pediatric cancer, survivorship, and adolescent and young adult (AYA) care in state cancer plans.

Expand the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program. Amends the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program to include pediatric cancer as an explicit purpose of the program, allowing states to use existing federal dollars to support children with cancer and their families.

Gottheimer’s additional actions:

Work with Trenton to Act at the State Level. Gottheimer is partnering with Senator Joe Lagana, Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, and Assemblyman Chris Tully, who are introducing State legislation here in New Jersey to codify the requirement that pediatric cancer representatives sit on our state’s cancer control coalition. This ensures no future administration can remove pediatric cancer experts from their cancer coalitions.

Designate November 13 as “Kylie’s Day.” Gottheimer will introduce a House resolution on November 13, 2026, which would have been Kylie’s 21st birthday, to formally honor her life, her fight, her love of pink, and her legacy.

“When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the last thing their family should have to worry about is whether they can afford the care or find the treatment their child needs. We must keep working together and investing in lifesaving research and care so that every child has the chance to grow up, follow their dreams, and live a long, healthy life,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

“As the father of a childhood cancer survivor, I know the toll this awful disease has on our families. Our community deserves to be heard, and I am thankful to Reps. Gottheimer and Lawler for their steadfast support. We are proud to stand alongside the Kupperman family as we honor their daughter’s memory through the Kylie’s Voices for Childhood Cancer Act. Together, we will ensure that the pediatric cancer community has a seat at the table, ” said Jeff Gelfand, CEO, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

“At the Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research, we fought to ensure kids with cancer were part of the state cancer plan and efforts in Georgia. Childhood cancer offers unique challenges, and our families deserve a voice in the process. This new bill would guarantee our advocates can be heard throughout the country. We are happy to support this legislation,” said Dean Crowe, Rally Foundation for Childhood Cancer Research.

“Coalition members have worked tirelessly to make sure kids with cancer aren’t an afterthought, but in too many spaces, they still are. This bill gives patients, families, clinicians, and researchers real power to fix that. We thank Reps. Gottheimer and Lawler for standing up for kids with cancer, and we urge their colleagues to join them,” said Ginny McLean, Board Chair, Coalition Against Childhood Cancer (CAC2).

The bill builds on Gottheimer’s record of leading actions on childhood cancer. He is co-leading the bipartisan Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act to align federal cancer research funding with the share of kids affected by the disease, and helped pass the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act into law, which gives the FDA new authority to require pediatric studies of combination cancer therapies. In 2018, he helped enact the Childhood Cancer STAR Act, strengthening research and survivorship tracking, and he is currently a cosponsor of the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, which improves care for survivors of childhood cancer. This year, he also led an appropriations letter calling on the CDC to develop better guidance for adolescent and young adult cancer patients, which was included in the House appropriations bill that passed committee this summer.

Gottheimer was joined by Senator Holly Schepisi, Memorial Sloan Kettering Chair of Pediatrics Dr. Andrew Kung and pediatric oncologist Dr. Ira Dunkel, Congressman Mike Lawler’s District Director Donna Chiapperino, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation Director of Advocacy Mike Henry, the Christopher Brandle Joy of Life Foundation, Adam and Haley Kupperman, and the family and friends of Kylie Kupperman.

Gottheimer remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning, everybody. My name is Congressman Josh Gottheimer, and I represent New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District, just a stone’s throw from the Kupperman’s congressional district and where they live in Chappaqua, New York — represented by my friend, Congressman Mike Lawler. Thank you, Donna, for being here, and to Senator Schepisi, and to Mike Henry from the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation.

Thank you to Memorial Sloan Kettering Bergen for having us here today, right in the heart of my district, and in North Jersey, for all you and your incredible doctors, nurses, and techs do as a global leader in the fight against cancer. By being right here in Montvale, families in our Jersey communities can receive your critical care closer to home, without having to drive into New York City.

Just last week, MSK’s pediatric cancer program, MSK Kids, where Kiley was treated, was named among the nation’s best children’s hospitals by the U.S. News & World Report.

For thousands of families across our district, state, and country—including some of my own friends and family — MSK has been a place of hope, comfort, and support when they have needed it most.

That kind of care and compassion doesn’t happen by accident. That happens because of the incredible doctors, the nurses, the techs, and every single person who walks these halls and decides, every single day, that the fight against cancer is worth everything they’ve got. So, before I say another word: to everyone who works here, thank you, and North Jersey is lucky to have you.

While cancer is brutal and unforgiving for anyone, I think we’d all agree that when a child gets it, there is something that’s extra cruel and heart-wrenching about it. Cancer remains the leading cause of death from disease among children in America. This year alone, more than 15,000 children and teenagers across America will be diagnosed with it. One in 264 children in America before they turn 20 will develop cancer.

And while, thank God, today about 85% of children survive at least five years after diagnosis, the challenges don’t end with treatment. Between 60 and 90% of survivors will develop a chronic health condition later in life because of what the treatment did to their growing bodies.

Here in New Jersey, this isn’t an abstract issue. Our state ranks third in the entire country for pediatric cancer incidence. Roughly 440 children and teenagers in New Jersey are diagnosed with cancer every single year.

That’s more than one every single day. These are the kids that play on our neighborhood playgrounds, get picked up on the school bus, and compete on the Little League field.

It goes without saying that we should be doing everything humanly possible — from research, to treatments, to public policy — to protect America’s children from cancer.

We’re here this morning, during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, because there’s one area where we can and must be doing more to help pediatric cancer — and it’s one most don’t even know exists.

Every state in America has what’s called a Comprehensive Cancer Control Coalition, which brings together public health officials, medical professionals, researchers, and advocates to help develop the state’s cancer control plan. These plans serve as a roadmap for how states address cancer — from prevention and treatment to support for patients and survivors — for five to ten years at a time. Think of these plans as the state’s attack plan for curing cancer and treating patients.

But, here’s the problem: pediatric cancer experts are too often missing from the table. And, when the people who understand childhood cancer best aren’t helping write these plans, our children’s needs can — and too often do — get overlooked. Currently, only about a third of states include specific childhood cancer goals or recommendations in their plans. That’s unacceptable. We’re lucky, because New Jersey actually includes pediatric cancer goals and representatives in our state cancer plans. New York doesn’t right now, but, apparently, they’ve recently agreed to add pediatric experts to their state cancer coalition. Still, that leaves more than thirty states that don’t.

Let me explain why this matters. What many people don’t realize is that childhood cancer is very different from adult cancer. It requires different research, different treatments, and different survivorship care. A five-year-old’s body doesn’t respond to chemo, radiation, and medication the way a fifty-year-old’s does, and it doesn’t recover the same way either. But, when the folks writing these plans are focused almost entirely on adult cancer, children’s needs too often get left out. That’s why having pediatric cancer experts at the table matters.

For decades, children weren’t even considered in addressing pediatric cancers. The same goes for drugs and treatments. Research shows a six-and-a-half-year gap between when cancer drugs were first tested in adults and when they were first tested in children. For children with sarcomas and brain cancer, the treatment gap is even greater—nearly two decades behind adults. Our kids deserve better.

The bottom line: when it comes to cancer, caring for our children is different than adults — and they deserve attention, plans, research, and treatment tailored for them, because our children aren’t just statistics.

They are our loved ones — our family members, our neighbors, our closest friends.

If you’ll allow me, I want to talk about a victim of childhood cancer — a very special young woman none of us will ever forget. Kylie Kupperman. She’s the reason this fight is deeply personal for me — and I want you to know her story.

Kylie’s parents, Hayley and Adam, who you heard from, are very dear friends of mine. We all went to college together, including with my wife, Marla, who is here.

Adam is my best friend. I was his best man at his wedding, and he was mine. So, I had the privilege of knowing Kylie from the day she was born here in Englewood, New Jersey, and watching her grow up in Chappaqua. Just weeks before her fourth birthday, and I’ll never forget this phone call, Kylie was diagnosed with medulloblastoma — a rare and fast-growing pediatric brain tumor. She went through surgery, followed by months of chemo and proton therapy, which is targeted radiation, up in Boston. She was a trooper. Kylie beat her first battle with pediatric cancer. After a few years, she was declared cancer-free.

But, that was just the beginning of her fight. The very treatments that saved her life slowed her growth and made school a real struggle. She was smaller than all her classmates. She had to work twice as hard just to keep up. She was small but mighty — I can relate. While she was raised in New York, she had the Jersey fight she was born with — Adam is a Bergen County guy — and the tenacity to rise to the occasion. And through every bit of it, everyone who loved her called her “Smiley Kylie” because that smile never left her face, no matter what her body had been through.

She kept dancing at her ballet recitals. Loved camp and her friends – and the color pink. She kept being the big sister her siblings — Alexa and Jared — adored. And, she kept working, and working, and working in school, even when it wasn’t always easy — until she got into her first-choice college, the University of Delaware, to study fashion and design, and with a merit scholarship to go with it. That’s the Kylie I knew. Pretty, sweet, and a determined young woman who built the life she wanted, no matter what obstacles anyone put in front of her. Everyone loved her.

And then, just as she was starting her freshman year, Kylie’s cancer sadly came back. It spread to parts of her brain that doctors couldn’t operate on. But, the Kuppermans and Kiley fought it the way she’d always fought – with more courage than most adults I have ever known, but it was too much, even for her. Kylie passed away peacefully in her sleep on September 10 last year. She was a sophomore at the University of Delaware. She was nineteen years old.

Kylie should be starting her junior year of college right now — and wow, you should have heard how her friends gushed about her — and how her brother and sister who played games and music for her — and carried her up the stairs when she was too weak. But, instead of being at Delaware, her parents are here today, along with friends from Jersey, Chappaqua, and beyond, to honor and celebrate her memory, fighting Kylie-style so that no other family has to go through what they went through.

Here’s the thing: when Kylie was first diagnosed in 2009, we know that the studies, treatments, and plans were years behind those for adults with cancer. As a member of Congress, that’s unacceptable to me. We must make sure that kids like Kylie are part of the plan when states decide how to fight cancer.

As I said, right now, only seventeen states in our entire country have set specific goals for childhood cancer in their state cancer plans or through other state initiatives.

Even while New Jersey has a dedicated pediatric cancer research fund and pediatric cancer groups on our cancer coalition, our state’s cancer plan still lacks a dedicated section laying out goals and recommendations for childhood cancer. In other words, there is still room for improvement. Every state should have comprehensive requirements.

That’s why today, on the anniversary of her bat mitzvah seven years ago, I’m introducing Kylie’s Voices for Childhood Cancer Act, or “Kylie’s Law,” with Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. This is a bipartisan bill, because keeping children supported and healthy shouldn’t be a Democrat or a Republican issue.

Here’s what it does. First, it requires that any state receiving federal funding for its comprehensive cancer control plan include at least two pediatric cancer experts on its coalition. Not zero. Not “maybe, if there’s room.” At least two dedicated champions for pediatric cancer and voices in every single state. This makes sure our states are building plans, studies, and initiatives that support, fund, and are tailored to pediatric patients.

Second, Kylie’s Law directs the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services – or HHS – to establish a new national committee, the Cancer Control Plan Pediatric Cancer Advisory Committee.

It will bring together representatives from the National Cancer Institute, the National Institutes of Health, the CDC’s National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program, state programs funded through Title V and HRSA, and pediatric cancer professionals, survivors, and caregivers who have lived this fight themselves. This committee will develop best practices and recommendations for addressing pediatric and adolescent cancer in state cancer plans. That means sharing what’s working and helping states use available HRSA and Title V funding to better support children with cancer and their families.

We are not just adding representatives in each state, but we are also creating a national committee that will support those representatives and ensure real change.

Third, Kylie’s Law expands the Maternal and Child Health Services Block Grant Program to make pediatric cancer an explicit part of its mission. That allows states to use federal dollars that are already there, right now, to help children like Kylie, instead of leaving that money on the table.

But, we’re not stopping at the federal level.

I’m proud to be partnering with Assemblywoman Lisa Swain, Senator Joe Lagana, and Assemblyman Chris Tully, who are introducing new state legislation here in New Jersey to codify requiring pediatric cancer representatives on our state’s cancer control coalition. Yes, we have good people on it right now, and I commend the current administration for having representatives. But, we need to make sure it stays that way. What one administration gives, the next administration can take away. Their legislation ensures children and their families have a seat at the table under any future administrations. I’m also calling on the state department of health to release their cancer goals that I know they have been working on.

Finally, on November 13th, on what would have been Kylie’s 21st birthday, I will introduce a congressional resolution in the United States House of Representatives, commemorating November 13th as “Kylie’s Day” — formally honoring her life, her fight, her legacy, and the color pink. For all of us, Kylie Kupperman was so much more than a tenacious fighter against cancer — she was a loving daughter. A sister. A friend. A dancer. A fashion student with a whole life ahead of her. And, now, when we pass “Kylie’s Law,” her name will forever be attached to bipartisan legislation that gives a voice to children with cancer for generations to come.

Look, this fight didn’t start today, and it isn’t going to end today either. Kylie’s Law will be another critical step. As a member of the Childhood Cancer Caucus, I’m also proudly leading the bipartisan Fairness to Kids with Cancer Act to ensure that the share of federal cancer research dollars going to pediatric cancer actually reflects the number of kids in this country.

Earlier this year, I helped get the Mikaela Naylon Give Kids a Chance Act signed into law that gives the FDA new authority to require studies of combination cancer therapies in children, so that our children get treatments built and tested for their bodies, not just hand-me-downs from adult medicine. Back in 2018, I helped pass the Childhood Cancer STAR Act into law, which expanded research into childhood cancer, improved how states track cases, and strengthened care for survivors long after treatment ends.

And, right now, I’m sponsoring the Lainie Jones Comprehensive Cancer Survivorship Act, to build coordinated, patient-centered care for the hundreds of thousands of childhood cancer survivors living across this country today.

I want to be clear: this fight doesn’t stop when children turn eighteen. Young adults with cancer face a completely different set of challenges. They may be starting college, beginning a career, getting married, or thinking about having a family — and now suddenly they’re dealing with cancer on top of all of it.

That’s why this year, I led an effort calling on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC, to develop better guidance in caring for adolescent and young adults — known as “AYA” cancer patients and survivors — to help address the unique challenges these young people face — including psychological, reproductive, and financial challenges. I am proud to say that my request was included in the House appropriations funding bill that passed out of committee this summer.

Like Kylie Kupperman, like her parents, like the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation, and so many other cancer organizations and advocates, I’ll never stop fighting for our children.

I’ll keep fighting until every state in this country has pediatric cancer experts in the room where decisions get made.

So, to everyone here today, let’s get Kylie’s Law passed. Let’s get it done, for her, and for every child with cancer and family still fighting.

If we all work together and fight for our children with just a fraction of Kylie’s strength, I know, in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you. God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.

###",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415852,"OSV News article on Smith hearing'Ezra Jin Mingri, lawmakers call on Trump to push Xi to free prisoners of conscience'",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Kate Scanlon

Published September 22, 2026 at 5:03 PM

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in China and a former prisoner of conscience in that country, called for the release of other individuals imprisoned for their religious beliefs Sept. 22 at a hearing by the Congressional-Executive Commission on China.

With his daughter Grace Jin Drexel acting as translator, Jin said in remarks at the hearing that “reuniting with my family after eight years apart and watching the fireworks together on America’s 250th Independence Day felt like a dream.”

“Even as I rejoice and enjoy such freedom and joy with my family, I cannot stop thinking and worrying about my eight fellow church leaders who remain in prison,” he said.

Jin was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day. President Donald Trump previously sought his release during a May summit with China’s President Xi Jinping.

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington March 10, 2021. (OSV News photo/Ken Cedeno, Pool via Reuters)

Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of an underground church in China and a prisoner of conscience in that country until his release, is pictured in a 2018 file photo in Beijing. Mingri arrived in Los Angeles July 3, 2026, after he was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day, U.S. officials said. (OSV News photo/Thomas Peter, Reuters)

Ezra Jin Mingri calls for release of pastors

As Trump prepared to host Xi for a state visit in Washington, advocates have urged him to again push for the release of additional prisoners of conscience and political prisoners of interest to the U.S., including Jimmy Lai, Hong Kong’s prominent Catholic and pro-democracy campaigner. Lai remains in prison, where he is serving a 20-year sentence.

“I sincerely hope that the members of Congress will continue to pay attention to religious persecution and human rights within China,” Jin said. “I hope that this meeting between the two heads of state can produce genuine consensus and a breakthrough in improving China’s human rights situation and ending the persecution of religious believers.”

In 2018, Jin, the founder of Zion Church, and his family moved to the U.S. amid pressure on the church from Chinese officials. But Jin later returned and was prohibited from leaving China. He was among dozens of members imprisoned in a crackdown by Chinese authorities on his church in October 2025. Some other members of his religious community remain imprisoned.

Jin stressed that if he, as the “main leader of our church,” was released, then it should “also be the case that my coworkers, those other leaders of my church, should also be released without any guilt.” He also called for the release of other Christian pastors held in China.

Hong Kong protesters hold East Turkestan Uyghur flags at a rally in support of Xinjiang Uyghurs’ human rights, in Hong Kong Dec. 22, 2019. (OSV News photo/Lucy Nicholson, Reuters)

Catholic lawmakers speak out

At the hearing, two Catholic lawmakers, Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., co-chair of the CECC, and Jim McGovern, D-Mass., one of the commissioners, called for the release of those who were “unjustly detained” by the Chinese government, including Lai.

Smith called on Trump to raise the issue of the release of these prisoners “eyeball to eyeball” with Xi during their meeting.

“This summit is a golden opportunity for the president to speak out and to do so boldly,” Smith said.

Smith said at the hearing that behind every such prisoner there “is a family waiting, praying, and hoping that someone will not forget them, and behind many of those families is an entire community that feels threatened and far too intimidated.”

“Perhaps that is what the Chinese Communist Party wants,” he said. “It wants the prisoner isolated. It wants the family frightened, and it wants everyone watching to conclude that speaking out is either futile or simply too costly. But today we are here to say we will not look away. The real cost is failing to speak out. Silence is not an option.”

U.S. President Donald Trump meets with Chinese President Xi at the start of their bilateral meeting at the G20 leaders summit in Osaka, Japan, June 29, 2019. Trump and Xi are scheduled to meet on Sept. 24, 2026, at the White House in Washington. (OSV News photo/Kevin Lamarque, Reuters)

‘A clear and unified message’ for Trump

McGovern said, “We convene with a clear and unified message to President Trump: advocate for the release of prisoners of conscience in China.”

“Pastor Jin is proof that this goal is achievable,” he said. “We sincerely hope for more releases.”

McGovern also urged Trump not to “abandon human rights in our foreign policy.”",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415870,"The Washington Stand article featuring Smith's commentary'Advocates, Lawmakers Press Trump to Uphold Prisoners of Faith, Conscience during Xi Visit'",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Dan Hart

Published September 22, 2026

With President Trump set to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday as part of a state visit to Washington, human rights advocates and lawmakers are urging the commander in chief to champion the cause of Christians and other citizens who are imprisoned in China simply for practicing their faith or for advocating for freedom.

A large-scale crackdown on non-government approved churches is being carried out by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) over the past year. Last October, almost two dozen pastors and other workers from a single church called Zion Church were arrested, including founder and head pastor Ezra Jin. But in July, the power of personal advocacy was put on display as Xi’s communist regime released Jin following a personal appeal to Xi from Trump in May for Jin’s release.

Now, human rights advocates such as Voice of the Martyrs’ Todd Nettleton are highlighting the plight of other imprisoned pastors such as John Cao. As detailed by Family Research Council’s Bob Fu, Cao “spent seven years in a Chinese prison for conducting humanitarian work along the China-Myanmar border,” but even two years after completing his sentence, he is still being prevented from reuniting with his family in the U.S. by the CCP. Others are urging Trump to fulfill a promise to secure the freedom of Jimmy Lai, a Hong Kong media mogul and champion of democracy.

As Fu catalogs, the list of the wrongfully imprisoned in China goes on and on: Gao Zhisheng, a human rights lawyer; Dr. Wang Bingzhang, a leader of the overseas Chinese democracy movement who was kidnapped by CCP agents in Vietnam; Zhang Zhan, a citizen journalist who exposed the truth about COVID-19. Then there are the eight pastors and members of Ezra Jin’s Zion Church who remain imprisoned, as well as Elder Li Yingqiang, Pastor Yang Rongli of Golden Lampstand Church, and Pastor Wang Yi of Early Rain Covenant Church. These Christians are imprisoned simply for refusing to surrender the authority of their churches to the Communist Party, Fu notes.

Lawmakers like Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), who serves as co-chair of the Congressional Executive Commission on China, say that advocating on behalf of Christians and other prisoners of conscience is especially important now as persecution by the CCP “is getting far worse.”

“[T]he reason why Ezra Jin’s church got targeted [is because] they refused to allow surveillance cameras into their churches,” he pointed out during “Washington Watch with Tony Perkins” Monday. “It’s one of those things where the Communist Party is ubiquitous, they want to be everywhere. And for the slightest perceived infraction, they will then arrest pastors and horribly mistreat them. So this is the time for the United States, I believe, and every freedom loving country to pivot and say, ‘Religious freedom matters.’ Human rights are at the core of our relationship and should be with a dictatorship like China. Raise it and make it stick. Link it to other things, including trade.”

Smith went on to emphasize that for Christians, advocating for those in prison is a direct command from God.

“Our Lord said, ‘did you visit me when I was in prison’ in Matthew 25? ‘How about when you had the opportunity? Did you try to get me out of prison?’” he underscored. “I’ve met so many wonderful pastors and people over the years, including in the Soviet Union going back to 1981. My first trip there was in ’82 on behalf of religious freedom. … Ronald Reagan always raised religious freedom. He always had a list of people that he was asking — in this case, the Russian or Soviet leadership — to allow to go free. And we need to persist and tell this dictatorship, ‘This is a priority. [If] you want other things, [if] you want more trade, … well, this is the linchpin. This opens up the door.”

Smith further stressed how critical the stakes are for those caught in the CCP’s brutal prison system. “If you’re arrested in China, political or religious prisoner, you’re almost always going to be tortured, and I mean horribly tortured. I had a number of hearings on what the Chinese government actually does to people, and you can’t even repeat some of it [because] it is so, so horrific. And that leaves scars on that individual, the likes of which we can’t even fathom. So I would ask all of us to be praying.”

Smith, who serves as a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and as co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, recalled what Wei Jingsheng, a father of China’s democracy movement, once told him about how powerful the West’s advocacy efforts are for those in China’s prisons.

“[H]e told me something I will never forget. He said, ‘When you Americans and the West kowtow and try to be all nicey-nice with these dictators, they beat us more in prison.’ He said, ‘When you are tough, when you are well-founded in your knowledge about what’s going on, and you’re able to present a case and do so right from the heart, but also filled with facts, they beat us less and it effectuates the freedom of people from these gulags.’ So it’s it works. But we have to be serious. … [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio, who used to chair the China Commission … he knows this like the back of his hand. He should be raising it.”

Smith additionally detailed how decades of pro-China trade policies by the U.S. has undercut America’s ability to effectively fight against the CCP’s human rights abuses.

“[I]n 2005 [and] 2006 … Google, Microsoft, and Yahoo were conveying all of this technology to the Chinese Communist Party to surveil their own people to limit what can be searched on a Google search engine, for example, in China,” he explained. “… [O]ur technology has seriously enabled their public security police, their military, their command and control, and then the entirety of their weapons systems to be state of the art. I fault our Big Business for that. … Bill Clinton was the worst of all when it came to conveying all of that. [He] lost China on human rights for the purposes of trade, and that means technology transfers that have dual use that are military. We gave them the store, and we wonder why we’re now worried about a potential conflict vis à vis Taiwan and beyond.”

The congressman also pointed out that the measures that the U.S. has taken to combat illicitly-made Chinese goods ending up in the U.S. have not been effective, which has further hampered human rights.

“Bill Clinton had a memorandum of understanding on enforcement of the Smoot-Hawley Act [which says] we can’t import gulag-made goods. And it wasn’t worth the paper it was printed [on]. I went over to China and I said to our people in our embassy, ‘How do you enforce this? You can’t get to the factories where they’re making these things. There’s no on-site inspection. They don’t allow unfettered access.’ … So all these things are being produced by forced labor, including child labor [and it] ends up in our department stores.”",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-lawler-push-bipartisan-plan-on-ai-safety,"RELEASE: Gottheimer, Lawler Push Bipartisan Plan on AI Safety",2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer and Lawler discuss their bipartisan AI legislation.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Mike Lawler (NY-17) held a press conference to amplify the importance of their bipartisan Stop Rogue AI Act, legislation that would establish clear, practical guardrails for the powerful new AI “agents” now operating inside America’s networks. This commonsense legislation ensures that businesses and agencies have the ability to see and stop rogue agents before they cause real damage. The Representatives also highlighted several other bipartisan actions they’ve led this Congress on AI — including legislation to protect consumers, develop America’s workforce, and boost innovation.

Watch Gottheimer and Lawler’s remarks here.

“You can’t drive a car in this country without a license plate, without insurance, without some way for a cop — or the person you just rear-ended — to know who’s behind the wheel and who’s responsible,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the House Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy. “AI agents right now don’t have any of that. Our bill puts a driver’s license on every AI agent operating in this country — so organizations can find every agent on their network, verify who built it, watch it in real time, and cut off its access the second something looks wrong. That means putting humans back in the driver’s seat. It’s time for Congress to get back to work and get this done.”

“This isn’t about stopping AI or stifling innovation. It is about making sure we can safely deploy AI. A pause is not a safeguard. Some states have put a moratorium on the infrastructure that powers this technology. That does not invent a kill switch. It does not inventory the agents already on a hospital network or a utility system,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17.) “If the United States taps the brakes while others floor it, we do not get safer AI. We get someone else’s AI. We are not going to regulate ourselves into second place.”

Right now, most organizations have no reliable way to know how many unauthorized AI agents are running in their systems, who built them, or what they have access to. AI agents can be activated by employees, embedded in third-party software, or deployed by vendors — often with little to no visibility for the organization whose networks they’re operating on to know that they are there. That blind spot is becoming more dangerous by the day. The recent Hugging Face incident and other autonomous cyberattacks have shown AI systems are being used to hack organizations at scale, without a person ever watching or stepping in.

Drafted and introduced by Gottheimer and Lawler, the Stop Rogue AI Act would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to develop national standards, guidelines, and best practices for discovering, verifying, monitoring, and controlling AI agents.

Other Bipartisan AI Initiatives from Gottheimer and Lawler include:

AI Workforce Training Act (H.R. 7576) — Helps workers upgrade their AI skills without leaving their jobs. More than 60% of small businesses now use AI — double the share from 2023 — and the challenge isn’t that AI is replacing workers, it’s that workers need help keeping up with the tools their employers are already using. The bill provides a 30% tax credit, capped at $2,500 per employee, for training in practical AI skills. The goal: help workers adapt to AI, not get replaced by it.

Advancing American Quantum Leadership Act of 2026 (H.R. 9585) — Expands the definition of “quantum” under the Export-Import Bank’s China and Transformational Exports Program, broadening “quantum computing” to “quantum information science and technology.”

No Rigged Grocery Prices Act (H.R. 8895) — Bans grocery stores and delivery apps from using AI-driven personal data to charge different customers different prices for the exact same item.

The two members have also pressed the administration and industry on AI accountability — urging the Federal Trade Commission to protect anti-discrimination measures for AI systems; calling on the CEOs of leading AI companies to ensure voters get accurate, unbiased information ahead of the 2026 midterms; and urging DHS, DOJ, CISA, and the FEC to coordinate against AI-related threats to the 2026 elections.

Below: Gottheimer and Lawler discuss their AI legislation.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-bills-to-combat-ai-driven-cyberattacks-and-protect-americans-from-scams-pass-out-of-committee,Menendez Bills to Combat AI-Driven Cyberattacks and Protect Americans from Scams Pass Out of Committee,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Robert Menendez,M001226,menendez.house.gov,menendez,https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) announced that two of his bipartisan bills with Congressman August Pfluger (TX-11) and Congresswoman Erin Houchin (IN-09) passed out of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. The bills are as follows:

H.R. 7294, AI for Secure Networks Act (Menendez and Pfluger)

The AI For Secure Networks Act strengthens the cybersecurity of America’s communications networks by promoting the responsible use of artificial intelligence while addressing the risks posed by its misuse.

“As our communications networks face growing threats, we must advance forward thinking solutions to protect the communications, emergency services, critical infrastructure, and financial systems Americans depend on,” said Congressman Menendez. “Our legislation promotes the responsible use of AI while confronting the growing risks posed by its exploitation, including the potential for more sophisticated cyberattacks on the communications systems Americans rely on every day. I look forward to working to pass this legislation and strengthen protections for our networks and the people who depend on them.”

Click here to view Congressman Menendez’s remarks.

