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://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senators-kim-and-murkowski-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-deliver-essential-maternal-supply-kits-to-new-parents/,Senators Kim and Murkowski Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Deliver Essential Maternal Supply Kits to New Parents,2026-09-29,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) introduced the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act to deliver starter maternity kits to new moms in communities with high rates of infant or maternal mortality. The kits include supplies for both mother and baby such as diapers, wipes, educational materials, and more. “Those first couple days of my sons’ lives were filled with immense joy but also the very real anxiety and uncertainty every parent faces. The NEST program has been a helping hand to new moms in the precious and daunting first chapter of their kids’ lives. I’m proud to work with Senator Murkowski to codify and continue its success,” said Senator Kim. “The time immediately after childbirth is an especially vulnerable time for mothers and their newborns. Evidence supports providing critical supplies during the postpartum period can improve families’ experiences, including reduced anxiety and financial stress,” said Senator Murkowski. “I am pleased to join Senator Kim in introducing legislation to codify this successful program and offer this support to growing families across the country.” The United States has consistently ranked highest for maternal mortality when compared to peer nations; while the infant and maternal mortality rates started leveling off, since 2020 rates have been on the rise again. Mental health conditions and substance use disorder are the leading cause of death among women during the postpartum period, and postpartum deaths account for 63% of maternal deaths in the perinatal period. The bipartisan NEST Act addresses maternal and infant health disparities by codifying a pilot program at the Department of Health and Human Services that partners with local community organizations and federally qualified health centers to distribute toolkits to expectant mothers in areas of highest need. Every expectant mother in the program will receive a Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit that includes: diapers, wipes, hygiene items, blankets, and thermometers for infants; postpartum pads, lotion, cold packs, and breastfeeding supplies for the mother’s postpartum recovery; and educational materials, such as information on maternal health resources, hotlines she can call, and information on other programs that may provide support. The NEST Act is endorsed by: Shades of Blue Project and Save the Children. “The introduction of the NEST Act is a crucial step forward in ensuring new parents’ access to essential resources during one of life’s most vulnerable moments,” said Kay Matthews, Founder and Executive Director at the Shades of Blue Project. “As someone who has experienced firsthand the challenges of the perinatal period, I know how transformative it can be when families receive the right support at the right time. I’m grateful to Senators Andy Kim and Lisa Murkowski for their bipartisan leadership on pro-family and cost of living issues—when we invest in moms and babies, we’re investing in American communities, especially those who have been historically underserved.” “Save the Children is proud to support the Newborn Essentials Support Toolkit (NEST) Act and is grateful to Senators Murkowski and Kim for their leadership in improving outcomes for mothers and babies by investing in proven programs that save lives,” said Allison Dembeck, Head of Policy at Save the Children U.S. “The NEST Act is a common-sense investment in families that will help ensure parents in rural America have access to critical care, supplies, and supports needed to give their babies a healthy start.” ###",1,2026-09-30T10:57:52Z,2026-09-30T10:59:04Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-coons-merkley-van-hollen-kaine-call-for-secretary-rubio-to-act-to-de-escalate-tension-in-ethiopias-tigray-region,"Booker, Coons, Merkley, Van Hollen, Kaine Call for Secretary Rubio to Act to De-escalate Tension in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee (SFRC) on Africa and Global Health Policy issued the following statement after reports of renewed violent conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions. In the statement, Booker was joined by U.S. Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Tim Kaine (D-VA) in condemning the Trump Administration for allowing sanctions to expire on those who facilitated human rights violations in Tigray and urged for mediation to continue: “We are alarmed by the deteriorating security situation in Ethiopia. As conflict in the Tigray, Oromia and Afar regions escalate, we are seeing the unraveling of the agreement that ended the 2020–2022 Tigray war, which the African Union brokered and the United States strongly supported. The international community must push signatories to the agreement to de-escalate tensions and return to mediation or risk seeing another conflict in the Horn of Africa. “Unfortunately, this resumption of hostilities comes less than a week after the Trump Administration let sanctions expire on individuals and entities that facilitated gross human rights abuses in Tigray. Allowing these sanctions to expire emboldens belligerents that see no checks against their horrific actions and leaves victims without much needed justice. Last week, a truck transporting U.S.-funded food assistance for internally displaced people in Northwestern Tigray was hit in a drone strike by the Ethiopian military. A significant portion of the food assistance was damaged or destroyed, and critical assistance was disrupted for people already facing significant humanitarian needs after the 2020-2022 conflict. The Ethiopian military’s expansive use of drones in Amhara and Oromia is extremely concerning, will only worsen the humanitarian situation and risks widening the conflict. The Tigray People’s Liberation Front has also failed to live up to its commitments by undermining the Interim Regional Administration, displacing IRA-appointed officials, refusing disarmament and forcefully conscripting civilians.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-duckworth-hirono-smith-blumenthal-introduce-legislation-to-allow-use-of-us-foreign-assistance-for-abortion-care-overseas,"Booker, Duckworth, Hirono, Smith, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Allow Use of U.S. Foreign Assistance for Abortion Care Overseas",2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – In recognition of International Safe Abortion Day, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tina Smith (D-MN), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) reintroduced the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act, which would repeal the 1973 Helms Amendment to the Foreign Assistance Act and ensure that U.S. foreign assistance may be used to provide the full scope of comprehensive health care, including safe, and legal access to abortion services. U.S. Representatives Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-7), Diana DeGette (D-CO-1), Norma Torres (D-CA-35), and Marilyn Strickland (D-WA-10) introduced companion legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. The Helms Amendment has prohibited any U.S. foreign assistance funds from being used for “the performance of abortion as a method of family planning” and has acted as a total ban on U.S. foreign aid being used for any abortion services. Due to the Helms Amendment, women are being denied abortion care, and even basic information and counseling. The Helms Amendment also forces providers to distinguish between abortion and all other health services and puts an essential health care service out of reach for too many. The bill also includes language clarifying that under U.S. government policy, safe abortion care is a critical component of comprehensive maternal and reproductive care. “For more than 50 years, the Helms Amendment has restricted the use of U.S. foreign assistance for abortion care, with real consequences for women around the world,” said Senator Booker. “Women are turned away from safe care and denied information and counseling about their options. Providers are forced to treat abortion differently from other essential health services. That is not a policy grounded in science, compassion, or dignity. The Abortion Is Health Care Everywhere Act would end these restrictions and make clear that U.S. global health assistance can support comprehensive reproductive health care, including safe abortion care.” “Reproductive health care is a basic human right,” said Senator Duckworth. “No one should ever die or have their lives endangered because they’re denied access to basic health care, but that’s the reality for too many women here at home and around the world. Our legislation would lift misguided restrictions on U.S. foreign assistance so it may be used to provide safe and legal access to reproductive health care.” “The Trump regime is not only attacking reproductive rights within our borders, they are preventing critical medications worth millions of dollars in foreign aid from reaching those who need it most,” said Senator Hirono. “By ending the prohibition on foreign aid being used for abortion care, the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act will help expand access to reproductive services in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. As we fight to restore reproductive freedom in the U.S., this legislation will help millions around the world access comprehensive reproductive health care services.” “With reproductive health care access under attack worldwide, our measure makes critical services available across countries—including in some of the world’s most vulnerable communities. It guarantees a basic human right— quality reproductive health care. By increasing global access, it ultimately saves lives and resources for all nations,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Comprehensive abortion care is health care. That is not a political assertion, it is a public health reality,” said Nabeeha Kazi Hutchins, President and CEO of PAI. “When safe abortion care is not available, abortions do not stop. They become more dangerous, contributing to preventable maternal death and morbidity. For more than 50 years, the Helms Amendment has restricted U.S. foreign assistance for this care, putting women’s health and lives at risk. U.S. global health policy should be grounded in evidence and focused on preventing needless maternal deaths and illness. It’s time for Congress to pass the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act and repeal Helms.” “For more than 50 years, the Helms Amendment has denied people around the world reproductive freedom. It undermines global health and human rights. It’s an archaic remnant of U.S. abortion politics that has always been completely divorced from the reality of the lives of the people it harms. It’s long past time to repeal this disgraceful law and we are grateful to Senator Booker and Congresswoman Schakowsky for introducing this important legislation. We look forward to its passage,” said Brian Dixon, Sr. Vice President, Population Connection Action Fund. “Everyone deserves to be able to get the healthcare they need when they need it. For over 50 years, the Helms Amendment has put safe abortion care out of reach for people around the world served by U.S. foreign assistance, including global health, gender-based violence, and humanitarian programs. As we continue to fight back against abortion bans and restrictions in the U.S., we must also work to expand access and eliminate barriers abroad. We’re thankful to Rep. Schakowsky, Sen. Booker, and their co-leads for their leadership in expanding access to essential healthcare,"" said Alexis McGill Johnson, president and CEO, Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “With the Trump Administration undermining foreign aid for sexual and reproductive health care, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Repealing the Helms Amendment, which has long prohibited US support for abortion services around the world, is a critical step toward ensuring people everywhere can access safe abortion care. We thank Sen. Booker, Rep. Schakowsky and their co-leads for introducing the Abortion Is Health Care Everywhere Act. Guttmacher’s research makes the impact clear: ending Helms and supporting health care systems around the globe would avert 19 million unsafe abortions and 17,000 maternal deaths annually, ” said Kelly Baden, Vice President of US Policy & Communications, Guttmacher Institute. “Abortion is health care — full stop. For over 50 years, the racist Helms Amendment has robbed women in the Global South, including many Latinas, of their right to bodily autonomy and access to lifesaving abortion care. It's time to end this deadly amendment and pass the Abortion is Health Care Everywhere Act! We are grateful to Sen. Booker and Rep. Schakowsky for taking the necessary steps to reaffirm abortion access and reproductive justice around the world,” said Katherine Olivera, director of government relations, National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice. The Abortion is Healthcare Everywhere Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (D-CA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Ben Ray Luján (D-NM). See the full list of endorsing organizations here.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-takes-to-senate-floor-to-oppose-the-protect-college-sports-act,Booker Takes to Senate Floor to Oppose the Protect College Sports Act,2026-09-28,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON. DC – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a former Division I college football player, took to the Senate floor to oppose the Protect College Sports Act, standing with college athletes and organizations including the NAACP, Congressional Black Caucus, and AFL-CIO who have raised serious concerns about a bill that was written without athlete input, shields the NCAA from accountability, and puts the burden of enforcement on athletes themselves. “At its core, it's a bill that undermines the rights of young people who pour their blood, sweat, tears, countless hours of work, and more into their craft, ” said Senator Booker. From his earliest days in the Senate, Senator Booker has been a leading voice on college athletes’ rights, standing with athletes against efforts to roll back the hard-fought protections they have earned. “Listen to the athletes. Listen to those who represent them. This so-called “Protect College Sports Act” isn’t about protecting college athletes—it’s about protecting wealthy coaches, powerful institutions, and an NCAA that’s held unbridled power for decades while athletes faced discrimination and injustice, ” continued Senator Booker. College sports is now a roughly $20 billion industry, with more than 40 football coaches earning over $5 million a year. Just 15 fired coaches collected nearly $250 million in contract buyouts in 2025 alone. “College athletes put their bodies on the line, and generate billions, they deserve a real voice and real rights. This bill pulls the rug out from under them. Athletes deserve leaders who stand with them and I’ll keep fighting alongside them,” said Senator Booker.",1,2026-09-29T11:07:12Z,2026-09-29T11:08:49Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/-icymi-judge-directs-paramount-state-ags-to-respond-to-booker-letter-challenging-paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger-settlement,"ICYMI: Judge Directs Paramount, State AGs to Respond to Booker Letter Challenging Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger Settlement",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"Judge assigns “homework:” Respond to Booker’s concerns about proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger settlement by Monday WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, is drawing attention following Thursday’s hearing on the proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger for sending a letter to District Judge Araceli Martinez- Olguin urging an independent public-interest review of the settlement, resulting in her specifically “questioning attorneys Thursday about concerns raised by Sen. Booker.” In his letter, Booker urged the court to conduct an independent public-interest review of the agreement. “The proposed settlement has reached the Court without a competitive impact statement, without a public comment period, and without any formal opportunity for theaters, distributors, workers, or consumers to be heard,” Booker wrote in his letter. “The Court should not approve this agreement without first ensuring that the public interest has been adequately considered.” SEE FOR YOURSELF: Variety Judge Questions Legal Points of Paramount’s Settlement With States at Hearing, Says a Ruling Will Come in ‘Due Course’ — Judge Martínez-Olguín requests parties submit replies to Sen. Booker's request for an independent public-interest review By Todd Spangler September 24, 2026 Booker sent a letter Thursday urging the court to subject the settlement to an independent public-interest review before approving it, noting it reached the court without a competitive impact statement, public comment period, or chance for theaters, distributors, workers, or consumers to weigh in. Paramount Skydance filed a brief opposing what it called Booker's improper ""pseudo-amicus submission."" Judge Martínez-Olguín opened by saying the court ""isn't a rubber stamp"" of the agreement and that she wanted to confirm the deal resulted from an arm's-length process rather than collusion. California senior assistant AG Paula Blizzard and a Paramount attorney both affirmed it was an arm's-length process. Asked how the deal addresses competition concerns, Blizzard said the states worried that blocking the merger outright would just send Warner Bros. Discovery looking for another buyer. Forbes Paramount Merger Settlement Won’t Be Resolved Until At Least Next Week As Judge Questions Agreement By Alison Durkee September 24, 2026 Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin held a hearing Thursday after the states and Paramount announced Monday they’d reached a settlement in the states’ antitrust lawsuit—paving the way for the merger to go through—which the judge scheduled to “address certain outstanding questions regarding the factual and legal underpinnings of” the agreement, “as well as [its] implementation.” The fate of Paramount Skydance’s controversial merger with Warner Bros. Discovery won’t be decided until at least next week as a federal judge put off ruling on whether to approve Paramount’s settlement with states challenging the merger, posing questions about the agreement at a hearing Thursday and suggesting she had concerns with some of its provisions. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., also filed a request Thursday for the judge to have the settlement undergo an independent review before she rules on whether or not to approve it. Martinez-Olguin asked the parties to respond to Booker’s letter and any of the outside briefs by noon PDT on Monday, meaning any ruling on the agreement’s fate would not come until after that deadline. @Daniel Miller, POLITICO Reporter Here’s the judge’s “homework” for the parties in the Paramount-WBD case: She asked them to address, by noon Monday, the letter the court received from Sen. Cory Booker. Read the senator’s letter in full below By Daniel Miller September 25, 2026 In a letter filed w/ the court, Sen. Cory Booker urged the judge handling the Paramount-WBD antitrust litigation to independently review the proposed settlement before approving it, questioning whether its temporary commitments would adequately restore competition. Los Angeles Times Judge holds off on ruling in states’ antitrust settlement with Paramount By Samantha Masunaga and Cerys Davies September 25, 2026 A federal judge declined Thursday to rule immediately on the settlement between Paramount Skydance and 12 state attorneys general, leaving the last major hurdle to the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition unresolved for now. Judge Martínez-Olguín gave no indication of how she'd rule but said she wanted more information before deciding whether to approve the consent decree. Los Angeles Magazine Judge’s Questions Put Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal in New Uncertainty By Camryn Rael September 25, 2026 The proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance has stirred debate over the future of Hollywood and the growing consolidation of the entertainment industry. That debate moved back into the courtroom Thursday, when U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín questioned a proposed settlement between Paramount and the 12 state attorneys general who sued to block the acquisition. The settlement would resolve the states’ antitrust challenge under a series of conditions, but it still requires the judge’s approval before the merger can move forward. The judge’s request came as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., urged the court to subject the proposed settlement to an independent public-interest review before approving it. Booker, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, has argued the agreement does not adequately address the competitive concerns raised by the merger. “This merger is illegal,” Booker said in a statement this week. “It shrinks two of Hollywood’s major studios from five to four and combines two of the largest basic cable owners — putting nearly a third of the theatrical film market and nearly a third of basic cable programming under one roof.” The.Desk.net Judge hits pause on settlement between states, Paramount over Warner Bros acquisition By Matthew Keys September 24, 2026 A federal judge in California paused the pending settlement, questioning attorneys Thursday about concerns raised by Sen. Booker. Martínez-Olguín asked the parties to respond by noon Monday local time (3 p.m. Eastern) to Booker's letter, which argued the settlement lacked a competitive impact statement, public comment period, or opportunity for stakeholders to be heard. Paramount opposed the filing, calling it an improper submission made after the settlement was already reached. POLITICO NOT A DONE DEAL By Daniel Miller and Hassan Kanu September 25, 2026 The judge overseeing the 12 states' case against Paramount's Warner Bros. acquisition questioned the parties for 50 minutes Thursday but stopped short of approving the settlement. Martínez-Olguín said she wasn't a ""rubber stamp"" and that a ruling would come in due course. She opened with detailed questions and closed by giving both sides a ""homework"" assignment: respond by noon Monday to Booker's letter questioning whether the settlement's temporary commitments would adequately restore competition. The five-year settlement would require Paramount to release at least 30 theatrical films annually for two years, then 32 a year for three more, and would create an editorial-independence board for CNN and CBS News — but calls for no upfront divestitures or structural remedies. SEE ALSO: Booker Introduces Legislation to Review and Unwind Anticompetitive Corporate Mergers Approved Under Second Trump Administration Booker Demands Answers on Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest in $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Skydance Merger Booker Statement on Paramount - Skydance/ Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Shareholder Vote ICYMI: Booker Holds Forum on Risks of Paramount–Skydance / Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Ahead of Shareholder Vote NEW VIDEO: Ahead of Paramount Shareholder Vote, Booker Releases Documentary Exposing Consequences of Proposed Paramount–Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Booker Holds Forum on Risks of Paramount–Skydance / Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Ahead of Shareholder Vote Booker, Schumer, Durbin, Blumenthal, Hirono, Whitehouse, Warren Challenge FCC to Conduct Full Review of Foreign Investment Concerns in Paramount & Warner Bros. Merger Booker Statement: “The proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is far from settled.” Booker, Schumer, Durbin, Klobuchar, Warren, Blumenthal, Hirono, Welch Demand Paramount CEO & Chairman David Ellison Preserve All Records Related to Proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Transaction Booker, Durbin Demand Answers on Trump Administration's Removal of DOJ Antitrust Chief Gail Slater",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/09/25/2026/booker-introduces-transit-oriented-housing-development-act,Booker Introduces Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act,2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act, legislation to expand affordable and workforce housing near major transit hubs across the nation. If enacted, the legislation is projected to create more than two million new housing units across the country and increase access to affordable homes for low-income families. The bill also invests $300 billion over ten years into the national Housing Trust Fund to support the construction of affordable housing. “Our nation faces a housing crisis that threatens the very bedrock of the American dream. For millions of families around the nation and in New Jersey, affordable housing is simply out of reach,” said Senator Booker. “When I was Mayor of Newark, I doubled the production of affordable housing across the city, even when the housing market faced severe turbulence. I am proud to build upon that success at the federal level because it will help address one of New Jerseyans’ most urgent challenges; ensuring our families have access to more affordable housing, high-quality schools and opportunities to thrive.” “Housing affordability is an escalating crisis in New Jersey and communities across the country,"" said Arnold Cohen, senior policy advisor for the Housing and Community Development Network of NJ. ""The need for more homes people can afford is undeniable, and this bill would make a significant investment in building those homes where people can connect to jobs, transit, and opportunity. By expanding access to housing near transit, it would also help communities attract and retain workers, support local businesses, and strengthen our economy."" ""We appreciate Senator Booker introducing the Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act to address our state and national housing affordability challenges in a way that supports transit-oriented development, smart growth, and the creation of more walkable places and connected communities. By expanding funding for the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and the National Housing Trust Fund, this bill will help create more housing affordable to a range of different incomes, helping New Jersey retain more individuals and families struggling with the cost of housing,""said Peter Kasabach, Executive Director of New Jersey Future. ""Newark is a transit-rich city, and too many of our families have been priced out of the neighborhoods they built. In Lower Broadway, only 15 percent of residents own a car, yet many live too far from Broad Street Station to walk to it. Senator Booker's Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act would help communities like ours build workforce housing where working families need it most: close to the trains and buses that connect them to jobs, school, and opportunity,"" said Peter Rosario, President and CEO of La Casa de Don Pedro. “In a state as densely populated as New Jersey, it makes sense to encourage development where transit infrastructure already exists. New Jersey Realtors® supports transit-oriented initiatives that create new housing opportunities and help address the ongoing housing supply and affordability challenges. We applaud the senator for his work to address problems that uniquely affect housing in New Jersey,” said Doug Tomson, New Jersey Realtors® CEO. The Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act addresses the urgent need to expand the housing supply in New Jersey and nationwide by leveraging existing federal tools. It strengthens the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program by increasing private activity bond allocations and establishing a dedicated set-aside for mixed-income workforce housing projects located within a half-mile of transit hubs, including rail stations and bus corridors. The Transit-Oriented Housing Development Act would specifically: Prioritize transit access: Require projects to be located within a half-mile of major transit hubs, connecting residents to jobs, education, and essential services. Strengthen workforce housing incentives: Provide additional tax credit value for developments that meet prevailing wage standards and serve mixed-income communities. Expand the LIHTC program: Increase tax-exempt private activity bond authority by 30% and enhance the 4% tax credit for projects that pay prevailing wages, improving feasibility in high-cost areas. Invest in the national Housing Trust Fund: Provide $300 billion over ten years, prioritizing transit-oriented developments serving very low- and extremely low-income households. Establish clear affordability standards: Reserve units for households earning up to 120% of area median income (AMI), with at least 20% of units set aside for households at or below 50% AMI and 10% at or below 30% AMI.