H.R. 5967, Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act (Menendez and Houchin)

The Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act establishes a federal task force to develop a national scam prevention strategy that strengthens support for victims, provides local law enforcement stronger tools to stop scams, and lowers the risk of financial losses from fraudulent activity.

“As scams become increasingly more sophisticated, we need a national strategy to protect American families and consumers,” said Congressman Menendez. “The Strategic Task Force on Scam Prevention Act brings together the federal government, law enforcement, and corporations to protect our families and seniors from being targeted by bad actors online and over the phone. I am proud that our legislation has passed the full Committee and is one step closer to becoming law and look forward to its passage through the House.”

Click here to view Congressman Menendez’s remarks.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-condemns-trump-administration-attempts-to-hijack-nih-research-grants,Rep. Watson Coleman Condemns Trump Administration Attempts to Hijack N.I.H. Research Grants,2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Bonnie Watson Coleman,W000822,watsoncoleman.house.gov,watsoncoleman,https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Yesterday, theNew York Times reported that White House officials were attempting to make massive cuts to research grants at the National Institutes of Health, conflicting with months of denials from NIH officials. Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), who sits on theLabor, Health and Human Services and Education subcommittee, released the following statement:

Today, we learned that the White House is trying to cancel funding that ""does not conform to Trump's political agenda.""

Over the last year and a half, the NIH director and his sub-directorshave assured my colleagues and me that politics would bekept out of decisions for health research that saves millions of lives in the United States.

Last June, I introducedlegislation to insulate vital NIH research grants from Trump's political attacks.

As recently as this past Tuesday, NIH Institute directors told members of the Appropriations Committee that grant funding was still on track. Yet today, we get the news that President Trump and OMB Director Vought are moving to cut funding that doesn’t align with their extreme ideology.

Funding decisions are supposed to be made by experts based on scientific merit and the likelihood of outcomes that could save lives and reduce suffering.

The Trump Administration's public health record has been an abysmal failure. Instead of correcting course, they're doubling down and playing political games with the lives of the American people. Congress MUST reassert its authority over the budget and ensure the government works for the American people regardless of partisan politics.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T10:42:50Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415849,The Washington Times article featuring Smith's commentary'Republican Rep. Chris Smith urges Trump to confront Xi about Americans jailed in China',2026-09-21,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Kerry Picket

Published Monday, September 21, 2026

With as many as 300 Americans detained in China, where some are subjected to sexual abuse and torture, Rep. Chris Smith is demanding that President Trump make their release a centerpiece of his upcoming summit with China’s President Xi Jinping.

The New Jersey Republican, who co-chairs the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, warned that quiet, piecemeal diplomacy has only emboldened Beijing to keep taking American hostages.

Mr. Smith, who has been chairing hearings with witnesses testifying about people imprisoned and persecuted by the Chinese government, told The Washington Times that China “only recognizes strength.”

He cited his 1994 meeting with Chinese dissident Wei Jingsheng, who warned that Western pleading is held in contempt by the Chinese Communist Party.

“They only recognize one thing, and that is strength. I met with [Wei Jingsheng] in 1994 when he was released briefly in Beijing,” Mr. Smith said.

“They rearrested him. … We worked really hard to make sure he got out, because they were going to kill him. When we, the West, and especially the United States, in any way kowtow … they hold that in contempt.”

Mr. Smith said, “That’s why we have to be firm. Very civil, but very firm. Our hope is that the president will have a very well-defined list … to effectuate the release of these individuals.”

Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been advocating for all American citizens unlawfully or wrongfully detained in China.

Among the people detained or imprisoned by China, the most well-known include Hong Kong media mogul Jimmy Lai; Uyghur economics professor Ilham Tohti; American think tank scholar Min Zin; American businessman Kai Li; Americans Dawn Michelle Hunt, Nelson Wells Jr., and John Chen; Chinese journalist Dong Yuyu; and the Zion 8 — eight pastors and co-workers of Beijing Zion Church.

A senior official told The Washington Times that Mr. Trump raises the issue of Americans and others detained in China every time he has met with Mr. Xi. “If I had to guess, he will be consistent again this time,” the official said.

Mr. Smith is also calling on the Trump administration to elevate China’s travel advisory to Level 4, the most severe, saying the current rating of Level 2 dangerously understates the risk, which includes exit bans and arbitrary criminal charges, to American businesspeople and travelers.

“If you go there even as a businessman or woman, and your interlocutors and your business associates over there don’t like what you’re doing, good luck,” Mr. Smith said. “They bring charges, you’re in prison, and you won’t get out anytime soon. … Once accused, you’re convicted. There’s no due process.”

“If you’re in a Chinese prison camp, you’re going to be tortured,” Mr. Smith said. “Some of the most horrific tortures on the face of the earth against women — many of them are sexual. I chaired the hearing on [Dawn] Hunt and with [Nelson] Wells [Jr.], with the family members. And I have to tell you, it was heartbreaking,” Mr. Smith said.

“The sexual abuse that is being visited upon them, the racial prejudice that is being further exacerbating their situation in prison,” he said.

Mr. Smith co-authored legislation known as the Nelson Wells/Dawn Michelle Hunt bill, introduced after a congressional hearing held two years ago, which would establish a formal “cases of concern” framework, require State Department engagement with families, and create an action plan for detained Americans.

However, the Foreign Affairs Committee pulled the bill from markup early last year, stalling legislative progress.

The legislation requires the Secretary of State to develop a diplomatic plan of action within 60 days of enactment to secure detainees’ release, including “a determination on expanded use of the International Prison Transfer Program.

The bill also calls for an explanation of why allied nations without a prisoner transfer treaty with China have nonetheless used China’s own Law of International Judicial Cooperation in Criminal Matters to get their citizens transferred/released.

The State Department has so far declined, and Mr. Smith says the agency’s legal interpretation holds that humanitarian prisoner transfers cannot occur without an extradition treaty with China, a position the New Jersey Republican disputes, noting France and other countries have achieved such transfers.

The Washington Times reached out to the State Department for comment.

Mr. Smith said the Trump administration has several legislative tools to deploy to gain leverage over China when the country engages in what has been called hostage diplomacy against the U.S.

This includes the Global Magnitsky Act sanctions, visa bans, and relinking Most Favored Nation trade status to human rights progress.

Mr. Smith criticized previous administrations, particularly the Clinton administration, for delinking human rights from trade in May 1994, calling it a damaging precedent of capitulation.

“When Bill Clinton delinked human rights on May 26, 1994 — human rights from most favored nation status from trade, he sold out the Chinese people like nobody else has ever sold out a group of people.”",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-honors-local-veterans-at-the-bergen-county-sheriffs-annual-veterans-appreciation-bbq,PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Honors Local Veterans at the Bergen County Sheriff’s Annual Veterans Appreciation BBQ,2026-09-20,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer at Bergen County Sheriff’s Annual Veterans Appreciation BBQ.

PARAMUS, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, local veterans, and their families for their Annual Veterans Appreciation BBQ, honoring the brave men and women who have served our nation in uniform.

“Our veterans answered the call to serve and protect our great country, and we owe them a debt we can never fully repay,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “It was an honor to spend the day with the brave men and women who wore the uniform, and their families who have stood beside them. I want to thank the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office for putting on this event and for standing with our veterans year after year. In Congress, I’ll always keep fighting to make sure our veterans get the care, recognition, and respect they’ve rightfully earned.”

The Bergen County Sheriff’s Office Annual Veterans Appreciation BBQ brings together local veterans, their families, and community members each year to recognize and thank those who have served in our nation’s Armed Forces.

Below: Gottheimer at Bergen County Sheriff’s 3rd Annual Veterans Appreciation BBQ.

###",1,2026-09-21T10:25:24Z,2026-09-21T10:26:54Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415846,The Washington Stand article on Smith Special Order'Hyde Amendment Approaches 50th Anniversary Having Saved almost 3 Million Babies',2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Quinn Delamater

Published September 18, 2026

“An innocent, defenseless human life, in a caring and humane society, deserves better than to be flushed down a toilet or burned in an incinerator.” Such are the words of Henry Hyde, the former U.S. congressman from Illinois who tirelessly championed life and introduced the Hyde Amendment in 1976. Almost 50 years later, the legislative rider faces the opportunity to be renewed again.

For a half-century, the Hyde Amendment has stopped taxpayer dollars from funding abortion.

On Wednesday evening, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, hosted a Special Order on the House floor to acknowledge the upcoming 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment on September 30. “The promise of America is that life is not just for the privileged, the planned, or the perfect,” Smith said, quoting Hyde. “This may sound odd, even ironic; you are here in the flush of victory. And yet it is precisely now that I ask you to contemplate the possibility of defeat, perhaps even the necessity of defeat. If you don’t know the principle or the policy for which you are willing to lose your office, then you are going to do damage here.”

Quena González, senior director of Government Affairs at Family Research Council, explained to The Washington Stand that Smith and Hyde have a history. “Representative Chris Smith served with Representative Henry Hyde for 26 years; he’s been a tireless defender of the unborn in Congress for 45 years and comes as close as anyone to carrying Hyde’s inimitable mantle.”

After the Roe v. Wade decision in 1973, the U.S. government paid for an estimated 300,000 abortions each year via Medicaid. According to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, since the Hyde Amendment’s first enactment in 1976, approximately 2.7 million lives have been saved.

During Wednesday’s event, Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) asserted that society has a duty to protect the unborn. “Life matters. Who are we as a people if we cannot stand up in defense of the most innocent form of life there is — a child in the womb of its mother? That should be our calling. And we should be able to unite as human beings in defense of the defenseless.”

Legislative Assistant for FRC’s Government Affairs Chantel Hoyt praised what House members shared during the Special Order. “I appreciated seeing Representative Chip Roy connect this important anniversary to the toll that chemical abortion is taking,” she told TWS. “It’s encouraging to see members like Representative Chris Smith carrying on Henry Hyde’s legacy and seeking to not only retain but build on the protections of the Hyde Amendment.”

Rep. Tracey Mann (R-Kan.) observed during the House event that he believes that abortion is not consistent with the Constitution. “Hyde should not be viewed as the finish line for the pro-life movement. It’s the floor. It’s a bare minimum compromise,” he shared. “America is founded on the self-evident truth that every person is created equal and endowed with our creator with an inherent right to life. That right is the foundation of every other right that we enjoy. As a father, I believe that every child is fearfully and wonderfully made by God. Every life has value, every child has purpose, and no child is a mistake.”",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415847,"Tues., Sept. 22: Rep. Chris Smith to chair CECC hearing“The Faces of Repression: Prisoners, Families, and Communities Targeted by the CCP”",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"On Tuesday, September 22nd, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), will chair a congressional hearing on people imprisoned and persecuted by the Chinese government, the families and religious communities working for their freedom, and the retaliation faced by those who speak out on their behalf.

The hearing will examine the treatment of prisoners in China, the prolonged detention of U.S. citizens, and the persecution of Christians, Falun Gong practitioners, and Uyghurs. Witnesses will also discuss Beijing’s campaign to suppress Uyghur and Tibetan identity, including through the new Ethnic Unity Law, and the threats, surveillance, legal harassment, pressure on relatives, and online abuse directed at advocates outside China.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on how Congress and the Administration can press for the release of those still detained in China, protect their loved ones and the people who advocate for them, and impose consequences on those responsible for their persecution—including through the passage and enactment of the Nelson Wells Jr. and Dawn Michelle Hunt Unjustly Detained in Communist China Act (HR 5491), introduced by Rep. Smith earlier this Congress.

WHEN: Tuesday, September 22, 2026 at 2:30 PM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, Founder and Pastor, Zion Church

Rushan Abbas, Founder and Executive Director, Campaign for Uyghurs

Erping Zhang, Spokesperson for Falun Gong

Nelson Wells Sr., Father of Detained American Citizen Nelson Wells Jr.

Tim Hunt, Brother of Detained American Citizen Dawn Michelle Hunt

WHERE: 216 Hart Senate Office Building and livestreamed here

WHO: Co-Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman Dan Sullivan (R-AK), other members of the CECC, and witnesses

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-announces-new-bipartisan-legislation-on-ai-safety-to-protect-jersey-families-national-security,"RELEASE: Gottheimer Announces New Bipartisan Legislation on AI Safety to Protect Jersey Families, National Security",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer announces new AI safety legislation at FDU.

TEANECK, NJ — Today, Friday, September 18, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the House AI Commission and a senior member of the House Intelligence Committee, announced a new bipartisan agenda to put real guardrails on AI development to ensure the U.S. can win the global AI race in the right way.

Watch Gottheimer’s remarks here.

“Right now, there are no mandatory requirements for pre-deployment testing of frontier AI models,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That doesn’t work in banking, it doesn’t work in food safety, it doesn’t work in medicine, and it sure as hell shouldn’t work with the technology that experts say could help build a bioweapon or take down our power grid. This isn’t about stopping AI or stifling innovation, it is about making sure — with warning signs flashing red — that we can safely deploy AI, and win the race the right way.

“Artificial intelligence is one of the most consequential technologies of our time, and we have a responsibility to make sure it strengthens our national security rather than becoming a tool for those who seek to harm Americans. The American AI Security Act takes a commonsense approach: before the most powerful AI models are deployed, we should know whether they could be used to launch devastating cyberattacks or facilitate the development of chemical, biological, or radiological weapons,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

Gottheimer’s AI safety agenda includes two new bipartisan pieces of federal legislation and an inquiry into the Administration’s new cybersecurity plan, including:

The American AI Security Act, co-led by Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), establishes a mandatory, pre-deployment national security review for the most powerful AI models. Before releasing a covered model, developers would be required to give the National Security Agency full access to evaluate whether it could be used to launch a serious cyberattack or help build a chemical, biological, or radiological weapon. The review operates on a firm clock — 30 days, with a single 30-day extension if needed — so it functions as a serious national security check rather than either a rubber stamp or endless bureaucracy. Companies would be able to provide technical support for the reviews, and appeal decisions through an expedited process modeled on the courts already used for national security cases.

The China FIREWALL Act, co-led by Congressman Nick LaLota (NY-1), keeps Chinese-developed AI off of U.S. government systems. The bill would ban all Chinese-developed open-weight AI models from government-issued devices and prohibit federal agencies from procuring software that relies on those models. The legislation builds on Gottheimer’s No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act, which became law as part of the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act and blocked the Chinese AI model DeepSeek from federal devices. The China FIREWALL Act closes the loophole that still allows other Chinese open-weight models to be used at federal agencies.

And finally, Gottheimer announced he is sending a letter to Sean Cairncross, the President’s Cyber Director, about the Administration’s new AI cybersecurity clearinghouse and how it can help the government respond to growing fears of autonomous cyberattacks.

The announcement was made at Fairleigh Dickinson University, which is launching a new state-of-the-art Health Humanics Innovation Hub, that’s designed to train the next generation of healthcare workers to use AI tools without losing the human being in front of them.

Gottheimer was joined by New Jersey State Senator Gordon Johnson, Teaneck Mayor Mark Schwartz, FDU Senior VP of Government Affairs, Robert Pignatello, Engineer Lab Director, Reggie Joseph, and students from Fairleigh Dickinson University.

Below: Gottheimer announces new AI safety legislation at FDU.

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery.

Thank you all for having me here today, and thank you to Fairleigh Dickinson University for opening up your campus for a discussion on this critical topic.

Now, I’ve been to a lot of events at a lot of great institutions across the Fifth District, but I want to take a second to recognize FDU, because this school has a story worth telling.

It started in 1942, right down the road in Rutherford, as a little two-year junior college founded by Peter and Sally Sammartino. Today, it’s the largest private university in the entire state of New Jersey, with 12,000 students, more than 100 degree programs, and students coming here from all over the world. It’s a great American story of true leadership.

Speaking of leadership, President Avaltroni and his team have built something they call “Humanics.” The idea is simple: as AI gets built into everything, especially health care, you don’t throw out empathy, ethics, and equity.

You build them in from day one. They’re standing up a Health Humanics Innovation Hub right here on the Metropolitan Campus, which Senator Johnson helped secure funding for, that brings together a healthcare humanity lab, a storytelling data lab, and partnerships with Epic Systems to make sure the doctors and nurses of tomorrow know how to use these tools without losing sight of the human being in front of them. That’s exactly the mindset we need to bring to the AI policy debate right now – as the AI race accelerates, we have to remember that the benefits of innovation are boundless in the new opportunities they offer, but can be equally boundless in the new threats they pose.

AI can change the world. It can make our businesses more productive, help Americans develop new skills, strengthen our national security, and keep the United States at the forefront of technological innovation, especially in the competition with China. It can make incredible discoveries in medicine; it can personalize education, make government more efficient and accessible, and help workers focus more on key decisions.

But, as we learned in the last weeks with Hugging Face, and yesterday, with more disclosures from OpenAI of rogue agents with basically a mind of their own, the downsides of this transformative technology, if not controlled, are real.

In these cases, agents deceived their developers, coordinated amongst themselves, and escaped from what were supposed to be secure sandboxes. If this technology gets into the wrong hands, you can imagine the potential for destruction – cybersecurity, biosecurity, our national security. Used maliciously, the government of China or Iran or a non-state actor could wreak havoc on the world. Two weeks ago, an engineer from Anthropic quit his job, declaring that this technology “could kill us all by the end of the decade.” As Bill Gates recently put it, “AI models could begin to act against our interests, and we could lose control.”

As I just mentioned, last month, a swarm of AI agents broke out of a locked-down sandbox test, found a security hole nobody even knew existed, and used it to hack straight into Hugging Face — one of the biggest and most important AI platforms on the planet. Hundreds of AI agents were coordinating with each other on a hidden message board, running for days all on their own, and they even lied to their programmers about what they did. That incident was one of the most alarming AI-driven cybersecurity failures on record — and it was conducted without any human oversight. That might sound like a movie plot or an unreleased Terminator sequel, but unfortunately it’s not.

And that’s not the only warning sign. Two weeks ago, a researcher who worked at both OpenAI and Anthropic made headlines when he quit his job at Anthropic and posted publicly that the industry is racing toward superintelligence and, in his words, gambling with our lives. That single post got 150 million views in just a day and a half. That should tell you something about how many Americans are scared of AI’s risks, and how few of them think anyone in Washington has their back. And in response, several of the leading AI CEOs acknowledged the technology’s dangers.

The runaway agents are just one of many new challenges AI poses — there are issues related to energy, water, and data centers; deepfakes, disinformation, and discrimination; chip policy and the need to protect our children; effects on the workforce. The list goes on.

And, when you’re in a race like this one, there is a great deal of pressure to go faster, both between our leading frontier labs — including Anthropic, OpenAI, Google and Meta — and between nations, particularly our competition with the Chinese Communist Party.

Ultimately, like in the Cold War, it will decide who has the military and economic might, which countries ally with others, and who will lead the world in areas like science, health care, and the humanities. While I believe deeply that we can’t afford to lose this race, we must win in the right way, or we like during the nuclear arms race, ultimately, we will all lose. I don’t mean to sound dark, but, as a member of the Intelligence Committee and Co-Chair of the House AI Commission, I have seen the briefings.

This is not a hypothetical threat. I’ve concluded that we are at a critical crossroads … on the precipice of changes that none of us can even imagine … and either we are going to get it right, or the ramifications will be unimaginable. This is happening now, and Congress needs to act like it.

This morning, I want to focus on one area of that race that is central to how we protect our children, our families, and our national security — and that is how we test the latest AI frontier models before they are let out into the wild … before the public is able to utilize them.

Right now, there are no mandatory requirements for pre-deployment testing. We are solely reliant on the Trump Administration’s voluntary cybersecurity review process based on a June 2026 Executive Order. It’s caused mass confusion in the AI world – nobody really knows who’s covered, what the rules actually are, or what happens if you don’t play along. It seems nuts to me that we wouldn’t want to require testing from the best and brightest in our government before these models are released — to protect our cybersecurity, biosecurity, critical infrastructure — our families and our national security.

But, that’s where we are here. And why? Because there are many who believe that the AI labs can handle it themselves – or, as some of the founders suggested this past week, that they rely on third-party testers or auditors to handle it. My problem with that is multi-fold: one, there are very few of these outside testers; they have limited people, compute, and access to the labs; they lack national security clearances; they don’t have broad enough expertise on the threats posed, and they rely, in part, on the labs themselves for funding. In short, it’s like having the fox guard the hen house.

It doesn’t work in banking, it doesn’t work in food safety, it doesn’t work in medicine, and it sure as hell shouldn’t work with technology that experts say could help build a bioweapon or take down our power grid. The answer isn’t, like some have suggested, to just shut it all down. That’s not tenable. Like it or not, AI is here. We can’t just cede the race to China. If we panic or stop AI development, we won’t actually stop AI — that’s not a safeguard. China is not slowing down for anybody. We will just hand the future to Beijing. It will put us right in the bullseye of our adversary. We will just get someone else’s AI.

That brings me to what we’re actually doing about it.

First, I’m announcing the American AI Security Act — new bipartisan federal legislation that I’m introducing with Congressman Mike Lawler of New York. This bill ensures that before any company releases one of the most powerful AI models in the world, they have to give the government full access to evaluate it first — to check whether that model could be used to launch a serious cyberattack, attack our critical infrastructure, or help build a chemical, biological, or radiological weapon.

It’s a real, time-bounded review that other frontier developers can help coordinate. Not endless bureaucracy, but also not a rubber stamp. A serious national security check, with a deadline, with industry input, and a proper appeals process modeled on the courts we already use for national security cases. This isn’t about stopping AI or stifling innovation; it is about making sure — with warning signs flashing red — that we can safely deploy AI, and win the race the right way.

Second, I’m announcing the China FIREWALL Act to stop Chinese AI on all government systems.

Right now, DeepSeek is blocked on most federal devices — because I fought to put that block in place, through my No DeepSeek on Government Devices Act. It became law through last year’s defense spending bill. But, here’s the problem: other Chinese open-weight models, like Moonshot’s Kimi K3 and Alibaba’s Qwen, are still walking right through the front door of our federal agencies, and they can still buy software with these models baked in without anyone even knowing it.

So, alongside Congressman Nick LaLota of New York, I’m introducing this new bipartisan legislation to close that loophole for good — banning Chinese-developed open-weight models from government devices, and blocking agencies from procuring software that relies on them. If we can’t trust Beijing with our data, we shouldn’t allow our government to use their AI systems.

Third, I’m sending a letter to the President’s Cyber Director about the Administration’s new AI cybersecurity clearinghouse. Look, the idea behind it is the right one. But right now, it’s only built to catch known vulnerabilities. That is, the stuff we already know to look for.

It does nothing about what happens when you’ve got swarms of AI agents operating at machine speed, coordinating attacks faster than any human can respond. My letter asks the hard question: is this clearinghouse actually built for the threat we’re facing in 2026, or the threat we were facing two years ago? And it raises whether the AI supply chain itself should be treated as critical infrastructure, the same way we treat our power grid and our water systems. If AI breaks, everything built on top of it breaks with it.

This Congress alone, I’ve led more than a dozen bipartisan bills that put up immediate guardrails to keep pace with the rapid rise of AI.

There is nothing partisan about protecting our country. That’s why I’ve repeatedly teamed up with Republican and Democratic colleagues alike – and why I’m co-chairing the new AI Problem Solvers Task Force. My bills tackle critical issues from rogue AI agents and cybersecurity to commonsense consumer and child protections to AI digital literacy. These bills would both protect our families and national security, and ensure we can seize upon the opportunities ahead of us.

Unfortunately, Republican leadership has refused to directly bring any of these critical pieces of legislation to the floor for a vote. And they sent us home from Washington without acting. I think that’s a huge mistake — and, right now, every week matters for America’s safety. I strongly urge the Speaker to bring us back before the election to pass AI safety legislation like the bills I’m proposing today.

Finally, let me ask this question: How did another generation handle a technology terrifying enough to end the world, without either burying their heads in the sand or torching the relationship with their biggest rival? Go back to the Cold War.

The United States and the Soviet Union were racing each other on nuclear weapons — real enemies, real stakes, real distrust. And yet, at the height of that rivalry, President Kennedy stood up and said something that still holds up today. He said, “Among the traits the peoples of our two countries have in common, none is stronger than our mutual abhorrence of war.” Soon after, we signed a nuclear test ban treaty with the Soviets. We never stopped competing with them, but we understood that some risks are big enough that even fierce rivals have to keep the guardrails up.

That is exactly the balance we need with AI: compete like hell to win, and put real safety rails in place so winning doesn’t destroy us in the process.

Our country has never been a country that waits around scared of the future — we go out, and we build it, safely, and better than anyone else on Earth. The choice is not between innovation and responsibility. We need both. We need Americans to know that as AI becomes more powerful, there are commonsense guardrails in place.

I believe that if we keep working together across the aisle for our future, in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you, God bless you, and God bless the United States of America.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-sends-follow-up-letter-to-dhs-secretary-demanding-information-on-the-status-of-sick-constituent-at-delaney-hall,Rep. Watson Coleman Sends Follow-up Letter to DHS Secretary Demanding Information on the Status of Sick Constituent at Delaney Hall,2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,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 letter to DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting ICE Director David Venturella demanding answers on the investigation into the death of Edwin Jovanny Lopez Cornejo and the status of detainee Amro Sehaim.

The letter comes after the Department failed to respond to an inquiry sent by the Congresswoman and several members of the New Jersey Delegation on August 7th calling for answers surrounding the death of Lopez Cornejo and demanding the immediate humanitarian release of Amro Sehaim, an Egyptian national and small business owner in the 12th District who, before his detention, was undergoing treatment for cancer.

The letter reads in part:

Individuals in your custody are your responsibility. The shocking number of deaths within ICE custody, including Mr. Lopez Cornejo’s, is appalling and unforgivable. The conditions in ICE detention facilities across the country are atrocious and bring shame to your Department, this Administration, and our nation.

The September 17th letter demands detailed explanations as to the conditions that led to the death of Mr. Lopez Cornejo and of the actions being taken to provide Mr. Sehaim with adequate, independent medical care.

Related Files",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415843,Shielding NJ families and communities from high energy costsSmith votes for Ratepayer Protection Act to protect Americans from footing AI data centers’ energy costs,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Yesterday, with Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-Manchester) strong support and vote, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the Ratepayer Protection Act (HR 9340)—by a margin of 417-3—to protect hard-working Americans from shouldering the hefty energy costs associated with the construction and operation of data centers.

“Protecting families and communities from increased energy costs is paramount—especially after years of skyrocketing energy costs driven by Joe Biden’s ‘Green New Scam,’” said Smith.

“The Ratepayer Protection Act will inject transparency and public scrutiny into the system to ensure that the largest users of energy—including hyperscale data centers—pay for energy infrastructure upgrades and generation capacity,” continued Smith, who cosponsored HR 9340.

The Ratepayer Protection Act amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act by adding a new ratemaking standard for large-load customers, ensuring that the costs associated with grid upgrades and new generation requirements are borne by the project customer and not American families.

“American families deserve protection from exorbitant and unpredictable energy bills, and this legislation ensures that the companies who want to build and operate data centers will be made to pay for the massive amounts of electricity they consume.

“I strongly support the Ratepayer Protection Act, and although the Senate blocked unanimous consent for the legislation, I urge my colleagues in that chamber to immediately reconsider this bill, pass it, and send it to President Trump’s desk for his signature,” concluded Smith.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415845,The Epoch Times article on Smith hearing'Jimmy Lai's Son Pleads for Ailing Father's Release Ahead of Xi's US Visit',2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Eva Fu and Frank Fang

Published September 17, 2026

WASHINGTON—The son of imprisoned Hong Kong publisher Jimmy Lai has appealed for his father’s release on humanitarian grounds ahead of Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s expected meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump.

Lai founded the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. He was detained in 2020 under the Beijing-imposed national security law and sentenced to 20 years in prison in February.

Sebastien Lai described the “painful realization” of imagining his elderly father’s physical and mental state if they were ever reunited, five years after their last meeting.

Sebastien Lai (R) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) stand for a photo after a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing regarding the continued imprisonment of his father, Jimmy Lai, on Capitol Hill on Sept. 16, 2026 Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo

Jimmy Lai outside West Kowloon Magistrates' Court in Hong Kong on Sept. 18, 2020. Sung Pi-lung/The Epoch Times

“I hear about his health declining every single day,” Sebastien Lai said on Sept. 16 at a congressional hearing hosted by the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China. “It’s really sad. It’s really worrying.”

Sebastien Lai’s sister, Claire Lai, was diagnosed with cancer recently and is undergoing chemotherapy in London.

“My father learned of his own daughter’s diagnosis from a maximum-security prison. He cannot hold her hand. She wants nothing more than to have him with her for this fight,” Sebastien Lai said.

“We hope the Chinese authorities will consider what compassionate release would mean for her and for a 78-year-old man who has already suffered enough.

“My father poses no threat. His imprisonment makes him a symbol of injustice. His death in prison would be a disgrace.”

He said that his father’s release was just a “phone call away” for Xi.

Sebastien Lai speaks with reporters after a Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing regarding the continued imprisonment of his father, Jimmy Lai, on Capitol Hill on Sept. 16, 2026. Mariam Zuhaib/AP Photo

Apple Daily was forced to cease operations in Hong Kong in June 2021, after 500 police officers raided its newsroom and arrested its top executives.

At the time, the newspaper was known for its critical coverage of the Chinese Communist Party and the Hong Kong government, particularly during the years of pro-democracy street protests in the former British colony.

“This is all about whether or not journalists can report freely when the government can shut down a newspaper and prosecute its publisher,” Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), the commission’s co-chair, said at the hearing.

“It’s about whether a society can retain meaningful freedom of speech when criticizing those in power becomes a national security offense.”

Jimmy Lai has spent more than 2,000 days in prison since his arrest in August 2020. He was found guilty of two counts of “conspiracy to collude with foreign forces” under the national security law and a third count of “sedition” under a colonial-era law.

The national security law criminalizes speeches or actions deemed secessionist, subversive, or terrorist, as well as those viewed as colluding with foreign forces against the Chinese communist regime. Punishments can be as severe as life imprisonment.

Speaking in an interview after the hearing, Sebastien Lai noted a recent report by the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation that states that guards at the place where his father has been imprisoned had “formally rehearsed procedures in the event that Lai dies in custody.”

“It’s really scary to hear,” he said, saying that the Hong Kong authorities’ prosecution of his father is a “real disgrace.”

“They went through all this kangaroo court show trial and found nothing. His record is unblemished, yet they still keep going.”

Trump raised the cases of Pastor Ezra Jin Mingri, leader of a prominent underground church in China, and Lai during his May summit with Xi in Beijing, later saying Xi had called Lai’s case “a tough one” for the Chinese leader.

Jin returned to the United States in early July, but no such breakthrough has come in Lai’s case.

Smith and three other lawmakers on the commission, on Sept. 16, introduced a bill that would require the State Department to impose sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials responsible for or complicit in the death of Hong Kong political prisoners.

Trump is scheduled to meet with Xi on Sept. 24.

Smith urged Trump to make Lai’s case a priority during the meeting.",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415848,WATCH: 'Free Jimmy Lai: Rep. Chris Smith | The World Over with Raymond Arroyo',2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,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), sat down with host Raymond Arroyo on EWTN's The World Over with Raymond Arroyo to discuss the congressional hearing he chaired this week to press for the release of incarcerated Hong Kong businessman and Catholic Jimmy Lai, and the hope that Lai might be released after next week's summit in DC between President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping.

The full interview can be viewed by clicking here.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-house-passes-bill-first-championed-by-gottheimer-am-radio-for-every-vehicle-act,"RELEASE: House Passes Bill First Championed by Gottheimer, AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, September 15, 2026, the House of Representatives passed the “AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act,” supported by Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), delivering a major win for public safety and moving the country one step closer to guaranteeing that every new car and truck sold in America comes equipped with AM broadcast radio.

Gottheimer, who first announced and introduced the legislation in the 118th Congress to protect public safety and encourage electric vehicle (EV) manufacturers to include AM radio in their cars and trucks, applauded the bill’s passage.

“AM radio is a lifeline. When the power goes out, when the cell towers go down, and when the Internet cuts off during a storm or an emergency, AM radio is often the only way families can get the life-saving information they need,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “It’s outrageous that some automakers want to rip out a basic, free feature — one that helps keep people safe — just to pad their own bottom line. I’m proud to have helped lead this bipartisan bill from day one, and today the House stood up for every driver, every first responder, and every family who counts on AM radio when it matters most.”

“For more than 100 years, AM radio stations have provided music, sports, news, and entertainment to listeners across the Garden State and the country. More importantly over the last century, radio has provided a critical lifeline in times of emergency. Ensuring that this free service utilizing the public’s airwaves is readily available in every vehicle sold in the United States by passing the AM Radio For Every Vehicle Act is the right decision for public safety,” said New Jersey Broadcasters Association (NJBA) Executive Director Jordan Walton. “It’s hard to imagine that what started as a conversation over a cup of coffee has evolved into this legislation being passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. New Jersey’s broadcasters thank Rep. Gottheimer, leaders in the House, and all who advanced AM4EVA today.”

More than 50 million Americans listen to AM broadcast radio every month, and it remains one of the most reliable ways to reach the public during emergencies. AM radio is the backbone behind America’s National Public Warning System, which provides emergency-alert and warning information to the public during major natural disasters, extreme weather conditions, chemical incidents, health emergencies, and other domestic threats, often when cellular and Internet networks fail. In the aftermath of 9/11 and Hurricane Sandy, AM broadcast radio provided a crucial lifeline for life-saving information, and for many rural communities it remains a primary source of local news, weather, and emergency alerts.

Despite the clear public safety uses of AM broadcast radio, many manufacturers had stopped including AM broadcast radio in their vehicles because they did not want to spend the minimal funds to ensure public safety during emergencies.

The AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act will require the Department of Transportation to issue a rule mandating that all automakers include AM radio as standard equipment in their vehicles, at no additional cost to consumers.

Since first taking on this back in 2023, Gottheimer pushed manufacturers directly, called on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to add AM broadcast radio to the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, and helped secure a critical federal investment of $56 million for the Next Generation Warning System to improve the capabilities of public broadcasters to send vital emergency and civil defense warnings.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-house-passes-bipartisan-gottheimer-led-guard-act-to-protect-seniors-from-financial-fraud-and-scammers,"RELEASE: House Passes Bipartisan, Gottheimer-Led GUARD Act to Protect Seniors from Financial Fraud and Scammers",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Tuesday, September 15, 2026, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan GUARD Act (Guarding Unprotected Aging Retirees from Deception Act, H.R. 2978) legislation that U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) co-led to protect seniors and their families from the financial fraud and scams costing Americans billions every year.

The GUARD Act was introduced alongside Representatives Zachary Nunn (IA-3) and Scott Fitzgerald (WI-5), and now heads to the Senate.

“Every day, scammers are targeting our seniors — draining the hard-earned savings they spent a lifetime building, often with a single phone call or a fake investment scheme,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus and member of the House Financial Services Committee. “These criminals don’t play it straight, and too often they hide behind overseas networks that make them nearly impossible to track. The GUARD Act gives our cops and investigators the tools and the resources to hunt these fraudsters down, claw back stolen money, and protect the people who built this country. Protecting our parents and grandparents is just common sense, and I’m proud this bipartisan bill is one step closer to becoming law.”

The GUARD Act empowers state, local, and Tribal law enforcement to fight back against the fraud epidemic targeting older Americans. Specifically, the legislation:

Allows law enforcement to use existing federal grant funds to investigate elder financial fraud, “pig butchering” cryptocurrency investment scams, and general financial fraud — including by hiring analysts and experts and providing specialized training on complex, often transnational financial crimes;

Clarifies that federal law enforcement agencies may assist state, local, and Tribal partners and fusion centers in using blockchain-tracing tools and related technology to follow the money and identify the criminals behind these scams;

Instructs the Treasury Department, FinCEN, and federal partners to report to Congress on the true scale of scams in the United States — including how much Americans are losing each year, how many of these schemes trace back to overseas actors and organized crime, and how effective enforcement efforts have been.

“Iowa retirees spent a lifetime building their savings, and scammers are using increasingly sophisticated technology to steal it out from under them,” said Rep. Nunn (IA-3). “The GUARD Act came directly from an Iowa sheriff’s deputy who told me officers were watching criminals steal the life savings of hardworking Iowans but lacked the tools to track them down and recover the money. Today, the House voted to give state and local law enforcement the resources they need to pursue fraudsters, recover stolen funds, and deliver justice for victims. I urge the Senate to take it up without delay and get these protections to the Iowans who need them.”

“Elder fraud and financial scams are robbing older Americans of their life savings at an alarming rate, and the 4,200 credit unions across the country see that firsthand,” said Kathleen Coulombe, Chief Advocacy Officer, America’s Credit Unions. “America’s Credit Unions strongly supports the GUARD Act and measures like it, which take concrete steps to defend seniors and preserve the savings they spent a lifetime earning. By directing real investigative resources to local law enforcement and providing advanced tools to trace stolen funds, the GUARD Act strengthens our front lines against scammers. We thank Representative Nunn for championing this bill and urge Congress to quickly pass this legislation.”

“The GUARD Act will help provide state and local law enforcement with necessary resources to combat fraud and the organized crime rings that are hurting retirees and communities,” said Rodney Davis, Head of Government Affairs, U.S. Chamber of Commerce. “The U.S. Chamber is proud to support this legislation and thanks Rep. Nunn for his leadership in this critical battle against scammers.”

“The Crypto Council for Innovation supports the bipartisan GUARD Act. Strong consumer protection requires that law enforcement have the tools, training, and resources necessary to identify and pursue illicit activity in digital asset markets,” aid Ji Hun Kim, Chief Executive Officer, Crypto Council for Innovation. “We commend Representatives Nunn, Gottheimer, and Fitzgerald for their leadership and for their bipartisan work on this important legislation.”

“Representative Nunn is a close partner on a number of fraud issues, especially the GUARD Act that directs federal grant money toward local law enforcement for the tools and training they need to fight fraud,” said Iowa AARP. “He’s been a champion in his district and across Washington, D.C., and we’re proud to see the GUARD Act move through the House.”

“Protecting consumers from sophisticated financial crime requires a united front across government, law enforcement, and the private sector,” said Chris Sparks, Head of Card Fraud, Capital One. “By passing the GUARD Act today, the U.S. House of Representatives has taken a decisive step toward filling critical gaps to help stop criminal scammers before they strike. Capital One applauds Representatives Nunn, Fitzgerald, and Gottheimer for this bipartisan achievement in advancing legislation that will safeguard older Americans and reinforce trust in our financial system.”

A “pig butchering” scam is a type of financial fraud where scammers target individuals, commonly retirees, to convince them to invest money in a fake opportunity. The term “pig butchering” refers to the process of “fattening up” a victim with false promises before “butchering” them by stealing their invested funds.

The FBI’s 2025 IC3 report states that total internet crime losses reached $20.9 billion in 2025, a 26% increase over 2024 and the first time the figure surpassed $20 billion. Cryptocurrency-related losses hit a record $11.37 billion across 181,565 complaints, up 22% from 2024. Investment fraud, the category that captures most pig butchering activity, was the single largest loss type at more than $8.6 billion.

The bipartisan GUARD Act is supported by the AARP, the Iowa State Police Association, the Financial Technology Association, Consumer Bankers Association, America’s Credit Union Association, Digital Chamber, National Police Association, Crypto Council for Innovation, and the Iowa Bankers Association.

Gottheimer has been a leading voice for protecting seniors and cracking down on financial fraud and emerging-technology threats.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415831,"Opening statement of Co-Chairman Smith at CECC hearingA Son and Daughter’s Appeal to Xi Jinping to Release Their Dad, Jimmy Lai",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The following are excerpts of Co-Chairman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) opening statement at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)’s September 16th hearing, entitled “A Son and Daughter’s Appeal to Xi Jinping to Release Their Dad, Jimmy Lai”:

Today’s hearing is about Jimmy Lai—and an earnest appeal to Xi Jinping from Jimmy’s children to set him free on humanitarian grounds.

They are grateful that President Trump has personally raised Jimmy Lai’s release with Xi Jinping, and they respectfully ask him to do so again at the upcoming summit.

We will hear directly from Jimmy Lai’s son, Sebastien, speaking for himself and on behalf of his sister, Claire, who was initially scheduled to join her brother today. Sadly, Claire was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and has begun treatment. We are thinking of her, praying for her, and wishing her a full recovery.

Sebastien, who testified on behalf of his father in 2023, will tell us today:

“My father learned of his own daughter's diagnosis from a maximum-security prison. He cannot hold her hand. She wants nothing more than to have him with her for this fight. We hope the Chinese authorities will consider what compassionate release would mean for her, and for a 78-year-old man who has already suffered enough…Let Jimmy Lai come home to his family and let him sit beside his daughter in her hardest moment.”

Jimmy Lai is 78 years old. He has spent six years in detention. In February, a Hong Kong court sentenced him to 20 years in prison following his conviction under the National Security Law. It was the longest sentence, thus far, imposed under that law.

For a man of Jimmy Lai’s age, and given the serious concerns about his health, a 20-year sentence carries an obvious and deeply troubling humanitarian consequence. His son, Sebastien, has described it as a death sentence. That is why time matters.

Jimmy Lai is not being imprisoned because he committed an act of violence. His son has emphasized that his father has never advocated violence. Rather, Jimmy Lai used his voice, his newspaper, and his public platform to support freedom and democracy.

He founded Apple Daily, a newspaper that became one of Hong Kong’s most prominent pro-democracy publications. The newspaper was forced to close in 2021 after authorities arrested its senior executives and froze its assets. Jimmy Lai himself was arrested in August 2020 and subsequently prosecuted under Hong Kong’s national security regime.

His case, therefore, raises fundamental questions about the meaning of freedom of expression and freedom of the press in Hong Kong today. It also raises questions about the rule of law.

Hong Kong was promised a high degree of autonomy and the preservation of its existing legal and social systems under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework. Yet, since the imposition of the National Security Law in June 2020, our Commission has documented the imprisonment of democracy advocates, journalists, former legislators, and civil society figures; weakened procedural protections; concerns regarding judicial independence; and a broader chilling effect on speech and political activity.

Jimmy Lai’s case is emblematic of those changes. It is about whether a society can retain meaningful freedom of speech when criticizing those in power becomes a national-security offense. It is about whether journalists can report freely when the government can shut down a newspaper and prosecute its publisher. It is about whether courts can remain genuinely independent when national-security laws are used against political opponents and critics. And it is about whether the promises made to the people of Hong Kong still have meaning.

We should also remember the human dimension of this case. For more than five years, Jimmy Lai’s children have had to live with the reality that their father is imprisoned thousands of miles away. Sebastien has spoken publicly about the possibility that he may never see his father again.

Claire has spoken about her father’s deteriorating health and the family's increasingly limited information about his medical condition.

Claire has also spoken about something that I think is important to understand about Jimmy Lai: his faith. She has said that her father is not in prison because he is Catholic, but that his faith has been a major source of the courage he has shown throughout this ordeal. She described his trust in God and divine providence as something that has not wavered even as his physical condition has deteriorated.

That combination of faith and courage is part of Jimmy Lai’s story. He is a businessman who built a successful enterprise. He is a publisher who believed that people should be free to read, write, criticize, and debate. He is a Catholic who has spoken openly about his faith. And he is a father whose children are asking for the chance to have their dad home.

This hearing comes at an important moment. The Commission’s announcement notes the planned summit between President Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping. That makes the appeal from Jimmy Lai’s children especially timely. They are asking that their father’s freedom be addressed directly.

This hearing also comes at a moment when Congress is considering concrete steps to address the treatment of political prisoners in Hong Kong.

Just yesterday, I introduced, along with Senator Sullivan, the Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026 to establish a clear framework for accountability if a Hong Kong political prisoner were to die in custody as a result of inadequate medical care, abuse, inhumane conditions, or other actions or omissions by detaining authorities.

Under the bill, the Secretary of State, in coordination with the Secretary of the Treasury, would be required to determine whether such a death resulted from those circumstances and identify foreign officials responsible for or complicit in the conduct. Those officials could then face mandatory sanctions under existing authorities, including the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act and the Hong Kong Autonomy Act.

The bill would also require the State Department to report to Congress on the health status of Jimmy Lai and other Hong Kong political prisoners, including any denial or restriction of medical care, legal access, consular access, or family contact.

And that broader requirement is important because many Hong Kongers remain imprisoned or targeted for exercising fundamental freedoms.

The National Security Law has had consequences affecting journalists, political candidates, legislators, activists, lawyers, religious figures, and ordinary citizens, who have expressed views considered unacceptable by the authorities. Most recently, we witnessed the brave 29-year old democracy advocate, Joshua Wong, pleading guilty to collusion with foreign entities, a charge that carries a maximum sentence of life in prison under Beijing's National Security Law.

The result of this law has been a profound change in Hong Kong’s civic and political environment—and not for the better.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415836,"Providing critical funding for Lyme disease researchKay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act passes House, on its way to President Trump’s desk",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Last night, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation to provide $150 million over five years in continued funding for Lyme disease research at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sending the bill to President Trump’s desk for his signature.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act (S. 2398)—sponsored by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME)—is the identical Senate companion legislation to Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) HR 4348, which passed the House in late July. Having now passed both chambers, the President is expected to sign the final Senate version into law in the next several days.

The soon-to-be law will fund critical vector-borne disease research programs and initiatives at the CDC that were due to expire on September 30th.

“My colleagues will recall that our distinguished colleague, North Carolina Senator Kay Hagan, suffered a tick bite and died in 2019 from encephalitis caused by Powassan virus—the current law and reauthorization is named in her honor,” said Smith, the founder and Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, during the bill’s debate on the House floor.

“Vector borne diseases are now endemic in regions of the country where they have not historically been present. Disease-laden ticks are now found in all 48 contiguous U.S. states. The problem is exploding—not abating,” said Smith.

The Kay Hagan Tick Reauthorization Act will allocate $50 million over five years for the CDC’s regional Centers of Excellence and provide funding for states in regions that have an elevated risk of Lyme or other tick-borne disease outbreaks, enabling them to work in tandem with the federal government to quickly identify and address such outbreaks.

“Critically, this new bill reauthorizes cooperative agreement funding for states and localities—$100 million over five years—to tangibly assist state public health departments and other local entities to support the development and implementation of evidence-based research, interventions, and treatment,” Smith noted.

“This legislation also supports the Trump Administration’s whole-of-government assault on Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses, including several recently announced bold and innovative initiatives to control the spread of Lyme and advance diagnostics and therapies for patients,” stated Smith.

He also noted that “U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently established the Lyme Clinician Locator, which enables patients to easily search for Lyme-literate clinicians in their area. Secretary Kennedy also announced the launch of CURE ID, a new platform where patients can share directly with the NIH and FDA which treatments have worked for them, which have not, and what is needed for the future.”

Since 1992, Smith has authored numerous amendments and legislation to improve the lives and prognoses of those suffering from Lyme disease by enhancing and expanding federal tick-borne disease research, awareness, and collaboration. He and Sen. Susan Collins spearheaded the effort to enact the original Kay Hagan Tick Act in 2019, which later became law as part of the FY 2020 Further Consolidated Appropriations Act.

The original law created, among other things, a national strategy to combat Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, with a special focus on surveillance, diagnosis, treatment, education and prevention.

In February of this year, Smith also authored and introduced the LymeX Authorization Act (HR 7482), legislation to codify and authorize $5 million towards the LymeX Accelerator Program (LymeX), a public-private partnership between the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, which funds prize competitions to advance innovation in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of Lyme disease.

Moreover, in December of last year, Smith’s amendment to probe whether the Cold War-era Department of War bioweapons program ever used ticks as hosts or delivery mechanisms for biological warfare agents was included within the FY26 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which was later signed into law (PL 119-60) by President Trump.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415837,"Ahead of planned Trump-Xi meeting in Washington, D.C.An appeal from Jimmy Lai’s son",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"At today’s Capitol Hill hearing chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), lawmakers examined the unjust imprisonment of Jimmy Lai—a well-known free-speech advocate and the publisher of the pro-democracy newspaper, Apple Daily—by Hong Kong officials, as well as what his case reveals about the continued erosion of the freedom of the press, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Chinese Communist Party (CCP)-controlled Hong Kong.

“Today’s hearing is about Jimmy Lai—and an earnest appeal to Xi Jinping from Jimmy’s children to set him free on humanitarian grounds,” said Smith, the Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC).

Smith pushed for Jimmy’s release on humanitarian grounds, highlighting the “human dimension of this case.” He noted that “for more than five years, Jimmy Lai’s children have had to live with the reality that their father is imprisoned thousands of miles away,” and that Jimmy’s son, Sebastien, “has spoken publicly about the possibility that he may never see his father again.”

“Jimmy’s children are grateful that President Trump has personally raised Jimmy Lai’s release with Xi Jinping, and they respectfully ask him to do so again at the upcoming summit,” said Smith. The hearing was intentionally scheduled in anticipation of the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping in Washington, D.C. on September 24th.

Given Jimmy’s advanced age—78-years-old—and the “serious concerns about his health,” Smith argued that “a 20-year sentence carries an obvious and deeply troubling humanitarian consequence. Sebastien has described it as a death sentence. That is why time matters.”

Sebastien, who testified at today’s hearing about the urgency of his father’s release, spoke on behalf of himself and his sister, Claire—who was initially scheduled to testify alongside her brother, but was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer.

“My father learned of his own daughter’s diagnosis from a maximum-security prison. He cannot hold her hand. She wants nothing more than to have him with her for this fight. We hope the Chinese authorities will consider what compassionate release would mean for her, and for a 78-year-old man who has already suffered enough,” said Sebastien, the leader of the #FreeJimmyLai campaign.

“America understands, in its bones, that freedom dies with the last man willing to defend it and that the cost of not standing up for liberty is not felt until it is too late. In my father, this nation has found a kindred spirit,” continued Sebastien.

“A week from now, President Xi will be a guest in this city. Our appeal to him is simple: my father poses no threat. His imprisonment makes him a symbol of injustice; his death in prison would be a disgrace. Let Jimmy Lai come home to his family and let him sit beside his daughter in her hardest moment.”

Also testifying at the hearing, entitled “A Son and Daughter’s Appeal to Xi Jinping to Release Their Dad, Jimmy Lai,” two expert witnesses—Steve Yates, the Senior Research Fellow for China and National Security and a Chung Ju Yung Fellow at The Heritage Foundation, and Mark L. Clifford, the President of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong and author of The Troublemaker, a biography of Jimmy Lai—detailed how U.S. foreign policy towards Hong Kong must be adjusted to help secure Jimmy Lai’s and other political prisoners’ releases.

Both Yates and Clifford stressed the importance of congressional action, including the immediate passage of the bipartisan and bicameral Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026 (HR 10406), introduced today by Smith in the House and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK), Chairman of the CECC, in the Senate.

The legislation would require the State Department to determine, within 30 days, whether abuse, medical neglect, torture, detention conditions, or other actions contributed to a political prisoner’s death and identify those responsible.

The bill would then mandate sanctions, within 60 days, against responsible or complicit People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Hong Kong officials, requiring international coordination, as well as requiring regular reporting to Congress on the health of and access to Jimmy Lai and other political prisoners.

Yates expressed that “the Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026 is a welcome addition… [to] strengthen the Executive Branch’s negotiating position with Chinese counterparts,” and Clifford noted that “Members of Congress and the Executive branch… have a special responsibility to help free Jimmy.”

Smith concluded his remarks by reminding attendees that Jimmy Lai is “a businessman who built a successful enterprise; a publisher who believed that people should be free to read, write, criticize, and debate; a Catholic who has spoken openly about his faith; and a father whose children are asking for the chance to have their dad home.”

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415839,Daily Signal article on Smith hearing'Congress Hears Pleas for Release of God-Fearing Chinese Democracy Advocate',2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Pedro Rodriguez

Published September 16, 2026

A top congressional panel on Wednesday examined the imprisonment of Chinese media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai and the state of press freedom and judicial independence in China.

The Congressional-Executive Commission on China hearing, titled “A Son and Daughter’s Appeal to Xi Jinping to Release Their Dad, Jimmy Lai,” comes a week before the Chinese Communist Party leader’s visit to the United States.

The hearing featured testimony from Sebastien Lai, the son of the imprisoned media entrepreneur, who called for the immediate release of the 78-year-old democracy activist. Jimmy Lai was sentenced to prison after founding a non-state-sponsored newspaper and “believing in the almighty,” the panel’s chairman, Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said during the hearing.

People gather in front of the Chinese Consulate General to protest the unjust conviction of media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai on Feb. 14, 2026, in Los Angeles. (Apu Gomes/Getty Images)

“America understands, in his pains, that freedom dies with the last men willing to defend it. And that the cost of not standing up for liberty is not felt until it is too late,” Sebastien Lai said.

“My father poses no threat. His imprisonment makes him a symbol of injustice. His death in prison would be a disgrace.”

Lai also said during his testimony that his sister, Claire Lai, was supposed to testify before the panel alongside him Wednesday but was diagnosed with cancer earlier this month and is currently undergoing chemotherapy in London.

The congressional panel also heard from Steve Yates, senior research fellow for China and national security at The Heritage Foundation, who provided the committee with insight into the Chinese Communist Party’s control.

“This is no longer principally an appeal to law, foreign or domestic,” Yates said. “It is a litmus test of whether there remains any reason to believe there is a future in Xi Jinping’s China for the kind of man that Jimmy Lai is.”

During his testimony, Yates, who lost his 25-year-old daughter in 2023 to a fentanyl overdose, added that the cancer diagnosis of Jimmy Lai’s daughter only furthers the case for why he must be released.

“As a father who held his daughter’s hand through the truly terrible circumstances and ultimately lost her, I can attest there has been no greater pain in my life,” Yates said. “Not being permitted to hold her hand through those times would have been unimaginably worse.”

“China should not be making a dying man and a daughter, confronting grave illness, endure additional cruelty in the service of a political trophy,” Yates continued.

After the witnesses’ remarks, Smith thanked them for coming forward and asserted that not many things can unite Congress, but Lai’s imprisonment does.

“We should also remember the human dimension of this case. For more than five years, Jimmy Lai’s children have had to live with the reality that their father is imprisoned thousands of miles away,” Smith said.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415840,OSV News article on Smith hearing'Advocates urge Trump to push for Jimmy Lai release during Xi’s state visit to the US',2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Kate Scanlon

Published 2:43 PM September 16, 2026

WASHINGTON (OSV News) — President Donald Trump is scheduled to host Chinese leader Xi Jinping at the White House in late September, and advocates for Hong Kong’s prominent Catholic media tycoon and pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai said Trump should push for his release from prison during the summit.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a Catholic, who is a longtime lawmaker and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, held a hearing Sept. 16 examining Lai’s imprisonment, with Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, among the witnesses.

Trump and other U.S. officials have pushed for Lai’s release and have cast the charges leading to Lai’s conviction on national security offenses under the city’s controversial national security law as fabricated, arguing that they were evidence that the Chinese Communist Party is seeking to silence dissent.

Sebastien Lai, son of Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong Catholic, philanthropist and media mogul, poses for a portrait in London Dec. 15, 2025, next to a campaign poster featuring imagery of his father during an interview with Reuters. He gave the interview after his father was found guilty under Hong Kong's national security law of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and to publish seditious material. Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years imprisonment Feb. 9, 2026. He pleaded not guilty to all charges during his trial. (OSV News photo/Toby Melville, Reuters)

Smith: Trump ‘has to be absolutely unmovable’

At a May summit in China, Trump asked Xi to release political prisoners of interest to the U.S., including Jimmy Lai and Ezra Jin Mingri, founder and pastor of Zion Church. U.S. officials expressed grave religious freedom concerns in both cases.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is pictured in an Oct. 11, 2022. Smith, a Catholic who is a longtime lawmaker and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, held a hearing Sept. 16, 2026, examining Jimmy Lai’s imprisonment, with Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, among the witnesses. (OSV News photo/U.S House of Representatives/Handout via Reuters)

As a result of that summit, Jin was released from imprisonment and reunited with his family in the U.S. shortly before Independence Day, but Lai remains in prison, where he is serving a 20-year sentence.

Asked after the hearing how he would advise the White House to shift its strategy on Lai’s release, Smith told OSV News that during the upcoming meeting, Trump “has to be absolutely unmovable.”

“One quick phone call, and it’s done,” Smith said of Xi’s power to authorize the release. “And that’s what President Trump has to convey.”

“Don’t mince your words,” Smith continued. “That doesn’t mean you have to be rude. Just say, ‘Hey, we care about this wonderful man. Why don’t you?’ So I’m hoping President Trump will be very upfront and persistent. Don’t take no for an answer.”

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment about whether Trump plans to raise the issue of Lai’s imprisonment with Xi during the state visit.

‘Oldest political prisoner in Hong Kong’

At the hearing, Sebastien Lai said, “At 78, he is the oldest political prisoner in Hong Kong, with his 20-year sentence looming over him. If he’s not free soon, he will most likely die in prison.”

Jimmy Lai’s release, witnesses and Smith argued, has also taken on newfound urgency because his daughter, Claire Lai, 30, was recently diagnosed with cancer.

Claire Lai, Smith said in remarks at the hearing, “was initially scheduled to join her brother today.”

“Sadly, Claire was recently diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer and has begun treatment. We are thinking of her, praying for her, and wishing her a full recovery,” he said.

Sebastien Lai testified he was with his sister as she began chemotherapy in London earlier in September.

“My father learned of his own daughter’s diagnosis from a maximum-security prison,” Sebastien Lai said. “He cannot hold her hand. She wants nothing more than to have him with her for this fight. We hope the Chinese authorities will consider what compassionate release would mean for her, and for a 78-year-old man who has already suffered enough.”