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-judge-directs-paramount-state-ags-to-respond-to-booker-letter-urging-court-to-scrutinize_paramount-warner-bros-discovery-merger-settlement,"ICYMI: Judge Directs Paramount, State AGs to Respond to Booker Letter Urging Court to Scrutinize Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger Settlement",2026-09-25,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"Judge assigns “homework:” Respond to Booker’s concerns about proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger settlement by Monday WASHINGTON, D.C. – In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, is drawing attention following Thursday’s hearing on the proposed $111 billion Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery merger for sending a letter to the Court oversee the transaction urging an independent public-interest review of the settlement. District Judge Araceli Martinez- Olguin questioned attorneys representing the studios and states “about concerns raised by Sen. Booker.” In his letter, Booker urged the court to conduct an independent public-interest review of the agreement. SEE FOR YOURSELF: Variety Judge Questions Legal Points of Paramount’s Settlement With States at Hearing, Says a Ruling Will Come in ‘Due Course’ — Judge Martínez-Olguín requests parties submit replies to Sen. Booker's request for an independent public-interest review By Todd Spangler September 24, 2026 Booker sent a letter Thursday urging the court to subject the settlement to an independent public-interest review before approving it, noting it reached the court without a competitive impact statement, public comment period, or chance for theaters, distributors, workers, or consumers to weigh in. Paramount Skydance filed a brief opposing what it called Booker's improper ""pseudo-amicus submission."" Judge Martínez-Olguín opened by saying the court ""isn't a rubber stamp"" of the agreement and that she wanted to confirm the deal resulted from an arm's-length process rather than collusion. California senior assistant AG Paula Blizzard and a Paramount attorney both affirmed it was an arm's-length process. Asked how the deal addresses competition concerns, Blizzard said the states worried that blocking the merger outright would just send Warner Bros. Discovery looking for another buyer. Forbes Paramount Merger Settlement Won’t Be Resolved Until At Least Next Week As Judge Questions Agreement By Alison Durkee September 24, 2026 Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin held a hearing Thursday after the states and Paramount announced Monday they’d reached a settlement in the states’ antitrust lawsuit—paving the way for the merger to go through—which the judge scheduled to “address certain outstanding questions regarding the factual and legal underpinnings of” the agreement, “as well as [its] implementation.” The fate of Paramount Skydance’s controversial merger with Warner Bros. Discovery won’t be decided until at least next week as a federal judge put off ruling on whether to approve Paramount’s settlement with states challenging the merger, posing questions about the agreement at a hearing Thursday and suggesting she had concerns with some of its provisions. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., also filed a request Thursday for the judge to have the settlement undergo an independent review before she rules on whether or not to approve it. Martinez-Olguin asked the parties to respond to Booker’s letter and any of the outside briefs by noon PDT on Monday, meaning any ruling on the agreement’s fate would not come until after that deadline. @Daniel Miller, POLITICO Reporter Here’s the judge’s “homework” for the parties in the Paramount-WBD case: She asked them to address, by noon Monday, the letter the court received from Sen. Cory Booker. Read the senator’s letter in full below By Daniel Miller September 25, 2026 In a letter filed w/ the court, Sen. Cory Booker urged the judge handling the Paramount-WBD antitrust litigation to independently review the proposed settlement before approving it, questioning whether its temporary commitments would adequately restore competition. Los Angeles Times Judge holds off on ruling in states’ antitrust settlement with Paramount By Samantha Masunaga and Cerys Davies September 25, 2026 A federal judge declined Thursday to rule immediately on the settlement between Paramount Skydance and 12 state attorneys general, leaving the last major hurdle to the $111 billion Warner Bros. Discovery acquisition unresolved for now. Judge Martínez-Olguín gave no indication of how she'd rule but said she wanted more information before deciding whether to approve the consent decree. Los Angeles Magazine Judge’s Questions Put Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal in New Uncertainty By Camryn Rael September 25, 2026 The proposed $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance has stirred debate over the future of Hollywood and the growing consolidation of the entertainment industry. That debate moved back into the courtroom Thursday, when U.S. District Judge Araceli Martínez-Olguín questioned a proposed settlement between Paramount and the 12 state attorneys general who sued to block the acquisition. The settlement would resolve the states’ antitrust challenge under a series of conditions, but it still requires the judge’s approval before the merger can move forward. The judge’s request came as Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., urged the court to subject the proposed settlement to an independent public-interest review before approving it. Booker, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, has argued the agreement does not adequately address the competitive concerns raised by the merger. “This merger is illegal,” Booker said in a statement this week. “It shrinks two of Hollywood’s major studios from five to four and combines two of the largest basic cable owners — putting nearly a third of the theatrical film market and nearly a third of basic cable programming under one roof.” The.Desk.net Judge hits pause on settlement between states, Paramount over Warner Bros acquisition By Matthew Keys September 24, 2026 A federal judge in California paused the pending settlement, questioning attorneys Thursday about concerns raised by Sen. Booker. Martínez-Olguín asked the parties to respond by noon Monday local time (3 p.m. Eastern) to Booker's letter, which argued the settlement lacked a competitive impact statement, public comment period, or opportunity for stakeholders to be heard. Paramount opposed the filing, calling it an improper submission made after the settlement was already reached. POLITICO NOT A DONE DEAL By Daniel Miller and Hassan Kanu September 25, 2026 The judge overseeing the 12 states' case against Paramount's Warner Bros. acquisition questioned the parties for 50 minutes Thursday but stopped short of approving the settlement. Martínez-Olguín said she wasn't a ""rubber stamp"" and that a ruling would come in due course. She opened with detailed questions and closed by giving both sides a ""homework"" assignment: respond by noon Monday to Booker's letter questioning whether the settlement's temporary commitments would adequately restore competition. The five-year settlement would require Paramount to release at least 30 theatrical films annually for two years, then 32 a year for three more, and would create an editorial-independence board for CNN and CBS News — but calls for no upfront divestitures or structural remedies. SEE ALSO: Booker Introduces Legislation to Review and Unwind Anticompetitive Corporate Mergers Approved Under Second Trump Administration Booker Demands Answers on Undisclosed Conflicts of Interest in $111 Billion Warner Bros. Discovery-Paramount Skydance Merger Booker Statement on Paramount - Skydance/ Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Shareholder Vote ICYMI: Booker Holds Forum on Risks of Paramount–Skydance / Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Ahead of Shareholder Vote NEW VIDEO: Ahead of Paramount Shareholder Vote, Booker Releases Documentary Exposing Consequences of Proposed Paramount–Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Booker Holds Forum on Risks of Paramount–Skydance / Warner Bros. Discovery Merger Ahead of Shareholder Vote Booker, Schumer, Durbin, Blumenthal, Hirono, Whitehouse, Warren Challenge FCC to Conduct Full Review of Foreign Investment Concerns in Paramount & Warner Bros. Merger Booker Statement: “The proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is far from settled.” Booker, Schumer, Durbin, Klobuchar, Warren, Blumenthal, Hirono, Welch Demand Paramount CEO & Chairman David Ellison Preserve All Records Related to Proposed Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Transaction Booker, Durbin Demand Answers on Trump Administration's Removal of DOJ Antitrust Chief Gail Slater",1,2026-09-27T10:23:37Z,2026-09-27T10:25:08Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-figures-hayes-ezell-introduce-bill-to-cover-college-costs-for-children-of-longtime-educators-first-responders-and-social-workers,"Booker, Figures, Hayes, Ezell Introduce Bill to Cover College Costs for Children of Longtime Educators, First Responders, and Social Workers",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representatives Shomari Figures (D-AL-02), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), and Mike Ezell (R-MS-04) introduced the Public Service Educational Assistance Act, legislation that would cover the cost of college or job training for the children of educators, first responders, and social workers who have dedicated at least 20 years to public service. ""Educators, first responders, and social workers show up for us in our classrooms, our emergencies, and our hardest moments, year after year,"" said Senator Booker. ""Their families carry that sacrifice too, often quietly, through long hours and stretched budgets. After 20 years of service, the least we can do is make sure their kids can go to college without drowning in debt. I'm proud to work with Representative Figures to get this done."" “These public service employees perform among the most challenging and important functions in our communities, so that is why I am proud to introduce this bill that relieves the financial burden of them sending their children to college or job training programs,” said Representative Figures. “I’m committed to making sure that we recognize the sacrifices made by people who are the backbone of communities in Alabama and across America, and that we invest in real opportunities for their families."" “Teachers, social workers, and first responders dedicate their lives in service to our communities, oftentimes unable to provide opportunities they fight so hard for others to enjoy, to their own children,” said Representative Hayes. “I am pleased to introduce the Public Service Educational Assistance Act alongside Congressman Figures to honor the work of public servants and make it easier for their own families to pursue higher education."" “As someone who spent more than four decades in law enforcement, I know the sacrifices that come with a career dedicated to serving your community—not just for the individual wearing the badge, but for their entire family,” said Representative Ezell. “The Public Service Educational Assistance Act recognizes that commitment by helping provide educational opportunities for the children of those who have devoted decades of their lives to public service. I’m proud to help introduce this legislation to support the families of our law enforcement officers, first responders, educators, and others who dedicate their careers to serving their neighbors.” “The men and women of law enforcement make extraordinary sacrifices to keep our communities safe, and their families serve alongside them every step of the way,” said President Mathew Silverman of the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association. “The ‘Public Service Educational Assistance Act’ recognizes that shared commitment by opening doors to education and opportunity for the children of career federal, state, and local law enforcement officers and other vital public servants. We appreciate the leadership of Reps. Figures, Ezell, and Hayes and Sen. Booker on this legislation and are proud to support this important investment in the families who stand behind those who protect and serve.” “The National Association of Social Workers (NASW) understands the financial demands that face social workers across workforce settings. NASW applauds Reps. Shomari Figures, Jahana Hayes, and Mike Ezell, and Senator Cory Booker, for introducing the Public Service Educational Assistance Act,” said Anthony Estreet, PhD, MBA, LCSW-C, Chief Executive Officer, NASW. “Establishing an educational assistance program for dependents of social workers, first responders, and educators is a great way to encourage public service and help public servants meet the needs of their children. Too often, social workers struggle to support their children financially for post-secondary education. This legislation would help social workers’ children achieve their dreams."" Under the Public Service Educational Assistance Act, eligible dependents of full-time educators, first responders, and social workers with at least 20 years of qualifying service would receive: Full coverage of tuition, fees, and books at eligible colleges, universities, or qualifying training programs in their state of residence or domicile. Up to four years of assistance, available until the dependent turns 26. Continued eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness and other federal, state, and local loan repayment, forgiveness, cancellation, or discharge programs. The Public Service Educational Assistance Act is endorsed by the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, the National Association of Social Workers, the International Association of Fire Fighters, and the Major Cities Chiefs Association.",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/kim-warner-schatz-take-to-senate-floor-to-demand-passage-of-new-ai-security-legislation/,"Kim, Warner, Schatz Take to Senate Floor to Demand Passage of New AI Security Legislation",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Committee’s National Security and International Trade and Finance Subcommittee, Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Vice Chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and Brian Schatz (D-HI) introduced sweeping legislation to establish enforceable safety and security standards for the most advanced artificial intelligence systems. Later in the day, Kim, Warner and Schatz spoke about the legislation on the Senate floor. Watch Senator Kim’s Full Remarks “Innovation without control just leads to chaos, and this is our moment to make sure that the American people have control over the incredible strides we’re seeing on AI,” said Senator Kim. “Control means making sure that the technology does not outpace safety and common sense. It means making sure it can be used to advance quality of life instead of hurdling us towards the doomsday scenarios we’ve been warned about. The actions we are proposing are in pursuit of meeting the moment that the American people are demanding; to work with urgency to keep our families safe.” “The companies building the most powerful AI systems in the world are sounding the alarm: the step-change increase in AI models’ capacity for cyber-offense, combined with clear failures to securely host and deploy these capabilities, could pose serious risks to our national security, our critical infrastructure, and the systems Americans rely on every day,” said Senator Warner. “I remain enormously optimistic about the potential of AI, but optimism cannot be an excuse for inaction, nor can we normalize these kinds of concerning incidents. If a model is capable of finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in a bank, a water system, or our electric grid, we ought to know that before it is released to the public – not after something goes catastrophically wrong. This legislation establishes basic, enforceable rules of the road to make sure the most powerful models are tested, secured, and responsibly deployed.” “Every day, we’re seeing new reports of AI models going rogue and hacking systems without our knowledge or oversight. The risks of AI are not theoretical – they are happening in real-time,” said Senator Schatz. “Our bill is about making sure humans remain in control of AI models and preventing future breaches with rigorous standards, testing, and oversight. Immediate risk requires immediate action.” The Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026 comes as leading AI companies and cybersecurity researchers have issued increasingly urgent warnings about the rapidly advancing capabilities of frontier AI systems. Leading AI companies such as OpenAI, Anthropic, Google Deepmind, Meta, and Microsoft have issued warnings about the rapidly advancing cybersecurity capabilities of their models, warning that the newest frontier models can identify and exploit previously unknown vulnerabilities without human guidance. Recent incidents have also highlighted alarming deficiencies in frontier labs’ security practices. The combination of these factors underscores a rapidly emerging challenge: AI systems are becoming increasingly capable of performing sophisticated cybersecurity tasks that can be enormously valuable to defenders but could also pose serious risks if misused or inadequately secured. The legislation would establish a permanent Artificial Intelligence Safety Board within the Department of Commerce, bringing together representatives from the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), Department of Commerce, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), National Security Agency (NSA), and Department of the Treasury, along with independent technical experts, to evaluate emerging AI risks and establish technical safety and security standards. Critically, developers of frontier AI models would be required to provide the Board access to their models at least 45 days before public release, including model weights, configuration files, runtimes, and software libraries necessary to operate the model, allowing experts to evaluate powerful models before deployment. The legislation would also require AI developers to create and follow Model Safety Plans identifying the capabilities and risks of their systems, the specific steps they will take to mitigate those risks, and the corporate officer responsible for implementing the plan. Under the legislation, the AI Safety Board would develop enforceable standards for evaluating frontier models and securing testing environments, including safeguards and monitoring procedures for models capable of discovering and exploiting software vulnerabilities without direct human prompting. Developers would be legally required to comply with applicable standards, with violations subject to civil penalties of up to $250,000 per violation, per day. The bill would also: Create a secure reporting process and a national AI incident database to track AI safety and security incidents, recurring flaws, and near misses so researchers, government agencies, and developers can learn from failures across different systems. The database would be established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology in coordination with the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. Require frontier AI companies to report serious safety and security incidents, generally within 30 days, and within 72 hours when an incident poses an imminent threat to national security, critical infrastructure, or public safety. Critical infrastructure operators using AI to manage industrial control systems or other operational technologies would also be covered. Establish secure federal testing environments that can use resources at the National Security Agency and Department of Energy National Laboratories to conduct sensitive pre-deployment testing of frontier models. Develop new standards specifically for autonomous AI agents, including risks involving identity, authentication, authorization, access to data and systems, and differing levels of autonomy. Require standardized documentation for AI agents, including their intended uses, authority boundaries, access to data and tools, known limitations, and results of independent evaluations where applicable. The legislation specifically focuses on advanced artificial intelligence models – systems that exhibit, or could be modified to exhibit, high levels of performance on tasks posing serious risks to national security, national economic security, or public health and safety. The legislation is designed to address a range of risks associated with increasingly capable AI systems, including their potential to facilitate cyberattacks, evade the control of their developers or operators, assist in the development of chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other weapons, or have their model weights stolen or maliciously modified. Text of the Artificial Intelligence Risk Management and Security Act of 2026 is available here. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-and-colleagues-urge-trump-to-raise-chinas-island-building-campaign-in-south-china-sea-during-summit-with-xi/,Senator Kim and Colleagues Urge Trump to Raise China’s Island Building Campaign in South China Sea During Summit with Xi,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – As President Trump begins a summit today with China’s President Xi Jinping, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and a group of Democratic Senate colleagues are urging Trump to address China’s posturing in the South China Sea and the strategic consequences of its renewed island building campaign for the United States, our partners, and allies in the region. Senator Kim sent a letter to President Trump yesterday alongside Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Jeff Merkley (D-OR). The Senators write: “We are concerned that your administration appears to be ignoring this renewed island building campaign while pursuing diplomacy with China. The fact that China has chosen this moment to resume artificial island-building on your watch, after a decade of dormancy, indicates that your administration’s efforts to bolster frontline states and deter Chinese maritime coercion in the South China Sea have, to date, proven insufficient.” Read the full letter In the letter, the Senators point to how China has previously claimed 90 percent of the South China Sea as its own territory, despite there being no legal basis in international law for China’s claims and strong condemnation by the international community. By building artificial islands in the South China Sea, China has been able to house surveillance technology, long runways for military aircraft, military bases, and other capabilities, threatening regional actors like Taiwan, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Most recently, China has started to undertake large-scale dredging and land reclamation activities to convert the maritime feature named “Antelope Reef.” The Senators warn: “A Chinese presence on Antelope Island could further reinforce its broad, sweeping territorial claims over the South China Sea in violation of international law and opposition to longstanding U.S. policy, reinforcing Beijing’s vision of a “might makes right” world. Potential air and naval facilities on the island will provide the People’s Liberation Army, China Coast Guard, and Chinese Maritime Militia, with another platform from which to intimidate, harass, and coerce our regional allies and partners. Experts have warned that the island will also likely be used to surveil and constrain U.S. naval activity in the South China Sea.” The letter builds on Senator Kim’s work to ensure U.S. foreign policy with China prioritizes Americans’ needs and national security, including by introducing legislation to safeguard American technology, urging the administration to reaffirm support for Taiwan and engage in bilateral discussions on export controls, and supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-introduces-series-of-legislation-to-root-out-corruption-in-government/,Senator Kim Introduces Series of Legislation to Root Out Corruption in Government,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"The three bills build on Senator Kim’s anti-corruption agenda to restore trust and integrity in government and fix America’s broken politics WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced three new bills to tackle public corruption and empower individuals to hold government officials accountable for betraying the public’s trust. “Americans look at their government and think, ‘corruption.’ They’ve lost trust that their public officials are looking out for them first, instead of themselves. It’s a threat to our democracy and our responsibility to fix,” said Senator Kim. “It isn’t enough to call out each corrupt act of the Trump administration. We need to dig deeper and move true legislative solutions forward that take on corruption no matter your party, position, or how wealthy you are. Enough is enough.” All three bills are co-sponsored by Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Anti-Bribery Improvement Act (aka “the McDonnell Fix”) In 2016, the Supreme Court ruled in McDonnell v. United States to narrow federal bribery law and the definition of “official act,” making it harder to prosecute public officials who accept loans, gifts, or anything of value from individuals seeking an action from the public official in return. For example, their ruling would allow a public official to accept $175,000 in loans and gifts from an individual seeking government approval of a nutritional supplement. Senator Kim’s Anti-Bribery Improvement Act expands the current definition of bribery to include buying or selling access to a federal official by: Expanding the federal bribery statute to explicitly criminalize corrupt access to public officials by defining “access” to mean “use of a public official’s ability to influence any decision or action on any question or matter, which may at any time be pending, or which may by law be brought before such public official, in such official’s official capacity, or in such official’s place of trust or profit.”; and Addressing the Supreme Court’s concern about criminalizing routine legislative work by requiring a showing of an express agreement to exchange access for the thing of value. No Gratuities for Governing Act (aka “the Snyder Fix”) In 2024, the Supreme Court’s ruling in Snyder v. United States all but permitted government officials to accept gratuities, which are “typically payments made to an official after an official act as a token of appreciation.” Notably, their ruling pointed out that federal corruption law prohibits bribes, which is defined as payments made before the official act. For example, their ruling allows a public official to ask for and accept $13,000 from a local company after the company has just been awarded a public contract worth $1 million, but if the $13,000 was given before the contract was awarded then it would be corruption. Senator Kim’s No Gratuities for Governing Act would prevent corrupt use of gratuities and make it easier to prosecute the solicitation and acceptance of these “tips” by: Establishing a gratuity threshold of $1,000 or more for any official act by a state, local, or tribal official involved in government business or contracts valued at $5,000 or more; Imposing sentencing of up to two years in line with federal officials who accept gratuities; and Aligning the maximum sentence for state, local, or tribal officials convicted of bribery to 15 years from 10 in line with the maximum sentence for federal officials. This bill is the Senate companion to Representative Dan Goldman’s H.R.4175 No Gratuities for Governing Act. Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act (aka “Private Right of Action”) To combat corruption, prosecutors have often relied on the federal statutory provisions that criminalize “a scheme or artifice to deprive another of the intangible right of honest services” through “wire, radio, or television communication.” However, over the years, the courts have narrowed the scope of the provision based on concerns that the statute is vague, ultimately limiting its application to mail and wire fraud cases where bribes or kickbacks are involved, and thus eliminating the statute’s use for general self-dealing and conflicts of interest. Senator Kim’s Honest Services Fraud Improvement Act would create a private right of action to empower individuals to hold their public officials accountable and allow them to sue public officials for honest services fraud. Specifically, this bill would: Hold liable any local, state, and federal government officials engaged in quid pro quo bribery when the U.S. Department of Justice foregoes prosecuting. Where the government is pursuing a separate criminal enforcement action, allow DOJ to intervene ex parte and under seal in place of the individual. Just as with private rights of action under the False Claims Act, an individual who brings a claim under this bill is entitled to a share of the damages, with any punitive damages going into DOJ’s Asset Forfeiture Fund. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-reintroduces-bill-to-confront-neglected-diseases-of-poverty-in-america,Booker Reintroduces Bill to Confront Neglected Diseases of Poverty in America,2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the STOP (Study, Treat, Observe, and Prevent) Neglected Diseases of Poverty Act, legislation that would give public health officials the tools to track, treat, and ultimately eliminate neglected diseases of poverty in the United States. These chronic, often disabling infections spread where families lack basic sewage systems, safe drinking water, and adequate housing. ""In many parts of our country, there are disabling conditions commonly associated with developing nations that continue to impact Americans here at home,"" said Senator Booker. ""This injustice is largely hidden. We need to address this challenge by raising awareness and boosting investment in research and monitoring to combat these neglected diseases."" An estimated 12 million Americans live with at least one neglected parasitic infection, which are more common in places where there is a lack of sewage infrastructure, unsafe drinking water, and inadequate housing and sanitation. Chagas disease alone, which can cause severe heart and digestive problems, affects 300,000 or more people in the U.S., most of whom don't know they are infected, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to research by CDC scientists, more than 5,000 of them live in New Jersey. Yet, due to reporting gaps, the true burden of this disease remains unknown. The bill would create an interagency task force, fund state surveillance systems and diagnosis and treatment at community health centers, support research into affordable vaccines and treatments, and train health care providers to recognize these diseases.",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-senate-democrats-statement-on-president-trump-and-president-xis-summit-in-washington,"Booker, Senate Democrats' Statement on President Trump and President Xi’s Summit in Washington",2026-09-24,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Coons (D-DE), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Jacky Rosen (D-NV) — all Democratic members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee — along with Dick Durbin (D-IL), Democratic Whip and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee; Jack Reed (D-RI), Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee; Michael Bennet (D-CO); Tammy Baldwin (D-WI); Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ranking Member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Raphael Warnock (D-GA); Peter Welch (D-VT); Andy Kim (D-NJ); Adam Schiff (D-CA); and Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), released the following statement on President Trump's summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Washington. “Diplomacy with China remains vital to preventing conflict and protecting American interests, but it must ultimately produce results for hardworking Americans. President Trump’s summit today with President Xi Jinping failed to deliver. This outcome was predictable: Over the past 19 months, President Trump has systematically hollowed out the foundations of American competitiveness. The Trump Administration has traded away long-term technological dominance for short-term commercial gains, decimated the scientific and talent ecosystem that drives our domestic innovation and inflicted lasting damage on the network of global alliances that keep Americans safe, prosperous and free. “At a time when Americans are struggling with rising costs of gas, electricity and groceries, President Trump rolled out the red carpet for Xi. Rather than confronting China’s unfair trade practices, technology theft, complicity in attacks against our troops or economic and military aggression against our allies, President Trump opted for pageantry over purpose—trading tough diplomacy for a ballroom tour and a lavish dinner with his billionaire friends. “On the economic and security issues that will shape America’s future, this summit’s results fell short: Artificial Intelligence: The President cannot claim to defend American AI dominance while greenlighting sales of high-end chips and manufacturing equipment to China. Instead of establishing a framework to manage AI safety risks, the Trump Administration doubled down on its failure to implement and enforce meaningful guardrails at home. Trade and Critical Minerals: Extending the tariff truce is a temporary band-aid on a crisis of the President's own making. Airplane and agricultural deals do nothing to dismantle Beijing's state subsidies, including for Chinese cars; intellectual property theft; and near-monopoly on global rare earth refining. The Trump Administration has left our critical supply chains dangerously vulnerable. Iran: The United States should never have launched the reckless and illegal war against Iran. Beijing has exploited the conflict to purchase discounted Iranian oil, while U.S. munitions and strategic stockpiles have been expended at alarming rates. Even worse, President Trump failed to hold Xi accountable for support to Iran by Chinese companies that contributed to attacks against American soldiers, marking an unconscionable dereliction of his duty to protect our men and women in uniform. Russia’s War in Ukraine: The summit’s appeals for de-escalation do nothing to halt the flow of Chinese dual-use goods keeping Vladimir Putin’s war machine alive. If President Trump is serious about ending Putin’s war, he should honor Lindsey Graham’s memory by responsibly implementing the Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. The Trump Administration must end its stunning year-and-a-half-long failure to impose any sanctions to counter evasion in support of Russia’s war, including China’s dual-use exports to Moscow and preeminent purchases of Russian oil. Taiwan and Regional Security: America’s support for Taiwan’s self-defense is non-negotiable and crucial to preventing a cross-strait conflict that would destabilize the region and threaten the global economy. The Trump Administration must immediately deliver congressionally approved defense assistance to Taiwan, including the $1.3 billion in funds provided by this Congress, existing weapons sales and the $14 billion package of new arms sales approved nine months ago. To mitigate regional risk, the U.S. must stand with Indo-Pacific allies in combating PRC economic and military coercion as well as directly confront China’s renewed island-building in the South China Sea and increasing aggression in the East China Sea. Wrongfully Detained Americans: Protecting American citizens is a core national security obligation. President Trump has so far failed to secure the release of wrongfully detained U.S. citizens Min Zin and Dr. Youlin Chen; it is unclear if he pressed Xi on these urgent cases. Presidential appeals have produced results across U.S. administrations, and we urge President Trump to continue to prioritize the release of wrongfully detained Americans. Human Rights: Beijing’s repression is deepening across China and expanding beyond the PRC’s borders. Its new “ethnic unity” law codifies the forced assimilation of Tibetans and Uyghurs, while Beijing continues its transnational repression of Uyghur, Tibetan and Hong Kong activists, including here in the United States. Gulshan Abbas, Ekpar Asat, Pastor Gao Quanfu and his wife Pang Yu remain unjustly detained in China, while Jimmy Lai, 78, remains imprisoned in Hong Kong. Human rights cannot be an afterthought in our relationship with China. “The American people deserve leaders who fight for their financial security and defend our national interests with purpose and measured strategy, not pageantry. We will compete successfully with China only through sustained investment in our own strengths, close coordination with allies and an unwavering defense of our democratic values. As we saw in May, this summit gave President Xi an international stage to project strength without a meaningful change in Beijing’s coercive economic practices or its support for our adversaries.”",1,2026-09-26T09:43:57Z,2026-09-26T09:44:55Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-cortez-masto-culinary-union-call-on-senate-to-pass-bipartisan-faster-labor-contracts-act,"Booker, Cortez Masto, Culinary Union Call on Senate to Pass Bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act",2026-09-23,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) joined leaders and members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 to call on the Senate to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act, bipartisan legislation that would guarantee workers who vote to form a union a first contract without years of delay. Under current law, there is no deadline for an employer to reach a first agreement once workers vote to unionize. Workers wait an average of 465 days for a first contract, and many never get one at all. The Faster Labor Contracts Act would require employers to begin bargaining within 10 days of a union's written request to negotiate, allow either party to request mediation from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service if no agreement is reached within 90 days, and refer the dispute to a three-person arbitration panel if mediation fails to produce a contract within an additional 30 days. An arbitration panel's decision would be binding for two years. The House passed the Faster Labor Contracts Act (H.R. 5408) on June 9 by a vote of 230-193, with 20 Republicans joining every House Democrat, after a discharge petition led by Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) forced the bill to the floor over the objections of Republican leadership. The Senate companion, S. 844, was introduced by Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), with Sen. Booker as the lead Democratic cosponsor. Cosponsors include Sens. Bernie Moreno (R-OH), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Gary Peters (D-MI), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), and Ruben Gallego (D-AZ). The bill has been endorsed by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. ""For too long, workers have voted to organize and then waited years for a company to bargain with them in good faith,"" said Senator Booker. ""That's not how this is supposed to work. The Faster Labor Contracts Act sets clear, reasonable deadlines so that when workers speak up and vote to unionize, they actually get a seat at the table. I'm proud to stand with Culinary Union members today, and I'm calling on my colleagues in the Senate to pass this bill without further delay."" “My father was a Teamster, so I know just how important unions are to ensuring one job is enough,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “Unfortunately, bad actors are using every trick in the book to stall union negotiations, keeping wages low and working conditions poor. That’s why I’m proud to stand along with the Culinary Union to urge my colleagues to immediately pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act.” “For 17 years, Station Casinos has done everything it can to block workers from exercising their right to a union contract - from firing leaders who organized their co-workers to using the pandemic as a scheme to break their union support,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer of the Culinary Union. “Workers at Station Casinos won their union through National Labor Relations Board elections and yet they’ve been dragged through endless delays, appeals, and bad-faith tactics by the company. Culinary Union and Station Casinos’ workers demand justice, applaud Senators Booker and Cortez Masto for their continued leadership, and urge the swift passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act. This legislation is needed because it puts real timelines and consequences on bad employers who stall. We stand with Station Casinos workers who are organizing and we won’t stop fighting until we win strong union contracts.” “I've been working at Station Casinos since 1991, but I still have nothing to show for it,” said Casiano Corpus Jr., a casino porter employed at Station Casinos’ Palace Station Casinos for 34 years in Las Vegas, Nevada. “I wear my union button every day inside non-union Station Casinos and I'm proud because a union contract there could provide a better life for our families and give us a voice and representation. When I retire after two decades with this company, I don’t have a retirement pension. I’m not a second class worker and I believe that we deserve the same pension and raises the Culinary Union members have. I will not stop until we finish this fight and I know for sure we will win a union contract at Station Casinos.” The Culinary Workers Union Local 226, an affiliate of UNITE HERE, represents 60,000 hospitality workers in Las Vegas and Reno. The full text of the Faster Labor Contracts Act is available here. ###",1,2026-09-24T09:44:48Z,2026-09-24T09:45:52Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/-media-advisory-for-wednesday-september-23-2026-at-12pm-,"*** MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 23, 2026 AT 12PM ***",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"Booker, Cortez Masto, Culinary Union to Call for Senate Passage of Bipartisan Faster Labor Contracts Act WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, September 23, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), and members of the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 will host a press conference to call on the Senate to pass the Faster Labor Contracts Act legislation that would guarantee workers who vote to form a union a first contract without years of delay. Workers who vote to unionize currently wait well over a year on average for a first contract, and many never get one at all. The Faster Labor Contracts Act would require employers to begin bargaining within 10 days of a union’s request, bring in federal mediation if no agreement is reached within 90 days, and send the dispute arbitration if mediation fails. The House passed the bill in June by a vote of 230-193 with the support of 20 Republicans after a discharge petition forced a floor vote. The Senate companion, led by Sen. Booker and Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), is now awaiting action. WHO: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), lead Democratic sponsor of the Faster Labor Contracts Act U.S. Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV) Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer, Culinary Workers Union Local 226 Hospitality workers employed at Station Casinos in Las Vegas, Nevada WHAT: Press conference calling for the Senate Passage of the Faster Labor Contracts Act (S.844). WHEN: Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at 12:00PM WHERE: SVC 208 PRESS PLEASE RSVP TO: press_@booker.senate.gov",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-tillis-introduce-resolution-celebrating-65-years-of-the-peace-corps-and-honoring-nearly-250000-americans-who-answered-the-call-to-serve,"Booker, Tillis Introduce Resolution Celebrating 65 Years of the Peace Corps and Honoring Nearly 250,000 Americans Who Answered the Call to Serve",2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced a resolution celebrating the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps and commending its volunteers for more than six decades of public service focused on enhancing U.S. global leadership, strengthening international stability, empowering communities, and expanding people-to-people ties. U.S. Representatives John Garamendi (D-CA-08) and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen (R-American Samoa) introduced a companion resolution in the House. Since President John F. Kennedy issued his historic call to service and established the Peace Corps on March 1, 1961, nearly 250,000 Americans have served as volunteers in 144 countries. They have worked side by side with local communities to advance education, health, agriculture, environmental resilience, youth development, and economic opportunity. That work has built lasting partnerships around the world, promoting global stability and American values beyond what can be achieved through traditional policy measures alone. ""For 65 years, the Peace Corps has sent some of our nation's best ambassadors across the world,"" said Senator Booker. ""Nearly a quarter of a million Americans have taken on 'the toughest job you'll ever love,' teaching in classrooms, strengthening health systems, and helping communities, often in remote and hard-to-reach areas, build their own futures. Their service makes our country safer, our workforce stronger, and our democracy richer. As we mark this milestone, we must not only honor that legacy but recommit to it, so that the next generation of Americans can answer the same call."" By strengthening international stability, promoting economic growth, and addressing the root causes of conflict through education and community development, Peace Corps volunteers have advanced U.S. national security while improving lives. This resolution also highlights the value returned volunteers bring home. Their language, cultural, and technical skills strengthen the U.S. workforce, expand America's global competency, and enhance the nation's diplomatic and economic competitiveness. Peace Corps service has also inspired generations of Americans to pursue careers in public service, education, diplomacy, health, and economic development. This has created a lasting pipeline of globally minded civic leaders. The resolution: Celebrates the 65th anniversary of the founding of the Peace Corps; Honors the nearly 250,000 individuals who have served as Peace Corps volunteers for their dedication to peace, friendship, and community-driven development; and Commends the Peace Corps' enduring mission to put purpose, passion, and skills to work for the United States and the world.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker_statement-on-state-attorneys-general-settlement-clearing-paramounts-takeover-of-warner-bros-discovery,Booker Statement on State Attorneys General Settlement Clearing Paramount’s Takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery,2026-09-22,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, issued the following statement after a coalition of state attorneys general announced a settlement with Paramount Skydance in their lawsuit to block its $111 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery. The settlement clears the way for the deal to close: “Attorney General Bonta said it plainly: this settlement is not an endorsement of this merger. He is right. He and the attorneys general of 11 other states took on one of the most powerful media companies in the world, a company backed by the full weight of the White House. Paramount answered with what amounted to extortion. It threatened to pull jobs out of California if they blocked the deal, after calling its artists and workers a priority. It promised its own shareholders a ticking fee it never expected to pay because it assumed the Justice Department would wave the deal through, and then used the mounting cost as leverage against the states when the balance came due. “This is what happens when federal enforcers abandon their posts. States are left to carry the fight alone, and even the strongest state enforcers cannot outlast a company willing to say anything and spend anything. That is not justice. That is a price tag. “This merger is illegal. It shrinks two of Hollywood’s major studios from five to four and combines two of the largest basic cable owners—putting nearly a third of the theatrical film market and nearly a third of basic cable programming under one roof. Behavioral promises cannot fix a structural problem. Media merger after media merger has ended the same way, with fewer jobs, lower wages, fewer stories told, and higher prices for families. Writers, crews, artists, theater owners, and consumers will pay the price. “This merger threatens the First Amendment. Paramount will control two major news networks, CNN and CBS News. An ‘independent’ editorial board handpicked by David Ellison and reporting directly to him will not stop the sweeping changes at CNN that President Trump says the Ellisons promised him. We have already seen what this administration does to the press—the President just barred reporters from the White House. “This merger is the product of corruption hiding in plain sight. Secretary Hegseth stood in the Pentagon press room and said he couldn’t wait for the Ellisons to take over. Paramount was a constant presence at the Justice Department once it needed the deal pushed through. But when Congress asked questions, the company ignored our inquiries and refused invitations to testify. On the night of the shareholder vote, Ellison hosted a dinner honoring President Trump. Then-Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, the official responsible for approving this deal, was in attendance. “This administration has turned merger review into a marketplace for political favors. That is why I will examine every merger this administration has approved, and why I will keep fighting to pass the CLEAN Mergers Act, so that no company can ever again buy its way past the law.” Earlier this year, Booker sent letters to Warner Bros. Discovery, Allen & Company, and Evercore, demanding information about undisclosed conflicts of interest in the proposed $111 billion acquisition of WBD by Paramount Skydance Corporation and requested responses from all parties by May 5, 2026. The letters are part of Booker’s broader oversight of the proposed merger, which has included unanswered inquiries to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding foreign ownership implications, and a request to the Department of the Treasury and the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) to initiate a review of the role of the Gulf sovereign wealth fund’s financing in the transaction. This summer, Booker held a congressional forum on the dangers of the merger, with testimony from actor and advocate Mark Ruffalo; Academy Award-winning filmmaker David Borenstein; Director of Legal Services at the Writers Guild, Michael Isaac; attorney and journalist Katie Phang; and Co-founder and Executive Director of the Partnership for Civil Justice Fund, Mara Verheyden-Hilliard. Each of the witnesses warned that the merger would put tens of thousands of media professionals at risk of losing their jobs and pose a threat to democracy itself. Read the full text of the Allen & Company letter here. Read the full text of the letter to CFIUS here. Read the full text of the Evercore letter here. Read the full text of the FCC letter here. Read the full text of the Warner Bros. Discovery letter here.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-booker-blasts-fbi-director-kash-patel-drawing-praise-for-demanding-accountability-at-committee-hearing,"ICYMI: Booker “Blasts” FBI Director Kash Patel, Drawing Praise for Demanding Accountability at Committee Hearing",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"Booker to Patel: “You’re an embarrassment to this agency” WASHINGTON, DC—In case you missed it, earlier this week U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, “grilled” FBI Director Kash Patel at a committee hearing and called him an “embarrassment to the agency,” drawing widespread praise for “laying out the degree to which he is not qualified” for the role. He specifically pressed Patel on the FBI’s investigation into a New York Times reporter who covered his use of agency resources, as well as grand jury subpoenas issued to Times reporters after they reported on security lapses involving Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One replacement. SEE FOR YOURSELF: MS NOW The Weeknight: Cory Booker on Kash Patel September 15, 2026 Commentator: “I think that Cory Booker did a great job of laying out the degree to which Kash Patel is not qualified for this.” Booker: “We have a lackey here who is using [the FBI]. And frankly, he’s not even a good lackey. He’s an incompetent lackey. He’s like an 18-year-old kid who wants to join a fraternity that he could never be a member of, doing keg stands and chugging with friends. He’s an embarrassment to the agency and wouldn’t qualify even to be an FBI agent. What’s bad is that we have Republicans in the Senate that are enabling him to go without any objective oversight or transparency or accountability.” Commentator: “I thought that point was so important because Trump has a lot of lackeys. The issue is, they are all incompetent for the most part. And secondly, to have the head of the FBI likely not even pass a background check to be an agent speaks volumes of where we are.” ABC News Sen. Cory Booker and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman September 15, 2026 FBI Director Kash Patel during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday was pressed about whether he would send the FBI agents to polling places -- clashing with Democrats over the topic. CentralJersey.com Booker Calls FBI Director Patel a “Lackey” as GOP Lawmaker Moves to Impeach Hegseth September 16, 2026 By: Josh King U.S. Senator Cory Booker, D-NJ, told FBI Director Kash Patel that the bureau no longer has a real director, only someone doing another person's bidding. Booker made the remark directly to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, a Republican senator from Iowa, while Patel sat in the room during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on FBI oversight held on September 15, 2026. Booker did not stop there. He said Patel was not even competent at deferring to others, comparing him to a teenager trying to join a fraternity he could never actually get into, complete with drinking games. Booker said Patel was an embarrassment to the agency who would not even qualify to be a rank-and-file FBI agent, and he separately called the director a thug. Booker argued the real problem goes beyond Patel himself. He said Senate Republicans are letting a rogue FBI director intimidate reporters without any objective oversight, transparency, or accountability, per Insider NJ. Insider NJ Booker Shreds Patel as Massie Moves to Impeach Hegseth By Max Pizarro September 16, 2026| U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) criticized FBI Director Kash Patel at yesterday's Senate Judiciary Committee’s hearing on FBI oversight. “We don’t have an FBI director, we have a lackey here,"" Booker told Chairman Chuck Grassley, as Patel looked on. Booker continued of the FBI Director: ""[He's] using govern—and frankly, he’s not even a good lackey, he’s an incompetent lackey. He’s like an 18-year-old kid who wants to join a fraternity that he could never be a member of. Doing keg stands and chugging with friends. He’s an embarrassment to the agency and wouldn’t qualify, even, to be an FBI agent."" The senior U.S. Senator from New Jersey also referred to Patel as a ""thug."" “What is bad is not just that we have a rogue FBI agent intimidating reporters, what’s bad is that we have Republicans in the Senate enabling him to go without any objective oversight or transparency or accountability!” Booker added. Booker's clash with Patel came on the same day that a Republican congressman introduced articles of impeachment against U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. POLITICO FBI’s Kash Patel brawls with Senate Democrats at Judiciary hearing By: Chris Marquette September 15, 2026 Senate Democrats battered FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday at a Senate Judiciary oversight hearing, combatively criticizing a broad swath of his behavior and performance to the point the panel’s chair asked one to “shut up.” The scrutiny from Democrats previews how they may try to hold members of the Trump administration accountable if they take the majority after the midterms. It also highlights how the party has embraced the course confrontations common from Cabinet member testimony during the second Trump administration. Booker had called Patel a “thug” who targets reporters and their families when they write stories critical of him and the broader Trump administration and who investigated a journalist after writing a story on his girlfriend. When Grassley asked Booker to wrap up his comments, Booker said Grassley wasn’t being equitable with members’ time to speak. “He’s like an 18-year-old kid who wants to join a fraternity that he could never be a member of doing keg stands and chugging with friends,” Booker said. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) questions FBI Director Kash Patel about the use of FBI resources and accused Patel of retaliating against the media. Booker went on to clash with Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) at the hearing. Huffington Post A Heated Exchange Between Patel, Sens. Cory Booker, and Chuck Grassley September 16, 2026 Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) accused Patel of abusing his role as FBI director and of “stonewalling” the committee over questions about using the FBI to go after reporters who have put out stories unfavorable to him. The New York Times reported in April that the FBI investigated its reporter, Elizabeth Williamson, after she reported that Patel spent agency money on her to protect her and drive her around. Booker also referenced another instance where New York Times reporters were served with grand jury subpoenas after reporting on security issues with Trump’s Qatari-gifted new Air Force One plane. “It is interesting that he is using resources from the FBI in a way that he’s not willing to be transparent and open about,” Booker said. “The message that every reporter in America is getting right now is that we have an FBI director that is attacking the most vaunted of our amendments, which is our first one: freedom of the press. If you write about this director, this FBI will run your name through government databases. That’s not law enforcement. That is this man before us using a police agency to settle personal grievances about a story that embarrassed him. Daily Kos Sen. Cory Booker lays into FBI Director Patel AND his GOP colleagues during Tuesday hearing By: Janesaunt, Democratic Party Spotlight September 15, 2026 Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee held an oversight hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel. When it was time for Sen. Booker’s questioning things got a little heated. By then Patel was getting tired of being in the hot seat and Booker DID NOT CARE. The questioning starts out with Booker asking Patel about a New York Times article that said an FBI Swat Team was driving his girlfriend. Director Patel tried to pretend that Sen. Booker was questioning his relationship, which was obviously not what was asked. The question was did Patel ask agents to search federal databases about the reporter. No surprise that Patel refused to answer the question Booker also brought up the story about the prez sneaking off of the fake Air Force 1 to a smaller jet, and the FBI searching records for the reporters that broke that story. Not only did they search recent records, and subpoena reporters and their families, according to Sen. Booker, but records going back to January 2026, adding, “The Judge admonished you for this! The Judge saw it for what it was, an abuse of power The Wrap “This is a mockery and a sham,” Booker says of the FBI director’s oversight hearing with the Senate Judiciary Committee September 16, 2026 Booker: “My concluding remark is: We don’t have an FBI director, we have a lackey here who’s using government – and frankly, he’s not even a good lackey, he’s an incompetent lackey,” Booker: “He’s like an 18-year-old kid who wants to join a fraternity that he could never be a member of, doing keg stands and chugging with friends. He’s an embarrassment to the agency and wouldn’t qualify even to be an FBI agent. He won’t answer questions for a committee. He insults Democrats here, and you don’t step in. He has a little book by his side that he literally is using to try to intimidate people, in the same way he intimidates reporters.”",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-garcia-hayes-reintroduce-legislation-to-create-a-well-prepared-and-diverse-educator-workforce,"Booker, García, Hayes Reintroduce Legislation to Create a Well-Prepared and Diverse Educator Workforce",2026-09-18,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and U.S. Representatives Jesús ""Chuy"" García (IL-04) and Jahana Hayes (CT-05) reintroduced the Diversifying by Investing in Educators and Students to Improve Outcomes For Youth (DIVERSIFY) Act, legislation that would increase the TEACH Grant award to support middle- and low-income students interested in becoming teachers, ensuring an education workforce as diverse as the students it serves. The DIVERSIFY Act would ensure the grant amount more closely matches rising college costs and student loan debt which are major deterrents to students of color pursuing careers in education. The $4,000 a year award has not increased since it was created nearly 20 years ago. Not only has it failed to keep up with the rising cost of college, but since 2013 it has also been cut annually. Meanwhile, since 2007, college costs have continued to climb and the total student loan debt owed has increased by more than $1.2 trillion. The failure to protect and increase the award amount limits the program’s potential. The DIVERSIFY Act would combat these reductions to support all students, but especially students of color who perform exponentially higher in test scores, increase high school graduation rates, and better likelihood of college success with teachers of color. “Research shows that a diverse educator workforce can improve student achievement and close opportunity gaps,” said Senator Booker. “Yet, the high cost of teacher preparation remains a barrier to developing and sustaining a workforce that adequately represents the diversity of our nation’s students. By doubling the TEACH Grant and ending harmful annual cuts to the program, this legislation will provide greater support to current and future educators while helping strengthen and diversify our teacher workforce. Every student deserves access to great teachers, including educators who reflect the backgrounds and experiences of the communities they serve.” “Students deserve to see their own diversity reflected in those who teach them. In Chicago, less than 50% of teachers come from diverse backgrounds while Latino and Black students make up nearly 90% of the student population. As the cost of higher education and student loan debt continue to place a growing financial burden on students, we must do more to make a career in education accessible and affordable,” said Congressman García. “Increasing the TEACH Grant will help remove financial barriers for aspiring educators, expand opportunities for students, and ensure this critical program keeps pace with the rising cost of earning a degree.” “Every student should have the opportunity to learn from educators who understand their experiences, reflect their communities, and help them to break down negative stereotypes and biases. A diverse teacher workforce can strengthen student outcomes, improve school engagement, lower absentee and discipline rates and decrease incidents of misdiagnosis for special education,” said Congresswoman Hayes. “The DIVERSIFY Act will help encourage more individuals with multiple viewpoints and life experiences to enter the teaching profession and bring their talent back to the communities they call home. I am pleased to partner with Senator Booker and Representative García on this important legislation.” The DIVERSIFY Act will help create a well-prepared and diverse educator workforce by: Aligning the TEACH Grant’s maximum award with the cost of college today—which exceeds $31,000 a year at four-year colleges and universities—by increasing it to $8,000 per year. Ending annual cuts to the TEACH Grant award, which this year alone resulted in a decrease to the maximum award of over $225. Without Congressional action, these cuts will continue through 2029. Eliminating the harsh loan conversion penalty, which can serve as a deterrent to entering the program, and therefore teaching. Ensuring that the TEACH Grant program effectively covers the full cost of comprehensive preparation and reduces debt burdens by amending the program to cover the full cost of attendance, rather than just tuition, fees, and institutionally owned housing. Requiring the Secretary of Education to send TEACH Grant recipients who have completed their service an electronic certification noting this accomplishment. Supporting early educators by ensuring that they are eligible for TEACH Grants by including service in a high-need early education program, in addition to serving in a high-need school, as an eligible service area and adding early childhood education as a codified shortage subject. Ensuring that only educator preparation programs at public and private nonprofit institutions of higher education are eligible to participate in the TEACH Grant program.