Jimmy Lai, a prominent Hong Kong Catholic, philanthropist and media mogul, is pictured in Hong Kong May 29, 2020. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., a Catholic who is a longtime lawmaker and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, held a hearing Sept. 16, 2026, examining Lai’s imprisonment, with Lai’s son, Sebastien Lai, among the witnesses. (OSV News photo/Tyrone Siu, Reuters)

Bipartisan support for Lai’s release

Lai has bipartisan support from U.S. officials. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., another Catholic lawmaker who has advocated for the release of Lai and other Chinese prisoners of conscience, said in remarks on the House floor earlier in September, “this House and this Congress have always joined together in a bipartisan way for freedom — whether in Hong Kong, Tibet or elsewhere in China — for human rights in China.”

“Let us not forget Jimmy Lai,” she said, adding, “We must speak out for freedom. We must not let this be ignored.”

Sebastien Lai expressed appreciation for the support the family has received from Trump and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, calling it “moral courage, and my family does not take it for granted.”

Imprisoned since December 2020

Jimmy Lai, who founded the now-defunct pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, protested in favor of democratic freedoms — such as freedom of the press and expression — in Hong Kong, which was designated a Special Administrative Region of China in 1997, ending British rule of that area after more than 150 years. Following pro-democracy protests in 2019, China implemented a purported national security law the next year, which critics have said has been used to silence the Chinese Communist Party’s critics.

Under that law, Lai was arrested in August 2020 and has been imprisoned since December 2020. He pleaded not guilty to the charges before his Dec. 15 conviction.

On Sept. 15, Lai’s international legal team called for his release at the United Nations’ Human Rights Council.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415841,“The Hyde Amendment reaffirms the fundamental truth that every life is precious and irreplaceable.”Smith hosts Special Order to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Tonight, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, hosted a Special Order on the House floor to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, which protects taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, both directly and through federal health plans. Rep. Smith’s remarks are provided below:

Fifty years ago—on September 30th, 1976—Congress first enacted an amendment offered by the late, great Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois to prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to subsidize the killing of unborn children by abortion.

During debate in the House, Henry said: “An innocent, defenseless human life, in a caring and humane society, deserves better than to be flushed down a toilet or burned in an incinerator. The promise of America is that life is not just for the privileged, the planned, or the perfect.”

Mr. Speaker, according to Dr. Michael J. New of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, approximately 2.7 million people are alive today—and each year, another 60,000 evade the irreversible consequence of abortion and survive—because of Henry Hyde’s amendment.

Thanks to Henry Hyde, 2.7 million people—who would have otherwise been aborted—have experienced the joys and challenges and opportunities to thrive.

Beginning in 1981, I had the honor of serving alongside Henry Hyde in the U.S. House of Representatives.

He was brilliant, compassionate, tenacious, incredibly articulate, self-effacing, a man of great wisdom and humor—a one-of-a-kind lawmaker—who, to this day, remains the greatest defender of unborn children and their mothers.

He was so good at debate, you always wanted him to be your closer.

Henry believed sound moral principles and courage should inform and guide the decisions we make in government, and he addressed the 1990 class of incoming freshman Members of Congress with these words:

“This may sound odd, even ironic. You are here in the flush of victory. And yet it is precisely now that I ask you to contemplate the possibility of defeat—perhaps even the necessity of defeat….If you don't know the principle, or the policy, for which you are willing to lose your office, then you are going to do damage here.”

No one wants to lose an election. However, we do great “damage” when we sacrifice our core convictions on the altar of political expediency.

It’s truly sad that far too many politicians—who know better—have abandoned unborn children and their mothers to the abortionists for political gain or upward advancement.

Mr. Speaker, the Hyde Amendment is under relentless legislative assault. Yet polling data consistently reflects what the 2026 Marist Poll found: a significant majority of Americans do not support taxpayer funding for abortion.

As pro-life Americans work to replace abortion violence—the culture of death—with compassion and empathy for women and children, the Hyde Amendment continues to stand as one of the most important human rights policies of the past 50 years.

However, the billion-dollar abortion industry continues to cleverly market the cheap sophistry of choice, while going to extraordinary lengths to downplay the suffering and pain experienced by the battered baby victims in the womb—as well as the coercion or pressure exerted on the mother to end the life of her unborn child.

The abortion pill—mifepristone—kills the baby by starving the child to death, while other methods of abortion dismember and decapitate the baby.

We now know that mifepristone is extremely dangerous to women. The Ethics and Public Policy Center conducted the largest-known study of the abortion pill ever and is based on analysis of data from an all-payer insurance claims database that includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023 and found that 10.93 percent of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion.

The real-world rate of serious adverse events following mifepristone abortions is at least 22 times as high as the summary figure of “less than 0.5 percent” in clinical trials reported on the drug label.

Mr. Speaker, someday, future generations of Americans will look back and wonder how and why such a seemingly smart and enlightened society could have permitted and perpetrated the violent deaths of more than 66 million children by abortion, often with government authorization, enabling and subsidy.

History will note, however, the struggle of Henry Hyde and the millions of pro-life Americans who joined him in his quest to protect and defend the rights of the weakest and most vulnerable.

Henry Hyde always encouraged all of us in the pro-life movement—despite setbacks and harsh criticism—to persevere and never give up, and famously said:

“When the time comes as it surely will, when we face that awesome moment, the final judgement, I've often thought, as Fulton Sheen wrote, that it is a terrible moment of loneliness. You have no advocates, you are there alone standing before God, and a terror will rip through your soul like nothing you can imagine. But I really think that those in the pro-life movement will not be alone. I think there will be a chorus of voices that have never been heard in this world but are heard beautifully and clearly in the next world, and they will plead for everyone who has been in this movement. They will say to God, ‘Spare him because he loved us,’ and God will look at you and say not ‘Did you succeed,’ but ‘Did you try?’”

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-small-business-committee-advances-mejia-bill-to-ensure-accurate-disaster-assistance-information,House Small Business Committee Advances Mejia Bill to Ensure Accurate Disaster Assistance Information,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Analilia Mejia,M001246,mejia.house.gov,mejia,https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"For Immediate Release: September 16, 2026

Contact: Beth Wiesinger | NJ11AMPress@Mail.House.Gov

Disaster Loan Outreach Consistency Act would require SBA to provide consistent, current disaster loan information to small business owners

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The House Committee on Small Business today advanced legislation introduced by Representative Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) to strengthen federal disaster assistance for small businesses and ensure owners have accurate, up-to-date information when recovering from natural disasters. The legislation will advance to the House floor when scheduled for a vote.

Small businesses are increasingly on the front lines of natural disasters, facing flooding, severe storms, blizzards, and other events that can threaten their ability to stay open. The Disaster Loan Outreach Consistency Act would require the Small Business Administration (SBA) to establish standardized procedures to ensure disaster outreach materials are consistent, current, and accurate across its field operations centers—equipping businesses with the information to seek and receive aid in a timely manner.

“With nearly 99 percent of all businesses in my home state of New Jersey are small businesses and each one facing the threat of coastal storms and severe floods, these are over 1 million owners and potential borrowers who need all the relevant information. This is why my bill, the Disaster Loan Outreach Consistency Act, offers a simple solution and basic oversight to this issue,” said Congresswoman Mejia. “I urge my colleagues and members of this committee to support this legislation. In a period of time where misinformation is rampant, we must work to ensure small business owners have all the possible information they can have to make the best decision for themselves. We cannot let our federal agencies misguide, misdirect, and withhold vital information, especially when they make regulatory changes that affect Americans. The disaster loan program is one crucial step in recovery after a natural disaster.”

Small businesses make up nearly 99 percent of businesses in New Jersey, making access to reliable disaster assistance particularly important as communities across the state face increasingly severe storms and flooding.

The legislation would provide greater consistency and accountability across SBA’s disaster outreach efforts, helping ensure that the small business owners who rely on federal disaster loans receive the information they need to make informed decisions and recover more quickly.

Click here to read the full bill text.

Click here to view Rep. Mejia’s remarks.

###",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-legislation-to-strengthen-electric-grid-planning-amid-rapidly-growing-energy-demand-passes-the-house,Menendez Legislation to Strengthen Electric Grid Planning Amid Rapidly Growing Energy Demand Passes the House,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Robert Menendez,M001226,menendez.house.gov,menendez,https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) announced that his bipartisan legislation, the Load Forecasting Enhancement Act, passed the House of Representatives. The legislation, introduced in June with Congressman Troy Balderson (OH-12), would help protect families and strengthen grid planning amid rapidly growing energy demand due to AI data centers.

“Families across America are facing rapidly rising utility bills as a result of unprecedented strain on our power grids, including increased demand from AI data centers,” said Congressman Menendez. “I am pleased that our legislation has passed the House of Representatives and is one step closer to becoming law. We will continue working to lower energy costs for families, protect ratepayers, and ensure our electrical grid can meet growing needs.”

“To protect Americans from higher electric bills and make sure our grid can keep up with rising demand, we need to plan ahead,” said Congressman Balderson. “The bipartisan Load Forecasting Enhancement Act gives states and utilities the tools they need to better understand future electricity demand and prepare for it. I applaud my House colleagues for supporting this practical legislation and helping make electricity reliable and more affordable for American families.”

The bill directs the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (“FERC”) to convene regional joint boards with state public utility commissions to identify best practices for electric load forecasting. The legislation also requires FERC to report its findings and recommendations to Congress and encourages states to consider adopting improved forecasting procedures to support reliable, affordable electric service.

The United States is experiencing unprecedented growth in electricity usage and demand. At the same time, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation’s 2025 Long-Term Reliability Assessment warns that much of North America faces a growing risk of energy shortfalls over the next five years, with PJM—the regional transmission organization serving New Jersey—classified as “high risk.” Accurate load forecasting is critical to ensuring that the electric grid can meet future demand without blackouts or forcing consumers to pay for unnecessary infrastructure.

In addition to directing FERC to develop recommendations for improving load forecasting, the legislation:

Amends the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act to encourage state consideration of those recommendations; and

Updates the Policy and Conservation Act to promote greater accuracy, oversight, and transparency in utility forecasting practices.

Congressman Menendez serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, where he has been a leader on tackling rising costs for families in New Jersey and across the country. He recently introduced legislation to address skyrocketing energy bills and the environmental impacts of AI data centers across the country. To learn more about his work, click here.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallones-bipartisan-am-radio-every-vehicle-act-passes-house,Pallone’s Bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act Passes House,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,"Frank Pallone, Jr.",P000034,pallone.house.gov,pallone,https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today applauded House passage of his bipartisan AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act, a bill to ensure AM radio remains available in new vehicles sold in the United States.

Pallone introduced the legislation with Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) in response to automakers removing AM radio from some new vehicles, threatening access to an important source of emergency information when other communications systems fail. Their bill directs the U.S. Department of Transportation to issue a rule to require automakers to include AM radio as standard equipment in new passenger vehicles.

“Today, the House acted to protect a service that millions of Americans rely on every day and that can become a lifeline when disaster strikes,” Pallone said. “During Superstorm Sandy – when power, cell service, cable, and internet went down across New Jersey – radio listenership in my district surged 247 percent as people tuned in for critical information on AM radio stations. I’m proud we passed this bipartisan bill today, and I’ll keep working to get it across the finish line.”

AM radio remains an important part of the nation’s Emergency Alert System. A network of AM broadcast stations serves as Primary Entry Points for emergency alerts, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) invests in maintaining their ability to continue broadcasting during major disasters.

Pallone’s AM Radio for Every Vehicle Act would:

Require automakers to maintain free AM radio in new passenger vehicles sold in the United States.

Require clear disclosure to consumers if a vehicle lacks AM radio access before the new requirement takes effect.

The legislation previously advanced through the House Energy and Commerce Committee with bipartisan support in September 2025. Today’s House passage sends the legislation to the Senate for further consideration.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2094,Congressman Van Drew's PROOF Act Passes House to Crack Down on Fraud in Federal Programs,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew announced that H.R. 10326, the Preventing Rip-offs and Obtaining Oversight of Funds (PROOF) Act, has passed through the U.S. House of Representatives. This bill would give federal investigators a direct way to obtain records from states when investigating fraud in programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Medicaid, unemployment benefits, disaster assistance, and other federally funded programs.

""To me, it is simple. If taxpayer money is being stolen, investigators should be able to get the records they need to find out where it went,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""Right now, that does not always happen. We just saw four states refuse twice to provide SNAP data, to the point where the Justice Department had to take them to court just to get the information. Meanwhile, the states that did cooperate provided data that showed billions of dollars a year going to overpayments and fraud.

""The PROOF Act fixes this problem. If the Attorney General is investigating fraud involving federal taxpayer dollars, the state has to provide the records needed for that investigation. We also made sure there are strong privacy protections in place to ensure that the information is only used for the investigation. Every dollar lost to fraud is a dollar not going to a family, senior, or individual counting on that help. It is our responsibility to make sure that these programs are working as they were intended.""

Click here to read the text of the bill.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2095,Congressman Van Drew Celebrates Passage of Major South Jersey Water Infrastructure Priorities,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew celebrated the passage of the Water Resources Development (WRDA) Act of 2026 through the U.S. House of Representatives. The legislation includes eleven priorities he secured for South Jersey, and it is expected to be signed into law.

""This is exactly the kind of work I came to Congress to do,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""South Jersey is surrounded by water, and our towns deal with flooding, erosion, aging dams, and waterways that need our full attention. I fought to get these priorities into the bill because they will directly address these concerns and make a real difference in the safety of the residents of South Jersey. Now they are on their way to becoming law. I am proud of what we were able to get done here, and I am going to stay on top of these projects to make sure the work gets done.""

Priorities Secured:

East Point Lighthouse Shore Protection- Expands the ongoing Maurice River dredging study to include shoreline protection for the East Point Lighthouse.

North Wildwood Shore Protection- Expedites the North Wildwood hurricane and storm damage reduction project using Hereford Inlet as the source of sand.

Coastal Storm Risk Management Trust Fund Study- Includes Congressman Van Drew's provision directing a study to create a dedicated funding source for beach projects.

Dam Assessment and Mitigation Support (DAMS) Act- Reauthorizes the National Dam Safety Program through 2031 and includes Congressman Van Drew's DAMS Act provision to strengthen dam safety nationally.

Great Egg Harbor River Watershed Assessment- Adds the Great Egg Harbor River Watershed to the Corps' authorized watershed and river-basin assessment list.

New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway Rerouting- Authorizes a study to reroute the New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway near Ventnor City to solve navigation challenges related to the Dorsett Avenue bridge.

Absecon Island Shoreline Project- Accelerates the Atlantic City hot spot erosion study.

Hot Spot Erosion Program Improvements- Strengthens Congressman Van Drew's program to address hot spot erosion by incorporating nature-based solutions.

High Hazard Potential Dam Prioritization Study- Requires FEMA to study barriers preventing states from prioritizing dam projects with the greatest community benefit.

Beneficial Use of Dredge Materials for Beaches- Requires the Corps to update its regulations to better account for the benefits of using dredged materials for beach nourishment and restoration projects.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415842,"EWTN News article on Smith hearing'Jimmy Lai’s family, advocates press for his release before Xi-Trump meeting'",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Tessa Gervasini

Published September 16m, 2026 at 5:32 PM ET

Family members and advocates of imprisoned Catholic pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai offered urgent pleas for his release ahead of President Xi Jinping’s planned trip to the U.S. to meet with President Donald Trump.

In anticipation of Xi’s visit to Washington on Sept. 24, Sebastien Lai, Jimmy Lai’s son, met with leaders to advocate for his father. He joined a Sept. 16 congressional hearing led by Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey.

“Jimmy Lai is not being imprisoned because he committed any act of violence whatsoever,” Smith, co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, left, holds a congressional hearing with testimony from Sebastien Lai on Sept. 16, 2026, in Washington, D.C. | Credit: Tessa Gervasini/EWTN News

“His son has emphasized that his father has never, never advocated violence. Rather, Jimmy Lai used his voice, his newspaper, and his public platform to support freedom and democracy,” he said.

Smith said he introduced legislation Sept. 16 that would require the State Department to quickly assess any death in custody of a Hong Kong political prisoner and impose sanctions on officials found responsible. He titled the bill the “Jimmy Lai Hong Kong Political Prisoner Accountability Act of 2026.”

At the hearing, Sebastien Lai offered testimony along with Steve Yates, a research fellow on China and national security policy, and Mark Clifford, president of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation.

“I want to thank America, President Trump, who has been a true champion of my father’s, his administration, and the senators and members of both parties whose support has never wavered and only gotten stronger. That is moral courage, and my family does not take it for granted,” Sebastien Lai said.

“By the end of this year my father will have spent six years in a maximum-security prison in solitary. At 78, he is the oldest political prisoner in Hong Kong. With a 20-year sentence looming over him, if he’s not freed soon, he will most likely die in prison,” he said.

“My sister Claire was to testify beside me today. A few weeks ago, she was diagnosed with cancer,” he said.

“I was with her in London last week as she began chemotherapy. My father learned of his own daughter’s diagnosis from a maximum-security prison. He cannot hold her hand. She wants nothing more than to have him with her for this fight,” he said.

Claire Lai, daughter of imprisoned pro-democracy activist Jimmy Lai, discusses her father’s sentencing on “EWTN News Nightly” on Feb. 9, 2026. | Credit: “EWTN News Nightly”/Screenshot

“We hope the Chinese authorities will consider what compassionate release would mean for her, and for a 78-year-old man who has already suffered enough,” he said.

“America understands, in its bones, that freedom dies with the last man willing to defend it and that the cost of not standing up for liberty is not felt until it is too late,” he said.

The appeal to Xi “is simple,"" Sebastien Lai said. “My father poses no threat. His imprisonment makes him a symbol of injustice; his death in prison would be a disgrace. Let Jimmy Lai come home to his family and let him sit beside his daughter in her hardest moment.”

Clifford, of the Washington‑based advocacy group promoting human rights in Hong Kong, spoke on behalf of his friend Jimmy Lai and to remind “people that Jimmy is just one of hundreds of political prisoners being held in often appalling conditions.”

“I’d like to emphasize the release of Jimmy Lai would be something President Trump, Republicans and Democrats, indeed, freedom-loving people around the world would applaud,” Clifford said. “It would be a unifying event at the time when the world really needs it.”

Yates said Jimmy Lai’s case is “a test of character, of Xi Jinping’s leadership, of the president’s relationship with his counterpart, and of whether there remains any credible basis for the assumptions on which American policy toward Hong Kong was long constructed.”

The case is “a litmus test of whether there remains any reason to believe there is a future in Xi Jinping’s China for the kind of man Jimmy Lai is: a child of God, a lover of the real China, and, it may fairly be said, one of China’s greatest entrepreneurs,” Yates said.

Lai’s health ‘is going to get worse’

At a subsequent event, Sebastien Lai spoke at a press conference at Georgetown University about his father.

Trump has previously met with Xi about Jimmy Lai’s case, which did not end with his release, but Sebastian Lai said he does not believe “it is a lost cause.” He said he hopes Trump raises his father’s case “again and again.”

Sebastian Lai detailed his father’s health, which “hasn’t gotten any better” while in solitary confinement.

“He now has heart issues. His nails fall off. His teeth are rotting. During the summer, he bleeds all over his body because [of] his rashes,” he said.

His health was especially worrisome recently because “Hong Kong just had a record summer,” Sebastien Lai said. “The heat traps in there and essentially bakes in itself. So we’re very, very worried.”

Caoilfhionn Gallagher, human rights lawyer and leader of the international legal team representing Jimmy Lai, further laid out the urgency of the case.

“It’s very clear that if someone is detained in solitary confinement for an extended period of time, there is a direct ramification for their mortality,” she said.

“The risk to prisoners detained in solitary confinement is particularly heightened if they’re elderly or diabetic, and Jimmy Lai is both. So this couldn’t be a more urgent and timely discussion,” she said.

Gallagher also noted the broader human rights issues and lack of democracy in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong “has become a place where you can be thrown in prison for singing the wrong song, or not singing the right song, or wearing the wrong T-shirt, printing the wrong newspaper. And I think Jimmy Laiʼs case is hugely important in itself because of who he is,” Gallagher said.

“He’s probably the world’s most famous political prisoner at the moment. His case is hugely important, but we think part of why they’ve gone for Jimmy Lai is because by getting the biggest fish of all, it sends the message to the small fry across Hong Kong,” Gallagher said.

""It makes very clear that their message is keep silent or you’ll be next,” Gallagher said.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-blasts-pairing-unchecked-trump-tariffs-russia-sanctions,Congresswoman Pou Blasts Pairing of Unchecked Trump Tariffs with Russia Sanctions,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,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) tonight blasted sabotage of Ukrainian support by authorizing broad new tariff authorities to President Trump.

“For nearly five years, Ukrainians have fought bravely for their survival, and against all odds, Ukraine is now winning the war. America should be giving Ukraine the necessary support it needs to expel Russia from its borders and end this war of aggression,” said Congresswoman Pou. “I support providing broad aid to Ukraine, strong sanctions against Russia, and the message that Congress stands with Ukraine. Tragically, the substance of this bill does not match the message and this bill wrongly pairs Russian sanctions with giving Donald Trump destructive tariff powers that would go beyond this conflict.

“And for nearly two years, the President has imposed widespread tariffs on allies, yet has waived Russian sanctions and has refused to apply similar tariffs on Russia, despite Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukrainian civilians and its refusal to engage in good-faith peace negotiations.

“Nothing is preventing the President from imposing sanctions on the Russian war machine and he could have imposed harsh sanctions on day one of his administration nearly two years. I call upon him to do that today. To my Ukrainian friends: Americans are with you, and I am with you. Slava Ukraini!” concluded Pou.

Congresswoman Pou’s support for Ukraine

Pou was a cosponsor of a discharge petition that, in June, forced Speaker Johnson to bring H.R. 2913, the Ukraine Support Act, to a vote on the House floor. The legislation – which Pou voted in favor of – would provide fresh funding to Ukraine in its fight for survival and help impose long-sought sanctions on Russia for its cruel and illegal war.

Pou has advocated for the U.S. Department of State to increase funding to assist Ukraine with tracking and returning children abducted by Russia and has repeatedly called on the Department of Homeland Security to uphold legal protections for Ukrainian refugees in the United States. When the Department of Defense announced it would halt munitions shipments to Ukraine last year, Pou joined her colleagues in demanding that the decision be reversed.

Congresswoman Pou is a member of the Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and represents one of the nation’s largest Ukrainian American communities.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/pou-backed-flood-protections-pass-house,Pou-Backed Flood Protections Pass House,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,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), a member of the House’s Water Resources Subcommittee, spoke on the floor of the House in favor of the bipartisan Water Resources Development Act (WRDA). The legislation includes over a dozen priorities Pou championed to help protect North Jersey from flooding and advance critical local water infrastructure projects. The legislation passed the House overwhelmingly, 415-to-9.

The passed legislation includes provisions that will help move long-delayed flood mitigation projects forward, launch new studies, and strengthen protections for communities across North Jersey that have endured repeated flooding.

The bill also incorporates Congresswoman Pou’s bipartisan CLEAN-UP Act, legislation she introduced earlier this year to remove barriers that have stalled environmental remediation projects.

“In our North Jersey communities, flooding is not some distant threat. In just the last few weeks, our communities have seen terrible flash floods turn streets into rivers, destroying homes, cars, and small businesses, and upending lives,” said Congresswoman Pou. “This bill takes action by moving long-delayed flood protection projects forward across Bergen and Passaic Counties. I am especially proud this package includes my bipartisan CLEAN-UP Act. We cannot keep waiting until after disaster strikes to act. We must be proactive and give our communities the tools to protect themselves before the next storm comes.”

Since taking office, Congresswoman Pou has made flood mitigation one of her key priorities in Congress.

Earlier this year, she introduced the CLEAN-UP Act to remove barriers delaying Army Corps projects and authored the Water Crisis Prevention Act to improve the federal response to infrastructure failures. During the Surface Transportation Reauthorization mark-up, Pou also secured an amendment into the bill that would direct the Government Accountability Office to review Department of Transportation PROTECT grants and produce a report identifying best practices and strategies to prevent flooding, improve safety, and strengthen infrastructure resilience.

Additionally, the annual spending bill for FY2026 included $500,000 in federal funds supported by Pou to improve the Lower Saddle River channel.

The House’s passage of the Water Resources Development Act builds on that record and represents another significant step toward delivering long-awaited relief for communities living with chronic flooding.

###",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/reps-thanedar-watson-coleman-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-ice-reporting-standards,"Reps. Thanedar, Watson Coleman Introduce Legislation to Strengthen ICE Reporting Standards",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Bonnie Watson Coleman,W000822,watsoncoleman.house.gov,watsoncoleman,https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Yesterday, Representative Shri Thanedar (MI-13) and Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced the No ICE Deaths in the Dark Act, comprehensive legislation that will ensure that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) reports quickly and transparently on any deaths that occur in ICE custody. In a reversal from previous policy, ICE is no longer required to report certain deaths that occur within 30 days after release from custody, even when ICE detention or release conditions may have contributed to the death. This legislation would codify Biden-era reporting rules that required full reporting on these and all other deaths in ICE custody.

“Since President Trump took office, ICE has gotten out of control, detaining a record number of Americans in horrific conditions,” said Thanedar. “It is beyond unacceptable that detainees are dying in custody and ICE is refusing to report their deaths. I’m proud to introduce this necessary legislation with Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman to ensure ICE finally acts with the transparency the American people deserve and to protect the lives of those in detention centers.”

“ICE has had free reign to attack people in front of cameras, so it’s imperative we demand to see what is going on behind closed doors,” said Watson Coleman. “Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, one of my constituents, was denied medical care and died in ICE custody. How many other detainees have suffered from medical neglect while in custody, only to die once released? These people deserve justice too.”

This legislation is co-sponsored by Representatives Steve Cohen (TN-09), Herb Conaway (NJ-03), Jasmine Crockett (TX-30), Danny K. Davis (IL-07), Veronica Escobar (TX-16), Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia (IL-04), Dan Goldman (NY-10), Al Green (TX-09), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Betty McCollum (MN-04), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC-At Large), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Bennie G. Thompson (MS-02), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Mike Quigley (IL-05). It has also been endorsed by the following organizations: Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Coalition on Human Needs, Emgage Action, ICE Out of NJ Collective, Make the Road NJ, New Jersey Alliance for Immigrant Justice, Public Citizen, and the Vera Institute of Justice.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415828,Hyde Amendment violations & transparency failures revealedNew GAO report: Taxpayers bankrolled Obamacare health insurance plans covering elective abortions for 4.4 million individuals in 2026,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"A new report from the U.S. government’s nonpartisan watchdog agency revealed that federal taxpayers subsidized 1,719 Affordable Care Act (ACA) Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) that covered elective abortions for an estimated 4.4 million individuals this year alone. The report also showed that 683 more abortion-covering QHPs were available through the ACA than when GAO issued a similar brief in 2014.

The recent report, compiled by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), was requested by House and Senate majority leadership, Co-Chairs of the House and Senate Congressional Pro-Life Caucus and Values Action Teams, and Chairmen of the House and Senate Committees of jurisdiction.

Upon the release of the report—first reported by The Daily Wire—Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Chairman of the House Values Action Team (VAT), issued the following statement:

“For far too long, pro-life Americans have been deceived by the ACA and strongarmed into paying for health plans that do not respect the sanctity of life. American taxpayers deserve complete transparency and truthfulness as to where their hard-earned dollars are going—and under the ACA as it currently stands, that’s just not possible.

“Today’s GAO report confirms the very concerns that Republicans have raised for over fifteen years: the ACA fails to apply the longstanding and bipartisan Hyde Amendment law, which protects taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, both directly and through federal health plans.

“The ACA allows premium tax credits to be directed towards health insurance coverage that includes elective abortion. Federal taxpayer dollars—even from individuals living in pro-life states—are subsidizing plans that include elective abortion coverage for over 4.4 million people.

“The report also found that some insurance issuers failed to comply with the ACA’s consumer transparency provision, which requires plans to prominently disclose abortion coverage.

“As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment on September 30th—which is estimated to have saved the lives of over 2.6 million children (about 60,000 lives per year)—we renew the call to enforce this critical, lifesaving protection within the ACA without further delay. Taxpayers should not be forced to subsidize plans that cover the elective killing of an unborn child by dismemberment or baby poison pills.

“Moreover, until Congress can pass legislation requiring full Hyde protections for all ACA plans, we urge the Trump Administration to reissue the Exchange Program Integrity Final Rule to ensure that consumers understand whether a plan subsidizes elective abortion.”

Members of Congress who signed the GAO request letter: House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA); Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD); House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA); Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso, M.D. (R-WY); House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-MN); House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI); House Pro-Life Caucus Co-Chairs: Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Andy Harris, M.D. (R-MD), Rep. Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL), Rep. Bob Onder (R-MO); Senate Pro-Life Caucus Chairwoman Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS); House Values Action Team Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-AL); Senate Values Action Team Chairman James Lankford (R-OK); Senate Finance Committee Chairman Mike Crapo (R-ID); Senate HELP Committee Chairman Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA); House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Brett Guthrie (R-KY); and House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Jason Smith (R-MO).

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415829,"The Daily Wire exclusive article on Smith-requested report'EXCLUSIVE: Obamacare Plans Use Taxpayer Dollars For Abortions, Watchdog Finds'",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Mary Margaret Olohan

Published September 15, 2026

WASHINGTON—A nonpartisan federal watchdog on Tuesday revealed that Obamacare subsidizes abortions, upending a longtime Democrat talking point, The Daily Wire can first report.

Nearly a third of Affordable Care Act plans cover abortions, the Government Accountability Office found. Of the 6,655 qualified health plans offered on Obamacare exchanges, 1,719 cover “non-excepted abortion services,” meaning elective abortions that are not the result of rape, incest, or danger to the mother’s life. States that have banned abortion prohibit exchange plans from covering these services.

About 4.4 million Americans are enrolled in Obamacare plans that cover abortions, the report found.

(Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU / AFP) (Photo by CHARLY TRIBALLEAU/AFP via Getty Images)

“As a strong defender of life, I find the results of today’s GAO report deeply concerning,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told The Daily Wire. “American taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize elective abortions in violation of the longstanding Hyde Amendment.”

Republicans have long said that the Hyde Amendment — which bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortions except in cases where the unborn baby is conceived through rape or incest, or when the mother’s life is in danger — should apply to Obamacare plans. Critics say that Democrats have misled the public about when Obamacare plans are subject to Hyde rules.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. John Thune (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

“Today’s GAO report confirms the very concerns that Republicans have raised for over fifteen years,” New Jersey Congressman Chris Smith told The Daily Wire. “The ACA fails to apply the longstanding and bipartisan Hyde Amendment law, which protects taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, both directly and through federal health plans.”

Earlier this year, some Republicans pushed back strongly when President Donald Trump suggested that they should be flexible on the Hyde Amendment. Smith, who leads the congressional Pro-Life Caucus, is urging the president to sound the alarm over Obamacare coverage of abortion unless and until Congress can pass legislation that mandates full Hyde protections for all ACA plans.

“American taxpayers deserve complete transparency and truthfulness as to where their hard-earned dollars are going — and under the ACA as it currently stands, that’s just not possible,” Smith said.

Smith is calling on President Trump to reissue the Exchange Program Integrity Final Rule, which would ensure that “consumers understand whether a plan subsidizes elective abortion.” The congressman argues that Democrats have for years deceived pro-life Americans for years about whether ACA plans cover abortions, and that, as a result, Obamacare has “strong-armed” Americans into “paying for health plans that do not respect the sanctity of life.”

“The ACA allows premium tax credits to be directed towards health insurance coverage that includes elective abortion,” Smith says. “Federal taxpayer dollars — even from individuals living in pro-life states — are subsidizing plans that include elective abortion coverage for over 4.4 million people. The report also found that some insurance issuers failed to comply with the ACA’s consumer transparency provision, which requires plans to prominently disclose abortion coverage.”

Several pieces of legislation floating around Capitol Hill could subject Obamacare plans to the Hyde Amendment, a Senate aide told The Daily Wire. One is the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, which would codify Hyde across the federal government. That legislation is led by Smith in the House of Representatives and Roger Wicker in the Senate, with 125 cosponsors in the House and 50 cosponsors in the Senate.

Republican leadership under Senator Mitch McConnell first requested that the GAO review Obamacare’s coverage of abortion in 2014. A 2014 report found that 1,036 qualified health plans in 28 states covered abortions, while 1,062 did not. The 2026 report found that 1,719 of 6,655 qualified health plans in the 50 states and the District of Columbia covered abortions.

“As we approach the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment on September 30th,” Smith said, “we renew the call to enforce this critical, lifesaving protection within the ACA without further delay.”",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415830,Washington Examiner article on Smith-requested report'GAO finds millions of Obamacare enrollees have abortions covered',2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Rena Rowe

Published September 15, 2026 1:32pm ET

A new report from the Government Accountability Office found that federal premium tax credits have helped subsidize Affordable Care Act health plans that cover abortions for millions of enrollees this year.

The GAO found that 1,719 of the 6,655 ACA plans available nationwide in 2026, or roughly 26%, covered abortions. Those plans covered an estimated 4.4 million people.

That is an increase of 683 plans from the number GAO found in a similar review in 2014. The availability of abortion coverage varied widely by state, largely because of varied state abortion laws.

The findings come as Congress approaches the 50th anniversary of the Hyde Amendment, a long-standing federal policy that bars federal funds from being used to pay for abortions, with exceptions for pregnancies resulting from rape or incest and cases in which the woman’s life is endangered. But Obamacare is not funded annually through the appropriations process, so it is not required to follow the rules of the Hyde Amendment.

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, and Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), chairman of the House Values Action Team, said the report shows Obamacare does not provide the same Hyde protections to marketplace plans as those that apply to other federal programs.

“The ACA allows premium tax credits to be directed towards health insurance coverage that includes elective abortion,” the lawmakers said, calling for stronger Hyde protections and greater transparency about abortion coverage.

Smith has also called on the Trump administration to take action on abortion coverage in Obamacare plans until Congress passes legislation extending Hyde protections to those plans.

“Today’s GAO report confirms the very concerns that Republicans have raised for over fifteen years: the ACA fails to apply the longstanding and bipartisan Hyde Amendment law, which protects taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, both directly and through federal health plans,” the lawmakers said.

The findings come after Trump drew criticism from some Republicans earlier this year when he suggested lawmakers should be willing to be flexible on the Hyde Amendment. He has frequently sparred with his right flank on the issue, on which he is more moderate than most Republicans.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/statement-gottheimer-says-third-party-audits-alone-dont-meet-the-moment,STATEMENT: Gottheimer Says Third-Party Audits Alone Don’t Meet the Moment,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, September 15, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) released the following statement:

“Handing independent auditors the job of protecting America’s national security just won’t cut it and certainly doesn’t meet the moment. With our cybersecurity, biosecurity, critical infrastructure, and national security on the line, every AI developer should have to submit their frontier models to the U.S. government for a shot-clocked review before they release them to the public. It can’t only be voluntary, and we can’t rely on third-party organizations that don’t have the compute power, expertise, or security clearances to actually test and assess these models effectively. When AI developers cheer on the framework meant to hold these companies accountable, it should raise red flags, not confidence.”

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-hosts-fourth-annual-seniors-distinction-event,Kean Hosts Fourth Annual Seniors of Distinction Event,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 15, 2026) BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Last week, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) hosted his fourth annual Seniors of Distinction event at the Bridgewater Township Senior Center to honor the outstanding seniors of New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District.

This year, Congressman Kean celebrated 24 seniors representing all six counties within New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. Each honoree was nominated by their friends, families, or local officials in recognition of their exceptional service and dedication to others. The Seniors of Distinction were selected for their long history of giving back to their communities.

“The people we recognize today represent what is best about our communities,” said Congressman Kean. “They have spent years giving their time, sharing their experience, helping their neighbors, and strengthening their hometowns. So much of what makes a community strong comes from people who simply choose, day after day, to show up for others. It is a privilege to recognize these extraordinary New Jerseyans and to thank them for the example they continue to set for all of us.”

“I want to thank Congressman Kean for being here and for holding this event,” said 2026 Honoree Gloria Padgett. “It was great getting to know the people here and hearing about their volunteering. They are doing wonderful things for their communities, and when you give to people, it deserves to be recognized.”

“I want to thank Congressman Kean for hosting the Seniors of Distinction event and for his advocacy, which has made a real, measurable difference in our district,” said Bernard Rosario. “For working families and seniors on fixed incomes in a high-property-tax state like New Jersey, the SALT deduction that Congressman Kean fought is often the difference between being able to afford to stay in the home and community we have spent our lives in or being forced to relocate out of state in retirement. Thank you, Congressman Kean, for your continued dedication to NJ-07 and for fighting for policies that keep our community strong and allow our working families and seniors to stay where they belong.”

The 2026 Seniors of Distinction Honorees:

Hunterdon County:

James Barile(Raritan Township) - “Big Jim” has made a lasting impact on the Flemington Area Food Pantry, dedicating every Tuesday for the past nine years to leading volunteers, serving neighbors, and caring for the Pantry inside and out. Most meaningfully, Jim supports volunteers with special needs by treating them with respect and guidance, helping them develop new skills and confidence, making them irreplaceable members of the Pantry family.

Nancy Chobin (Lebanon) - Nancy has dedicated more than four decades to healthcare, advancing safe surgical instrument processing, infection prevention, sterilization, and patient safety through leadership, education, and published resources. She has also shared her expertise as a volunteer with national healthcare organizations and Hunterdon Medical Center, helping establish best practices and supporting the development of its new Sterile Processing Department.

Robert Ent (Stockton Borough) - Bob and his family represent four generations of service to Stockton, with him helping manage the Borough’s water and sewer systems for decades with expertise and dedication. A U.S. Army veteran, Bob has also served as a first responder for the water system and built a respected surveying career, training countless surveyors and taking on challenging projects throughout New Jersey.

Mary Elizabeth Lawler (Three Bridges) - Mary has dedicated decades to Mary, Mother of God Church in Hillsborough, where her work with the Altar Rosary Society and Adopt-a-Senior program has become a true calling to serve older adults. She brings the Eucharist and Sunday services to the homebound, regularly visits nursing home residents, delivers holiday and birthday gifts, and advocates for seniors while recruiting others to join her mission of ensuring they feel seen, valued, and cared for.

Gloria Padgett (Frenchtown) - Gloria has made a lasting impact on the Hillsborough Township community through nearly three decades of leadership, mentorship, and service to older adults, including 30 years as the Township’s Senior Line Dance instructor. By adapting routines to different abilities and encouraging dancers to perform throughout the area, Gloria promotes inclusion, confidence, and the message that aging can be a time of purpose, creativity, joy, and service.

Rosemarie Platt (Clinton) - Rosemarie has dedicated herself to preserving and celebrating Clinton’s history, serving as Chair of both the Town of Clinton Historic Preservation Commission and Historical Society while volunteering at the Red Mill and helping bring the annual Haunted Red Mill tradition to life. As a local Realtor, she also shares her passion for Clinton by helping families find homes and become part of the community, reflecting her commitment to giving back through both her civic and professional roles.

Irene Stoller (Whitehouse Station) - After retiring from a career in pharmaceuticals, Irene dedicated herself to serving others through Literacy Volunteers of America, United Way, Girl Scouts, the Clinton library, a community garden, a local food bank, and countless handmade donations for those in need. Irene continues to volunteer weekly with United Way and recently completed training to serve at Hunterdon Medical Center, demonstrating an extraordinary lifelong commitment to helping her community.

Morris County:

Kevin Franken, Sr. (Long Hill) - Kevin has revitalized the Long Hill Township Senior Center through expanded programming, modernized operations, improved facilities, and advocacy for services such as senior transportation. He has also provided hands-on assistance with tax preparation and senior tax relief programs while volunteering as Financial Secretary and Treasurer of the Ancient Order of the Hibernians in Morris County.

Robert Grignon (Budd Lake) - Robert dedicated an extraordinary 48 years of service to Mount Olive Township, earning recognition as the township’s first-ever Employee of the Month in 2000 and Employee of the Year in 2001. Beyond his professional service, Robert has also given back as a volunteer with the Budd Lake Fire Department, demonstrating a lifelong commitment to protecting and strengthening his community.

Gary Grimm (Flanders) - Gary is a longtime member of the First Congregational Church of Chester, where he has become a vital part of the church family and a hero to many who have needed his help. His acts of quiet generosity have extended throughout the church community, including getting a member’s car fixed and paid for without being asked. Gary bravely served our country during the Vietnam War and was the recipient of a Purple Heart medal for his service.

Carmine Salzano (Flanders) - Carmine has dedicated more than two decades to serving Mount Olive Township, beginning his township career in 2002 after successfully owning and operating his own landscaping company for 17 years. Known for his kindness, reliability, and genuine care for both township residents and fellow employees, Carmine has earned recognition as a valued and respected member of the township team.

Somerset County:

John Orfan (Basking Ridge) - John has dedicated more than three decades to the Bernardsville Fire Company No. 1 & First Aid Squad, serving in every available leadership role and earning multiple EMT of the Year honors while responding to major local emergencies. A longtime first responder and 9/11 response volunteer, John continues to be recognized by his colleagues as an EMS “Captain Emeritus” for his extensive experience and unwavering commitment to his community.

Bernard Rosario (Branchburg) - Bernie has dedicated years to supporting local organizations by generously sharing his photography and videography talents, from Scouting and school activities to serving as Chair of the Branchburg Communications Committee. He also photographs for the Meghan Rose Bradley Pediatric Brain Cancer Foundation and volunteers at the St. Ann’s Fest Pizzelle Tent, demonstrating his commitment to giving back in many ways.

William Sundburg (Warren) - Mr. Sundburg has dedicated years to serving Warren Township’s senior community, including eight years as a member and President of the Warren Seniors Club and his current role as Chairman of the Senior Advisory Committee, where he has encouraged greater participation among younger seniors. He has strengthened senior programs and leadership while helping recruit new board members, and his commitment to the broader community also includes 13 years of service with the Warren Township Rescue Squad.

Sussex County:

Mary Butt (Hopatcong) - Mary has dedicated her life to serving others, including more than 40 years at St. Clare’s Hospital while also volunteering as a Scout leader and CCD teacher. She continues to give back through her church and community organizations, serving as a Eucharistic Minister, Bingo organizer, fundraiser, and treasurer, and was recently named Hopatcong’s 2026 Female Senior of the Year.

Alfred Zotynia (Stanhope) - Al, known as the “energizer bunny” of Hopatcong Seniors Inc., has spent decades serving his community through countless acts of volunteerism, from organizing events and helping with transportation to improving accessibility at the seniors’ meeting space. A U.S. Army National Guard veteran, Al also supports St. Jude’s Church and neighbors in need and was recently named Hopatcong’s 2026 Male Senior of the Year.

Union County:

Peggy Cowan (Fanwood) - Peggy founded and serves as President of the New Jersey Physicians Advisory Group, a nonprofit dedicated to helping students in grades 8–12 make healthy, informed life decisions, and she has never taken a salary so that resources can remain focused on its mission. Under her leadership, the organization has reached more than 40,000 students across New Jersey, while the curriculum she created has been adopted by more than 225 schools in 25 states, reflecting her extraordinary commitment to empowering young people.

Ruth Goense(Mountainside) - Ruth has dedicated her life to community service, volunteering as a Sunday school teacher, coach, ministry leader, and through organizations including the Foothill Club, Woman’s Club, Garden Club, and Mountainside Active Retirees. An art teacher and founding member of the Mountainside Preservation Committee, Ruth helped preserve and relocate two historic homes while raising funds to support these important community efforts.

Teddy Grossi (Mountainside) - Teddy Grossi has devoted his life to service, from serving in the U.S. Army during World War II and the Korean War to leading the Bricklayers’ Union, where he helped organize skilled volunteers for community projects including local 9/11 memorials. A longtime Mountainside resident, recent cancer survivor, and devoted family man, Teddy is admired for his generosity, faith, passion for cooking, and commitment to his community, and was honored with the Union’s Craft Award in 1995.

Michael Pozyc (Clark) - Mike has spent more than two decades supporting young Clark athletes, volunteering with Clark Travel Basketball as well as Clark Baseball and Softball in countless behind-the-scenes and hands-on roles. His dedication to organizing tournaments, breakfasts, registrations, equipment, games, and concessions has helped generations of local boys and girls enjoy positive and memorable youth sports experiences.

Patricia Roman (Clark) - Pat has turned a deeply personal family experience into more than 25 years of dedicated service to individuals living with mental illness and their families through NAMI Union County, helping build the organization and serving in numerous leadership roles. Her legacy includes creating the Traci Roman Enrichment Scholarship and organizing the first Rally for Recovery, helping reduce stigma and provide support to countless individuals and families throughout Union County.

Henry Varriano (Clark) - Henry has dedicated decades to serving the Clark community, including more than 20 years on the Township Board of Education, where he advocated for music, arts, and extracurricular programs and helped restore the high school marching band. A founding member and longtime leader of Clark UNICO, Henry also established the annual Columbus Day Essay Contest and has generously supported the Clark Public Library through financial contributions, artwork, and community displays.

Warren County:

Candace Church (Hackettstown) - Candy has dedicated her time and talents to mentoring youth through the Rutgers Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program, preserving local history, improving community spaces, and bringing people together through Mahjong. For 14 years, she has provided hands-on support to preserve Rutherfurd Hall while also serving her church and local senior organizations and spearheading the creation of a community playground, walking trail, and dog park in Allamuchy Township.

Ann LaPadula (Hackettstown) - Ann has dedicated more than 15 years to volunteer service in Allamuchy, supporting the Allamuchy Senior Citizens Club, Friends of Rutherfurd Hall, and numerous township and community events. Known for her tireless behind-the-scenes work, leadership, and willingness to help wherever needed, she has contributed to senior programs, historic preservation, fundraisers, family events, cleanups, and holiday activities. Her commitment has earned her induction into the Hackettstown Area Senior Hall of Fame and recognition as the Mary Louise Christine Outstanding Senior of Warren County.

Back Row: Bernard Rosario, Robert Ent, Kevin Franken, Sr., Congressman Tom Kean, Jr., Alfred Zotynia, James Barile, John Orfan, Michael Pozyc, Nancy Chobin, Frank Manuella (for Patricia Roman), and Teddy Grossi

Front Row: Ann LaPadula, Candace Church, Henry Varriano, Gloria Padgett, and Mary Butt

View additional photos from the event HERE.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases/co-chairs-of-defend-the-14th-amendment-task-force-introduce-resolution-to-protect-voting-rights-and-defend-free-and-fair-elections,Co-Chairs of Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force Introduce Resolution to Protect Voting Rights and Defend Free and Fair Elections,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Analilia Mejia,M001246,mejia.house.gov,mejia,https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Co-Chairs of the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force, Representatives Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Emanuel Cleaver (MO-05), Emily Randall (WA-06), and Suhas Subramanyam (VA-10), today introduced a resolution reaffirming the House of Representatives’ commitment to enforcing the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments and protecting every eligible American’s right to vote.

The resolution comes as fundamental voting-rights protections face growing threats, including efforts to deploy armed federal or immigration enforcement personnel at or near polling places, impose documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements for voter registration, compile sensitive voter registration information into a national database, and use executive authority to interfere with election administration. In response, the resolution condemns voter intimidation and suppression, opposes efforts to restrict access to the ballot, and calls for protecting every eligible voter’s ability to cast their ballot free from fear.

The resolution also calls for restoring federal voting rights protections weakened by recent Supreme Court decisions, including the preclearance protections struck down in Shelby County v. Holder and protections under Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act weakened by Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee and Louisiana v. Callais. It supports legislation including the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the Protect Our Polls Act, and the Protecting Our Democracy Act.

“The right to vote is the foundation of our democracy, and that foundation is under attack. We are witnessing a coordinated assault on the people’s power to choose their leaders: voter intimidation, barriers to the ballot, the weaponization of voter data, and threats of federal interference at the polls,” said the Defend the 14th Amendment Task Force members. “The Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were born out of a struggle to make our democracy more inclusive and more representative. Generations of Americans fought, marched, organized, and sacrificed to secure the right to participate fully in our democracy. We will not allow the rights they secured to be dismantled, and we will defend the right of every eligible voter to cast their ballot freely, safely, and without fear.”

The resolution is endorsed by Popular Democracy.

“The Fourteenth Amendment is where this country finally cemented into our Constitution the promise that citizenship, equal protection and the rights of this country belong to all of us. That promise is at the heart of so many of the fights we face today, from voting rights and immigrant rights to equal protection under the law. Defending the 14th must be central to the fight for a multiracial democracy because these fights are all connected. At a moment when those fundamental protections are being chipped away, defending them requires a coordinated and sustained movement at every level. This resolution meets this moment by putting Congress on record and making clear that defending the 14th and 15th Amendments, and their promise of equal protection, due process and the right to vote for all, must be at the heart of our fight to protect our democracy and our fundamental rights,” said DaMareo Cooper, Executive Director, Popular Democracy.

Read the full resolution text here.

###",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-applauds-major-passaic-river-cleanup-milestone-following-pressure-on-epa-and-doj,Menendez Applauds Major Passaic River Cleanup Milestone Following Pressure on EPA and DOJ,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Robert Menendez,M001226,menendez.house.gov,menendez,https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Rob Menendez released the following statement after a proposed $125,000,000 settlement agreement was reached by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) and the Department of Justice (“DOJ”) in the long-overdue cleanup of the Passaic River.

“The Passaic River cleanup agreement is a necessary step forward for families in Newark and our neighboring communities who have borne the brunt of toxic pollution for far too long,” said Congressman Menendez. “We demanded action from the EPA and DOJ to protect our residents, and we fought alongside dedicated community advocates to get our residents long overdue progress. I will not stop fighting until the Passaic River is fully cleaned up, our families’ health is protected, and environmental justice is served.”

The proposed consent decree comes after Congressman Menendez led an effort with Congresswomen LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) and Nellie Pou (NJ-09) urging EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin and former Attorney General Pam Bondi to hold polluters accountable, accelerate the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, and protect the health and well-being of New Jerseyans.

The Diamond Alkali Superfund Site was added to the National Priorities List in 1984, but the complex cleanup remains incomplete. The Passaic River continues to suffer from the impact of industrial waste, including dioxins discharged during the Vietnam War-era production of Agent Orange.

This new proposed agreement will support the next phase of the cleanup and ensure that liable polluters pay for the restoration, not taxpayers.

Congressman Rob Menendez has represented New Jersey’s Eighth Congressional District since 2023. He serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, including the Subcommittees on Environment, Energy, and Communications and Technology.",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2092,Congressman Van Drew Chairs Hearing on New Jersey Voter Roll Scandal,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew, Chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Oversight, held a hearing examining how 6,600 people who indicated they were not U.S. citizens were improperly registered to vote in New Jersey, with almost 400 later casting votes.

""The part that should make every person in New Jersey angry is that the state knew there was a problem in June of 2024 and did not tell the public what happened until two years later,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""How do thousands of noncitizens get registered, hundreds vote, and nobody thinks the people of New Jersey deserve to know? Now we are asking questions to find out exactly what went wrong, and we have been met with resistance from the state every step of the way. That is why I chaired this hearing today. Elections can come down to one vote, so yes, we are going to keep asking questions to make sure that it is only Americans voting in American elections.""",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415832,"National Review article on Smith-requested report'One in Four Obamacare Plans Cover Elective Abortions Despite Hyde Amendment Restrictions, GAO Finds'",2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Kamden Mulder

Published September 15, 2026 5:42 PM

Twenty-six percent of Obamacare exchange plans cover elective abortions, even as the Hyde Amendment prohibits federal funds from being used to pay for such procedures, according to a new Government Accountability Office report.

The Hyde Amendment only allows federal money to be used to pay for abortions under limited circumstances: when the life of the mother is at risk, or when the pregnancy is the product of rape or incest. But the GAO report found one in four Affordable Care Act plans cover “non-excepted abortion services.” Of the 6,655 Obamacare plans on the market, 1,719 cover abortions outside of the federal exceptions.

Pro-life advocates have long voiced concerns about how the Hyde Amendment applies to Obamacare insurance plans and how effectively it prohibits taxpayer-subsidized insurance coverage from including abortion.

Affordable Care Act forms in 2013(Jonathan Bachman/Reuters)

“Obamacare was the largest expansion of taxpayer-funded abortion in American history after Roe v. Wade. Tax dollars have paid for the violent deaths of countless babies, in an end run around the longstanding protections of the Hyde Amendment. Democrats’ gaslighting is inexcusable,” SBA Pro-Life America President Marjorie Dannenfelser said in a statement. “While the Hyde Amendment has saved nearly 2.7 million lives in its 50-year existence, Obamacare is a glaring exception.”

Representatives Chris Smith (R., N.J.) and Robert Aderholt (R., Ala.) similarly said the report “confirms the very concerns that Republicans have raised for over fifteen years: the ACA fails to apply the longstanding and bipartisan Hyde Amendment law, which protects taxpayer dollars from funding abortion, both directly and through federal health plans.”

“The ACA allows premium tax credits to be directed towards health insurance coverage that includes elective abortion,” the pair added in a joint statement. “Federal taxpayer dollars—even from individuals living in pro-life states—are subsidizing plans that include elective abortion coverage for over 4.4 million people.”

Ultimately, about 4.4 million Americans have Obamacare exchange plans that cover non-excepted abortion services, out of about 19 million Americans enrolled, according to the report. The fourteen states that prohibit abortion coverage under ACA plans, however, do not allow these plans to cover non-excepted abortions.

According to the report, “analysis of state laws and CMS data shows that QHPs [qualified health plans] in 19 states provided non-excepted abortion services as a covered benefit.”

Abortion remains a long term battle in Congress, regardless of the overturning of Roe v. Wade back in 2022. Previously, under the One Big Beautiful Bill, Medicaid payments were blocked from groups like Planned Parenthood. But the ban expired after one year and Planned Parenthood regained access to federal Medicaid reimbursement in July.

It remains unclear if the ban will be reinstated.

“As a strong defender of life, I find the results of today’s GAO report deeply concerning,” Senate Majority Leader John Thune told the Daily Wire, in light of the recent report. “American taxpayer dollars should not be used to subsidize elective abortions in violation of the longstanding Hyde Amendment.”

A January 2025 Marist/Knights of Columbus poll found a majority of Americans oppose public funds being spent on abortion.

“Pro-life voices warned from the start that its sham ‘accounting gimmick’ was a ruse to get pro-life holdouts’ votes,” Dannenfelser said. “We must always fight to protect unborn children and their mothers and keep American taxpayers entirely out of Big Abortion’s brutal business.”

This article was published on September 15, 2026 and can be found online at:",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z
https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-introduces-bill-to-support-veteran-owned-small-businesses-mciver-introduces-bill-to-support-veteran-owned-small-businesses,McIver Introduces Bill To Support Veteran-Owned Small Businesses,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,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 Ensuring SBA Implementation of GAO Recommendations Act of 2026. This bill would require the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Veteran Business Development (OVBD) to establish procedures to comply with existing reporting requirements on veteran-owned small businesses. The bill would strengthen SBA support for veteran entrepreneurs by requiring the SBA to report on ways to improve veteran-owned small businesses' access in areas such as federal contracting and programing.

“This bill does the important work of supporting veteran entrepreneurs in creating, maintaining, and growing their businesses,” said McIver. “Veterans are essential members of our communities and their work deserves to be lifted. Making sure the proper procedures are in place to support them allows for our small businesses and communities to thrive.”

Currently, the SBA provides entrepreneurial training and education through Veterans Business Outreach Centers (VBOCs). However, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) found that the SBA lacked procedures for submitting the required annual report on veteran-owned small businesses and had not complied in recent years. By developing procedures to ensure compliance with reporting requirements, the SBA and Congress will have better information to serve America’s hardworking veteran-owned businesses.

The full text of the Ensuring SBA Implementation of GAO Recommendations Act of 2026 can be found here.

###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/icymi-as-ai-advances-gottheimer-leads-bipartisan-charge-to-put-up-immediate-guardrails,"ICYMI: As AI Advances, Gottheimer Leads Bipartisan Charge to Put Up Immediate Guardrails ",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Led an Extensive Series of AI Bipartisan Bills

Calls on Republican Leadership to Stop Delaying & Take Real Action

WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the House AI Commission, has led an extensive series of bipartisan bills this Congress to put up immediate guardrails to keep pace with the rapid rise of AI. Teaming up with Republican and Democratic colleagues alike, Gottheimer’s bills tackle current issues from rogue AI agents and cybersecurity to commonsense consumer and child protections to AI digital literacy. Unfortunately, Republican leadership has refused to directly bring any of these critical pieces of legislation to the floor for a vote.

“AI is moving lightning fast, and Washington needs to keep up. This isn’t about losing this race to our adversaries. It’s about winning the right way, in a way that protects our children, families, and country. We need mandatory, commonsense guardrails and clear rules of the road, so that we innovate safely,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Over the last year, we have introduced a series of bipartisan bills that will both protect our families and national security, and ensure we can seize upon the opportunities ahead of us. I’m calling on Republican leadership to immediately bring these critical, bipartisan bills to the floor. We should not go home until we take action.”

Gottheimer’s Bipartisan AI Bills",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-following-labor-day-gottheimer-hosts-roundtable-with-local-labor-leaders,"PHOTO RELEASE: Following Labor Day, Gottheimer Hosts Roundtable with Local Labor Leaders",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer meeting with North Jersey labor leaders.

PARAMUS, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) hosted a roundtable with North Jersey labor leaders to discuss his ongoing work to help create jobs, lower costs, and support the hard-working men and women of labor. The roundtable was held at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 164.

Gottheimer and North Jersey labor leaders discussed affordability, future of AI, next generation of workers, health care costs, rising taxes, and Gottheimer’s continued work in Washington to support Jersey families.

Watch video from his event here.

“I’m proud to stand with North Jersey and our hardworking families,” said Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Labor unions helped build this state, this country, and create the most competitive workforce in the world. I’ll keep fighting in Washington for better wages, safer working conditions, more job opportunities, and the dignity and respect every worker has earned.”

Gottheimer fighting to support Jersey’s workforce:

Gottheimer helped write, negotiate, and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, delivering more than $10 billion to fix Jersey’s crumbling roads and bridges and creating hundreds of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs — all without increasing the tax burden on our families.

Gottheimer also fought hard for strong Davis-Bacon protections in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, ensuring that unions can compete for infrastructure contracts and that workers are well-paid.

Gottheimer voted against the One Big Beautiful Bill to protect tens of thousands of good-paying union jobs.

As Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus, Gottheimer introduced and is fighting to pass the Invest to Protect Act, which makes critical, targeted investments in our local police departments.

Gottheimer has announced the Fight Fires and Fight Cancer Act to stop extremists from recklessly slashing programs that support firefighters’ safety, training, and health care.

Gottheimer introduced and is fighting to pass the bipartisan FIRE Cancer Act to provide federal investments so that all firefighters across America — whether volunteer or professional — can get access to preventative tests, including multi-cancer early detection tests.

As Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, Gottheimer helped get the Social Security Fairness Act signed into law to ensure workers can get their full public sector pension and Social Security benefits.

Gottheimer helped introduce the bicameral FAMILY Act to guarantee up to 12 weeks of paid leave for workers who have to take leave for serious medical and family events.

Gottheimer helped introduce the Protect America’s Workforce Act, which reverses an Executive Order from the current Administration that would eliminate collective bargaining rights across multiple federal agencies.

Gottheimer supports the Faster Labor Contracts Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that will speed up the collective bargaining process for newly unionized workers and their employers.

Gottheimer helped introduce the bicameral Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act, which guarantees the right of public service employees to organize and bargain collectively, regardless of state law.

Gottheimer helped introduce the Tax Fairness for Workers Act, which allows union members to deduct their dues from their taxes.

As Co-Chair of the House Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy, Gottheimer introduced and is fighting for the bipartisan AI Workforce Training Act to help American workers and businesses prepare for the rapid integration of artificial intelligence across the economy.

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Commissioner and IBEW Local 164 President Tom Sullivan; Park Ridge Mayor and IBEW Local 164 Business Agent Keith Misciagna; IBEW Local 164 Business Agent Victor Docherty; IBEW Local 164 Business Agent Vincent Colucci; Professional Firerfighters Association of New Jersey Labor Vice President Dave Hines; New Jersey Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association Labor Chair Jason Kurdyla; NJEA President Steve Beatty; NJEA-Bergen County Education Association President Sue McBride; NJEA-Sussex County Education Association President Angela DeLuccia; NJEA-Passaic County Education Association President Rob Sarti; Bergen County Central Labor Council President Andrew Mattson; Passaic County Central Labor Council and IBEW 827 President Tom Kelly; Passaic County Central Labor Council and IBEW 827 Political Director Pat Glover; Port Authority Police Lieutenants Benevolent Association President James Griglio; Port Authority Police Lieutenants Benevolent Association 2nd Vice President Matthew Reheis; State Troopers NCO Association President Daniel Oliveira; State Troopers Fraternal Association President Wayne Blanchard; State Troopers Fraternal Association Trooper Michael Basti; Teamsters Local 560 President and Principal Officer Joseph DiPalma; Teamsters Local 560 Vice President Joe DiLeo; Teamsters Joint Council Local 73 and Local 863 President Al Rispoli; Teamsters Local 127 President and Principal Officer Paxton Ryan; Health Professionals and Allied Employees Vice President Barbara Rosen, RN; Health Professionals and Allied Employees Executive Director Chris Whalen; Operating Engineers Local 825 Community Affairs Director Daniel Ortega; Operating Engineers Local 825 Business Representative John Alvarado; Ironworkers Local 11 Business Agent Mike Kenny; Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters Council Representative Gino Zilocchi; Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation International Region 1 Organzier Robert Rotolo; Sheet, Metal, Air, Rail, Transportation Union Local 137 Organizer Robert Soto; Sheetmetal Workers Local 25 Business Agent and Recording Secretary Rea McIntosh; Building Construction Laborers Local 3 Business Agent Tom Salerno; Laborers Heavy Highway Construction Local 472 Business Representative Daniel Pizzone; Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers Local 10 President Rich Silva; Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers Local 10 Business Manager Brian Jackson; Carpenters Local 253 Business Representative Pedro Navedo; Bricklayers Local 4 1st Vice President Mike Fasulo; Heat and Frost Insulators Local 32 Business Manager Jeremiah Farmer; Tile Marble Terrazzo Local 7 Business Agent Adolfo DiCosmo; Pipefitters Local 274 Business Agent Chet Rozmus; Pipefitters Local 274 Business Agent James Lutz; and former Assemblyman and Essex-West Hudson Labor Council AFL-CIO NJ President Thomas Giblin.

Below: Gottheimer meeting with North Jersey labor leaders.

###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-visits-somerville-highlight-1942000-secured-federal-funding-0,"Kean Visits Somerville to Highlight $1,942,000 Secured in Federal Funding",2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 14, 2026) SOMERVILLE, NJ – Last week, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) visited downtown Somerville with Mayor Brian Gallagher to highlight the $1,942,000 he secured in a House funding bill through the Community Project Funding process.

The funding will be used for two complementary capital improvement projects: the Division Street Arts Plaza and the Giardina Walk Improvements. Together, these projects will transform two heavily traveled public corridors into vibrant, safe, and fully accessible pedestrian spaces that anchor Downtown Somerville’s arts and cultural identity.

“Downtown Somerville is truly the heart of Somerset County, and this investment will help make it an even better place to live, work, shop, and dine,” said Congressman Kean. “I fought for this funding because Somerville deserves a downtown that reflects the energy, character, and pride of this special community. This project will be transformational in supporting local businesses, improving the downtown experience for residents and visitors alike.”

""I'm grateful to Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. for securing nearly $1.94 million in federal funding for the Division Street Arts Plaza and Giardina Walk improvements,” said Mayor Brian Gallagher. “This investment will make our downtown safer and more accessible, strengthen Main Street as a regional destination, and benefit the entire community. Congressman Kean's persistence in advancing this funding through Washington reflects his genuine commitment to Somerville and the region, and we're thankful for his leadership and partnership.""

“The Division Street and Giardina Walkway improvements are an investment in the future and economic vitality of Downtown Somerville, the county seat,” said Dana Kessel, Executive Director of the Downtown Somerville Alliance. “This project demonstrates what is possible when a community, its businesses, municipal partners, and a strong Main Street organization work together toward a shared vision. By creating inviting places to gather, shop, dine, and experience downtown, we are strengthening Downtown Somerville’s position as one of New Jersey’s premier destinations.

“As a Downtown Somerville business owner, I am incredibly grateful for everything the Downtown Somerville Alliance does to promote our downtown and support our businesses,” said Allison Reilly Snyder, Co-Owner of Boulevard Seafood & Co. Restaurant and Bar and DSA Board of Trustees member. “The DSA creates opportunities, brings people downtown, and continually advocates for the businesses that make this community special. These improvements are another exciting step forward, and we are grateful to have an organization so committed to the future of Downtown Somerville.”

Since taking office, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. has secured more than $3.4 million for accessible walkways across New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District through the Community Project Funding process.

In July, Congressman Kean announced that 18 Community Project Funding requests made by his office totaling $17,765,906, are included in key House funding bills for the upcoming fiscal year. Learn more HERE.

Pictured left to right: Allison Snyder, Mayor Brian Gallagher, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr., and Dana Kessel

###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-calls-united-save-nonstop-newark-lima-flights,Congresswoman Pou Calls on United to Save Nonstop Newark→Lima Flights,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Nellie Pou,P000621,pou.house.gov,pou,https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"PATERSON, NJ – Congressmember Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), the Vice Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Aviation, today called on United Airlines to reconsider its plan to eliminate a popular direct route between Newark Liberty International Airport and Lima, Peru, long relied on by New Jersey’s large Peruvian-American community.

“I write to express my concern about United Airlines’ recent decision to eliminate nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru. Ending this longstanding route would have a serious impact on New Jersey communities that rely on direct service to Peru, while potentially leaving travelers with fewer choices and higher costs,” Congresswoman Pou writes United CEO Scott Kirby.

United announced earlier this month that it will end nonstop service between Newark and Lima on March 27, 2027, ending a route that has operated since 1996, first under Continental Airlines and later United following its merger. United plans to double its Houston-Lima service to two daily flights when the Newark route ends.

“Given the impact this decision would have for New Jersey’s Peruvian community and for travelers across the Tristate area, I am asking United Airlines to pause its plan to eliminate the Newark–Lima route and consider alternatives that could preserve direct service, including operating the route on a reduced schedule,” Pou concludes in her call to United’s CEO.

According to Census data, New Jersey has roughly 95,000 people of Peruvian origin living in the state. New Jersey’s Ninth District is home to one of the largest Peruvian communities in the United States. At the heart of this community is Paterson’s “Little Lima,” which is full of Peruvian bakeries, salons, restaurants, and other small businesses.

Congresswoman Pou is the lead sponsor of the PERU Act (H.R. 5335) which seeks to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Peru by adding Peru to the list of countries eligible to obtain E1 and E2 visas, so long as the Peruvian government treats United States nationals similarly.

The text of Congresswoman Pou’s letter is below.

Dear Mr. Kirby:

I write to express my concern about United Airlines’ recent decision to eliminate nonstop service between Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Jorge Chávez International Airport (LIM) in Lima, Peru. Ending this longstanding route would have a serious impact on New Jersey communities that rely on direct service to Peru, while potentially leaving travelers with fewer choices and higher costs.

New Jersey has deep-rooted ties with Peru, with roughly 95,000 people of Peruvian origin living in the state, the third largest Peruvian population in the country. New Jersey’s Ninth Congressional District, and Paterson in particular, is home to one of the largest Peruvian communities in the United States. At the heart of this community is Paterson’s “Little Lima,” which is full of Peruvian bakeries, salons, restaurants, and other businesses. These ties led Paterson to establish “sister city” partnerships with Machu Picchu and the Municipality of Lurigancho-Chosica in 2024 and 2025, respectively. For decades, our local community members have also worked to strengthen ties between Peru and the United States and rallied to support Peru in times of crisis, including the devastating 2007 earthquake.

For over 30 years, United Airlines and its predecessor Continental Airlines have maintained direct service between Newark and Lima. This route is far more than a convenience. It connects New Jersey families with loved ones in Peru and supports business, tourism, and trade between our two countries. Eliminating it would force many travelers to take connecting flights or travel to other airports, adding time and expense to trips that are already prohibitively expensive.

I recognize that rising fuel prices have created new challenges for the airline industry this year. United Airlines must make business decisions that reflect fast-changing market conditions. However, United has also reported increased revenues and strong passenger demand while announcing plans to expand its network. Given the company’s strong business performance over the last two quarters, United Airlines should provide greater clarity about when a long-established route serving a major New Jersey community is being eliminated. This is particularly true given that United has told investors that it expects to recover 100% of higher fuel cost by the fourth quarter.

The decision to eliminate the non-stop Newark-Lima route comes as United Airlines is announcing new routes to destinations in Luxemburg, Slovenia, France, and elsewhere. This growth is exciting for travelers, but new service should not come at the expense of a route that has served New Jersey’s Peruvian community for decades, particularly when the Newark-Lima route has continued to see strong demand and frequently full flights. United Airlines should be able to expand its network without leaving behind communities that have relied on established routes for decades.

Given the impact this decision would have for New Jersey’s Peruvian community and for travelers across the Tristate area, I am asking United Airlines to pause its plan to eliminate the Newark–Lima route and consider alternatives that could preserve direct service, including operating the route on a reduced schedule.

I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter and would welcome the opportunity to meet with you, along with representatives of our large Peruvian community, to discuss this decision and explore ways to preserve direct service between Newark and Lima. I hope we can work together toward a solution that keeps this important connection in place.

Sincerely,

###

Congresista Pou hace un llamado a United para mantener los vuelos entre Newark y Lima

La congresista hace un impulso para pausar la cancelación de una ruta con 30 años de servicio que atiende a la numerosa comunidad peruana de Nueva Jersey

PATERSON, NJ – La congresista Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09), vicepresidenta de mayor rango de la Subcomisión de Aviación de la Cámara de Representantes, pidió hoy a United Airlines que reconsideren la decisión de eliminar la popular ruta directa entre el Aeropuerto de Newark y Lima, Perú, de la cual la numerosa comunidad peruana de Nueva Jersey ha dependido durante décadas.

“Le escribo para expresar mi preocupación por la reciente decisión de United Airlines de eliminar el servicio sin escalas entre el Aeropuerto Internacional Newark Liberty (EWR) y el Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (LIM) en Lima, Perú. El fin de esta histórica ruta tendría un grave impacto en las comunidades de Nueva Jersey que dependen del servicio directo a Perú, y podría dejar a los viajeros con menos opciones y costos más altos”, escribió la congresista Pou al director ejecutivo de United, Scott Kirby.

United anunció a principios de este mes que pondrá fin al servicio sin escalas entre Newark y Lima el 27 de marzo de 2027, terminando así una ruta que ha operado desde 1996, primero a través de Continental Airlines y posteriormente de United. United planea duplicar su servicio entre Houston y Lima a dos vuelos diarios cuando finalice la ruta desde Newark.

“Dado el impacto que esta decisión tendría en la comunidad peruana de Nueva Jersey y en los viajeros de toda el área triestatal, estoy pidiendo a United Airlines que suspenda su plan de eliminar la ruta Newark-Lima y considere alternativas que permitan preservar el servicio directo, incluida la posibilidad de operar la ruta con una frecuencia reducida”, concluyó Pou en su llamado al director ejecutivo de United.

De acuerdo con el Censo, Nueva Jersey cuenta con aproximadamente 95,000 residentes de origen peruano. El Noveno Distrito Congresional de Nueva Jersey alberga una de las comunidades peruanas más grandes de Estados Unidos. En el corazón de esta comunidad se encuentra Little Lima en Paterson, donde abundan panaderías, salones de belleza, restaurantes y otros pequeños negocios peruanos.

La congresista Pou es la principal patrocinadora de la Ley PERU (H.R. 5335), que busca fortalecer los lazos entre Estados Unidos y Perú al agregar a Perú a la lista de países cuyos ciudadanos pueden solicitar visas E-1 y E-2, siempre que el gobierno peruano otorgue un trato similar a los ciudadanos estadounidenses.

El texto de la carta de la congresista Pou se encuentra a continuación.

Estimado Sr. Kirby:

Le escribo para expresar mi preocupación por la reciente decisión de United Airlines de eliminar el servicio sin escalas entre el Aeropuerto Internacional Newark Liberty (EWR) y el Aeropuerto Internacional Jorge Chávez (LIM) en Lima, Perú. El fin de esta histórica ruta tendría un grave impacto en las comunidades de Nueva Jersey que dependen del servicio directo a Perú, y podría dejar a los viajeros con menos opciones y costos más altos.

Nueva Jersey tiene profundos lazos con Perú, con aproximadamente 95,000 residentes de origen peruano, la tercera población peruana más grande del país. El Noveno Distrito Congresional de Nueva Jersey, y Paterson en particular, alberga una de las comunidades peruanas más grandes de Estados Unidos. En el corazón de esta comunidad se encuentra Little Lima en Paterson, donde abundan panaderías, salones de belleza, restaurantes y otros negocios peruanos. Estos vínculos llevaron a Paterson a establecer relaciones de “ciudades hermanas” con Machu Picchu y la Municipalidad de Lurigancho-Chosica en 2024 y 2025, respectivamente. Durante décadas, miembros de nuestra comunidad local también han trabajado para fortalecer los lazos entre Perú y Estados Unidos y se han movilizado para apoyar a Perú en momentos de crisis, incluido el devastador terremoto de 2007.

Durante más de 30 años, United Airlines y su predecesora, Continental Airlines, han mantenido un servicio directo entre Newark y Lima. Esta ruta es mucho más que una comodidad. Conecta a familias de Nueva Jersey con sus seres queridos en Perú y apoya los negocios, el turismo y el comercio entre nuestros dos países. Eliminarla obligaría a muchos viajeros a tomar vuelos con conexiones o trasladarse a otros aeropuertos, agregando tiempo y gastos a viajes que ya tienen costos prohibitivos.

Reconozco que el aumento de los precios del combustible ha creado nuevos desafíos para la industria aérea este año. United Airlines debe tomar decisiones comerciales que reflejen las condiciones rápidamente cambiantes del mercado. Sin embargo, United también ha reportado un aumento en sus ingresos y una fuerte demanda de pasajeros mientras anuncia planes para ampliar su red. Dado el sólido desempeño comercial de la compañía durante los últimos dos trimestres, United Airlines debería ofrecer mayor claridad cuando decide eliminar una ruta de larga trayectoria que presta servicio a una importante comunidad de Nueva Jersey. Esto es particularmente cierto dado que United ha dicho a sus inversionistas que espera recuperar el 100 por ciento del aumento en los costos del combustible para el cuarto trimestre.

La decisión de eliminar la ruta sin escalas Newark-Lima se produce mientras United Airlines anuncia nuevas rutas a destinos en Luxemburgo, Eslovenia, Francia y otros lugares. Este crecimiento es una buena noticia para los viajeros, pero los nuevos servicios no deberían implementarse a costa de una ruta que ha servido durante décadas a la comunidad peruana de Nueva Jersey, especialmente cuando la ruta Newark-Lima continúa registrando una fuerte demanda y vuelos que con frecuencia están llenos. United Airlines debería poder ampliar su red sin dejar atrás a comunidades que han dependido de rutas establecidas durante décadas.

Dado el impacto que esta decisión tendría en la comunidad peruana de Nueva Jersey y en los viajeros de toda el área triestatal, estoy pidiendo a United Airlines que suspenda su plan de eliminar la ruta Newark-Lima y considere alternativas que permitan preservar el servicio directo, incluida la posibilidad de operar la ruta con una frecuencia reducida.

Agradezco su pronta atención a este asunto y agradecería la oportunidad de reunirme con usted, junto con representantes de nuestra numerosa comunidad peruana, para hablar sobre esta decisión y explorar maneras de preservar el servicio directo entre Newark y Lima. Espero que podamos trabajar juntos para encontrar una solución que mantenga esta importante conexión.

Atentamente,

Nellie Pou

Miembro del Congreso

###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://vandrew.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=2090,Congressman Van Drew Condemns Immigration Failure After Attack on Six-Year-Old Girl in NJ,2026-09-12,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Jefferson Van Drew,V000133,vandrew.house.gov,vandrew,https://vandrew.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"Washington, DC -Today, Congressman Van Drew released the following statement after an illegal immigrant who had previously been in ICE custody was charged with kidnapping and sexually assaulting a six-year-old girl in New Jersey.

""There are no words for what this little girl and her parents are going through,"" said Congressman Van Drew. ""Nothing we say can make this right. There is only one thing we can do, and that is to make sure this never happens again. This man should have been deported in 2024. He was already in ICE custody, but instead he was released back into our communities. And while this is happening, taxpayers should certainly not be funding legal defense programs for illegal immigrants fighting deportation. This little girl deserved to be protected. She was failed. We cannot allow that to happen again.""",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-on-25th-anniversary-of-9-11-attacks-gottheimer-honors-the-fallen-of-north-jersey,"RELEASE: On 25th Anniversary of 9/11 Attacks, Gottheimer Honors the Fallen of North Jersey",2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer commemorates the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11th attacks.

NEW JERSEY — Today, Friday, September 11, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) took part in the 25th anniversary of 9/11 remembrance ceremonies in Mahwah and Hackensack to honor North Jersey community members and first responders who lost their lives in the horrific attacks, commemorating those lost since, and recommitting to protecting America from extremism and terror.

Nearly 3,000 people lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks, including more than 400 firefighters, police, and other first responders. New Jersey lost nearly 750 residents, and Bergen County alone lost 147 residents. Since then, more than 9,000 first responders and others who were in and around the World Trade Center have died as a result of toxic exposure.

See Gottheimer’s full remarks here.

“Out of the worst morning in this country’s history, we decided to be loud, united, and unafraid. That’s the Jersey I know, and the America I strive for,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “A place where our memory and our pride outlast our fear. A place where every one of the neighbors we lost that day will never, ever be forgotten. We will never forget.”

Gottheimer was joined by Mayor Caseen Gaines, Deputy Mayor Agatha Toomey, Councilman Roberto Diaz, Councilwoman Sonya Clark-Collins, Councilman Philip Carroll, City Manager Thomas Freeman, Fire Chief Keith Rosazza, Police Chief Michael Antist.

Over the past year, Gottheimer served as co-chair of the bipartisan House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence review of the 9/11 Commission Report. Last week, the committee released its bipartisan 9/11 Review Task Force Report, that lays out twenty bipartisan recommendations for the Intelligence Community to protect against the new and emerging threats — including faster information sharing between agencies, adopting AI to stay ahead of our enemies, and deeper partnerships with our state, local, and private-sector partners to fight terror.

Gottheimer also introduced legislation with Rep. Stefanik to ensure that 9/11 education is taught in every classroom in America; today, just 25 states have requirements on the books. Of those who are between the ages of 18 and 24, none of whom were alive on 9/11, 60% first learned about 9/11 in class or through school assignments.

Gottheimer also recently clawed back $5 million to my district for local and state police for counterterrorism equipment to prevent tragedy and be ready in case one does happen.

And this week, he also introduced a resolution with the entire Jersey House Congressional delegation to honor the service and sacrifice of Jersey first responders on 9/11.

Last year, Gottheimer helped lead the reintroduction of the bipartisan American Victims of Terror Compensation Act, which provides funding for the United States Victims of State-Sponsored Terrorism Fund, or USVSST Fund. This legislation will help ensure the USVSST consistently provides compensation to more than 18,000 American victims of State Sponsors of Terrorism, including the families of the more than 3,000 victims of September 11th.

Gottheimer helped fight for and pass legislation like the bipartisan Never Forget the Heroes Act, to fully fund the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund to provide long-overdue support to cover 9/11 survivors, first responders, and their families for injuries, medical expenses, and other benefits.

Gottheimer also helped pass the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Act, which requires the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on all commercial passenger aircraft to prevent terrorist attacks similar to 9/11.

Gottheimer is continuing to fight to pass the bipartisan FIRE Cancer Act to provide federal investments so that all firefighters, especially those exposed on and after 9/11, can get access to preventative tests, including multi-cancer early detection tests.

Below: Gottheimer commemorates the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11th attacks.

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415826,Remembering the Victims of 9/11,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The following are excerpts of remarks prepared by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) for Monmouth County’s September 11th Memorial Ceremony in Atlantic Highlands, New Jersey:

“Twenty-five years later, we solemnly remember those who lost their lives and the pain suffered by the nearly 3,000 individuals—including 147 Monmouth County residents— who were murdered by radical jihadists and the anguish endured by their families and friends, both then and now.

“We remember and honor the courageous first responders running up the stairs of the burning buildings—with total disregard for their own safety—attempting to save others at the expense of their own lives.

“We honor the heroic firefighters, police officers, paramedics and civilian support staff members, who have suffered and died from illnesses related to the rescue and recovery efforts in the aftermath of one of the darkest days in U.S. history.

“According to the World Trade Center Health Program, an estimated 400,000 people were exposed to toxic contaminants in New York, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. Over 96,000 people have been diagnosed with physical and mental health conditions as a result of exposure to the dust, smoke, debris and traumatic events of 9/11, and more than 9,000 people have died from illnesses directly linked to the attack.

“It is widely believed that Flight 93 was headed to Washington, D.C. to attack the Capitol or the White House when it was brought down in Shanksville, thanks in large part to N.J. hero Todd Beamer and his call to fellow passengers: ‘Let’s roll!’

“A member of my staff since 2006, Kathy Wisniewski—then a Howell resident—lost her beloved husband, Alan, on 9/11.

“Alan was associate director for Sandler O’Neill Investment, and his office was on the 104th floor of the South Tower. His last phone call before his tower fell was to say: ‘I’m OK.’ Then United Airlines flight 175 crashed into his building.

“Through Kathy, and their three children—as well from the other survivors, like the ‘Jersey Girls’—we’ve all gotten a better understanding of the challenges suffered by family and close friends.

“As an effective leader on behalf of 9/11 victims, Kathy is right now in New York City at the 9/11 ceremony.

“As we remember all the victims of 9/11, may each of us seriously recommit to persevering prayer and good works for peace and reconciliation, as well as support for effective intelligence gathering and law enforcement to better interdict violence in all of its ugly manifestations, including terrorism.

“As the 9/11 Memorial and Museum reminds us, ‘100 million Americans are too young to remember the day that changed our city and nation forever. It is our shared promise—made 25 years ago—to never forget, so those born after 9/11 learn its significance and enduring legacy. As we commemorate this anniversary, a new generation will learn about the unimaginable loss we experienced and the inspiring stories of bravery, compassion, unity, and service that we witnessed, and have rippled through the decades.’

“We must never forget 9/11 and be ever mindful that the perpetrators of violence and terrorism never take a holiday—nor can we.”

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415827,"Wed., Sept. 16: Rep. Chris Smith to chair CECC hearing“A Son and Daughter’s Appeal to Xi Jinping to Release Their Dad, Jimmy Lai”",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"On Wednesday, September 16th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), will chair a congressional hearing examining the imprisonment of Hong Kong media entrepreneur and democracy advocate Jimmy Lai and what his case reveals about the continued erosion of freedom of the press, judicial independence, and the rule of law in Hong Kong.

Given the planned summit between President Trump and General Secretary Xi Jinping, the hearing will underscore the appeal from Jimmy Lai’s children to Xi Jinping for their father’s immediate release and examine the broader implications of Lai’s continued imprisonment.

WHAT: Congressional hearing on the unjust, politically motivated imprisonment of Jimmy Lai, as well as what additional steps Congress, the Administration, and international partners can take to secure his release and hold accountable the officials responsible for undermining internationally recognized human rights and fundamental freedoms.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 16, 2026 at 9:30 AM

WITNESSES: (Partial list)

Sebastien Lai, Son of Jimmy Lai; Leader, #FreeJimmyLai Campaign

Steve Yates, Senior Research Fellow for China and National Security and Chung Ju Yung Fellow, The Heritage Foundation

Mark L. Clifford, President, Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Foundation; Author of The Troublemaker, a biography of Jimmy Lai

WHERE: 2255 Rayburn House Office Building and livestreamed here

WHO: Co-Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman Dan Sullivan (R-AK), other members of the CECC, and witnesses

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-claws-back-more-than-1-7-million-in-federal-security-funding-for-nj-houses-of-worship,RELEASE: Gottheimer Claws Back More than $1.7 Million in Federal Security Funding for NJ Houses of Worship,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer visits Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn ahead of the High Holidays.

NORTH JERSEY — Today, September 10, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced $1.7 million clawed-back for eight nonprofit organizations across North Jersey for Fiscal Year 2025 Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP) funding, delivering critical resources to help churches, synagogues, temples, and faith-based schools in the Fifth District protect their communities from the growing threat of hate and violence. Gottheimer also announced the funding at Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn and visited Rabbi Mendel Zaltzman and Rabbi Mordechai Kanelsky ahead of the High Holidays.

See video of Gottheimer’s visit here.

Gottheimer also hosted a briefing with the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness (NJOHSP) and Jewish faith leaders from across North Jersey to address the security threats facing the Jewish community as they prepare for the High Holidays. The meeting brought together NJOHSP Director Hauck, state leadership, and Jewish faith leaders to discuss the current threat landscape, coordination between law enforcement and religious institutions, and the urgent need to deliver federal security resources to houses of worship — the very resources this NSGP funding provides.

Gottheimer has been pushing for the long-delayed resources, passed in 2024, to be distributed after clawing it back for the district. The Nonprofit Security Grant Program (NSGP), administered by the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), provides funding to nonprofits at high risk of terrorist attacks or hate-related incidents, with a particular focus on houses of worship and other faith-based institutions like schools and community centers. The funding allows organizations to invest in physical security upgrades like cameras, gates, bollards, and blast-resistant film, and to provide training that helps staff and congregants recognize and respond to threats.

Anti-Jewish hate crimes account for nearly two-thirds of all religion-based hate crimes reported to the FBI nationwide. Antisemitic incidents in the United States have increased by 68% since 2022, before October 7. In 2025, ADL recorded 6,274 antisemitic incidents across the United States. That means Jewish Americans were targeted an average of 17 times per day. New Jersey recorded the third-highest total of antisemitic incidents across the nation in 2025, with Bergen County ranking first in highest rates of antisemitic incidents in New Jersey.

Gottheimer has been a vocal advocate for this vital funding to be distributed. Last year, Gottheimer led a bipartisan group of 78 colleagues in urging the Administration to reverse its decision to pause the drawdown of federal grant funding at FEMA, which includes the Nonprofit Security Grant Program.

“No one should ever have to worry about their safety while praying, learning, or gathering with their community,” said Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5). “With hate crimes and antisemitic incidents spiking at historical levels, this funding is crucial. It gives our religious communities the resources they need to strengthen their security and protect the people who walk through their doors every day. I’ll keep fighting in Washington to make sure North Jersey’s nonprofits and religious institutions get every dollar they need to stay safe.”

The following North Jersey organizations were awarded funding:

Bris Avrohom of Fair Lawn (Fair Lawn) — $380,000

Young Israel of Fort Lee (Fort Lee) — $190,000

Grace Redeemer Church (Glen Rock) — $190,000

Hindu Samaj Temple of Mahwah (Mahwah) — $175,750

The Frisch School (Paramus) — $380,000

The Church Gathered and Scattered (Teaneck) — $95,000

The Young Israel of Teaneck (Teaneck) — $190,000

Temple Emanuel of the Pascack Valley (Woodcliff Lake) — $190,000

Gottheimer will continue working in Congress to protect and expand funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and push FEMA for faster turnaround and greater transparency so that at-risk organizations can plan and receive their security investments with confidence.

###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-celebrates-grand-opening-of-revitalized-reading-center-for-trenton-community,Rep. Watson Coleman Celebrates Grand Opening of Revitalized Reading Center for Trenton Community,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Bonnie Watson Coleman,W000822,watsoncoleman.house.gov,watsoncoleman,https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) attended a ribbon cutting celebrating the grand reopening of the renovated Reading Senior Center in Trenton, New Jersey and gave the following remarks:

When the senior center closed years ago, it was a tremendous loss to the Trenton senior community. The road to bring it back was a long one – and not without bumps along the way. But Mayor Reed, the City Council, and Mercer County were committed to serving the community and to getting this center back up and running… and better than it was before.

The city secured $600,000 in federal American Rescue Plan money, which I was proud to vote for, and it was signed by President Biden. In addition, the county secured matching Community Development Block Grants that I fought to protect from cuts in the Appropriations Committee.

The Reading Senior Center is a shining example of what can be accomplished when city, county, and federal officials work together, with one vision, to deliver for the seniors who have given so much to our city.

People have asked me, “What has been the most rewarding part of your time in Congress?” It’s days like this, when we can deliver results and give back to people who have put their hearts and souls into their communities.

The 11,000 square-foot facility will open its doors for the first time in over eight years, with its new operations and programs beginning Tuesday, September 15th. The Reading Senior Center will also become the new home of the City of Trenton Department of Health and Human Services’ Division of Community Relations and Social Services, beginning Wednesday, September 16, providing seniors with convenient access to City programs and assistance.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-statement-on-lt-gov-investigation,Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Lt. Gov. Investigation,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,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) made the following statement regarding the reported investigation into Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell:

For more than three decades, I have known Lt. Gov. Caldwell to be a good and decent man. I also take any allegation of improper actions very seriously. I have full confidence in the investigatory process the Governor has established.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z
https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/remembering-911-kean-commemorates-25th-anniversary-september-11th-terrorist,Remembering 9/11: Kean Commemorates the 25th Anniversary of the September 11th Terrorist Attacks,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(SEPTEMBER 10, 2026) WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) introduced two pieces of legislation to honor the 25th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks.

Congressman Kean said: “September 11th is deeply personal to New Jersey. For families across our state, that day still has a name, a face, an empty chair at the table. Hundreds of our neighbors left home that morning and never came back. Twenty-five years later, we carry their memory with us, along with the courage of the first responders who ran toward danger and the service members who answered the call to defend our country.

“The truth of September 11th is clear. Innocent Americans were murdered in an act of evil against our country and our way of life. Our responsibility is to tell that story with honesty, to honor the people we lost, to stand with the families who still carry that loss, and to make sure every generation understands what happened that day and what followed.

“This package is about fulfilling that responsibility to preserve the firsthand voices of September 11th, honoring the Americans who brought justice to the terrorists responsible in the years that followed, and supporting the victims and families. A quarter-century has passed, but our promise remains the same. We remember them. We honor them. America will never forget.”

The 9/11 Legacy Preservation Act of 2026:

The 9/11 Legacy Preservation Act that Congressman Kean introduced with Representative Don Beyer (VA-08), would direct the Director of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress to establish an oral history program to collect video and audio recordings of personal histories from survivors of September 11, 2001.

Read the text of the bill HERE.

The Seal Team Six Congressional Gold Medal Act:

The Seal Team Six Congressional Gold Medal Act would award a Congressional Gold Medal to SEAL Team Six in recognition of their critical role in bringing Osama bin Laden to justice. Congressman Kean introduced the bill with Representatives Madeline Dean (PA-04), Mike Lawler (NY-17), and Bill Keating (MA-09).

Read the text of the bill HERE.

Congressman Kean is also a cosponsor of a resolution to commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11 and a resolution to recognize New Jersey’s first responders who carried out rescue, recovery, and medical relief efforts following September 11, 2001.

###",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-addresses-housing-affordability-and-equity-at-panel-event-in-trenton,Rep. Watson Coleman Addresses Housing Affordability and Equity at Panel Event in Trenton,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Bonnie Watson Coleman,W000822,watsoncoleman.house.gov,watsoncoleman,https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"Today, Representative Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) spoke to the Capital Region Minority Chamber of Commerce (CRMCC) about housing affordability. Joined by CRMCC President Herb Ames and industry experts, the Congresswoman highlighted the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a comprehensive bipartisan package passed earlier this year that addresses many dimensions of housing policy.

Over the past few years, Americans have dealt with rising housing costs, putting a strain on millions of families looking to pay their bills and in 2023, the Brookings Institute estimated that there is a shortage of about 4.9 million housing units. This highlights the importance of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which is the largest bipartisan housing law in a generation. President Trump did not sign it into law, however, calling it “a big yawn.” Per the United States Constitution, the bill eventually became law on July 11th, 2026 after the President failed to sign it or veto it within the 10 days following its delivery by Congress. Based on track-record, there is reason to be concerned that the Trump Administration may ignore the law.

The Congresswoman gave the following remarks:

It's been over 50 years since the New Jersey Supreme Court handed down the Mount Laurel Doctrine that said exclusionary zoning practices that prevent low- and moderate-income families from living in a town are unconstitutional. Yet today, safe, affordable housing remains out of reach for so many. Fewer than four in ten non-homeowning families can afford a typical starter home.

It is not enough to remove legal barriers to the middle class while leaving socioeconomic barriers in place. Economic predators have filled the vacuum left behind by the law. Money is like water; it'll find the cracks.

The result is that young people and Black people suffer. The homeownership rate for Black households is barely half that of white households, at about 41%. Meanwhile, over 4.2 million young people experience homelessness each year. This astonishing number consists of a disproportionate number of people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals. Not coincidentally, in 2023 the Brookings Institute estimated that there is a shortage of about 4.9 million housing units.

This is not only immoral - it is unsustainable in an economy in which homeownership plays such an important role in wealth accumulation. Housing is a right; it is not a privilege. Shelter is as fundamental a need as food and water. And, in a country as wealthy as ours, the difference between a housing crisis and a roof over everyone's head is a policy choice.

The policy choices of the Trump administration have been clear. After passing their latest round of tax cuts for the mega rich and corporate donors, they had the gall to cut the HUD budget by 51%. That included a $27.25 billion cut to rental and homeless assistance programs- or 40%. A $53 billion cut to Section 8. An $8.8 billion cut to public housing. And a $1.25 billion cut to the HOME program, to name a few.

In addition, HUD withdrew legal guidance for the Fair Housing Act's coverage of appraisal discrimination of undervalued homes in majority-black neighborhoods. They also disbanded the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity taskforce and repealed the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing subregulatory policies, removing federal requirements for local governments to proactively desegregate their communities.

Now I've worked to fight back on these abysmal policies, including during Appropriations hearings with Secretary Scott Turner, and through legislation like my Homes for Young Adults Act and Rep. Omar's Homes for All Act. But the biggest dent we've made was with the 21st Century Road to Housing Act, which passed earlier this summer.

This new law is not perfect, but it does some important things like prohibiting large institutional investors, like BlackRock, from purchasing new single-family homes, a practice that has priced millions out of their own neighborhoods, forcing people who rent who would otherwise buy, and leaving many homes vacant in the process.

It also increases grants to local governments that successfully increase housing supply through zoning reform and density bonuses. And it raises the public welfare investment cap for community development banks.

Incorporated into the final package were six Democratic priorities including, the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act to codify the Community Development Block Grants for Disaster Recovery, the PRICE Act to help manufactured communities preserve affordability, the VALID Act to improve transparency for veteran homebuyers, the Build Now Act to incentivize housing development in certain CDBG jurisdictions while protecting disaster-hit areas, a Moving to Work provision to add up to 25 Public Housing Authorities while prohibiting these PHAs from imposing overwhelming work requirements, and a provision to codify Rental Assistance Demonstration to help convert aging public housing into long-term Section 8 contracts to fund critical property repairs.

This bill passed the Senate 85 - 5 and the House 358 - 32. The president did not sign it, but he also did not veto it, so it became law on July 11th this year. We have the law passed now. But Trump’s refusal to engage with the bill, even just to sign it, hints at the likelihood that he will ignore the law.

He’s done this before and his administration is filled, at the highest levels, with people who believe a President can simply ignore a law he doesn’t agree with. So, we need a Congress that will hold the Administration accountable. That starts this November.

During his testimony last summer, HUD Secretary Turner repeatedly referred to the administration's efforts at dismantling housing assistance as a so-called “paradigm shift.” However, the real shift we've seen is how Americans of vastly different stripes and political persuasions view housing.

People are fed up. They see their grown children unable to afford homes, they see rents skyrocketing, and they see more and more of their budgets going to rent and mortgage payments while they struggle to stay afloat.

We are at the precipice of a revolution in how people view housing. And while I may not be in Congress to see universal housing become a reality, I am confident that if we keep working in this space, it will.

Thank you and God bless.",1,2026-09-12T09:02:30Z,2026-09-12T09:03:27Z
https://norcross.house.gov/press-releases?ID=49B0E3DF-BC2D-415A-8D9C-FDAB739A37D8,"Norcross, Pallone, Camden leaders meet to discuss nationwide lithium battery fires",2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Donald Norcross,N000188,norcross.house.gov,norcross,https://norcross.house.gov/press-releases,page_html,"September 10, 2026: EMR USA CEO Joe Balzano (second from left) gives tour of Camden recycling plant to Rep. Norcross, Rep. Pallone, and Mayor Carstarphen (left to right)

CAMDEN — Congressmen Donald Norcross (NJ-01) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today met with representatives from EMR’s Camden recycling plant and local elected officials to discuss the nationwide issue of lithium battery fires.

Lithium batteries contain more power and charge faster than other batteries, but those efficiencies can also create a fire hazard if exposed to physical damage or excess heat. While these risks require special disposal processes, many consumers are unaware when they are disposing lithium batteries and recycling facilities are often underequipped to identify them in the waste stream. As such, there are an estimated 5,000 fires at recycling plants in the United States each year, with most being ignited by improperly disposed lithium batteries.

Without action the problem will only continue to grow: Lithium batteries are used in a large amount of modern products such as handheld electronics, e-cigarettes, medical devices, and the total amount of lithium consumption nearly quadrupled between just 2010 and 2021. Municipalities from coast to coast, including Camden, are increasingly being forced to respond to large battery fires.

“Lithium batteries aren’t going away, and communities are struggling to safely recycle them across the world. Reducing these fires will take a team effort, and the producers of these batteries need to play a more active role – especially since they know what happens to these batteries at the end of their lifecycle,” Norcross said. “There’s no one silver bullet solution, but my visit with Congressman Pallone and folks on the frontlines here in Camden certainly helps me feel that more people are taking this issue seriously.”

“Lithium-ion batteries shouldn’t be turning recycling facilities into fire hazards. When these batteries end up where they don’t belong, they can put entire communities at risk. I came to Camden with Congressman Norcross to see the problem firsthand and figure out what we can do in Congress to prevent these fires before they start,” said Pallone, the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over the issue.

“Everyone wants to ensure that fires of this magnitude never occur,” Victor Carstarphen, mayor of Camden said. “I commend Congressman Norcross for looking at potential solutions to this issue and for working with local officials to help safeguard against the threat of a future event. Improving federal regulations and requiring standardized labeling of materials would be a positive step forward.”

“Recyclers everywhere are reckoning with the risks that lithium batteries pose to the waste stream, and no one has more stake in preventing these fires than the hardworking men and women staffing these facilities in their own communities,” Joe Balzano, chief executive officer of EMR USA said. “EMR appreciates the leaders who came to Camden today to see the issue up close – and for elevating the need for solutions about what can be done about this national problem.”

Multiple efforts have been launched this Congress to prevent lithium battery fires. In October, Norcross introduced the Battery Fire Prevention Act, which includes measures to boost recycling facilities’ access to battery detectors and create a lithium battery buyback fund. Earlier this month, the House Energy and Commerce Committee also advanced the Battery Recycling for America’s Competitive Economy (BRACE) Act – legislation that would modernize and clarify regulations and safeguards for lithium battery storage and recycling.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-stefanik-discuss-combating-antisemitism-on-college-campuses-at-vanderbilt-university-launch-new-bipartisan-caucus-on-campus-antisemitism,"RELEASE: Gottheimer, Stefanik Discuss Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses at Vanderbilt University, Launch New Bipartisan Caucus on Campus Antisemitism",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer announces Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus at Vanderbilt University.

NASHVILLE, TN — Today, Tuesday, September 8, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) announced the launch of the new bipartisan Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus while visiting Vanderbilt University. The caucus aims to hold colleges and universities accountable for protecting Jewish students, faculty, and staff.

The Representatives announced the formation of the caucus during a conversation at Vanderbilt University featuring Vanderbilt Chancellor Daniel Diermeier and five visiting university leaders from across the country, including leaders from The University of Kentucky, The University of Texas at Austin, Dartmouth College, The University of Alabama, and Washington University in St. Louis. The panel discussed how their campuses are working to combat antisemitism while protecting free expression.

“Since October 7th, Jewish students on too many campuses have been harassed, intimidated, and made to feel like strangers in their own school,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That’s why Elise and I are teaming up to launch this caucus to hold universities accountable, back up the schools getting it right, like Vanderbilt, and make sure every Jewish kid can have a college experience without fear of discrimination or violence.”

“From asking questions at the most watched hearing in Congressional history with university presidents that led to an earthquake in higher education to passing key legislation, I have been proud to be the leader in Congress on combatting antisemitism and anti-Americanism at our colleges and universities,” said Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY- 21). “I am proud to launch this bipartisan Congressional Caucus with my friend and colleague Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ) who has been a leading partner and legislator with whom I have worked on this critical issue. We are committed to saving American higher education for the next generation.”

Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas terrorist attack on Israel, antisemitism on American college campuses has surged to levels never before recorded. According to the Anti-Defamation League, antisemitic incidents on campuses spiked more than 300 percent in 2023 alone, followed by a further sharp rise in 2024, with well over a thousand incidents logged in the year after October 7th. The vast majority of Jewish college students say they have personally witnessed or experienced antisemitism since that day.

The Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus will:

Serve as a bipartisan forum for Members of Congress to coordinate oversight of how colleges and universities respond to antisemitism.

Press institutions to protect Jewish students, faculty, and staff, and to enforce their own anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies.

Advance and track federal legislation targeting campus antisemitism and BDS-driven discrimination, including the Antisemitism Awareness Act, the HEAL Act, and the newly House-passed Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act.

Spotlight schools that are getting it right and share best practices across campuses nationwide.

Gottheimer has been a leading voice in Congress against antisemitism, including:

Authoring the Antisemitism Awareness Act, which directs the Department of Education to use the IHRA working definition of antisemitism when enforcing federal anti-discrimination law. The bill passed the House 320–91 last Congress.

Helping pass the Protect Economic and Academic Freedom Act, restricting federal student aid to colleges that engage in commercial BDS boycotts of Israel. The bill cleared the House 237–169 on September 3rd and now heads to the Senate.

Authoring the HEAL Act (Holocaust Education and Antisemitism Lessons Act) and the October 7th Remembrance Education Act to strengthen Holocaust and October 7th education in schools.

Leading H.Res. 883, declaring the “from the river to the sea” chant antisemitic, and the IGO Anti-Boycott Act, both of which have passed the House.

Pressing university presidents directly, sending letters to schools including Rutgers, Columbia, Harvard, Penn, MIT, Princeton, Brown, GW, and NYU demanding concrete plans to protect Jewish students.

Serving as a member of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism.

Below: Gottheimer announces Combating Antisemitism on College Campuses Caucus at Vanderbilt University.

###",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-ahead-of-the-25th-anniversary-of-9-11-gottheimer-announces-more-than-5-million-in-federal-funds-to-combat-terrorism,"RELEASE: Ahead of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Gottheimer Announces More Than $5 Million in Federal Funds to Combat Terrorism",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer unveils 9/11 legislation package.

NEW MILFORD, NJ — Today, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced several concrete actions including more than $5 million clawed back from Washington to Jersey for local law enforcement in North Jersey to combat terrorism.

Watch Gottheimer’s remarks here.

The new funding will go toward expanding and modernizing intelligence and coordination, officer training, and additional resources to protect Jersey families.

The resources include:

More than $5 million in counterterrorism funding clawed back for local law enforcement across Bergen, Sussex, and Passaic Counties.

Every single town — all 65 in the Fifth Congressional District — in Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex Counties — will receive $50,000 to be utilized for counter-terrorism training.

$1.5 million dollars for Bergen County to expand and modernize the Bergen County Real-Time Intelligence Center.

Newton in Sussex County will receive $200,000 in funding to be able to purchase a real-time intelligence platform to enhance its capabilities.

Bloomingdale will receive $100,000 to purchase a response drone and active-threat gear — ballistic shields, armor, breaching kits.

Vernon will receive $30,000 in funding for a thermal search-and-overwatch drone for fast response at any time of day or conditions.

Highlighted the bipartisan 9/11 Review Task Force Report that lays out twenty bipartisan recommendations for the Intelligence Community to protect against the new and emerging threats — including faster information sharing between agencies, adopting AI to stay ahead of our enemies, and deeper partnerships with our state, local, and private-sector partners to fight terror.

Sent a letter pressing the FAA and Secretary Duffy to fully implement secondary flight deck barriers on all commercial aircraft — the only 9/11 Commission recommendation still not fully implemented 25 years later — to require the barriers on every plane, including older aircraft already flying. In 2018, I wrote the bipartisan Saracini Aviation Safety Act, requiring these barriers on all new aircraft and it was signed into law in 2018. Years later, the FAA still hasn’t finalized the rule to retrofit the existing fleet.

Introduced a 9/11 education bill with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) to ensure that 9/11 is taught in every school across America. Only 15 states require 9/11 education.

Introduced a resolution, cosponsored by every member of the New Jersey House congressional delegation, formally recognizing the state’s law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who responded to the World Trade Center attacks and carried out the rescue, recovery, and relief efforts in the days and months that followed. The resolution honors their service and sacrifice, remembers those who have since died — including from 9/11-related illnesses — and reaffirms the federal commitment to the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.

“We all have a responsibility, in honor of those who gave their lives, and for the sake of our democracy, to teach our children, our students, and our future leaders the history of our homeland,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Today, I unveiled a package of federal action that lays out a series of steps we must take to not only honor those who perished on 9/11 and in its aftermath, but to be prepared to stop any future attacks. With today’s actions, we will keep fighting to protect our state, our homeland, and ensure that a tragic day like that one in September of 2001 never happens again.”

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Sussex County Prosecutor Dan Perez, New Milford Mayor Michael Putrino, New Milford Councilwoman Lisa Sandhusen, New Milford Councilwoman Randi Duffie, New Milford Councilman Matt Seymour, Bloomingdale Councilman David Bronkhurst, Newton Police Chief Dan Finkle, Vernon Mayor Anthony Rossi, Vernon Police Chief Daniel Young, Sussex County Chief of Detectives Nicholas T. Elmo, Sussex County Lieutenant Kyle Phlegar, Sussex County Detective Andrew Moore, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Commissioner Germaine Ortiz.

Below: Gottheimer unveils 9/11 legislation package.

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning, everyone.

Twenty-five years ago, this week, New Milford lost one of its own.

Stephen Dorf (DOOR-F) was 39 years old. He worked as a communications technician for Euro Brokers, on the 84th floor of the South Tower.

Stephen was one of six kids in a close-knit family from Brooklyn, and by every account I’ve read, he was exactly the kind of guy you’d want as a neighbor and friend. He was the neighbor grilling in the backyard, the guy who’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. That’s who New Milford and Jersey lost on September 11, 2001. Not a statistic. Not a name on a wall. A friend from this remarkable community and our great state.

The steel beam behind us from the towers, the plaque, this plot of land — they mean something. Because behind them is a piece of New Milford’s story that this town will never be torn down.

Because of 9/11, and the havoc monsters wreaked that day, we have memorials like this one across our state and country. I’ve prayed at beautiful memorials like this one more times than I can count over the years. They are both powerful remembrances of our loved ones, a reminder of the strength of our democracy and the flag we pledge to, the indefatigable will of our people, and, in our hours of need, our ability to come together as a nation.

Last week, I was at memorials at the Pentagon, in Lower Manhattan, in Shanksville — and every time, I think about the same thing: the people we lost and their families.

The nearly 3,000 souls that day, and the 750 who called New Jersey home. One hundred and forty-seven from Bergen County alone.

I think about the passengers on Flight 93, who fought back over a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania, so that plane never reached its target — the United States Capitol. They literally came together and voted, on the spot, to swap their lives for the terrorists — to protect us.

I think about the more than 400 first responders who ran into those towers instead of running away — because that’s what they do, and that’s what they still do, every day, right here in New Milford.

And I think about something that doesn’t get said enough: more than 9,000 first responders and survivors have died from illnesses tied to what they breathed in at Ground Zero. That is three times the number of people who died on the day of the attack itself. I think about the 60,000 servicemen and women who gave their lives in or were injured in the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For those of us who lived through this tragedy, where we were and how we learned about the attacks is seared in our memory. But, twenty-five years is a long time.

It’s long enough that we have college students graduating this spring who weren’t alive for 9/11. We have educators in our classrooms who weren’t alive. 100 million Americans have been born since that tragic morning — nearly a third of our country. Their only connection to that day is a memorial like this one, a story from their parents, a paragraph in a textbook, if they’re lucky enough to get a paragraph at all.

So, when we say never forget, we all have a responsibility, in honor of those who gave their lives, and for the sake of our democracy, to teach our children, our students, our future leaders the history of our homeland. Otherwise, TikTok will do it — and they may say what the most despicable people are posting and what some of our enemies are spreading — that 9/11 was our fault. I will do everything in my power, and I know you will, too, to ensure that our children learn the truth, honor the fallen, and protect the greatest country the world has ever known.

But that takes work. In 2004, the 9/11 Commission published a report with clear steps to help prevent another terror attack on our soil. As a result, Congress established the National Counterterrorism Center. We created the Director of National Intelligence. We built a system where our intelligence agencies can escape their silos and share information – it was one of the great weaknesses that contributed to the attack that day.

Twenty years later, there is still one 9/11 Commission recommendation — just one — that has never been fully carried out: secondary barriers, to keep terrorists out of the cockpit on every commercial flight in America. Many of us have been working on that for years – but we’re still not there, and there’s no excuse for the airlines’ failure to fully meet that demand. And, there is still work to be done to make sure threats are better shared between our intelligence agencies, especially as they develop faster and grow more sophisticated

As we’ve said, twenty-five years is a long time. America is facing new threats that didn’t exist in 2001, like Artificial Intelligence and the government of China.

For the past year, I served as Co-Chair of the House Intelligence Committee’s bipartisan 9/11 Review Task Force, with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik, Chairman Rick Crawford, and Ranking Member Jim Himes. We spent a year in hearings and briefings, grading our own government’s homework: how well did we actually carry out the original 9/11 Commission’s recommendations, what worked and what didn’t — and how do we prepare for the next generation of threats.

Our report [hold up a copy] lays out twenty bipartisan recommendations to close the gaps for the next 25 years. Things like faster information sharing between agencies, adopting AI to stay ahead of our enemies, and deeper partnerships with our state, local, and private-sector partners to fight terror.

Today, I want to lay out a series of steps we must take to not only honor those who perished on 9/11 and its aftermath, but to be prepared to stop any future attacks.

The first step starts here, in our communities, and it’s about ensuring that our towns and first responders have the resources they need to protect our families here in Bergen, Sussex, and Passaic Counties. This morning, I’m announcing $5 million in new federal counter-terrorism resources that I secured for every community in the Fifth District.

Every single town — all 65 in the Fifth Congressional District — in Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex Counties — will receive $50,000 to be utilized for counter-terrorism training — to be prepared for any threats, especially the new ones. That’s $3.25 million in new training dollars.

That funding will allow our towns to receive advanced tactical training for responding to active shooters and violent threats. New specialized training will help identify and mitigate threats to our schools and houses of worship, and it will ensure the maximum number of officers can receive this crucial training without impacting day-to-day operations.

What worked twenty-five years ago doesn’t work today. We must invest in our first responders so they can protect themselves and our families.

In addition, to ensure we are prepared and coordinating, we are investing more than 1.5 million dollars here in Bergen County to expand and modernize the Bergen County Real-Time Intelligence Center. That’s the hub that connects more than 70 law enforcement, fire, and EMS agencies countywide — to better integrate and coordinate emergency response across the county.

The Intelligence Center ensures that agencies don’t miss a beat when a thief flees from one town to the next, and all hands will be on deck for major events at MetLife Stadium.

As part of the federal dollars I secured, Newton in Sussex County will be able to purchase a real-time intelligence platform and help existing systems that aren’t connected. Vernon will receive funding for a thermal search-and-overwatch drone for fast response at any time of day or conditions. And Bloomingdale will receive dollars to purchase a response drone and active-threat gear — ballistic shields, armor, breaching kits. Those are major tools — major federal investments — in the hands of the men and women who are the first on the scene when we need them most – to handle any major threat thrown at them, including terror.

My hope is that all of our communities and agencies will be able to work hand-in-hand, locally, seamlessly, across the state, and with federal partners. That is so critical and one of our biggest lessons from the original 9/11 report and our review.

Second, I’m sending an urgent letter to the FAA and Secretary of Transportation Duffy to finally finish the job on secondary cockpit barriers. Years ago, I wrote the bipartisan Saracini Aviation Safety Act, requiring these barriers on all new aircraft. It was signed into law in 2018.

I then helped pass legislation to require the barriers on every plane — including older aircraft already flying. Yet, years later, the FAA still hasn’t finalized the rule to retrofit the existing fleet. When it finally happens, it will take years to implement. We need the FAA to implement a final rule and get every plane in our skies equipped with a secondary cockpit barrier.

It makes no sense for flight attendants to drag a drink cart into the aisle when the pilot needs to leave the cockpit to use the restroom.

We know that won’t work if a terrorist wants it — studies show that they will literally push over the cart.

Third, I’m leading a resolution this week with the entire New Jersey Congressional House delegation formally honoring New Jersey’s 9/11 first responders. The cops, the firefighters, the EMTs who ran toward the towers, who searched the rubble for months afterward, drawn from all twenty-one of our counties. The ones who helped run the largest waterborne evacuation in American history, carrying an estimated half a million people to safety across the Hudson.

This resolution remembers them, and it reaffirms our commitment to funding the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund for as long as they’re needed.

Finally, this step addresses what I discussed at the beginning of my remarks. With my colleague Congresswoman Elise Stefanik of New York, I just introduced a bipartisan bill to ensure that 9/11 is taught in every classroom in America. Not on TikTok, but in our textbooks.

Why? Because if a generation of kids grows up not understanding what happened that day, and why, we haven’t just failed the memory of those lost. We’ve failed the future, we’ve our democracy, and our ability to protect our country. I will not let that happen. Only fifteen states have a requirement to teach about 9/11 – and, believe it or not, New Jersey isn’t one of them. We should change that today, and, in the meantime, I will fill that gap with bipartisan federal legislation.

Twenty-five years ago, I remember, like a lot of you probably do, watching President Bush stand on a pile of smoking rubble at Ground Zero, grab a bullhorn, and shout back to rescue workers who couldn’t hear him: “I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you.” Out of the worst morning in this country’s history, that’s what America decided to be — loud, united, and unafraid.

That’s the New Jersey I know. That’s the New Milford I know. A place where our memory and our pride outlast fear. A place where a guy named Stephen Dorf, who just wanted to go to work and come home to his family, will never, ever be forgotten.

With today’s actions — with real funding, a real report, and real legislation — with the best first responders in the country, the best service men and women, and intelligence officers in the world, we will keep fighting to protect our state, our homeland, and ensure that a tragic day like that one in September of 2001 never happens again.

Because in the greatest country in the world, I know that if we work together, our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you. God bless you, God bless our first responders, and God bless the United States of America.",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-introduces-bipartisan-bill-to-stop-rogue-ai-agents-and-keep-people-in-control,RELEASE: Gottheimer Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Stop Rogue AI Agents and Keep People in Control,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17) introduced the bipartisan Stop Rogue AI Act to ensure businesses and federal agencies have the ability to see rogue and dangerous AI agents operating inside their own networks, and stop them before they cause real damage.

Right now, most organizations have no reliable way to know how many unauthorized AI agents are running in their systems, who built them, or what they have access to. AI agents can be activated by employees, embedded in third-party software, or deployed by vendors — often with little to no visibility for the organization whose networks they’re operating on to know that they are there. That blind spot is becoming more dangerous by the day. The recent Hugging Face incident and other autonomous cyberattacks have shown AI systems are being used to hack organizations at scale, without a person ever watching or stepping in.

“Right now, AI agents are running loose in our networks, and nobody can see them or verify who built them — making it increasingly hard to stop them,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That’s a five-alarm security risk. We’ve already seen AI systems hack organizations on autopilot, with no person at the wheel. My bipartisan bill with Congressman Lawler puts humans back in the driver’s seat so we can find agents and know exactly who’s behind them so that organizations can effectively protect their systems.”

“AI agents are becoming more capable and more deeply integrated into our government and economy. We need to make sure we know what these systems are, what they can access, and who is responsible for them. We can harness the benefits of AI while making sure these systems don’t operate in the shadows of the networks they have access to,” said Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17).

The Stop Rogue AI Act would direct the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), to develop national standards, guidelines, and best practices for discovering, verifying, and controlling AI agents.

Under the bill, those standards will provide guidance to organizations on how to:

Find and track every AI agent operating on their systems, in a continuous, easily readable inventory;

Verify who built and operates each agent, using verifiable identity and provenance — not just a vendor’s word;

Monitor agents in real time, including detecting prompt injection, data theft, and agents behaving outside their approved limits; and

Allow, deny, or revoke an agent’s access, actions, and interactions at any time – so people have the final say over what it can access or do.

The bill also requires federal contractors and agencies to build these safeguards into how they buy and deploy AI agents, and directs NIST and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to fold the standards into existing federal cybersecurity guidance.

The bipartisan legislation has already earned support from a broad coalition spanning network security, internet infrastructure, and AI governance, including:

Palo Alto Networks

GoDaddy

Infoblox

AI Policy Network

Alliance for Secure AI

“As AI agents become more capable of acting and transacting on our behalf, identity and accountability are foundational. We need open, interoperable standards that make it possible to know which agent is acting, who stands behind it, and whether its credentials are valid. Representatives Gottheimer and Lawler’s bipartisan effort is an important step toward establishing those standards and putting them to work through federal adoption. GoDaddy is pleased to support an approach that can strengthen security while keeping the agentic web open to businesses and innovators of every size,” said Jared Sine, Chief Strategy & Legal Officer, GoDaddy.

“Securing AI agents starts with knowing they exist and being able to trust who they are. This bill rightly treats agent discovery as foundational cybersecurity, giving agencies the ability to continuously find, verify, and control the AI agents interacting with their systems. We’re especially encouraged that this legislation promotes open, vendor-agnostic, and interoperable discovery standards built on existing internet infrastructure like the domain name system, rather than locking agencies into proprietary platforms. That approach is scalable, resilient, and the right foundation for agent security. Reps. Gottheimer and Lawler are doing commendable work, and we look forward to supporting the bill’s advancement,” said Wei Chen, Chief Legal Officer and EVP, Regulatory Strategy, Infoblox

“As AI agents rapidly scale across government and enterprise systems, security and governance must evolve to address the novel risks of agentic decision-making. Palo Alto Networks applauds Representatives Josh Gottheimer and Mike Lawler for their bipartisan leadership in introducing the AI Agent Standardization and Security Act. This legislation provides a strong foundation for organizations to safely adopt agentic AI while maintaining continuous visibility, runtime monitoring, identity verification and control,” said Daniel Kroese, Vice President, Public Policy and Government Affairs, Palo Alto Networks

The Stop Rogue AI Act builds on Gottheimer’s work as Co-Chair of the House AI Commission and his bipartisan track record on AI safety and consumer protections. It comes as Congress and federal regulators face growing pressure to keep pace with the rapid development and deployment of autonomous AI systems.

###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mejia-menendez-and-espaillat-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall-following-reports-of-negligent-conditions,"Reps. Mejia, Menendez, and Espaillat Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall Following Reports of Negligent Conditions",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Analilia Mejia,M001246,mejia.house.gov,mejia,https://mejia.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"For Immediate Release: September 9, 2026

Contact: Beth Wiesinger | Beth.Wiesinger@mail.house.gov

NEWARK, NJ — U.S. Representatives Analilia Mejia (NJ-11), Rob Menendez (NJ-08), and Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) today conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, operated by GEO Group, following repeated complaints regarding conditions inside the detention facility, including reports of spoiled food, inadequate or non-functioning air conditioning, and grave concerns about access to timely and appropriate medical care.

Following the visit, the members issued the following joint statement:

""ICE and GEO Group have a responsibility to the people they are holding in federal custody. What we heard and observed today makes clear that those held in Delaney Hall are dangerously neglected.

We met with individuals who detailed medical care being delayed or denied when people are sick or in pain, spoiled and unsafe food being served, and inadequate air conditioning leaving people to endure dangerous conditions. This is a federally funded failure of care and oversight.

We will continue to demand clear answers about what is happening inside this facility, including the deaths of individuals held at Delaney, what DHS is doing to address these conditions, and why people in federal custody have been forced to endure them in the first place.""

The members will continue to review information gathered during today's visit and pursue additional oversight as warranted, including seeking answers from federal officials and facility operators regarding the conditions reported at Delaney Hall.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH remarks from the Representatives.

###",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/los-reps-menendez-espaillat-y-mejia-realizan-visita-de-supervision-en-delaney-hall-tras-reportes-de-condiciones-negligentes,"Los Reps. Menendez, Espaillat y Mejia realizan visita de supervisión en Delaney Hall tras reportes de condiciones negligentes",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Robert Menendez,M001226,menendez.house.gov,menendez,https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"JERSEY CITY, NJ – El miércoles, los Representantes Rob Menendez (NJ-08), el Presidente del Caucus Hispano del Congreso, Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) y Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) realizaron una visita de supervisión en Delaney Hall, operado por GEO Group, tras las repetidas denuncias sobre las condiciones dentro del centro de detención, incluyendo reportes de comida en mal estado, aire acondicionado inadecuado o no funcional y graves preocupaciones sobre el acceso a atención médica oportuna y adecuada.

Tras la visita, los miembros emitieron la siguiente declaración conjunta:

""El ICE y GEO Group tienen una responsabilidad con las personas que mantienen bajo custodia federal. Lo que escuchamos y observamos hoy deja en claro que quienes se encuentran en Delaney Hall continúan siendo peligrosamente desatendidos.

Nos reunimos con personas que detallaron la demora o negación de atención médica cuando las personas están enfermas o con dolor, la entrega de alimentos en mal estado e inseguros, y un aire acondicionado inadecuado que obliga a las personas a soportar condiciones peligrosas. Esto es un fracaso de atención y supervisión financiado con fondos federales.

Seguiremos exigiendo respuestas claras sobre lo que está ocurriendo dentro de esta instalación, incluyendo las muertes de personas detenidas en Delaney, qué está haciendo el DHS para abordar estas condiciones y por qué las personas bajo custodia federal se han visto obligadas a soportarlas en primer lugar.""

Los miembros continuarán revisando la información recopilada durante la visita de hoy y llevarán a cabo una supervisión adicional según sea necesario, incluyendo la búsqueda de respuestas de los funcionarios federales y los operadores de la instalación con respecto a las condiciones reportadas en Delaney Hall.",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-espaillat-and-mejia-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall-following-reports-of-negligent-conditions,"Menendez, Espaillat, and Mejia Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall Following Reports of Negligent Conditions",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Robert Menendez,M001226,menendez.house.gov,menendez,https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"JERSEY CITY, NJ – Congressional Hispanic Caucus (""CHC"") Vice Chair of Policy Rob Menendez (NJ-08), CHC Chair Adriano Espaillat (NY-13), and U.S. Representative Analilia Mejia (NJ-11) today conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, operated by GEO Group, following repeated complaints regarding conditions inside the detention facility, including reports of spoiled food, inadequate or non-functioning air conditioning, and grave concerns about access to timely and appropriate medical care.

Following the visit, the members issued the following joint statement:

“ICE and GEO Group have a responsibility to the people they are holding in federal custody. What we heard and observed today makes clear that those held in Delaney Hall continue to be dangerously neglected.

We met with individuals who detailed medical care being delayed or denied when people are sick or in pain, spoiled and unsafe food being served, and inadequate air conditioning leaving people to endure dangerous conditions. This is a federally funded failure of care and oversight.

We will continue to demand clear answers about what is happening inside this facility, including the deaths of individuals held at Delaney, what DHS is doing to address these conditions, and why people in federal custody have been forced to endure them in the first place.”

The members will continue to review information gathered during today’s visit and pursue additional oversight as warranted, including seeking answers from federal officials and facility operators regarding the conditions reported at Delaney Hall.",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/photo-release-gottheimer-attends-unveiling-of-joans-joy-legacy-lane-in-honor-of-joan-dalessandro,PHOTO RELEASE: Gottheimer Attends Unveiling of “Joan’s Joy Legacy Lane” in Honor of Joan D’Alessandro,2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"Above: Gottheimer Helps Unveil “Joan’s Joy Legacy Lane”

HILLSDALE, NJ — Yesterday, Monday, September 7, 2026, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined Congressman Mike Lawler (NY-17), Mayor Michael Sheinfield, the Hillsdale community, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, and the D’Alessandro family to unveil “Joan’s Joy Legacy Lane,” a new street sign honoring the memory of Joan D’Alessandro and her mother’s decades-long fight for stronger child protection laws.

“Joan’s joy is still here. It’s on this street sign. It’s in the law that bears her name. And it’s in every child who is a little safer because you refused to let her story end in silence,” said Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5).

Joan D’Alessandro was a seven-year-old Girl Scout who was murdered on April 19, 1973, while delivering cookies to a neighbor’s house in Hillsdale. Her mother, Rosemarie D’Alessandro, turned her grief into advocacy, championing the passage of “Joan’s Law” in New Jersey in 1997 under Governor Christie Whitman, and its federal counterpart, signed by President Bill Clinton in 1998, ensuring that anyone who murders and sexually assaults a child under fourteen is never eligible for parole. The legislation has been updated in New Jersey to apply to any child under eighteen.

Gottheimer is a cosponsor of the Paula Bohovesky and Joan D’Alessandro Act, to raise the age for prohibition on parole to cover all minors eighteen and under who were murdered and sexually assaulted.

Below: Gottheimer Helps Unveil “Joan’s Joy Legacy Lane”

###",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415824,"New York Post article featuring Smith commentary'Unlicensed, illegal migrant drove car that killed baby in NJ parking lot: officials'",2026-09-05,2026,2026-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Adry Torres

Published September 5, 2026 at 12:06 p.m. ET

The unlicensed driver who crashed into a New Jersey family in a grocery store parking lot — killing a 9-month-old boy and injuring his mother and sister — and the car’s owner are both illegal immigrants who ICE is now seeking to deport, officials said.

María Cobon-Guzmán, 20, a Guatemalan national living in Trenton, was charged Tuesday with five counts including manslaughter after she struck and killed Yitzchok Rosenberg on Aug. 28, according to the Ocean County Prosecutor’s Office. She has never held a driver’s license, investigators said.

Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, 22, a Mexican national living in Toms River, was charged with knowingly creating a substantial risk of death for letting Cobon-Guzmán drive.

Ocean County Jail records show US Immigration and Customs Enforcement detainers filed against both women. Judge Kimarie Rahill denied them both bail.

ICE seeks the custody of María Cobon-Guzmán, who was operating a car without a license at a supermarket parking lot in Jackson, New Jersey on Aug. 28 when she struck and killed a nine-month-old and injured his mother and sister. Ocean County Jail

Cobon-Guzmán was behind the wheel of a Ford Fusion when she slammed into Golda Chana, who was pushing Yitzchok in a stroller, and her 5-year-old daughter, according to VIN News.

All three victims were transported to Jersey Shore University Medical Center, where Yitzchok died.

A Department of Homeland Security official told Fox News Digital that Cobon-Guzmán and Lazaro-Flores crossed the US-Mexico border illegally during the Biden administration.

Lazaro-Flores did so on five occasions in October 2023 and was removed from the country each time.

The DHS official said that Cobon-Guzmán entered the US once and was released, but an immigration judge approved a deportation order July 31.

ICE is seeking the deportation of Ariadna Lazaro-Flores, an undocumented immigrant from Mexico, in connection to the death of a nine-month-old boy who was struck by a vehicle driven by her friend, María Cobon-Guzmán. Ocean County Jail

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) told Fold News Digital he has called for the removal of the Garden State’s sanctuary status that would permit state and local enforcement agencies to work with federal immigration departments.

The congressman noted that Lazaro-Flores was able to secure a driver’s license despite her status as an illegal immigrant.",1,2026-09-09T09:27:09Z,2026-09-09T09:29:04Z
https://gottheimer.house.gov/posts/release-gottheimer-unveils-bipartisan-back-to-school-agenda-for-ai-in-k-12-education,RELEASE: Gottheimer Unveils Bipartisan Back-to-School Agenda for AI in K-12 Education,2026-09-04,2026,2026-09,Democrat,House,NJ,Josh Gottheimer,G000583,gottheimer.house.gov,gottheimer,https://gottheimer.house.gov/press,scraper,"AI is a Tool, Not a Replacement for Critical Thinking

New Bipartisan Legislation will Help K-12 Schools Build AI Labs, Train Teachers, Keep Jersey Students Ahead of Curve

Emphasizes Importance of Screen Time Limits In School

Above: Gottheimer announces Bipartisan Back-to-School Agenda on AI and Screen Time in K-12 Education.

RIDGEWOOD, N.J. — Today, September 4, 2026, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), Co-Chair of the House Commission on Artificial Intelligence and the Innovation Economy, unveiled a comprehensive, bipartisan back-to-school agenda to make sure students in the Fifth District and across the country are prepared for a world increasingly shaped by AI. Speaking at George Washington Middle School, Gottheimer announced his new bipartisan AI LABS Act, co-led by Congressman Jay Obernolte (CA-23), to help K-12 schools build dedicated AI labs and train teachers — and paired it with a broader push to keep phones out of the classroom, protect New Jersey’s phone-free schools resources, boost AI literacy in the classroom, and close the digital divide so no community gets left offline.

Watch full remarks here.

“We’re not going to pretend AI doesn’t exist, and we’re not going to ban it and hope it goes away. So, here in Jersey, we need to do this differently,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “AI can be a powerful tool, but it can never replace the fundamentals. Give our schools the tools. Give our teachers the training. And give our children a real head start, instead of a false choice between banning technology outright and drowning in it.”

AI is already reshaping how students study, how teachers plan, and how employers hire, but K-12 schools have unequal access to the tools and curricula students need to learn how to use it responsibly. The bipartisan AI LABS Act tackles that gap head-on.

This legislation directs the Department of Education to create a new federal grant program or make resources from existing grant programs available to help K-12 schools establish dedicated AI labs, much like the computer and typing labs that became a fixture in schools a generation ago. Those labs would give students hands-on curricula on how to use and understand AI, help teachers better understand the technology, and incorporate it into their classrooms. The bill also directs the Department to study who receives the resources, how they are used, and to make recommendations on future investment so students and educators stay ahead on AI education.

Alongside the AI LABS Act, Gottheimer announced additional steps in his AI back-to-school agenda:

Protecting New Jersey’s phone-free schools resources. Gottheimer is sending a letter to Governor Mikie Sherrill and New Jersey Commissioner of Education Dr. Lily Laux that emphasizes the importance of the state’s Phone-Free Schools Grant Program. Public school districts across Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex counties — including eleven here in the Fifth District — received grants to go bell-to-bell phone-free this year.

Boosting AI education in New Jersey. Gottheimer is calling on the State to dedicate K-12 resources specifically to responsibly integrate AI literacy, ethics, and practical skills into K-12 public school curriculum while limiting screen time to ensure fundamentals remain a priority in education.

Keeping phones out of the classroom. Gottheimer is supporting the bipartisan UNPLUGGED Act, introduced by Representatives Eugene Vindman (VA-7) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), which supports state and local policies that keep personal electronic devices out of the classroom during school hours. It also establishes a Department of Education grant program to help schools purchase secure lock boxes and pouches, with commonsense exceptions for students with medical needs, disabilities, and English learners.

Ensuring Connectivity for All Students and Families. Gottheimer is sending a letter to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) urging the agencies to prioritize broadband deployment to rural and underserved school districts, so the benefits of AI are not concentrated in the wealthiest, most connected communities. This letter builds on Gottheimer’s work fighting for broadband funding for New Jersey, including more than $260 million from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill that he helped write, negotiate, and sign into law.

These actions build on Gottheimer’s consistent support for New Jersey schools, including fighting against the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to over $1 billion in education funding for New Jersey, which were fortunately blocked.

Ridgewood Public School District, one of the largest and top-ranked school districts in Bergen County, is implementing a “Return to a Strong Foundation” emphasis this year focused on limiting screens in the classroom and keeping fundamentals front and center in the age of AI.

Gottheimer was joined by Ridgewood Councilman Frank Mortimer, Ridgewood School District Superintendent Dr. Mark Schwarz, George Washington Middle School Principal Dave Bailey, Bergen County Association of School Administrators President Dr. Joseph Cirillo, NJ PTA President Jackie Gibbs, NJ PTA Federal Legislative Chairperson Sharon Roseboro, and NJ PTA Bergen County Council of PTAs President Nancy Wallace. Gottheimer was also joined by four George Washington Middle School students involved in student government – Alaiya Barnes, Landon Ponchak, Karleigh Cadaret, and Druv Kethini.

Below: Gottheimer announces Bipartisan Back-to-School Agenda on AI and Screen Time in K-12 Education.

Read full remarks here:

Good morning, Ridgewood!

As you close out your first week back to school, I want to start by thanking everyone here at George Washington Middle School, including the educators, the administrators and staff, the school board, and especially the students, for having me here today.

Now, I did a little homework before I came, because that’s what you’re supposed to do at school, right? And, I learned a couple of things about this building that I did not know.

First, some of you know the name Willie Geist. He anchors Sunday Today and co-hosts Morning Joe. Willie met his wife, Christina, in their sixth-grade homeroom right here at George Washington Middle School, back in 1986. Forty years later, they’re still together. So, I don’t know exactly what they were teaching in that homeroom, but whatever it was, keep doing it.

Second, Ridgewood’s roots go all the way to the Revolutionary War. George Washington visited this area and wrote letters from right around here, while Patriot and British troops fought nearby. The borough was practically founded during America’s fight for independence. When Washington delivered his first Annual Address to Congress, he said something I think about a lot, especially on a day like today. He said, “Knowledge is in every country the surest basis of public happiness.”

Two hundred and fifty years after our founding, that’s still true, and it’s exactly why we’re here this morning.

I want to give real credit to the Ridgewood School District. While you study the past, you’re not living it. You’re on the cutting edge of education, including how to best use, and not use, technology to learn. This year, you launched your “Return to a Strong Foundation” initiative, cutting back laptop use in the classroom for its nearly 5,500 students, especially for the youngest children. Ridgewood started limiting cell phones in school, too, with phones in lockers, all day, for every student, from elementary school right up through high school. I should add that’s now the state law. No phones in the classroom.

In my opinion, that’s exactly the kind of commonsense, community-driven leadership we need more of, and it’s exactly the balance we need to be talking about in the age of AI. The answer isn’t more screens. The answer is smarter, more purposeful use of technology, alongside real, honest-to-goodness reading, writing, and critical thinking. In other words, technology can’t do your work or your thinking for you. When the calculator showed up to replace the abacus, we still learned how to count. As a kid, I used to look up facts in the World Book Encyclopedia – and then came the Internet.

I still got to read about and learn about the landing on the moon, but I found the information online, not in a book on the shelf. There’s a big difference. We can’t let AI write our papers or do our math assignments, but it can be a tool for helping us learn. We can’t allow AI to replace our educators, but it can certainly help take the busy work off their plate, or allow them to develop more personalized lesson plans for students.

It’s clear that your school system and your educators already get that. Today, I’m here to take that approach across our state and nationwide.

We are at a true inflection point. Technology isn’t slowing down for us. It never has and never will. Just this week, OpenAI introduced Astra, its latest model. This is on the heels of Anthropic’s Mythos – and new Chinese open-weight models that are coming at us nearly every week.

Whether we like it or not, artificial intelligence, or AI, is already in our children’s backpacks, on their laptops, and on their phones. The question isn’t whether our children will encounter AI in their lives – K-12, in college, in their jobs. They will. Just the way we have iPhones and our parents didn’t.

The question is whether we prepare them for it, or just cross our fingers and hope for the best.

Obviously, we can’t take that chance. Our children absolutely need every tool available to compete, not just against others in New Jersey or in the US, but against children in China, India, and all over the world already being trained on this technology. If we sit on our hands, if we don’t have the tools, we will fall behind. That’s just the reality.

But, I want to be really clear about this. AI can be a powerful tool, but it can never replace the fundamentals.

Our students need to learn how to think, solve problems, ask questions, and understand the material for themselves, not through a chatbot. We should use AI to strengthen those skills – not use it as a shortcut around them.

Here’s why I say that. A recent poll found that 45 percent of Jersey students report using AI frequently for schoolwork. But, here’s the number that should get every parent’s attention: nearly two out of three students admit they’ve used AI to cheat in school. And nationally, the majority of teens think AI cheating happens regularly at their own school.

Meanwhile, a lot of parents are flying blind – and, while there are some tools to help, it’s not always easy for an educator to catch a kid using AI to do his or her assignment. In a recent survey from Montclair School District, half of parents said they had no idea how often their own kid uses AI for schoolwork, and 87 percent said they want clearer communication from schools about all of it. So, we’ve got children using a powerful new technology every single day, and we’ve got parents and teachers who, in far too many cases, don’t even know it’s happening, let alone whether it’s helping or hurting their student or child.

Now, some places have looked at all this and panicked. This week, Mayor Mamdani and New York City rolled out a policy banning AI tools outright for every student through eighth grade, with only high schoolers getting restricted access.

I get the instinct. Fewer screens, more critical thinking. I agree with that part, one hundred percent – and I think a lot more of our tests and note-taking should be on a piece of paper, not a computer. But, an outright ban doesn’t teach a single kid how to use AI responsibly, nor does it teach the skills that can help them.

It just guarantees that the first time they really encounter AI with no guardrails and no guidance is the day they get handed a diploma and shoved into a workforce that runs on this stuff. That’s not a plan. That’s sticking your head in the sand and hoping it goes away.

Think about it this way. When I was a kid, we had typing class. Some of you probably did too, pecking away on those big clunky keyboards.

Then by the 80s, and into the ’90s, schools built computer labs because people realized that if children don’t learn a new technology in school that would prepare them for life, in a structured way, with a teacher guiding them, they will learn it somewhere else: badly, unsupervised, and usually too late.

AI technology is the same idea for this generation. We’re not going to pretend it doesn’t exist, and we’re not going to ban it and hope it goes away. So, here in Jersey, we need to do this differently.

We should put AI skills in a classroom, with a curriculum, with an educator, and with guardrails, so that our children grow up to be smart users of AI, not passive victims of it.

That’s why, today, I’m announcing my new bipartisan AI LABS Act, with my colleague Congressman Jay Obernolte of California. This federal legislation directs the U.S. Department of Education to create a new federal grant program to help K-12 public schools set up dedicated AI labs, with real curricula, that teach students how AI actually works, and how to be prepared to utilize it smartly in the new AI world.

This builds on recommendations from the American Federation of Teachers and the National Education Association for real, dedicated curricula that are directed and supervised by educators. There is a reason why AI companies are now hiring college students with philosophy and history degrees, not just those with computer science degrees. They want people who can think critically. The trades also want young people who know how to use AI on the shop floor and in building and manufacturing.

That means learning how to use AI, how to question it, and how to know when to – and not to — trust it. My new legislation will also help teachers get trained up, too, so they’re not scrambling to keep pace with their own students. It also requires a study on how the funds are actually being utilized, so we know what’s working and can keep improving it.

I don’t want to raise a generation of children who can prompt a chatbot, but can’t write a paragraph on their own, or think through what question to ask the chatbot.

I want to raise a generation of children who can use it to genuinely improve their work, because they understand how to use it and know its limits.

That’s the whole idea behind the AI LABS Act. Give our schools the tools. Give our teachers the training. And give our children a real head start, instead of a false choice between banning technology outright and drowning in it.

Second, I’m sending a letter to Governor Sherrill and Education Commissioner Laux on the State’s Phone-Free Schools Grant Program. That program has already helped eighty-six school districts, including eleven right here in the Fifth District. It puts real bell-to-bell cell phone policies in place, with secure pouches, lockers, and the staff training to make it actually work.

Here’s the problem: The current budget for next year includes a record $12.4 billion for K-12 education, but there’s no dedicated earmark in there to keep this program going in the future.

My letter emphasizes the importance of this funding – school districts are just starting to get this right, and we can’t pull the rug out from under them now.

Third, I’m also pushing for new federal funding to help supplement the state’s program. That’s why, I’m very proud to cosponsor the bipartisan UNPLUGGED Act – legislation that directs states and school districts to actually implement phone-free policies during the school day, and it creates a federal grant program to help schools pay for the lockboxes and secure pouches to make it happen.

It includes sensible exceptions too, for children managing a medical condition like Type 1 diabetes, children with disabilities, and English language learners who need translation support.

More resources for this important effort will help implement New Jersey’s new cell phone ban legislation that previous Governor Murphy signed into law in January, which requires all school districts in the state to adopt policies restricting the use of cell phones and other internet-enabled devices in K-12 public schools.

Fourth, I’m working with the state to keep building out real K-12 AI literacy priorities. This builds on New Jersey’s Department of Education’s new core AI principles that were developed with TeachAI, a global partnership that helps schools and governments use AI safely and responsibly in education. These principles will ensure Jersey schools keep people in the loop and put students’ own thinking front and center, not just whatever the AI spits out. This is exactly the kind of approach we need.

We can’t risk losing funding for this program. That’s why, along with others, I successfully fought the Trump Administration’s proposed cuts to New Jersey’s schools. He tried to gut more than $1 billion in federal funding – and we beat him.

And finally, I’m writing to the FCC and the NTIA about broadband access and connectivity. This is an issue that I’ve been working on for years, and, while we’ve made a ton of progress, we still have towns in Northern Jersey with basically dial-up connectivity, and speeds that AI can’t run on. That’s unacceptable.

Right now, there are more than 5,000 homes in Sussex County without dial up, with more than 3,000 more who don’t have access to broadband.

If we don’t get high-speed internet into our rural and disadvantaged school districts, like parts of Sussex County that I represent — net inequality will be permanently baked in. The advantages that AI promises shouldn’t depend on your zip code. I am urging both agencies to prioritize the communities furthest behind, so they get connected first, not last.

This builds on my work getting hundreds of millions in funding for broadband infrastructure right here in Jersey through the American Rescue Plan, the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill, and the CARES Act, three historic bills that I helped write, negotiate, and sign into law. I’m calling on the state to put to work the money that I fought for in the Care Act. New Jersey was approved for more than $260 million that I helped bring back from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. So far, only $60 million has been deployed to help connect Jersey families, but we have a long way to go.

Right now, the Trump administration is holding up the last $200 million of this critical funding to connect families across Sussex County and the rest of the state. That’s why the FCC and the administration need to release the rest of the funds and get broadband access to every family across the state.

Put it all together, and here’s what we’re doing today: a bill to teach AI the right way, and a push to keep phones out of the way, a push to get real funding for AI literacy, and a push to make sure no community in America gets left offline while the rest of the world races ahead.

I’ll be honest with you: as Co-chair of the House Commission on AI, technology is moving fast, and some days it can feel like it’s moving faster than we can keep up with. But, I have never once bet against American children and Jersey’s incredible educators and schools – and I’m not about to start today.

I promise you, these children will run circles around whatever the future throws at them.

As long as we keep investing in our children and working together, here in the greatest country in the world, I know that our best days will always, always be ahead of us.

Thank you, God bless you, and may God continue to bless and watch over the United States of America.",1,2026-09-05T08:49:07Z,2026-09-05T08:50:44Z