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-calls-on-trump-to-convene-congress-for-special-session-on-ai,Booker Calls on Trump to Convene Congress for Special Session on AI,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) took to the Senate floor to call on President Trump to use his authority under Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution to convene Congress for a special session to address the rapidly evolving risks and opportunities presented by artificial intelligence. Article II, Section 3 gives the President the power, on ""extraordinary occasions,"" to convene both Houses of Congress. ""We find ourselves in such an extraordinary moment. The safety of artificial intelligence systems demands urgent attention. The President should convene Congress at once to address it,"" said Senator Booker. ""This is not a moment for panic or despair. It is a moment for the government to govern,"" continued Senator Booker.""Congress will soon leave Washington for two months. Artificial intelligence will not recess."" Americans are already experiencing the effects of AI through scams, privacy threats, workplace disruption, and surveillance, while increasingly powerful systems present new risks that policymakers have yet to fully address. Booker called for Congress to address three urgent challenges: protecting Americans from potentially catastrophic AI risks, including dangerous biological and cyber capabilities; confronting harms already affecting Americans; and ensuring Americans can benefit from AI's potential to advance science, improve health care and education, boost productivity, and help small businesses compete. ""AI will not recess. These issues demand our urgent attention. Mr. President: It's time for a Special Session,"" concluded Senator Booker. WATCH FLOOR SPEECH HERE. Senator Booker’s Remarks as Prepared for Delivery: Article II, Section 3 of the Constitution gives the President the power, on “extraordinary occasions,” to convene both Houses of Congress. The last time a president used that power was Harry Truman in 1948. Seventy-eight years ago. We find ourselves in such an extraordinary moment. The safety of artificial intelligence systems demands urgent attention. The President should convene Congress at once to address it. This is not a moment for panic or despair. It is a moment for government to govern. To protect the American people and to prepare soberly for risks before they become crises. Presidents have invoked this authority at moments when the stakes were extraordinarily high—from the earliest days of the Republic through periods of war, economic crisis, and national emergency. That is the purpose of this power: to bring Congress together when circumstances demand it, and to give the country the full attention of its elected government. Congress will soon leave Washington for two months. Artificial intelligence will not recess. The technology will continue to advance. The risks will continue to evolve. And the consequences of getting this wrong will not wait for Congress to return. This should stand above petty partisanship. It should be about one thing: putting the safety and security of the American people first. There are three challenges before us right now. First, we must protect against potentially catastrophic harms. Serious people, including researchers and leaders inside the companies developing the most advanced AI, are warning about dangerous biological or cyber capabilities—and the emergence of systems that behave in ways humans cannot reliably predict or control. We do not know whether the most catastrophic scenarios will ever occur. But when credible experts warn of consequences this grave, responsible government does not panic and it does not dismiss them. It gets to work. Second, we must confront the harms happening right now. Americans are already encountering AI through increasingly sophisticated scams targeting seniors and families, mass surveillance, threats to privacy, disruption in the workplace, and systems that can affect the prices people pay. The future risks of AI demand our attention, but so do the people being harmed by it today. Finally, we must seize the extraordinary possibilities this technology offers. AI could help scientists discover lifesaving drugs, detect diseases earlier, accelerate scientific breakthroughs, transform education, increase the productivity of American workers, help small businesses compete, and give millions of people access to capabilities that were once available only to those with wealth and power. But none of these positive outcomes are possible without action by the government to make sure AI is safe, trusted by people, and that its benefits are broadly shared. AI cannot become another chapter in an old story where extraordinary new technologies create extraordinary new wealth and power for a small number of people while working Americans are asked to absorb the disruption, bear the costs, and wait patiently for the benefits to reach them. I have been calling for safety interventions for years. In July 2023, I wrote to the White House about the future of AI and what we should do as a country to prepare for it. It was clear to me then that we were seeing the early sparks of a technology that could have profound effects on our society, economy, and security. I advocated for: Rigorous pre-deployment testing of advanced models Independent evaluations and audits Incident reporting and investigation Supply chain security International coordination And the need for a careful and disciplined approach to the pace of AI development. In addition, we should: Establish whistleblower protections for lab employees Strengthen requirements for securing frontier model weights Establish a National Transportation Safety Board-like entity for investigating AI incidents Prepare for the potential emergence of AI systems capable of autonomously improving themselves Preserve states’ ability to protect their own people in the absence of meaningful federal standards Reject antitrust exemptions that hurt consumers and competition And yes, put the brakes on the development of capabilities whose risks outrun our ability to manage them Americans feel beat down right now. Forgotten. That feeling is justified. Prices are up. Rent, food, utilities. Hiring is flat. We have a government that moves too slow to deliver what people need, and corruption that moves too fast to protect people in power. And now, Americans are seeing multi-trillion-dollar firms building technology that they say will exceed humans at all cognitive and physical tasks. Their anxiety is warranted. It cannot be set aside. It cannot be dismissed like Donald Trump is doing—calling it a hoax. Americans are demanding that we act. They're demanding leadership. And we need to deliver. We have a rare convergence of early warning signs, practical options available, and a growing consensus for action—including among the American people, who understand what’s at stake and are rightfully demanding that policymakers step up. In my letter to the White House more than three years ago, I closed by emphasizing the importance of human agency: our collective responsibility to decide what role this technology should play in our lives, rather than letting the technology or its developers decide for us. That profound responsibility remains ours today. I am a prisoner of hope. I will never let despair have the last word. I know how technology can lift people up. I lived it. My dad came from humble beginnings and became one of IBM's top salesmen. But we will only unlock the promise of this technology if it's done in a democratic fashion. Where the people decide. Not the tech billionaires or trillionaires. Not Donald Trump. And it's ridiculous that the House of Representatives decided to pack up and leave town. Again, AI will not recess. These issues demand our urgent attention. Mr. President: it's time for a Special Session. Thank you.",1,2026-09-18T09:27:43Z,2026-09-18T09:29:09Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-introduces-bill-to-eliminate-delays-for-americans-with-disabilities-to-receive-social-security-and-medicare-benefits/,Senator Kim Introduces Bill to Eliminate Delays for Americans with Disabilities to Receive Social Security and Medicare Benefits,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) introduced legislation to eliminate the delay leaving Americans with disabilities waiting months to years for their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Medicare benefits. “It is horrifying that any American should be forced to endure months or even years of waiting for benefits they worked hard to earn. Care cannot be put on hold. Congress needs to step up for our disability community and end these harmful waiting periods once and for all,” said Senator Kim. The Government Accountability Office found that between Fiscal Year 2008 and Fiscal Year 2019, over 109,000 individuals died while awaiting a determination of their SSDI application. And in 2023, approximately 30,000 Americans died while waiting. An estimated 1.8 million people with disabilities are caught up in the Medicare waiting period at any given time. Workers who become disabled can qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments, but the process to apply for benefits is slow, and even once an individual qualifies, there is a statutory five-month waiting period before they receive their first disability check, and 24 months before becoming eligible for Medicare insurance coverage. In total, individuals face a 29-month waiting period from the onset of disability before fully receiving their SSDI benefits. Senator Kim’s Stop the Wait Act specifically would: Phase out the five-month waiting period for SSDI benefits over the next five years, eliminating it entirely by 2031; and Eliminate the 24-month waiting period for Medicare disability benefits for individuals who are uninsured or unable to afford health insurance. The legislation is co-sponsored by Senators Patty Murray (D-WA), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Bernie Sanders (D-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA) and endorsed by: Federation of American Hospitals, American Association of People with Disabilities, UnidosUS, The Arc, Alzheimer’s Association, Alzheimer’s Impact Movement, Autism Society of America, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Little Lobbyists, American Lung Association, American Council of the Blind, National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC), National Brain Tumor Society, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Muscular Dystrophy Association, The Spina Bifida Association, Christopher & Dana Reeve Foundation, Epilepsy Foundation, Solve M.E./Solve Long COVID Initiative, COVID-19 Health and Safety Taskforce (CHeST), Pandemic Patients, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), National Disability Institute, Families USA, National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities, Social Security Works, Strengthen Social Security Coalition, Alliance for Retired Americans, Justice in Aging, Association of People Supporting Employment First (APSE), National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA), National Organization of Social Security Claimant Representatives (NOSSCR), National Association of Disability Representatives (NADR), National Disability Rights Network (NDRN), Paralyzed Veterans of America, Special Needs Alliance, American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR), American Association on Health and Disability, Center for Law and Social Policy, Lakeshore Foundation, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Public Citizen, Caring Across Generations, Center for Medicare Advocacy, Medicare Rights Center, Access Ready, Easterseals, United Spinal Association, Lutheran Services in America, Association of Assistive Technology Program, American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Domestic Workers Alliance, Care in Action, and AFL-CIO. “For families already stretched thin by caregiving, every month without health coverage is a month of impossible choices. The Stop the Wait Act closes a dangerous gap where people with disabilities are approved for support but still forced to wait years for the coverage that makes it possible to actually use it. No one’s health should have a waiting period,” Nicole Jorwic, Chief Program Officer at Caring Across Generations. “The five-month SSDI waiting period and the two-year Medicare waiting period unjustly deny people with disabilities the income and health benefits they earned when they need them most. These delays aren’t just cruel, they’re dangerous because many people are forced to put off necessary medical care,” said Darcy Milburn, Director of Social Security and Healthcare Policy, The Arc of the United States. “As people with disabilities face ever-higher prices for basic necessities and rising healthcare costs, ending these waiting periods is more important than ever. We strongly endorse the Stop the Wait Act.” “Waiting periods for SSDI can be deadly for disabled people. The Stop the Wait Act will allow workers with disabilities to access the benefits they have earned and get the healthcare they need to survive,” said Michael Lewis, Vice President of Policy, American Association of People with Disabilities. ###",1,2026-09-19T09:11:33Z,2026-09-19T09:12:45Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-jayapal-wilson-introduce-legislation-to-combat-high-rate-of-heart-disease-in-south-asian-americans,"Booker, Jayapal, Wilson Introduce Legislation to Combat High Rate of Heart Disease in South Asian Americans",2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) as well as U.S. Representatives Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) and Joe Wilson (SC-02) reintroduced the South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act, legislation that would establish a federal grant program to expand cardiovascular research, raise awareness of heart disease, and improve health outcomes for South Asian Americans ""Heart disease is taking a devastating toll on South Asian families in New Jersey and across the country, yet their risk is still too often overlooked in the doctor's office,"" said Senator Booker. ""This bill invests in the research and community resources we need to catch heart disease early, treat it effectively, and save lives."" “As the first South Asian American woman ever elected to the House of Representatives, I’m fully committed to increasing understanding of heart disease and the unique risk factors in the South Asian community while ensuring that all those living with it get the resources, treatment, and support they need,” said Representative Jayapal. “Heart disease has been the leading cause of death for over a century, and it is even more dire in the South Asian community. The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act is essential legislation that ensures that we have the research, resources, and treatments to prevent heart disease cases and deaths in the South Asian community and beyond.” “Heart disease disproportionately affects certain populations such as the South Asian community, and this bill will expand research and education to benefit those communities. I am grateful that this bipartisan bill passed the House in multiple previous Congresses, and I look forward to its final passage into law,” said Representative Wilson. Studies show that South Asians in the United States – people who immigrated from or whose families immigrated from countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal – are experiencing a dramatic rise in heart disease and face four times the risk of heart disease compared to the general population. Despite making up 25 percent of the world’s population, South Asians account for a disproportionate 60 percent of the world’s heart disease cases and over 50 percent of the world’s cardiovascular deaths. Almost two-thirds of middle-aged South Asian Americans are at intermediate or high risk for heart failure within the next 10 years, and because research agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) do not disaggregate medical data for Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, it is nearly impossible to examine data on South Asian Americans. Heart disease is widely prevalent in the United States, but is not well understood. One person in America dies every 34 seconds from cardiovascular disease, and costs associated with heart disease in the United States — including indirect costs — exceed $500?billion annually and is projected to surpass $1?trillion by 2035. The South Asian Heart Health Awareness and Research Act would authorize the HHS Secretary to make grants available to states to promote awareness of the increasing prevalence of heart disease in South Asian communities. These grants can be used to: Develop culturally appropriate materials on topics such as nutrition education, optimal diet plans, and programs for regular exercise. Support heart health promotion activities of community organizations that work with or serve communities disproportionately affected by heart disease. Support conferences or workshops on research practices, methodology, and design to include more members of communities disproportionately affected by heart disease in scientific studies. The legislation also directs the HHS Secretary to submit a report to Congress on the grant activities and any data gathered related to heart disease in disproportionately impacted communities and authorizes funding for these programs through 2028. The legislation has been endorsed by the American Heart Association, the Asian Pacific American Medical Student Association (APAMSA), El Camino Health, Indian American Impact, MASALA Study, the National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, the South Asian Health Initiative (SAHELI) and the South Asian Public Health Association (SAPHA).",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-calls-for-investigation-into-trumps-blm-letting-wild-horses-go-to-slaughter,Booker Calls for Investigation Into Trump’s BLM Letting Wild Horses Go to Slaughter,2026-09-17,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined U.S. Representative Dina Titus (NV-01) and 17 congressional colleagues in sending a bipartisan, bicameral letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting a review of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program, following reports that wild horses sold by BLM were sent to slaughter. The letter follows reporting from the New York Times describing how BLM sold wild horses to buyers who quickly shipped them to slaughter in Canada. Signers include other Congressional Wild Horse Caucus Co-Chairs U.S. Representatives Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Steve Cohen (TN-09), and Mark Pocan (WI-02). This letter is also endorsed by the American Wild Horse Conservation and Rewilding America Now. “Wild horses are among some of America’s most respected national treasures. Year after year, Congress has barred the Bureau of Land Management from slaughtering them. I’m deeply concerned by the report that Trump’s agency is recklessly selling these animals to buyers who send them to slaughter. The GAO must investigate these allegations,” said Senator Booker. “We now know what we have long suspected — that the BLM has been selling off wild horses that end up in slaughterhouses,” said Congresswoman Dina Titus, Co-Chair of the Congressional Wild Horse Caucus. “This practice must end now. I am leading my Congressional colleagues in demanding an investigation of the Wild Horse and Burro Sale Program to ensure wild horses and burros received the protections they are guaranteed by federal law."" “It’s long past time to fix the ongoing failures in how America’s wild horses are managed. For years, across both Republican and Democrat administrations, we’ve seen alarming reports of hostility toward these animals and serious questions about how the Bureau of Land Management is carrying out its responsibilities. This cannot be a partisan issue. It’s a stewardship issue. I’m proud to join this bipartisan effort to demand accountability, protect our wild horses, and push for real solutions that address the problem head-on,” said Congressman Juan Ciscomani. ""The Administration knows what it is doing. They are circumventing the law to benefit landowners who want to get rid of all the wild horses, which are American heritage that we should value. More oversight is needed,” said Congressman Steve Cohen. “Our laws demand that we protect wild horses, not send them to slaughter. Congress has always worked in a bipartisan manner to protect these animals, and we need accountability and oversight at the Bureau of Land Management immediately. We hope this request will force the Administration to do the right thing,” said Congressman Mark Pocan. The letter asks the GAO to examine: How BLM has implemented its authority to sell wild horses How BLM screens wild horse purchasers and conducts oversight of high-risk or repeat buyers What happens to horses and burros after they are sold, and how often BLM has repossessed animals or suspended purchasers Whether BLM’s current practices comply with Congressional restrictions and the Wild Free-Roaming Horses and Burros Act Read the full text of the letter here. ###",1,2026-09-25T10:04:52Z,2026-09-25T10:05:46Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kennedy-launch-bipartisan-senate-creators-caucus,"Booker, Kennedy Launch Bipartisan Senate Creators Caucus",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Kennedy (R-LA) launched the Senate Creators Caucus, a first-of-its-kind, bipartisan effort to recognize and engage creators shaping public conversation for millions of Americans. The new caucus highlights the growing creator economy and the role that creators play in elevating cultural, social, and political issues. To mark the launch, Booker and Kennedy hosted a panel and reception featuring 15 leading creators whose work spans tech, politics, beauty, mental health, sports, and lifestyle content—collectively reaching tens of millions of viewers across the country. “Content creators are more than our favorite teachers, cooks, music critics, and voices online. They are also entrepreneurs who create jobs, drive economic growth, and invest in their communities. Creators represent a growing sector of the economy, but Congress and our laws haven’t kept up. The bipartisan Senate Creators Caucus seeks to change that by educating lawmakers, advocating for policies that have creators in mind, and ensuring that creators are recognized as legitimate small businesses, ” said Senator Booker. “America’s content creators are entrepreneurs. They’re turning good ideas into careers, building businesses and reaching millions of people in ways that weren’t possible a generation ago. Creators and social media have tremendous influence over how Americans communicate and get information, and that influence comes with a responsibility to be honest and tell the truth. Senator Booker and I started this caucus to hear directly from creators, better understand this growing part of our economy and make sure they have a voice in Congress,” said Senator Kennedy. ""YouTube creators are online storytellers, entrepreneurs, and employers in every state across the country. We're grateful to Senators Booker and Kennedy for launching the Senate Creators Caucus to ensure America’s digital creators have a strong voice in Washington,” said Leslie Miller, VP of Government Affairs and Public Policy, YouTube. The panel was moderated by Washington Post reporter and inaugural Creator Host Dylan Wells. Panelists included Avery Smith of Louisiana Crawfish Company; Ian Schwartzman, CEO and co-host of the Joe Budden Network; Jackie Aina, a beauty and lifestyle creator; Sage Steele, former SportsCenter co-anchor and host ofThe Sage Steele Show; Matthew Patrick, creator advocate and co-founder of Theorist Media; and Mark Vins, Emmy Award-winning wildlife filmmaker and co-founder of Brave Wilderness. The launch was also attended by creators from across various industries, including Javoris Hollingsworth ofGracie’s Corner; mental health creators Dr. Tracey Marks and Kati Morton; Ericka “Boze” Bozeman ofBOZEvstheWORLD; lifestyle creator Destiny Adams; psychiatrist and creator Dr. Judith Joseph; tech creator Jacklyn Dallas of The Next Big Thing; and digital culture creator Shira Lazar of What’s Trending.",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-committee-passage-of-farm-bill,Booker Statement on Committee Passage of Farm Bill,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. --- Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement on the Committee’s passage of the Republican Farm Bill: “The Republican Farm Bill that passed the Senate Agriculture Committee today on a party line vote fails to meet this moment of crisis our farmers and our families are facing. Not only does the bill fail to meaningfully fix the massive cuts to SNAP that Republicans made last year, it also does not provide funding or policy changes to help the hundreds of thousands of struggling small and mid-sized farmers across our country. Since Congress passed the last Farm Bill in 2018, we have lost over 150,000 farms in our country. That is an average of over 50 farms going out of business every single day. The repeated need for emergency assistance demonstrates that our current farm programs are no longer working as intended. Congress cannot continue responding to every farm crisis with another hasty bailout while leaving the underlying problems unaddressed. This Farm Bill needs to be amended into a better bill that would help to build a more resilient agricultural economy by restoring fair markets, strengthening local and regional food systems, and investing in the production of the healthy foods Americans need.”",1,2026-09-17T09:52:05Z,2026-09-17T09:53:00Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-presses-doj-on-antitrust-nominees-reported-work-at-the-department-before-senate-confirmation,Booker Presses DOJ on Antitrust Nominee’s Reported Work at the Department Before Senate Confirmation,2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, demanded answers from the Department of Justice (DOJ) about reports that Adam Candeub, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Antitrust Division, is already working at DOJ while his nomination is still pending before the Senate and he seemingly still serves at the Federal Communications Commission. President Trump nominated Candeub on July 21 to serve as Assistant Attorney General for the Antitrust Division. The Senate Judiciary Committee held his confirmation hearing on August 5 but has not voted on his nomination. Recent reporting indicates that Candeub has been working at DOJ headquarters for several weeks as Counselor to the Attorney General and has taken part in antitrust-related briefings. The Department has disputed part of that account, saying Candeub has not attended leadership or policy briefings. In a letter to DOJ”s Office of Legislative Affairs, Booker pressed the Department to clarify Candeub’s role and authority. The letter also raises questions about Candeub’s dual roles. The FCC has identified Candeub as its General Counsel since January 2025. Booker asked whether Candeub had resigned or taken leave from the Commission, and what legal authority, if any, allows him to serve at both agencies at the same time. Particularly when the DOJ and FCC have overlapping jurisdiction over broadcast, cable, and wireless transactions. “The Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution conditions Mr. Candeub’s service in this office on the Senate’s advice and consent,” wrote Senator Booker. “The Senate Judiciary Committee assesses a nominee’s qualifications, independence, and conflicts before he assumes authority, not after he has spent substantial time inside an agency directly or indirectly influencing the very matters he would inherit.” Booker asked the DOJ to respond in writing by Monday, September 21. The Senator requested details on when Candeub began working at the Department, his title and legal authority, and any documents establishing his appointment. He also asked whether Candeub has participated in Antitrust Division matters, accessed nonpublic DOJ information, or been involved in antitrust briefings or deliberations.",1,2026-09-22T09:42:49Z,2026-09-22T09:44:35Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-merkley-grassley-hinson-and-adams-lead-bipartisan-push-for-stillbirth-prevention-and-awareness,"Booker, Merkley, Grassley, Hinson, and Adams Lead Bipartisan Push for Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness",2026-09-16,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and U.S. Representatives Ashley Hinson (R-IA-02) and Alma S. Adams, Ph.D. (D-NC-12) in introducing a bipartisan, bicameral resolution recognizing September 19, 2026, as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day. Nearly one-fourth of stillbirths are potentially preventable, and the resolution underscores the need to advance evidence-based stillbirth prevention efforts across the United States. ""Every year, more than 20,000 families in the United States experience a stillbirth, and too many of these losses may be preventable,"" said Senator Booker. ""Losing a baby to stillbirth is devastating, and on National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we stand with the families who have experienced this profound loss and recommit ourselves to preventing stillbirth wherever possible. By investing in research, improving data collection, raising awareness, and strengthening access to high-quality maternal health care, we can better understand the causes of stillbirth, reduce preventable losses, and support healthier pregnancies."" ""No family should have to endure the heartbreak of a stillbirth. While states like Iowa have made progress at reducing stillbirths, there's still much more to be done to strengthen maternal healthcare, especially in rural areas, to help prevent these tragedies. Our bipartisan resolution raises awareness and promotes research to help target contributing factors and save babies' lives,"" said Senator Grassley. ""Every parent who experiences a stillbirth deserves support and clear action. Stillbirth remains a heartbreaking and preventable public health crisis, with Black, Native, and Hispanic families facing disproportionately high rates of loss,"" said Senator Merkley. ""Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was an important first step, but we cannot let up. This National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day, we must keep pushing for necessary action to save lives and spare families this devastating loss."" ""Improving prenatal education and access to maternal care—especially in rural areas where women may travel over an hour to see a provider—is critical to protecting babies and reducing maternal deaths. Getting my Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act signed into law was a major step, but more must be done to support expecting moms and prevent stillbirths. I'm proud to reintroduce this resolution recognizing September 19th as National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day and will continue working across the aisle to end the tragedy of stillbirth,"" said Representative Hinson. Senator Booker also leads, with Senator Merkley, the Stillbirth Health Improvement and Education (SHINE) for Autumn Act, which would improve data collection, research, education, and public awareness around stillbirth. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data, one out of every 183 U.S. births, more than 20,000 per year, results in a stillbirth. That is more than the number of babies who die during their first year of life. Parents who experience stillbirth also face an increased risk of severe maternal morbidity, depression, and mortality. ""Nearly five thousand babies' lives could be saved annually through greater focus on stillbirth prevention efforts. National Stillbirth Prevention & Awareness Day is an opportunity to address the urgent stillbirth crisis in the U.S. and share free resources and tools like Count the Kicks which are saving lives. Our message to the country: it doesn't have to be this way,"" said Emily Price, CEO, Healthy Birth Day, Inc. ""The Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses applauds Senator Jeff Merkley for introducing the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day Resolution and for elevating awareness of an issue that affects thousands of families across the United States each year. Stillbirth is a devastating loss with lasting emotional, physical, and psychological impacts on parents, families, and communities. While not all stillbirths can be prevented, research continues to demonstrate that increased awareness, equitable access to high-quality prenatal care, evidence-based clinical practices, and timely recognition of warning signs can help reduce the risk of preventable stillbirths. This resolution helps shine a spotlight on the urgent need to strengthen prevention efforts, support families who have experienced loss, and address persistent disparities in maternal and infant health,"" said Elizabeth A. McIntire, MSN, RN, WHNP-BC, C-EFM, President, Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses. ""Every year, thousands of families experience the devastating loss of a stillborn baby with lasting impacts on mom and her health,"" said Stacey Y. Brayboy, Senior Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs, March of Dimes. ""Yet, research shows that many stillbirths are potentially preventable. We must do more to support moms, protect babies, and care for their families. March of Dimes is proud to endorse the National Stillbirth Prevention and Awareness Day Resolution and urges action to advance research, strengthen prevention, address maternal health risks, and ensure families have access to the care and resources they need."" In 2024, the bipartisan Maternal and Child Health Stillbirth Prevention Act, led by Senator Merkley in the Senate and Representatives Hinson and Adams in the House, was signed into law to help save the lives of mothers and babies across America.",1,2026-09-23T09:45:16Z,2026-09-23T09:46:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-vote-against-clarity-act,Booker Statement on Vote Against Clarity Act,2026-09-15,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"“After nearly a year of negotiating in good faith towards a bill that protects consumers, cracks down on Trump’s corrupt crypto schemes and sets fair rules of the road for the crypto industry, I am deeply disappointed that Senate Republicans brought a bill to the floor without bipartisan agreement. I said from the start of my work on this issue, I will not support legislation that allows President Trump to line his own pockets. It's outrageous that the President of the United States and Senate Republicans decided to protect President Trump’s corruption, self-dealing and schemes to turn the White House into his personal ATM over the interests of American consumers.""",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-calls-on-senate-to-reassert-control-over-ai/,Senator Kim Calls on Senate to Reassert Control over AI,2026-09-14,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) released the following statement: “AI is moving faster than anyone – including its creators – can understand or control. We need to act and act now to ensure that humans remain in control of this technology and that all people – not just the elite few – benefit from it. “The warnings we’ve gotten after multiple concerning AI incidents need to serve as a wake-up call to establish a comprehensive approach including government action to put guardrails on our own technology, and ensure that our competitors and adversaries aren’t able to develop dangerous technologies. “Technology and innovation must move forward; it’s what has powered our nation’s economy and kept us safe. But moving forward recklessly without sensible controls is a recipe for chaos and danger. The American people don’t want this technology to advance without rules that they have a say in writing. “The Senate will reconvene this week. We should call together a Senate wide discussion on next steps and set out to pass critical bipartisan legislation that we can get done before the end of the year like the MATCH Act and BLADE Act that I’ve put forward along with other legislation to protect our kids. I’ve also pushed to develop a protocol to “Mythos-proof” our critical infrastructure and financial/healthcare sectors from AI-driven attacks and vulnerabilities. These are steps we can take right now as we build out broader solutions and regulations. “It should be a focus of ours to discuss how to reassert control over AI for the American people. Control based on a set of principles, enforced by a set of rules, all built for a common purpose: to ensure the technology and innovation that moves us forward never leaves us behind. And controls to ensure our competitors and adversaries aren’t able to proceed recklessly while we take sensible steps.” ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-joins-bipartisan-resolution-honoring-victims-survivors-and-first-responders-on-25th-anniversary-of-9/11,"Booker Joins Bipartisan Resolution Honoring Victims, Survivors, and First Responders on 25th Anniversary of 9/11",2026-09-11,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – On the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing a Senate resolution honoring the victims, survivors, and first responders of 9/11, as well as the service members who defended the United States in the years that followed. The resolution pays tribute to the 2,977 people killed in Lower Manhattan, at the Pentagon, and in Shanksville, Pennsylvania. It honors the 343 firefighters, 72 law enforcement officers, and eight emergency medical technicians and paramedics who were killed responding to the attacks; the 55 military personnel killed at the Pentagon; and the passengers and crew of United Airlines Flight 93, who fought back and kept the hijackers from reaching their target in Washington. The resolution also recognizes the charitable foundations, nonprofits, labor and faith-based organizations, and community groups that have spent a quarter century serving survivors and the families of those lost. ""Twenty-five years later, we still carry that day with us — the nearly 3,000 lives lost, and the courage of the firefighters, police officers, and first responders who ran toward danger to save others,"" said Senator Cory Booker. ""New Jersey lost hundreds of our neighbors that morning, and families across our state have carried that grief every day since. This resolution is the Senate's way of saying we have not forgotten — not the victims, not their families, and not the heroes whose sacrifice is a debt we can never fully repay. I'm proud to join Senator Gillibrand and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in honoring their memory."" The resolution is led by Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY). In addition to Booker, it is cosponsored by Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), John Fetterman (D-PA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), and John Boozman (R-AR).",1,2026-09-16T09:43:13Z,2026-09-16T09:44:22Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/recap-what-senator-kim-heard-during-town-hall-and-tour-of-flemington/,Recap: What Senator Kim Heard During Town Hall and Tour of Flemington,2026-09-10,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Yesterday, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) was joined by hundreds of New Jerseyans in Flemington for a standing room only town hall. Senator Kim spoke on a full range of topics, including the impact Trump’s tariffs have had on the Hunterdon community, his legislative efforts to rid corruption from public service and bring universal healthcare to children, and the affordability crisis New Jersey continues to navigate. Before taking questions from attendees, the Senator also provided updates on the war in Iran and its impact at home and discussed both his recent oversight visits to Delaney Hall and his work to rid New Jersey of private detention centers. “I’m going around Hunterdon County [earlier] today – overwhelmingly everyone is saying they are feeling an anxiety right now; someone I spoke to said it feels hard to breathe sometimes, wondering what is going to happen,” said Senator Kim during his opening remarks. “In this day and age, why are we making it harder for people to be able to live with dignity and decency?” Importantly, Senator Kim explained, “I’m tired of performative politics…the question is what comes next – we have to end [the Iran] war that is costing our country billions, reverse the tariffs, and we have to reverse the Medicaid and budget cuts…we must close corruption loopholes and put forward a new vision as to where our country can go.” Throughout the evening, Senator Kim discussed topics and answered questions ranging from concerns about climate change to concerns about Trump’s dangerous foreign policy, including: The overwhelming red tape people with disabilities have to navigate to receive needed healthcare, including recertifications for Medicaid The impact that Trump’s tariffs have had on Hunterdon farmers and families Senator Kim’s oversight leadership when it comes to Delaney Hall The affordability crisis that Hunterdon families are navigating, especially when it comes to gas prices The Senators legislative work tackling government corruption The Senators role on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and how that impacts FEMA decisions The attack on election integrity and vote-by-mail ballots At the end of his opening remarks, Senator Kim reflected on the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11th terrorist attacks, which occurred when he was in college, and which was the catalyst for Senator Kim to dedicate his life to public service. Senator Kim said, “[September 11th] was a moment that really shook us, rightfully so, but reminded us that we are something bigger than all of us – I feel like we are losing that – we are having a crisis of empathy right now… but in the aftermath of September 11th – we, in all corners of this country, grieved. I’ll be standing with families [of 9/11 victims] this Friday at Ground Zero, and yes, it’s a moment for us never forget, but hopefully it’s a moment to never forget what it means to be a country, and to feel a commonality and a bond with one another – to remember what it means to be a democracy. We have a lot of challenges right now – but I still believe in America.” Earlier in the day, Senator Kim traveled throughout Hunterdon County meeting with students, educators, and disability community advocates. He was first joined by members of the Hunterdon County Education Services Commission in Flemington to discuss their concerns over funding gaps for workforce programs and their desire to increase adult literacy. He then met with members of Progressive Center for Independent Living in Lebanon, where he heard about the devastating impacts that Trump’s cuts to Medicaid have had on those they serve and the importance of continued access to care for adults with disabilities. Senator Kim is a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, Kim represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-espaillat-introduce-legislation-to-expand-mental-health-workforce-and-bring-care-to-underserved-communities,"Booker, Espaillat Introduce Legislation to Expand Mental Health Workforce and Bring Care to Underserved Communities",2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and U.S. Representative Adriano Espaillat (D-NY) introduced the Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act, legislation to strengthen the nation’s mental health workforce and expand access to culturally and linguistically responsive mental health services in underserved communities. Nearly one in five U.S. adults — approximately 58 million people — experience mental illness each year, yet only about half receive treatment. Provider shortages, cost, stigma, language barriers, and a lack of culturally responsive care prevent millions of Americans from getting the support they need. The Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act would establish a competitive federal grant program to help certified community behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, and other behavioral health organizations develop and expand training programs for community mental wellness workers. These frontline workers would help individuals identify mental health concerns early, navigate available services, and connect with appropriate treatment and recovery resources. “Right now, too many Americans are suffering in silence, with nowhere to turn and no one to catch them before things get worse. This is a crisis, and we cannot afford to wait until someone reaches a breaking point to act,” said Senator Booker. “Community mental wellness workers can meet people where they already are — in schools, community centers, faith-based organizations, and neighborhood health programs — so that pain doesn’t go unnoticed and unanswered. This legislation invests in a trusted, culturally responsive workforce that can identify challenges early, break down stigma, and help ensure every person has a path to the care they deserve.” “Communities around the nation are facing increased mental health needs, and our bill will address the national crisis at hand as well as specifically train and support local healthcare workers who have the cultural competency and context to best serve their neighbors,"" said Representative Espaillat. ""Expanding mental health resources that take into account culture and language considerations, will help decrease stigmas that communities, particularly minority communities, face when addressing mental health and getting the support individuals need. Our bill will create a framework tailored to remove barriers that have long prevented marginalized communities from seeking mental health services as well as provide federal grant funding to ensure these services are in place when needed.” ""A deepening workforce shortage strains providers who work tirelessly on the frontlines to meet growing demand for mental health and substance use treatment and care,” said Chuck Ingoglia, President and CEO of National Council for Mental Wellbeing “The Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act would help them greatly by creating more opportunities to expand the workforce and give communities more resources to meet demand. We applaud Senator Booker for introducing this legislation to develop a new pipeline into the behavioral health field and help to make mental wellbeing — the foundation of living a strong, healthy and fulfilling life — a reality for everyone.” The Community Mental Wellness Worker Training Act would: Establish a competitive federal grant program to support certified community behavioral health clinics, community mental health centers, hospitals, and other behavioral health organizations in developing and expanding community mental wellness worker training programs. Provide evidence-based training in mental health screening, early identification of common mental health conditions, patient engagement, and connecting individuals to treatment and recovery resources. Strengthen workforce development by supporting evidence-based hiring, supervision, and training practices, including strategies to recruit workers who reflect the communities they serve. Expand culturally responsive care by helping behavioral health providers integrate trained community mental wellness workers into care teams. Provide medical malpractice liability coverage for program participants and providers while services are delivered within the scope of the training program. The legislation is endorsed by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Mental Health Counselors Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, American Association for Psychoanalysis in Clinical Social Work, American Occupational Therapy Association, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, Global Alliance for Behavioral Health & Social Justice, Huntington’s Disease Society, International Society of Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurses, Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute, National Association of State Mental Health Program Directors, National Alliance on Mental Illness, National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners, National Council for Mental Wellbeing, National Disability Rights Network, National League for Nursing, Psychotherapy Action Network, The Kennedy Forum, Western Youth Services, and Postpartum Support International. Read the one-pager on the bill here.",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-statement-against-trumps-assault-on-2030-census/,Senator Kim Statement Against Trump’s Assault on 2030 Census,2026-09-09,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee’s Disaster Management, D.C., and Census Subcommittee, released the following statement on the Trump administration’s dangerous plan to overhaul the 2030 Census: “This rule is yet another attack on democracy by Donald Trump. An accurate census count is at the very foundation of ensuring equal representation across our country and delivering federal funds where they’re needed most. The Census is enshrined in our Constitution and not up for political debate. I will not stand for this attempt to silence diverse communities and use the Census as a mere pawn in a twisted crusade against our immigrant communities.” ###",1,2026-09-11T09:25:29Z,2026-09-11T09:27:08Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kennedy-announce-bipartisan-988-day-resolution,"Booker, Kennedy Announce Bipartisan 988 Day Resolution",2026-09-08,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and John Kennedy (R-LA), announced a bipartisan resolution recognizing September 8, 2026, as 988 Day and honoring the critical role of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. The date coincides with 988 Day, an annual day of action held each September 8 to raise awareness of the Lifeline and the free, confidential support it provides. A companion resolution has been introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Wesley Bell (D-MO-1), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), and Mike Lawler (R-NY-17). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, suicide was the second-leading cause of death among Americans ages 10 to 34 in 2024, claiming more than 48,800 lives nationwide — roughly one death every 11 minutes. Since launching nationwide in July 2022, the 988 Lifeline has received approximately 26.2 million calls, texts, and chats. In June 2026 alone, it fielded more than 770,000 contacts, a 92 percent increase over June 2023. The Lifeline operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, offers support in more than 240 languages, and provides specialized services for veterans, Spanish speakers, and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. By dialing 988, callers are connected to trained crisis counselors who provide free, confidential support to anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, a mental health crisis, or a substance use crisis. “The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has become an essential resource for millions of Americans and is helping people through some of the darkest moments of their lives,” said Senator Booker. “I’m proud to lead this bipartisan Senate resolution to raise awareness of this lifesaving service and make sure more people know that help is available when they need it. We must continue investing in mental health care and crisis services so that no one has to face a moment of crisis alone.” “In the middle of a historic mental health crisis, the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has proven to be a lifesaver for Americans who need help. I’m proud to join Senator Booker in recognizing the seriousness of America’s suicide epidemic and the important work being done to prevent these tragedies,” said Senator Kennedy. “The number 988 is a cornerstone of our nation's mental health safety net, but too many people still don't know it's there to help them on one of the hardest days of their life,"" said Representative Bell. “During an ongoing nationwide mental health epidemic that is especially impacting our nation’s young people, recognizing 988 Day means making sure that in the hardest of moments, no one in Missouri or anywhere else feels they have to face the darkness alone. Help is always within reach."" ""In 1996, I lost my first wife due to her battle with mental health struggles,"" said Representative Thanedar. ""It was a heartbreaking loss for my entire family, and this incident drives my advocacy to create a healthcare system where everyone has access to high-quality mental health care. 988 is an incredible resource that saves lives every day, and I am proud to co-lead this resolution that highlights their crucial work. Americans should know that there is no shame in seeking help, suicide is preventable, and you can call 988 at any time."" “988 Day is an opportunity to recognize the vital role the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline plays in connecting people to trained counselors, local resources, and compassionate, judgment-free support, while reminding everyone that they are never alone and that help is available,” said Laurel Stine, J.D., M.A., Executive Vice President and Chief Policy and Advocacy Officer at the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).“The Lifeline’s remarkable growth since the nationwide launch of 988 in 2022, from 4.8 million contacts in 2023 to 7.8 million contacts in 2025, underscores the essential role 988 now plays in our nation’s mental health and suicide prevention system. AFSP commends Representatives Bell, Thanedar, Lawler, and Senator Booker for their leadership in introducing this resolution honoring 988 Day and raising awareness of this lifesaving resource.”",1,2026-09-10T09:25:58Z,2026-09-10T09:27:09Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-statement-on-fema-denial-of-new-jerseys-winter-storm-major-disaster-declaration-appeal,"Booker, Kim Statement on FEMA Denial of New Jersey’s Winter Storm Major Disaster Declaration Appeal",2026-09-03,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEWARK, N.J. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) issued the following joint statement in response to FEMA’s denial of Governor Mikie Sherrill’s appeal for a major disaster declaration following the severe winter storm and snowstorm that struck New Jersey on February 22 and 23, 2026: “New Jersey rightfully qualifies for millions in disaster aid because the severe storms our state suffered this past winter exceeds the threshold for federal disaster assistance - exactly the kind of catastrophe that this support is designed to respond to. Without good explanation or justification, Trump’s government is again politicizing disaster relief and denying New Jersey the support needed. This is a completely unacceptable decision - we will continue working with Governor Sherrill and communities across our state to find solutions so that New Jersey is prepared for future winter storms.”",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-whitehouse-urge-nih-to-protect-octopuses-and-other-cephalopods-used-in-research,"Booker, Whitehouse Urge NIH to Protect Octopuses and Other Cephalopods Used in Research",2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) urged the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to strengthen protections for cephalopods used in federally supported research. In a letter to NIH Director Jayanta Bhattacharya, the senators urged the agency to follow Congress’ direction in the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act and expand the definition of “animal” under the Public Health Service Policy on Humane Care and Use of Laboratory Animals to include cephalopods. “Cephalopods, including squids, octopuses, cuttlefish, and nautiluses, are a highly intelligent, sensitive class of marine invertebrates capable of experiencing pain, distress, and suffering,” wrote the senators. “However, because they are invertebrates, they are excluded from the welfare protections provided to most vertebrate animals via the PHS Policy.” NIH proposed guidance for the care of cephalopods in research in 2023 but has yet to release final guidance. The senators raised concerns that the proposed guidance omitted key welfare protections provided to vertebrate animals under the PHS Policy, including post-approval monitoring, justification for animal use in grant applications, and reporting of animal program deficiencies. “If the final guidance is not meaningfully strengthened from the proposed version, it would fail to provide adequate protections for cephalopods used in NIH-supported research and would not be a sufficient substitute for applying PHS Policy to cephalopod research,” wrote the senators. The senators asked NIH to provide answers about the status and timeline for its final guidance, whether it plans to expand the PHS Policy’s definition of “animal” to include cephalopods, and whether the final guidance will include additional welfare protections. “Congress addressed this issue in the report of the 2026 Consolidated Appropriations Act. I encourage the NIH to swiftly act on Congress’ recommendation and expand the definition of ‘animal’ under the PHS Policy to include cephalopods, and to provide comprehensive protections for cephalopods,” wrote the senators. Read the full text of the letter here. ###",1,2026-09-04T09:19:37Z,2026-09-04T09:20:58Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-visits-warren-county-to-talk-healthcare-and-jobs/,Senator Kim Visits Warren County to Talk Healthcare and Jobs,2026-09-02,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WARREN COUNTY, NJ – Yesterday, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) visited Warren County with focused visits on expanding affordable healthcare and improving New Jersey’s workforce development pipeline as part of his Einstein Corridor initiative. “I leave these visits inspired by the dedication I witnessed from those in Warren County who are training NJ’s next generation of workers and pushing to ensure access to quality healthcare in some of our most rural communities,” said Senator Kim. “There is so much unique potential in each corner of our state – I’m excited to bring the ideas discussed with me back to Washington as I work to make sure Warren County has the federal support it needs to thrive.” Healthcare Senator Kim toured Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center, a critical regional hospital for Warren County’s residents. After meeting with Atlantic Health CEO, Saad Ehtisham, to discuss how Atlantic Health can assist in his goal of bringing affordable healthcare to all, Senator Kim toured the Emergency Department and heard from nurses and healthcare staff about the impact that Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill has had on their patients and the quality of care they are able to receive. Senator Kim also toured their Outpatient Behavioral Health Department and learned how their recent upgrades will benefit Warren County residents. “Atlantic Health is proud to care for the people of Warren County and appreciates our ongoing partnership with Senator Kim on behalf of all the communities we serve across New Jersey,” said Saad Ehtisham, President and CEO, Atlantic Health. “Today was a valuable opportunity to share the work of our nationally recognized team at Atlantic Health Hackettstown Medical Center and engage in meaningful dialogue around healthcare affordability and access.” Workforce Development Senator Kim toured Warren County Community College’s (WCCC) drone lab and unmanned aircraft system (UAS) program. Senator Kim personally experienced the outdoor drone flight training center with WCCC President Dr. Will Austin before he heard from students and faculty about ways their program is preparing students for jobs in next generation innovation, and what is needed to improve workforce development in aviation and emerging drone technologies. Senator Kim held a roundtable discussion, where he was joined by Peter Connolly, President of New Jersey’s Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP), and leading manufacturers from across the state. Together, they discussed ways New Jersey can better its workforce retention and development pipeline, improve apprentice opportunities and cooperation between state and federal partners, and the negative impact that President Trump’s tariffs have had on their businesses. “Tariffs, inflation, supply chain pressures, and workforce shortages are the most common concerns we hear from New Jersey manufacturers. This roundtable with Senator Kim and manufacturing leaders provided an important opportunity to discuss how these challenges are impacting companies differently and what manufacturers are doing to adapt,” said Peter Connolly, CEO, NJMEP. “Whether through apprenticeship programs, stronger domestic supply chains, or continued investment in their operations, these conversations help ensure policymakers understand what manufacturers need to remain competitive and continue manufacturing here in New Jersey. Senator Kim has always been a big supporter of NJMEP and the MEP program itself.” Senator Kim also toured the Commercial Solar Panel Recycling Center, New Jersey’s first solar panel recycling plant, and the M&M Mars Factory in Hackettstown. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/icymi-booker-crisscrossed-the-state-on-21-county-tour,ICYMI: Booker “Crisscrossed the State” on 21-County Tour,2026-09-01,2026,2026-09,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"Booker met with New Jerseyans in every county to hear their concerns, highlight local successes, and discuss how he’s fighting for their priorities in the Senate NEW JERSEY — In case you missed it, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) went on his annual 21-County Tour, hosting and attending events in all 21 New Jersey counties to hear directly from New Jerseyans and bring their priorities back to the Senate. Across the state, Booker announced new legislation to help prevent drug overdose deaths, highlighted more than $33.5 million in federal investments he helped secure, honored veterans, supported families facing food insecurity, and met with farmers, small-business owners, medical researchers, college students, and more. The tour gave Senator Booker the opportunity to see firsthand what is happening in communities across New Jersey and identify new ways to work together to stand up for New Jerseyans in the Senate. SEE FOR YOURSELF: Press of Atlantic CitySenator Cory Booker Visits AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus in Atlantic City August 28, 2026 Senator Cory Booker visited AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center City Campus in Atlantic City today to highlight a $1 million federal infrastructure investment to strengthen critical hospital systems that support emergency, trauma, and surgical care. HudPostSen. Booker Delivers $559,000 to Liberty Science Center for Portable Planetarium By: James de los Santos August 29, 2026 U.S. Sen. Cory Booker presented Liberty Science Center with a $559,000 federal grant on Tuesday, August 25, 2026, to launch a portable planetarium program that will bring astronomy and science education to students across New Jersey. Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center: “This very generous grant to our center for the new portable planetarium programming is a sterling manifestation of his commitment to ensure that countless thousands of children across New Jersey can experience the same wonders of science that he did. School children and their parents across the state are equally thankful for his generosity.” Senator Booker: “Today’s visits showcased the extraordinary breadth of New Jersey’s contributions to our nation. New Jerseyans fuel the global economy. Their skill, creativity, and determination strengthen our state and our country.” Cape May County HeraldBooker Touts Ferry Service in Visit to North Cape May Terminal By: Bill Barlow August 28, 2026 Senator Booker: “This ferry system right here is vital not just to Cape May County but to the entire region we’re in. It’s going to bring jobs to our state, economic vitality and just ease of transportation.” Booker was at the terminal to discuss a grant through the Federal Transit Administration that will help fund construction of a second new ferry for the Delaware River and Bay Authority, which operates the ferry service. The money is part of a $665 million federal investment in ferries around the country. The latest federal grant will go toward the second hybrid vessel, said Joel Coppadge, the DRBA's Executive Director. “The $30 million will be significant. It will help with the capital funding that is necessary for the second vessel,” Coppadge said. “This is a huge head start.” Press of Atlantic CitySenator Booker visits Atlantic City’s Orange Loop district August 28, 2026 U.S. Senator Cory Booker toured the Orange Loop, meeting with Mayor Marty Small Sr., local developers, community leaders, and business owners to see firsthand the investment and energy taking place in the neighborhood. After hearing about the vision that brought developers to Atlantic City and the opportunities they see ahead, Senator Booker had high praise for the city, calling Atlantic City an “urban gem” and saying it could become “one of the best stories in all of New Jersey over the next decade.” He also recognized the local leadership, entrepreneurs and community connections driving the city forward. WMBC-TV- Hometown NewsOfficials Present Medals to 57 Veterans at Memorial Home in Bergen County August 27, 2026 Officials say honoring that service also means making sure veterans have access to the care, benefits, and resources they earned. Senator Cory Booker talks about the spirit of service embodied in many of the veterans he has met. Senator Booker: “The thing I’ve been blown away by [with] New Jersey veterans is, once they put their uniform off, they don’t stop serving. They don’t stop contributing. They don’t stop making a difference. They don’t stop helping one another.” The InquirerCory Booker says the U.S. needs a ‘food revolution’ in South Jersey visit By: Aliya Schnieder August 27, 2026 Booker visited Cathedral Kitchen in Camden, where he packed sandwiches as the nonprofit faces increased demand amid rising grocery costs and cuts to SNAP. He said he would work to direct federal resources to the organization and push to restore funding for Medicaid and Affordable Care Act subsidies. Booker called for greater support for small farmers, criticizing agricultural subsidies that favor “massive commodity crops” like corn and soybeans used in ultra-processed foods over “specialty crops” like fruits and vegetables. “New Jersey farmers are suffering with tighter and tighter margins,” he said. During his South Jersey tour, Booker presented a $2 million FY26 congressional allocation to Inspira Medical Center in Mullica Hill to expand technology and telehealth services and visited Salem Community College’s Glass Education Center. The Franklin ReporterSen. Booker Visits Food Bank, Vows to Save Federal Nutrition Programs August 28, 2026 Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) told food bank leaders from across New Jersey on Monday that he intends to keep the U.S. Farm Bill bottled up in the Senate Agriculture Committee unless Republicans agree to stop cutting federal nutrition programs. NJ GlobeBooker calls for generational change in Senate Democratic leadership: Senator in Trenton for his annual 21 county tour By: Joe Seawald August 26, 2026 Booker began Wednesday’s tour at Greater Mount Zion’s food pantry on Pennington Avenue, where food was being distributed to local residents. They also toured Back in Our Hands, Greater Mount Zion’s planned birthing center. Booker said visiting community organizations helps him stay connected to the people whose work shapes his legislative agenda. “You need to stay connected to the communities doing the work, and this is one of them,” Booker said. He also pointed to his role in crafting the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act of 2022. Booker said his advocacy was informed by his experiences as mayor of Newark from 2006 to 2013 and by visits to organizations like the restorative justice hub. Jersey Shore OnlineBooker Visits Brick to Promote Opioid Overdose Bill August 26, 2026 U.S. Sen. Cory Booker visited Brick Township to discuss proposed federal legislation aimed at preventing opioid overdose deaths. The Rory Ahern Act would expand access to naloxone, commonly known by the brand name Narcan, as well as overdose response training and lifesaving equipment for bystanders and first responders. Mayor Lisa Crate, Township Council Vice President Derrick Ambrosino, EMS/Rescue Chief James Riccio and members of Brick EMS/Rescue joined Booker for the discussion. Local officials emphasized the importance of providing residents and emergency personnel with the training and resources necessary to respond quickly during an overdose. TapInto Phillipsburg Cory Booker Kicks Off 21-County NJ Tour in Phillipsburg to Address Food Access and Downtown Infrastructure Challenges for Small Businesses By: Ally Shubert August 22, 2026 U.S. Sen. Cory Booker kicked off a 21-county tour of New Jersey in Phillipsburg, making the town the first stop of his statewide trip and meeting with local farmers, community leaders, and residents to discuss food access, agriculture, and challenges facing the community. Booker visited the Phillipsburg Fresh Stop Market, where a roundtable discussion focused on the organization’s farm share program, which connects residents with locally grown produce while supporting area farmers and addressing food insecurity. Senator Booker:“When people have access to fresh healthy foods, their lives transform, and frankly, not only their health, but their well-being increases.” WRNJ RadioU.S. Sen. Cory Booker Visits Morris, Warren, Hunterdon and Sussex Counties During Annual 21-County Tour By: Jay Edwards August 24, 2026 U.S. Sen. Cory Booker kicked off his annual 21-county tour this past weekend with stops in Morris, Warren, Hunterdon, Passaic, and Sussex counties, visiting community events, a farmers market, a church and a historic mining museum. Senator Booker: “Every year, I look forward to traveling across New Jersey and listening directly to the people who call our state home. As I kicked off this year’s 21-County Tour, I was reminded of how much pride New Jerseyans have in their communities and how much they do to make them stronger.” Senator Booker: “New Jersey is full of remarkable places and stories that too often don’t get the attention they deserve. Visiting Sterling Hill was a reminder that some of the most extraordinary and scientifically unique places in the world are right here in our own state.” Insider NJBooker in His Element at Wharton Event By:Tom Moran August 22, 2026 Cory Booker was on the first leg of his annual 21-county state tour. And he began at the borough's Canal Day, a yearly celebration of the historic Morris Canal, which transported goods from the Delaware to the Hudson through much of the 1800's. He posed for many photos, took many selfies with attendees, bought a Morris Canal cap for his wife, Alexis, who was with him, played a game of cornhole and more. SEE ALSO: 8/28: Booker-concludes-2026-annual-21-county-tour 8/27: Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties 8/26: Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Bergen, Ocean, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties 8/25: Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Middlesex, Union, and Hudson Counties 8/24: Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Essex and Somerset Counties 8/23: Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Passaic and Sussex Counties 8/22: Booker Kicks Off Annual 21-County Tour in Morris, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties 8/21: Booker Announces 2026 Annual 21-County Tour",1,2026-09-03T09:29:33Z,2026-09-03T09:31:32Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-concludes-2026-annual-21-county-tour,Booker Concludes 2026 Annual 21-County Tour,2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEW JERSEY — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker concluded his 2026 Annual 21-County Tour, underscoring his commitment to fighting — and delivering — for New Jersey’s priorities in the Senate. Since launching the tradition 13 years ago, Senator Booker’s tours have spotlighted new federal investments, advanced local priorities, and strengthened partnerships with organizations, businesses, and industries across all 21 counties. “Every stop on this tour reminded me why I love this job,” said Senator Booker. “I met extraordinary people in every corner of our state who are caring for their neighbors, lifting up their communities, and showing what is possible when we come together. I end this tour with deep gratitude and even more Jersey pride. It is the honor of my life to represent New Jersey in Washington, and I’ll never stop fighting for the people of our state.” Senator Booker concluded his tour with stops in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties, highlighting federal investments, local economic development, and support for New Jersey farmers. In Atlantic County, Senator Booker visited the Orange Loop, an Opportunity Zone neighborhood, where he met with local business owners and entrepreneurs for a roundtable discussion and driving tour. He heard directly about their experiences and saw firsthand how his Opportunity Zone legislation has helped spur economic development, support small businesses, and create new opportunities in historically underserved communities. Also in Atlantic County, Senator Booker toured the AtlantiCare Trauma Center and helipad and presented AtlantiCare Health System with a ceremonial check commemorating the $1 million FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending award he secured for the hospital. He met with hospital leadership and frontline staff to discuss the importance of this federal investment in strengthening emergency response capabilities. The funding will help ensure New Jersey families have access to high-quality care when they need it most. In Cape May County, Senator Booker toured the Cape May–Lewes Ferry Terminal’s three-vessel fleet and celebrated a $30 million Federal Transit Administration award he helped secure for the Delaware River and Bay Authority to purchase a new diesel-hybrid ferry. The award builds on a previous $20 million award he secured in 2024. He also discussed the $9.6 million FTA award to the Borough of Carteret and NJ TRANSIT’s Carteret Ferry Service Expansion Project, highlighting how the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is delivering investments that will strengthen New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure, tourism, and economic development. ""For over 60 years, the Cape May–Lewes Ferry has been a vital crossing connecting New Jersey and Delaware, which is a significant contributor to our regional economy,” said Joel Coppadge, Executive Director of the Delaware River and Bay Authority. “This grant award is critical toward our efforts to modernize our fleet with cleaner, more efficient hybrid technology for the next generation. Beyond the environmental benefits, this investment safeguards an essential engine that drives more than $250 million in annual tourism and economic activity to the region. We are incredibly thankful for Senator Booker’s dedicated advocacy on behalf of the DRBA and the thousands of travelers who depend on our crossing every day."" In Cumberland County, Senator Booker ended the day with a visit to Cedar Rose Vineyards, where he saw firsthand the crop damage caused by the April freeze and met with farmers who suffered significant crop losses. He also received a briefing on the freeze’s impact across the state and discussed his efforts to secure federal disaster relief for farmers. Senator Booker’s 2026 Annual 21-County Tour included: Announcing the Rory Ahern Act in Ocean County, legislation to expand NARCAN training for first responders, school personnel, and substance use treatment professionals and help prevent overdose deaths. Highlighting more than $33.5 million in federal investments he helped secure for New Jersey, including $2 million for Inspira Health Network, $1 million for AtlantiCare, $559,000 for Liberty Science Center’s new mobile planetarium, and $30 million for a new diesel-hybrid ferry for the Cape May–Lewes Ferry. Honoring New Jersey veterans across Bergen and Monmouth Counties, includingpresenting medals and certificates to 57 veterans and hosting a Veterans Town Hallto listen directly to veterans and their families and stand up for the services and support they have earned. Supporting New Jersey families facing food insecurity, including visits to theFranklin Food Bank in Somerset County, the Greater Mount Zion Food Pantry in Trenton, and Cathedral Kitchen in Camden County. Meeting with researchers, students, and workers at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery and Innovation, Salem Community College’s Glass Education Center, and L’Oréal Groupe’s North America Research and Innovation Center to highlight scientific innovation, STEM education, and workforce development. Supporting New Jersey farmers and small businesses, including visits to theHunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair, Wharton’s Canal Day festival, Atlantic City’s Orange Loop, and the South Jersey Chamber of Commerce, as well as meeting with Cumberland County farmers facing significant crop losses from the April freeze and discussing federal disaster relief. SEE ALSO:",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/kim-warren-joint-statement-on-new-independent-watchdog-report-on-detailing-trump-attempt-to-destroy-cfpb/,"Kim, Warren Joint Statement on New Independent Watchdog Report on Detailing Trump Attempt to Destroy CFPB",2026-08-28,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance on the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Ranking Member of the full committee, released the following joint statement following the release of a report at their request for an investigation by the independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) for the Federal Reserve System and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) into the Trump Administration’s attempt to destroy the CFPB: “Donald Trump promised to lower costs ‘on day one.’ Today’s independent watchdog report reveals the staggering extent to which the Trump Administration’s assault on the CFPB has cost American families. New details lay out Trump and Russ Vought’s systematic attempt to destroy the agency, including by cancelling hundreds of contracts, creating a backlog of 16,000 consumer complaints, and halting 80 enforcement actions against companies for cheating consumers. “Over the last year and a half, Americans have paid at least $26 billion because of Trump’s attack on the agency. But the Administration’s attempt to eliminate the agency has failed, thanks to people across the country coming together to fight for the CFPB. Today’s report is a reminder of how important it is to stay in the fight.” Senator Kim continues his work to hold the Trump administration accountable for leaving American consumers behind and dismantling critical federal services, including demanding answers about reductions in force and contract cancellations,updates to the CFPB Consumer Complaint Portal, and other interferences at the agency. Senator Kim has previously forced votes on the Senate Floorto reverse Trump’s attacks on American consumers, including filing two Joint Resolutions of Disapproval of Trump Administration CFPB rules to protect Americans from unfair and illegal debt collection and defend their right to access and control their financial reports and futures. ###",1,2026-08-29T11:31:28Z,2026-08-29T11:32:37Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-continues-annual-21-county-tour-with-stops-in-burlington-camden-gloucester-and-salem-counties,"Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties",2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEW JERSEY — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker continued his annual 21-County Tour with events in Burlington, Camden, Gloucester, and Salem Counties, meeting with students, health care professionals, food assistance advocates, and business leaders across South Jersey. In Burlington County, Senator Booker began the day at the South Jersey Chamber of Commerce, where he met with local businesses and discussed his advocacy for South Jersey’s economic growth, including his work on infrastructure, workforce development, and small business support. In Camden County, Senator Booker visited Cathedral Kitchen, South Jersey’s largest emergency meal provider. He toured the culinary arts training program, met with graduates building new career pathways, and joined volunteers preparing meals and care bags. The visit highlighted his record of securing federal funding to combat hunger and support workforce development programs that create opportunity, as New Jerseyans face massive cuts to SNAP and food assistance programs under the Trump administration. In Gloucester County, Senator Booker presented Inspira Health Network with a $2 million FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending award to modernize technology and expand telehealth services. At the event, Senator Booker discussed how he is standing against the Trump administration’s policies that are raising the cost of health care and jeopardizing access to care, as well as his work in the Senate strengthening rural health infrastructure and expanding access to care for underserved communities. In Salem County, Senator Booker toured the Salem Community College Glass Education Center, home to the nation’s only Scientific Glass Technology degree program. He met with students and instructors whose specialized craft supports scientific research worldwide, tying the visit to his broader advocacy for federal investments in STEM education and workforce training. “As the Trump administration pursues an agenda of chaos, corruption, and cruelty, the people of South Jersey are doing what our state does best: stepping up for each other. Everywhere I go across South Jersey, I see the power and resilience of our people. I see doctors and nurses working to provide more services to rural communities at a time when health care costs are skyrocketing. I see volunteers providing food to those struggling as the Trump administration’s savage cuts to SNAP and food assistance leave too many families facing hunger. These are the values that make me proud to fight on behalf of New Jerseyans every day in the Senate,” said Senator Booker. Senator Booker’s 21-County Tour concludes tomorrow in Atlantic, Cape May, and Cumberland Counties.",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-padilla-blumenthal-demand-dhs-and-ice-halt-the-purchase-of-electric-shock-gloves,"Booker, Padilla, Blumenthal Demand DHS and ICE Halt the Purchase of Electric Shock Gloves",2026-08-27,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), all members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, are calling on Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Acting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Director David J. Venturella to immediately halt the planned purchase of electric shock gloves and provide answers about the circumstances that led ICE to pursue the acquisition. According to an August 10 DHS acquisition forecast, ICE intends to spend up to $20 million through a sole-source, no-bid contract with Compliant Technologies, the manufacturer of the devices. The weapons, known as G.L.O.V.E. (Generated Low Output Voltage Emitters), are hand-worn electrical devices that deliver a painful shock upon contact. In their letter, the senators raised concerns about the safety of the devices, ICE’s record of excessive force, and the risks of outfitting untrained officers who operate with little to no accountability with new weapons. “The manufacturer’s user manual warns that these electric shock weapons can cause sudden death or serious injury, along with physiological changes that increase the risk of elevated blood pressure, changes in blood chemistry, increased respiration and heart rates, changes in heart rhythm, and elevated adrenaline. The longer the exposure, the higher the risk,” the senators wrote. “The manufacturer recommends avoiding their use on the elderly, small children, pregnant women, and people with disabilities.” The senators also warned that the gloves could be deployed more easily than conventional electrical control weapons because an officer only needs to make hand contact and press a switch. They argued that ICE's existing use-of-force record, combined with inadequate training and oversight, raises additional concerns about deploying a new force tool. They also raised concerns about accountability for ICE agents, citing comments from Compliant Technologies CEO Jeff Niklaus about the lack of visible injuries from the devices. The senators wrote, “That is not a safety feature; it is a liability shield. These devices are designed to leave no trace—an ‘invisible partner’ according to Compliant Technologies—even when the force is unjustified or violates the Fourth Amendment.” “DHS is not procuring a less-lethal weapon. It is procuring a tool engineered to evade accountability,” they continued. The senators also pointed to the erosion of public trust in ICE, writing, “ICE is answerable to the American public whose trust in the agency has eroded: over half of Americans have little to no confidence in the agency and over half believe it uses excessive force.” The senators are demanding that DHS and ICE halt the procurement, deployment, and use of the devices and, within 10 days, provide information about the justification and materials reviewed before the purchase, the devices’ operational need, the legal and factual basis for the sole-source contract, any potential ties between Compliant Technologies and Trump Administration officials, medical and safety reviews conducted before the procurement, and ICE's use-of-force record since January 20, 2025.",1,2026-08-28T17:11:49Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-announces-rory-ahern-act-to-help-prevent-overdose-deaths-through-expanded-narcan-access-and-response-training,Booker Announces Rory Ahern Act to Help Prevent Overdose Deaths Through Expanded NARCAN Access and Response Training,2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"BRICK TOWNSHIP, NJ — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced the Rory Ahern Act, legislation to help prevent opioid overdose deaths by expanding access to naloxone (NARCAN), overdose response training, and lifesaving equipment. Senator Booker made the announcement at a roundtable he hosted at Brick Township EMS Rescue Station alongside Rory Ahern’s mother, first responders, and other advocates. The Rory Ahern Act is named in honor of Rory Ahern, a New Jersey resident who died from an opioid overdose at age 29. His mother saved his life multiple times by administering naloxone and has since become a fierce advocate for drug prevention and overdose awareness. Naloxone can rapidly reverse an opioid overdose when administered in time. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a potential bystander was present at nearly 43% of overdose deaths in 2023. The Rory Ahern Act would help ensure more people have the tools and training to respond when an overdose occurs. “An overdose can turn into a matter of life and death in seconds, and I have heard directly from New Jerseyans who have lived through the terrifying moments of racing against the clock to save someone they love,” said Senator Booker. “ I’m proud to announce this lifesaving legislation to expand access to naloxone and the training to use it, so that no one loses a loved one to a preventable overdose.” ""Fourteen years ago, I joined members of the recovery community and families, like my own, impacted by the opioid crisis, in advocating for greater access to naloxone in New Jersey, "" said Tonia Ahern, Mother of Rory Ahern. Since the passage of New Jersey's Overdose Prevention Act in 2013, thousands of lives have been saved. However, without continued funding to support education, training, and resources for first responders and communities, more families and friends will experience the devastating loss of a loved one. Our family is honored and deeply grateful that Senator Booker recognizes the critical importance of naloxone education, access, and lifesaving equipment through the Rory Ahern Act. This legislation will help ensure that communities have the tools and knowledge needed to prevent overdose deaths and save lives."" “I would like to thank Senator Booker for choosing Brick Township as the location to introduce and promote the Rory Ahern Act, "" said James Riccio, Chief of Brick Township EMS. We know that naloxone saves lives and because of grant programs such as this that will provide money not only for training but that will make naloxone available to a wider range of people in our communities, even more lives will be saved.” ""Low-dose naloxone and oxygen are the most effective tools we have to reverse an overdose. These are lifesaving supplies, and this bill would get them in the hands of first responders across the country,"" said Lea Rumbolo, Senior Operations Manager at the New Jersey Harm Reduction Coalition. ""We already know that harm reduction saves lives. What we need is for our federal policy and funding to follow the evidence. We're grateful to Senator Booker for working with the harm reduction community and championing this legislation."" ""Opioid use disorder continues to be a public health crisis. However, we now have highly effective, evidence-based treatments, such as buprenorphine and methadone, that are proven to reduce deaths and other health complications of opioid use, while allowing patients to enter recovery and achieve their goals,” said Jessica Moore, Emergency and Addiction Medicine Physician at Cooper Health. “Naloxone, a medication that reverses opioid overdose, is one of the critical components of medical care for patients with opioid use disorder. Ready availability of naloxone is essential in improving survival of opioid overdose and allowing affected patients the opportunity to be connected to long-term treatments."" The Rory Ahern Act would specifically establish a federal grant program to expand overdose response training and access to life-saving equipment. The grants would support training on recognizing opioid overdoses and administering oxygen and low-dose naloxone for first responders, including EMS, firefighters, and law enforcement; school personnel, including school nurses and other staff; and substance use treatment professionals. Grants would also help communities purchase equipment needed to respond to suspected opioid overdoses, including oxygen and low-dose naloxone devices.",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-baldwin-demand-ftc-investigate-291-billion-syscorestaurant-depot-merger,"Booker, Baldwin Demand FTC Investigate $29.1 Billion Sysco–Restaurant Depot Merger",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, and member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) are demanding the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) thoroughly investigate Sysco’s proposed $29.1 billion acquisition of Jetro Restaurant Depot, over concerns that the deal could further consolidate the nation’s food distribution system, weaken competition, and drive up costs for independent restaurants and consumers. In a letter to FTC Chairman Andrew Ferguson, the senators warned that the proposed acquisition would eliminate an important source of competition for independent restaurants, caterers, farmers, and other small businesses. Restaurant Depot’s “cash-and-carry” model — which has no contracts, delivery fees, or minimum orders — provides small businesses with an alternative to traditional broadline distributors like Sysco and allows them to compare prices and purchasing options. “A single dominant company monopolizing the food distribution system will allow one company unprecedented power to raise prices and reduce purchasing options for independent restaurants. The higher food and supply costs restaurants will likely incur from this merger will almost certainly be passed on to diners, as most of these small businesses operate on the margins of three to five percent even under favorable conditions. Or, these combined pressures could force many independent restaurants to close, resulting in layoffs and an economic loss to their local community,"" wrote the senators. The deal comes as restaurants and consumers continue to face rising costs. According to the National Restaurant Association, menu prices have increased by at least 34 percent since 2020. The senators also raised concerns about the impact of further consolidation on farmers, noting that independent restaurants are often their largest commercial buyers of produce. The FTC has previously intervened to prevent consolidation in the restaurant distribution industry. In 2015, the Commission blocked Sysco’s proposed acquisition of US Foods, determining that the transaction would significantly reduce competition and likely result in higher prices and lower levels of service for restaurant-goers. “Sysco’s action represents an effort to vertically integrate the food distribution space and eliminate a competitor price check that helps maintain lower-cost options. We urge the FTC to review this merger to ensure that consumers, farmers, and restaurant owners maintain their independence and competition can flourish,” the senators concluded.",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-continues-annual-21-county-tour-with-stops-in-bergen-ocean-mercer-and-monmouth-counties,"Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Bergen, Ocean, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEW JERSEY — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker continued his annual 21-County Tour with events across Bergen, Ocean, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties, meeting with veterans, families, and community leaders working to strengthen New Jersey’s future. In Bergen County, Senator Booker honored 57 veterans with medals and certificates at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home in Paramus. He connected the ceremony to his ongoing work to expand healthcare access and recognition for veterans, underscoring his commitment to ensuring those who served receive the dignity and support they deserve. In Mercer County, Senator Booker toured three sites with Salvation and Social Justice. At the Greater Mount Zion Food Pantry, he highlighted his support for federal investments in food security programs. At the forthcoming Birthing Center, he spoke about his leadership on maternal health equity and legislation to address “birthing deserts.” At the Restorative Justice Hub, Senator Booker met with Trenton youth and praised the mentorship and enrichment programming, tying it to his national advocacy for criminal justice reform and restorative justice. In Ocean County, Senator Booker announced the Rory Ahern Act, legislation to expand Narcan training grants for first responders. The legislation is named in memory of a New Jersey constituent who lost his life to overdose, and Booker was joined at the event by Rory’s mother, now a drug prevention advocate, as well as first responders and other advocates. Read more about the Rory Ahern Act announced today here. In Monmouth County, Senator Booker closed the day at the New Jersey Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial & Museum in Holmdel, hosting a Veterans Town Hall. He engaged directly with veterans, service members, and families, recognizing their continued service and listening to their concerns — continuing his long record of elevating veterans’ voices in policy discussions. “Every day of this tour reminds me of the extraordinary strength and compassion that exists in communities across New Jersey,” said Senator Booker. “From our veterans who continue to serve our state with honor, to the organizations that support those facing hunger and other needs, to families working tirelessly to combat the terrible epidemic of opioid addiction — the New Jerseyans I met with today underscore the true strength, spirit, and values of our state.” Booker’s Annual 21-County Tour continues tomorrow in Salem, Gloucester, Camden, and Burlington Counties.",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-27T16:10:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-schiff-schumer-lead-45-senators-in-urging-netanyahu-to-immediately-crack-down-on-settler-violence-in-west-bank-protect-us-citizens,"Booker, Schiff, Schumer Lead 45 Senators in Urging Netanyahu to Immediately Crack Down on Settler Violence in West Bank, Protect U.S. Citizens",2026-08-26,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, led a group of 45 senators alongside U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) and Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) in urging Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to take immediate action to reduce violence in the West Bank and prevent further violence amid a significant increase in harassment, threats, and acts of violence in recent weeks. They also called on the government of Israel to complete investigations into the deaths of nine American citizens killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank in recent years. “We urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people,” the Senators wrote in a letter signed by almost the entire Senate Democratic Caucus. The Senators warn that “continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike.” President Donald Trump and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously expressed their opposition to annexation of and violence in the West Bank, which the Israeli government has failed to address. “Like you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence,” the Senators concluded. Additionally, the Senators call for those responsible for such violent acts to be held accountable and investigated. Joining Senators Booker, Schiff, and Leader Schumer on the letter are U.S. Senators Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Lisa Blunt-Rochester (D-DE), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez-Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Edward Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR). Read the full text of the letter here and below. Dear Mr. Prime Minister, We write in shared concern and opposition to the growing levels of violence in the West Bank. Many of us have previously expressed to President Trump that continued settlement expansion and fighting in the West Bank will harm Israel’s long-term security and the prospects for lasting peace, prosperity, and freedom for Israelis and Palestinians alike. Incidents of fatal violence by settlers have reportedly already surpassed 2025 levels and continue to increase. The last few weeks alone saw a significant surge in violence on both sides, resulting in a large-scale response by Israeli security forces, mass arrests of Palestinians, and reported attacks by settlers on mosques. We urge you to take measures to prevent and intercede in this violence, establish a credible mechanism to investigate violations of law, and to make clear that the Government of Israel will not tolerate violence by its people, just as it does not tolerate violence against its people. We write particularly on behalf of American citizens who have been killed or threatened in such violence. Many of us have heard first-hand from their families and other constituents who have themselves been threatened without cause by settlers. We have engaged the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem and your embassy in Washington to ensure their protection and appreciate measures taken on their behalf, but a more significant response from your government is clearly needed. We ask for your personal and direct engagement and intervention in order to protect our constituents and their families. President Trump and Secretary of State Rubio have expressed their opposition to all violence in the West Bank and actions aimed at annexation, but those concerns have gone unaddressed. Now, we urge you to take the following actions: Issue clear directives to the Israeli Police and Israeli Defense Forces to prevent and intervene in harassment, threats, and actual use of violence, regardless of the perpetrators. Ensure that all those responsible for harassment, threats, and violence against Palestinians, including Palestinian-Americans, are held accountable through a transparent and credible process. This includes completing investigations into and ensuring accountability for the deaths of nine American citizens who have been killed by settlers or security forces in the West Bank since 2022. Stop approving additional settlements and stop allowing the construction of, and take steps to remove, illegal outposts in the West Bank. Like you, the safety and security of our constituents is of paramount importance. We urge your government to ensure that Americans in the Israeli-controlled parts of the West Bank are able to enjoy the security and protection of property to which they are entitled. We also hope to see the conditions improved so that Israelis and Palestinians may one day live in peace with each other without the fear of terrorism or lawless violence. ###",1,2026-08-27T16:10:01Z,2026-08-28T17:13:14Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-continues-annual-21-county-tour-with-stops-in-middlesex-union-and-hudson-counties,"Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Middlesex, Union, and Hudson Counties",2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEWARK, NJ — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker continued his Annual 21-County Tour with stops in Middlesex, Union, and Hudson Counties, spotlighting the workers, researchers, and educators whose contributions make New Jersey a national engine of innovation and a cornerstone of America’s domestic manufacturing strength. Senator Booker began the day in Middlesex County at AriZonaLand, AriZona Beverages’ one-million-square-foot production and visitor center in Keasbey. Walking the factory floor, Senator Booker met with employees who oversee everything from brewing and bottling to packaging and distribution, showcasing how New Jersey workers keep one of America’s most recognizable beverage brands running at full scale and demonstrating the state’s capacity to support domestic manufacturing, sustain supply chains, and fuel economic growth across the country. Senator Booker has introduced legislation like the Scale-Up Manufacturing Investment Company Act to expand manufacturing capacity and has secured federal support to strengthen New Jersey’s workforce. He then traveled to Union County to tour L’Oréal Groupe’s North America Research and Innovation Center, the company’s largest R&I facility outside of Paris. Senator Booker met with chemists, engineers, and leadership to learn how New Jersey-based research is shaping global beauty science—from advanced materials and sustainable formulations to cutting-edge product development. The visit highlighted how New Jersey’s STEM workforce and research institutions anchor high-skilled jobs and strengthen America’s competitiveness in a rapidly evolving global market. Senator Booker has consistently supported federal investments in New Jersey’s innovation economy, ensuring that research-driven industries remain a pillar of the state’s growth. At the Center, which does not use animal testing, Senator Booker also discussed his work to reduce unnecessary and wasteful animal testing in scientific innovation. Senator Booker concluded the day in Hudson County at Liberty Science Center, where he presented a ceremonial check marking the $559,000 FY26 Congressionally Directed Spending award he secured to enhance educational programming, including the expansion of a portable planetarium fleet. The project will bring immersive astronomy education directly to schools and communities across New Jersey, expanding access to STEM learning for thousands of students. Senator Booker has long been a supporter of STEM education initiatives, advocating for funding to expand science programming and ensure students statewide have access to world-class learning opportunities. He toured the museum with President and CEO Paul Hoffman and visited the Jennifer Chalsty Planetarium, the largest planetarium in the United States. “Senator Booker has long shared his love and amazement for the vastness of the universe, other galaxies, and space missions – a passion that dates to his own childhood, as well as during earlier visits to Liberty Science Center as an adult,” said Paul Hoffman, President and CEO of Liberty Science Center. “This very generous grant to our center for the new portable planetarium programming is a sterling manifestation of his commitment to ensure that countless thousands of children across New Jersey can experience the same wonders of science that he did and continues to have. So, we are profoundly grateful to him. In fact, school children and their parents across the state are equally thankful for his generosity.” “Today’s visits showcased the extraordinary breadth of New Jersey’s contributions to our nation—from the manufacturing workers in Middlesex County powering iconic American brands, to the researchers in Union County driving global innovation, to the educators in Hudson County expanding STEM access for the next generation,” said Senator Booker. “Every stop underscored a simple truth: New Jerseyans fuel the global economy. Their skill, creativity, and determination strengthen our state and our country. I’m grateful to everyone who welcomed me today and inspired by the work they do every single day.” Senator Booker’s Annual 21-County Tour continues tomorrow in Bergen, Ocean, Mercer, and Monmouth Counties.",1,2026-08-26T05:33:32Z,2026-08-26T05:34:56Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-celebrates-princeton-universitys-quantum-research-grant-announcement-as-he-works-to-make-einstein-corridor-a-reality/,Senator Kim Celebrates Princeton University’s Quantum Research Grant Announcement as he Works to Make Einstein Corridor a Reality,2026-08-25,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"PRINCETON, NJ – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) celebrated the National Science Foundation’s (NSF) announcement that named Princeton University as one of eight research institute grant recipients for quantum research. Collectively worth $290 million dollars, these grants will serve as an expansion of the 2020 Quantum Leap Challenges Institutes (QLCI) program which was created to ensure adherence to the 2018 National Quantum Initiative Act, legislation designed to accelerate the research of quantum science for economic and national security. You can read NSF’s announcement HERE. “This grant will dedicate millions towards Princeton’s goals of advancing quantum research while providing support for their staff as they work to bring New Jersey to the forefront of advanced innovation,” said Senator Kim. “I look forward to seeing future results of this investment and partnering with Princeton to further NJ’s leadership in the quantum space as I push to make New Jersey’s Einstein Corridor a reality.” This funding announcement comes as Senator Kim continues pushing to modernize and expand New Jersey’s innovation footprint as part of his plan for New Jersey’s Einstein Corridor – a long-term, strategic ecosystem of government, academia, businesses, venture capital, and finance to attract investment and talent, foster innovation, and create opportunities for New Jersey. Senator Kim gave a speech laying out his vision for New Jersey’s innovative future in late 2025and has spent time traveling across New Jersey hearing from Scientists, Researchers, and those committed to New Jersey’s innovative future. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-continues-annual-21-county-tour-with-stops-in-essex-and-somerset-counties,Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with Stops in Essex and Somerset Counties,2026-08-24,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEWARK, N.J. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) continued his annual 21-County Tour with stops in Essex and Somerset Counties. In Essex County, he visited medical researchers and students at Hackensack Meridian Health’s Center for Discovery & Innovation and School of Medicine. He then traveled to Somerset County, where he met with community leaders and families at the Franklin Food Bank for a roundtable on the importance of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for New Jersey families. In Essex County, Senator Booker toured the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine’s amphitheaters and simulation lab, where students receive hands-on medical training, and the Center for Discovery & Innovation’s laboratories, where researchers conduct immunology and cancer research and work to translate scientific discoveries into clinical care. He met with researchers and medical leaders about their work advancing cancer research, training the next generation of health care professionals, and developing new treatments. This visit comes as the Trump administration has cut federal support for medical research, including right here in New Jersey, a global leader in life science innovation and world-class medical research that relies on millions of dollars in NIH grants. Senator Booker has consistently fought to protect federal investments in medical research. He introduced the NIH IMPROVE Act, which would provide consistent funding for NIH’s maternal health research initiative, and cosponsored legislation to expand Medicare-funded medical residency positions to help address the nation’s physician shortage. He also leads annual funding requests for colorectal, esophageal, ovarian, and Von Hippel-Lindau cancer research through the Department of Defense’s Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program. “Senator Booker has been a tireless advocate for education, research, and high-quality, accessible healthcare for all communities,” said Robert Garrett, FACHE, CEO of Hackensack Meridian Health. “We are proud to host him at the Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine and the Center for Discovery and Innovation, to show how by training doctors of the future and making new scientific discoveries, we are working toward a better and healthier future for all of New Jersey, and beyond.” In Somerset County, Senator Booker joined families and the leaders of New Jersey’s five major food banks at the Franklin Food Bank for a roundtable discussion on SNAP and food insecurity. Participants discussed the role SNAP plays in supporting nearly 850,000 New Jerseyans and the challenges communities face as federal policymakers consider cuts to the program. An estimated 44 percent of food-insecure residents in New Jersey do not receive SNAP benefits, making the work of organizations like the Franklin Food Bank critical to ensuring families have access to food. Earlier this year, Senator Booker introduced his Food is Medicine: HEAL America Agenda, which calls for strengthening nutrition assistance and expanding access to healthy foods, including by expanding SNAP incentives for fresh fruits and vegetables and connecting federal food programs with American family farmers. ""Today, the Franklin Food Bank was honored to welcome U.S. Sen. Cory Booker and leaders from New Jersey’s five Feeding America food banks for an important conversation about the devastating impact of recent SNAP cuts on families in Franklin Township and communities across New Jersey.As food insecurity grows, we’re leaning on strong and integrated partnerships at the local, county, and state levels to meet these challenges head-on. Together, we’re working to ensure our most vulnerable neighbors have access to healthy, nutritious, culturally relevant food and the social services they need to thrive with dignity. Our greatest strength is our people. Our staff and volunteers are resilient, creative, and resourceful. Like palm trees, we may bend in the fiercest storms, but we don’t break. Our roots run deep—and our partnerships run even deeper and we’ll continue to adapt, respond, and stand with our neighbors,"" said Derek Smith, Executive Director, Franklin Food Bank. “Today’s conversation between Senator Booker, New Jersey’s five food banks, and several of our pantry partners was an important opportunity to discuss the future of SNAP and what’s at stake for families in need,” said Elizabeth McCarthy, President & CEO of the Community FoodBank of New Jersey. “Since the SNAP cuts included in H.R. 1 took effect, we have seen increased demand for food assistance as families struggle to keep meals on the table with fewer resources. Shifting an additional $90 million in SNAP administrative costs to the state would put even more pressure on communities already working to meet growing needs. We urge Congress to delay this cost shift for two years and to roll back the harmful cuts enacted under H. R. 1. Thank you to Senator Booker for listening to those on the front lines of hunger relief and advocating with us to protect this critical program.” ""Families across South Jersey face an affordability crisis. Food, utilities, healthcare – it's all rising while federal support is shrinking,"" said Jane Asselta, President & CEO of the Food Bank of South Jersey. ""We thank Senator Booker for meeting with us to raise awareness of how SNAP cuts are impacting food insecurity, increasing the need for additional federal food resources."" “Norwescap has seen demand more than double over the last three years. With the SNAP benefits changes and coming Medicaid changes we are going to be stretched beyond capacity to help our vets, seniors and lower-income families put food on the table,” said Mark Valli, CEO of Norwescap. “Across Monmouth and Ocean counties, nearly 148,000 people are experiencing food insecurity, and the changes to SNAP enacted through H.R. 1 are creating new challenges for many of the neighbors we serve,” said Triada Stampas, President & CEO of Fulfill. “Our Navigation team, one of the most experienced in the country, is already seeing widespread confusion around expanded work requirements. Some people who still need help may lose benefits simply because they cannot navigate the new requirements or document an exemption. When that happens, their need for food does not disappear. They turn to food banks and local pantries that are already experiencing increased demand and cannot replace the scale of SNAP. We are grateful to Senator Booker for listening to what our communities are experiencing and for his continued advocacy to protect this critical program.” ""Hunger is not a failure of character. It is often the result of a family facing impossible choices. Our responsibility is to make sure those choices become less impossible,"" said Randall West, CEO of Mercer Street Friends. “At a time when the Trump administration and congressional Republicans are pursuing cuts to federal investments in medical research and SNAP, today’s conversations reaffirmed how critical both of these programs are to the health of New Jerseyans and the importance of standing up against these chaotic and cruel policies that are hurting the people of our state. At the Center for Discovery and Innovation, I saw researchers who work every day to find new breakthroughs in cancer research, develop better treatments, and turn discoveries in the lab into care for patients. At the Franklin Food Bank, I heard from New Jerseyans feeling the squeeze of rising grocery costs and from the people working tirelessly to make sure their neighbors have enough to eat. We cannot afford to turn our backs on this work or on the people who depend on it. I will continue fighting for every dollar I can to make sure New Jerseyans doing this critical work have the support they need,” said Senator Booker. Senator Booker’s Annual 21-County Tour continues tomorrow with stops in Middlesex, Union, and Hudson Counties.",1,2026-08-25T05:31:37Z,2026-08-25T05:33:09Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-continues-annual-21county-tour-with-stops-in-passaic-and-sussex-counties,Booker Continues Annual 21-County Tour with stops in Passaic and Sussex Counties,2026-08-23,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEWARK, N.J. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) continued his Annual 21-County Tour today with stops in Passaic and Sussex Counties, where he attended Sunday service at Canaan Baptist Church and toured the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in Ogdensburg. The visits highlighted Canaan Baptist Church’s work advocating for social justice and equality, as well as the unique scientific and industrial history of Sussex County’s former zinc mine. Each year, Senator Booker embarks on a tour of all 21 of New Jersey’s counties to highlight the work he’s doing to make a difference for New Jerseyans in the Senate — and the ways New Jerseyans are making a difference in their communities. In Passaic County, Senator Booker visited Canaan Baptist Church, whose congregation has for decades been a leading voice for social justice and equality in the community. Senator Booker then traveled to Sussex County, to visit the Sterling Hill Mining Museum and discuss the history and significance of the mine and mineral industry in Ogdensburg. The Museum is located at New Jersey's last underground working zinc mine. The mine and surrounding area is considered one of the most scientifically unique places on Earth, with some minerals found nowhere else in the world, and an important testament to Sussex County’s mining and industrial history. “New Jersey is full of remarkable places and stories that too often don’t get the attention they deserve. Visiting Sterling Hill was a reminder that some of the most extraordinary and scientifically unique places in the world are right here in our own state. From the remarkable minerals beneath our feet to the history of the people who worked these mines, Sterling Hill tells a story that is uniquely New Jersey. I’m proud to bring attention to this important part of Sussex County’s history and hope more New Jerseyans will have the opportunity to experience it for themselves,” said Senator Booker.",1,2026-08-24T05:37:30Z,2026-08-24T05:38:35Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kicks-off-annual-21-county-tour-in-morris-warren-and-hunterdon-counties,"Booker Kicks Off Annual 21-County Tour in Morris, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties",2026-08-22,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEWARK, NJ — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) kicked off his Annual 21-County Tour with visits to Morris, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties, beginning his yearly tour meeting with residents, local leaders, and organizations in every county across New Jersey. Day One highlighted the agricultural heritage, local history, and community traditions that help define the Garden State. Senator Booker began the day in Morris County, where he visited the Borough of Wharton’s Canal Day. The annual festival celebrates the historic Morris Canal and its lasting impact on the region, featuring live music, local craft vendors, and guided historical tours that highlight the canal’s role in shaping the communities along its path. The Senator’s office also hosted Mobile Office Hours offering federal resources and constituent services to the public. In Warren County, the Senator visited the Phillipsburg Farmers Market, a producer-only market that brings together local vendors offering fresh produce, meats, baked goods, prepared foods, plants, and other locally made products. As a longtime advocate for New Jersey’s farmers and a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, Booker heard directly from farmers at the market about building a food system that supports local growers. In the Senate, Booker has prioritized support for local Jersey farmers and reforms to improve America’s overall food system, including the Farmland for Farmers Act, which would limit corporate ownership of U.S. farmland, the Office of Small Farms Establishment Act, which would create a new USDA office dedicated to serving small farms, and his broader Food is Medicine agenda, which would expand access to fresh produce through SNAP, strengthen federal nutrition programs by sourcing healthy meals from American farms, and help families use pre-tax dollars to purchase fruits and vegetables. Senator Booker ended the day in Hunterdon County at the Hunterdon County 4-H & Agricultural Fair, a five-day celebration of the county’s deep agricultural roots and rural identity. Since 1948, the fair has been a summertime tradition for generations of families across central New Jersey, featuring livestock exhibits, agricultural technology demonstrations, and vendor and county resource booths that showcase the strength, resilience, and generational continuity of Hunterdon’s farming community. The Senator’s office also hosted Mobile Office Hours offering federal resources and constituent services to the public. “Every year, I look forward to traveling across New Jersey and listening directly to the people who call our state home. As I kicked off this year’s 21-County Tour, I was reminded of how much pride New Jerseyans have in their communities and how much they do to make them stronger. From preserving the rich history of the Morris Canal to supporting the farmers who feed our families and passing our agricultural traditions on to the next generation, these are the people and traditions that make our state so special. I look forward to continuing to meet with New Jerseyans, hear their stories, and learn more about the work they’re doing to strengthen their communities as I travel across our state,” said Senator Booker. Booker’s Annual 21-County Tour continues tomorrow with stops in Passaic and Sussex Counties.",1,2026-08-23T05:27:15Z,2026-08-23T05:29:02Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-announces-2026-annual-21county-tour,Booker Announces 2026 Annual 21-County Tour,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"NEWARK, N.J. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced his 2026 Annual 21-County Tour, a series of events highlighting communities across New Jersey and his continued work fighting — and delivering — for the state's priorities in the Senate. Throughout the tour, Senator Booker will meet with constituents, local leaders, workers, veterans, and organizations to hear directly from the people he represents and to spotlight federal investments, legislative priorities, and how his work in the Senate is supporting communities across all 21 counties. The tour begins tomorrow, August 22, with stops in Morris, Warren, and Hunterdon Counties before continuing later this week with visits to all the remaining counties. The tour will include events highlighting major New Jersey industries, federal funding secured by Senator Booker for important local projects, and how Senator Booker is working to stand up for Jersey residents facing challenges as a result of the Trump administration's reckless, chaotic, and cruel policies. ""Serving the great people of New Jersey is the honor of my life, and I'm excited to begin this year's 21-County Tour to hear about how I can continue standing up for them in the Senate,"" said Senator Booker. ""This tour is about listening to my constituents, seeing firsthand the incredible accomplishments happening in our communities, and continuing to secure the support needed to strengthen our state. From agriculture and manufacturing to research, innovation, and education, New Jersey's 21 counties reflect the extraordinary diversity and resilience that make our state so special.""",1,2026-08-22T05:24:59Z,2026-08-22T05:26:16Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-hears-from-new-jersey-parents-about-the-importance-of-delivering-universal-healthcare-for-kids/,Senator Kim Hears from New Jersey Parents About the Importance of Delivering Universal Healthcare for Kids,2026-08-21,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"TRENTON, N.J. — This week, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) was joined by Mercer County families at Medina Health Center to discuss how his new legislation to guarantee universal healthcare for children, MediKids, would help New Jerseyans struggling with the cost of healthcare. “Parents deserve to have the ability to take their kids to the doctor whenever they need to, without having to worry about how much the visit will cost, whether or not they have insurance, or whether they qualify for Medicaid or any other type of program,” said Senator Kim. “I was grateful to speak to families in Trenton about MediKids and hearing how this legislation would help their children as I work to make MediKids a reality.” During the visit, Senator Kim read Berenstein Bears go to the Doctor to children before convening a roundtable with their parents and Medina staff to hear their most pressing challenges when it comes to securing healthcare for kids and navigating the healthcare system. A Trenton-area staple, Medina Health Center has treated underserved patients throughout Mercer County since 2014 and is committed to providing quality healthcare, regardless of any family’s ability to pay. “Senator Kim’s vision for MediKids aligns with Medina’s mission to ensure that everyone who needs healthcare can receive comprehensive, high-quality care that is accessible and affordable,” said Mira Sadeghi, Executive Director, Medina Health Center. “Too many families in Trenton wait too long to get care because they cannot find or afford it, leading to more complicated and costly illnesses. We stand with the Senator in his efforts.” MediKids is the latest effort by Senator Kim to provide affordable healthcare for all. As a member of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) and the Special Senate Committee on Aging, he’s fought to lower costs and support New Jersey’s most vulnerable while standing up for the sandwich generation. Senator Kim has also repeatedly condemned efforts from the Trump Administration to cut critical health services while increasing the cost of healthcare. MediKids has been endorsed by the following organizations: First Focus Campaign for Children, What To Expect Project, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists (ACOG), ZERO TO THREE, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), National Association of Nurses, National Education Association (NEA), Families USA, NAACP NJ, Save Our Schools, New Jersey Citizen Action, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, The Arc of NJ, The New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, CASA of New Jersey, and the National Council on Severe Autism – NJ Chapter. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-conducts-oversight-visit-to-delaney-hall-amid-reports-of-medical-emergencies-and-detainee-deaths/,Senator Kim Conducts Oversight Visit to Delaney Hall Amid Reports of Medical Emergencies and Detainee Deaths,2026-08-20,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"NEWARK, N.J. — Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC), conducted an oversight visit at the Delaney Hall detention facility to demand answers from ICE and GEO Group after reports of increased medical emergencies and confirmed deaths of detainees. This visit comes after Senator Kim released a statement last week calling for increased transparency and accountability, and continued his call to shut down the facility. “Every detainee deserves to be treated humanely; there is nothing humane about having one medical doctor for over 800 detainees…it is simply disgraceful,” said Senator Kim. “The excuses and secrecy from ICE about the alarming number of medical emergencies must end and Delaney Hall must be shut down immediately.” Throughout the visit, he spoke directly with multiple detainees and medical staff at Delaney and demanded answers as to why there has been an uptick of emergencies in such short time. Speaking to advocates and detainee family members after the visit, Senator Kim called out the lack of appropriate medical staff needed to adequately care for the over 800 detainees inside and confirmed what he is hearing first-hand from detainees does not align with responses he has been receiving from ICE and GEO Group, highlighting the continued lack of transparency from ICE as these emergencies continue to occur. Senator Kim has visited Delaney Hall frequently over the last year and is leading the charge to hold GEO Group and those running Delaney Hall accountable. Along with conducting multiple prior oversight visits, Senator Kim also led members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in sending a letter to the Department of Homeland Security condemning the violence conducted by ICE Agents and calling for immediate action to stop it. Senator Kim also filed the Kim Amendments to end inhumane treatment in the facility, improve medical care at all ICE detention centers, and require de-escalation training for ICE officials. He also co-sponsored Senator Booker’s legislation to permanently close Delaney Hall, which was voted down by Republicans just before the August recess. ###",1,2026-09-15T09:50:21Z,2026-09-15T09:52:05Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-reiterates-commitment-to-u-s-rok-strategic-alliance-in-meeting-with-rok-ambassador/,Senator Kim Reiterates Commitment to U.S.-ROK Strategic Alliance in Meeting with ROK Ambassador,2026-08-18,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) released the following statement after a meeting with Dr. Kang Kyung-wha, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to the United States: “In our meeting today, Ambassador Kang Kyung-wha of South Korea and I spoke at length about our shared commitment to the enduring alliance between our two nations. For decades, the strategic partnership and security alliance between the U.S. and ROK has opened doors to innovation, economic growth, and greater prosperity for people across America and South Korea and served as a linchpin of Indo-Pacific peace, security, and prosperity. With strong bipartisan support from Congress, we can and must do all we can to continue to deepen this invaluable relationship.” ###",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/icymi-kim-dingell-introduce-bill-to-include-long-term-care-as-part-of-medicare/,"ICYMI: Kim, Dingell Introduce Bill to Include Long-Term Care as Part of Medicare",2026-08-17,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) and Congresswoman Debbie Dingell (D-MI-06) introduced bicameral legislation to establish long-term care services benefits as part of the Medicare program. The Medicare At Home Act would help older adults and people with disabilities remain safely in their homes and communities by expanding home care coverage under Medicare Part B. Medicare Part B usually covers doctor visits and everyday medical care; this bill would also cover in-home support so people don’t have to leave their homes. “Whether it was his last few months living alone in his own place or now at a care facility, my top priority is making sure my dad can live with dignity and comfort. Like so many Americans though, too often that question becomes what care we can afford. Whether seniors are aging at home or elsewhere, this bill gives them and their families the options they deserve by making home care an affordable and accessible option everywhere. These moments of life are hard enough without having to worry about cost,” said Senator Kim. “Whether seniors are aging at home or individuals with disabilities need daily support, care should be accessible and affordable. This bill gives families peace of mind by ensuring Medicare covers the essential in-home support people need to live with independence and dignity. It is a common-sense solution that makes care more affordable for people on Medicare,” said Congresswoman Dingell. Currently, Medicare does not cover long-term care at home. As a result, families across the country face staggering out-of-pocket expenses, forcing many to deplete their savings to qualify for Medicaid or rely heavily on unpaid family caregivers. The Medicare At Home Act eliminates these financial barriers by making home-based care an accessible, affordable part of Medicare coverage. Specifically, theMedicare At Home Act would: Expand Medicare coverage by adding comprehensive home-based personal care benefits to Medicare Part B. Lower financial burdens by eliminating the need for families to drain life savings or go into debt for basic home care support. Give older adults and people with disabilities the choice to remain in their homes and communities. The bicameral legislation is endorsed by the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Caring Across Generations, Justice in Aging, Allies for Independence, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Care in Action, and LeadingAge. “The Medicare at Home Act finally closes the gap between what people believe Medicare covers and what it actually does, and does it in a way families will feel immediately. Right now, needing help at home means paying out of pocket at costs that can top $60,000 a year, spending down into poverty to qualify for Medicaid, or leaving a family member to do it all unpaid. This bill changes that calculus. The supports from this bill will allow older adults and disabled people to stay safely in their own homes and communities, which is exactly what they’ve told us they want. This isn’t a fringe idea: 93 percent of adults believe Medicare should cover home care, and most already assume it does. The Medicare at Home Act makes the policy match that expectation,” said Nicole Jorwic, Chief Program Officer, Caring Across Generations. “Long-term care is one of the most significant expenses older adults and their families face. Yet, Medicare does not provide a comprehensive, accessible home care benefit. As a result, far too many older adults are forced to spend down their savings and fall into poverty to access essential care. Justice in Aging proudly supports the Medicare at Home Act because it would help older adults get the assistance they need with daily activities before they experience financial hardship, allowing them to age with dignity and independence,” said Natalie Kean, Managing Director of Health Advocacy at Justice in Aging. “LeadingAge applauds Congresswoman Dingell and Senator Kim’s longstanding leadership in advancing access to care in the home and community. The Medicare at Home Act sets an agenda and important focus for the future by expanding Medicare coverage to include personal care services in the home–a critical need that many older adults and families mistakenly assume is paid for by the current Medicare benefit. We look forward to working with Congresswoman Dingell and Senator Kim to address this shortcoming in access and affordability while also ensuring our nonprofit and mission-driven members are equipped to deliver high-quality care wherever people call home,” said Katie Smith Sloan, President and CEO of LeadingAge. “Home care is essential to families of all backgrounds, our healthcare system, and our economy. Integrating long-term home care into Medicare ensures that seniors and people with disabilities can age safely at home without shouldering the immense financial burden on their own. A federal investment in home care can help transform these lifesaving jobs into good jobs that workers can afford to keep. We are proud to support this legislation from Senator Kim and Congresswoman Dingell, which would help make quality home care more accessible for those who need it,” said Leslie Frane, SEIU Executive Vice President. “The need for long term services and supports (LTSS) in the home has been a discussion for far too long in this country. Finally, we have a leader willing to address the issue by supporting individuals with functional limitations to be the best they can be in their homes and communities,” said Connie Garner, Executive Director, Allies for Independence. The Medicare At Home Act builds on Senator Kim’s ongoing work to build a universal care movement. As one of millions of Americans who are a part of the sandwich generation caring for young kids and aging parents, he is working to deliver for all Americans throughout their entire lives. He recently helped lead a new Senate initiative to improve long-term care and introduced his landmark MediKidsAct to guarantee healthcare to all children in America from birth to age 26. As a member of the Senate Aging Committee, he also helped organize a hearing to uplift fellow sandwich generation caregivers’ needs and voices and introduced bicameral legislation to add a dedicated question on multigenerational caregiving to national surveys. Read more about his work in the Senate to build a universal care movement. ###",1,2026-08-18T05:27:41Z,2026-08-18T05:29:06Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-statement-on-trump-unilaterally-reducing-joint-military-exercises-with-south-korea/,Senator Kim Statement on Trump Unilaterally Reducing Joint Military Exercises with South Korea,2026-08-16,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) released the following statement after President Trump announced via social media that he is directing the Pentagon to reduce joint military exercises with South Korea: “Our alliance with the Republic of Korea is critical for U.S. security and prosperity – and I am concerned that President Trump’s post today suggests a disregard for this relationship. Last year, I had a chance to visit U.S. and ROK forces in Seoul and saw how critical their partnership is to keep the Korean Peninsula secure. Decisions about joint exercises need to be made jointly – and not announced unilaterally by social media. I will continue to press this administration to strengthen our security, economic, trade, and technology ties – which all benefit the American people and the broader Indo-Pacific region. South Korea is an essential partner in peace and security in a part of the world filled with risk; we should treat them that way instead of venting frustration on social media.” ###",1,2026-08-20T05:28:41Z,2026-08-20T05:29:58Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-releases-statement-amid-increased-reports-of-medical-emergencies-and-deaths-of-delaney-hall-detainees/,Senator Kim Releases Statement Amid Increased Reports of Medical Emergencies and Deaths of Delaney Hall Detainees,2026-08-13,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) released the following statement in response to continued reports of medical emergencies and deaths of Delaney Hall detainees: “The late announcement of yet another death associated with Delaney Hall exposes how ICE tries to avoid responsibility. ICE cannot simply send a detainee out for medical care and pretend they aren’t still on the hook, especially when GEO Group has repeatedly failed to provide care at Delaney Hall. I will keep fighting to shut this place down and shine a light on the poor conditions.” ###",1,2026-08-14T06:13:05Z,2026-08-14T06:14:08Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-shaheen-merkley-van-hollen-issue-statement-ahead-of-elections-in-zambia,"Booker, Shaheen, Merkley, Van Hollen Issue Statement Ahead of Elections in Zambia",2026-08-12,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health Policy; Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Jeff Merkley (D-OR); and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement calling for peaceful, fair elections ahead of the August 13 elections in Zambia: “The United States values its long-standing partnership with Zambia. Over the last two decades, the United States and Zambia have partnered on peacekeeping, the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programming and democracy initiatives that have improved global health, stability and social mobility. Although this partnership has been strained by the Trump Administration’s attempts to link lifesaving health assistance with critical minerals access through the Global Health Memorandum of Understanding, close cooperation between our countries remains more important than ever. “This is why we are especially concerned by the Zambian ruling party’s attempts to undermine the country’s electoral environment ahead of its August 13th elections. The ruling party’s recent actions are reminiscent of previous elections where political opponents – including current President Hakainde Hichilema – were arrested in an effort to silence opposition. President Hakainde Hichilema and the United Party for National Development (UPND) appear to be using the same laws that once victimized and imprisoned political figures like Hichilema to propel him to a second term. Laws governing political campaign gatherings are selectively enforced to stifle opposition rallies, and Zambia’s Constitution and electoral framework were hastily reformed without meaningful civil society consultation.",1,2026-08-13T06:17:16Z,2026-08-13T06:18:13Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-29-colleagues-demand-hhs-rescind-cancellation-of-lifesaving-research-grants-that-improve-patient-safety-and-care,"Booker, 29 Colleagues Demand HHS Rescind Cancellation of Lifesaving Research Grants That Improve Patient Safety & Care",2026-08-12,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with 29 of his Democratic colleagues, led by Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), demanded that Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. reverse the Department’s destructive cancellation of lifesaving health research grants administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Congressionally appropriated funding for AHRQ grants supports critical research and initiatives to advance effective healthcare delivery, such as training for rural healthcare workers in Connecticut, testing the use of artificial intelligence in hospitals in Wisconsin, improving autism screening and services for Black children in North Carolina, and equipping primary care providers with effective treatments for chronic pain in Virginia. The cancellations have already had a significant impact on institutions in New Jersey. At Rutgers University, two AHRQ grants were recently terminated, including a $4.27 million grant supporting the Learning Health System Scientist Training and Research Center (LHS STAR NJ). A third Rutgers AHRQ grant remains in limbo. In a letter sent to Kennedy, the senators raised concerns about the impact of HHS’s mass cancellations of these research grants, writing, “This unprecedented action, which has led to the disruption of nearly 200 different research programs across nearly 30 states, undermines decades of taxpayer investments to improve healthcare delivery, patient safety, and health outcomes for all Americans. We demand that you immediately rescind these cancellations and ensure that the funding Congress appropriates to AHRQ is invested in health research in accordance with the law.” The senators continued, “We want to be clear: Democrats and Republicans did not work together to appropriate funds for AHRQ as a gentle suggestion for the Department to follow at their discretion or leisure. We provided this money with the explicit instruction that the Department faithfully support life-saving research to improve access and health outcomes for Americans. We did not appropriate these funds so that money could remain unspent while Americans suffer and our healthcare system struggles.” The senators continued, “The agency’s actions over the last year are an outrageous abuse of administrative power that will leave Americans sicker, poorer, and dying from preventable causes. Each of these canceled grants puts real-life patients further from the care that they need.” The senators called on Kennedy to immediately restore full funding to research projects affected by the cancellations and ensure AHRQ’s full FY26 appropriations are obligated as required by law: “At a time when medical errors kill hundreds of thousands of Americans annually, when healthcare costs are crushing family budgets, and when we face unprecedented health challenges, your department has chosen to sabotage the very research designed to solve these problems. This is not leadership—this is sabotage of public health. And it must end immediately.” “The American people deserve a healthcare system informed by the best available evidence. They deserve research that makes their care safer, more effective, and more affordable. Congress has provided the resources to support this vital work. It is your responsibility to ensure these resources are used as intended,” the senators concluded. In addition to Senators Booker, Blumenthal, and Baldwin, the letter was signed by U.S. Senators Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), Jack Reed (D-RI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Mark Warner (D-VA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL).",1,2026-08-14T06:13:05Z,2026-08-14T06:14:08Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-durbin-submit-amicus-brief-to-supreme-court-in-maxwell-v-dinis,"Booker, Durbin Submit Amicus Brief to Supreme Court in Maxwell v. Dinis",2026-08-12,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C.– U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights, and U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, submitted an amicus brief in the Supreme Court’s forthcoming case, Maxwell v. Dinis, which will determine whether federal prisoners can use habeas corpus to enforce the earned time credit provisions established by the First Step Act. “In December 2018, a bipartisan majority of both chambers of Congress passed, and President Donald J. Trump signed into law, the First Step Act of 2018. The Act is a historic and bipartisan piece of legislation, ushering in momentous correctional, sentencing, and criminal justice reforms,” began the senators. “The Fifth Circuit’s judgment in this case threatens to undermine Congress’s groundbreaking approach to prison reform… Nothing in the statutory text, congressional intent, or this Court’s precedent supports that result,” continued the senators. The senators argued that Congress designed and enacted the First Step Act to expand access to prerelease custody and intended for the First Step Act’s incentive system to be enforceable and renewable. “The Fifth Circuit’s judgment should be reversed,” concluded the senators. For a PDF of the senators’ senators’ amicus brief to the Supreme Court, click here. Championed by Booker, Durbin, and U.S. Senators Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Mike Lee (R-UT), the First Step Act was signed into law in 2018 and serves as a beacon for “smart on crime” policies. The law made the Fair Sentencing Act’s reforms retroactive, and: Required the Department of Justice to develop a risk and needs assessment system to evaluate the recidivism risk of all prisoners, place them in programs and activities to reduce risk, and permit early transition into prerelease custody based on earned time credits; Reduced mandatory minimum sentences for some drug trafficking offenses; Expanded the safety valve to allow judges to sentence low-level, nonviolent drug offenders with minor criminal histories to less than the required mandatory minimums; and Authorized incarcerated individuals to file compassionate release motions in federal court. These reforms have been tremendously successful. As noted in a January 2024 hearing, of the 44,671 incarcerated adults then released under First Step Act reforms, only 9.7 percent had been arrested for new crimes. By comparison, the overall Bureau of Prisons recidivism rate stood at around 45 percent. To date, there have been 4,166 retroactive sentence reductions and 4,995 compassionate release motions granted.",1,2026-08-15T05:23:20Z,2026-08-15T05:24:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-blumenthal-introduce-legislation-to-restore-common-sense-hiring-training-and-accountability-standards-for-federal-law-enforcement-officers,"Booker, Blumenthal Introduce Legislation to Restore Common-Sense Hiring, Training, and Accountability Standards for Federal Law Enforcement Officers",2026-08-11,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), members of the Senate Judiciary Committee, introduced the Federal Integrity, Training and National Eligibility for Service Standards (FITNESS) Act, legislation to freeze ICE officer hiring and establish mandatory hiring, vetting, training, and accountability standards for all federal law enforcement. The Trump administration systematically dismantled longstanding federal recruitment, eliminating qualification requirements and accelerating the deployment of underqualified immigration enforcement officers. The FITNESS Act halts this damage by imposing a recruitment moratorium pending agency compliance with baseline law enforcement standards. In July 2026, ICE officers shot and killed two American residents, Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero and Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, while those residents were in their cars. According to his ex-wife and close relatives, the officer who killed Mr. Guerrero had a history of mental health issues, violence, and domestic abuse. In the aftermath of these shootings, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) temporarily suspended traffic stops to provide officers with additional tactical training for high-risk vehicle stops. Federal law enforcement, including ICE, had long maintained eligibility requirements and tactical training protocols that DHS’s own response to these killings proved were necessary. In 2025, DHS abandoned that standard in pursuit of rapid expansion. ICE lowered eligibility requirements for new hires and cut training by 40 percent. The result: thousands of poorly vetted, minimally trained officers deployed across American communities with arrest and use-of-force authority. Officers with criminal records and integrity failures are conducting enforcement operations, and every day Americans see more constitutional violations. These failures undermine public trust in law enforcement, normalize misconduct and unprofessionalism, and put communities from Houston to Biddeford—and every law enforcement officer—at risk. “When the federal government gives someone the power to carry a badge, make arrests, and use force, it has a responsibility to ensure that person has been thoroughly vetted, properly trained, and prepared to serve,” said Senator Booker. “The FITNESS Act restores the basic safeguards that DHS intentionally weakened and ensures that those entrusted with extraordinary authority meet the standards necessary to protect the communities they serve.” “ICE officers have relentlessly disregarded the Constitution and violated fundamental rights—breaking down doors, detaining people in mass sweeps, and engaging in brutal and violent tactics. As a whistleblower revealed to my office earlier this year, ICE has drastically reduced its training standards, accelerating the risks of death and destruction by its officers. The FITNESS Act seeks to stop ICE’s brutality and dangerously inadequate training. By imposing a hiring freeze until all current officers receive proper training and enforcing clear recruitment and training standards, this critical legislation places checks on this agency to prevent future tragedies,” said Senator Blumenthal. “Communities are safest when law enforcement agencies are held to the highest standards of training, professionalism, and accountability. In the past two years, the reforms put in place after George Floyd's murder have unraveled. The FITNESS Act would establish clear and consistent standards for federal law enforcement and begin the process of rebuilding trust. We applaud Senator Booker for advancing legislation that recognizes accountability and public safety go hand in hand,” said the National Urban League. “America's law enforcement officers pride themselves on being the best in the world, and they deserve to know that the officers serving beside them are the best of the best. The FITNESS Act is a significant step toward creating the training and quality standards we have a right to expect from federal law enforcement professionals. These common-sense reforms will increase safety for the American public as well as for the officers who serve and protect them, while holding accountable the unelected political appointees who have let their personal agendas stand in the way of good law enforcement,” said Ryan Schwank, Former ICE Instructor and Attorney. The FITNESS Act establishes clear, enforceable minimum standards for federal law enforcement recruitment, vetting, training, and accountability. The legislation requires comprehensive background investigations, medical evaluations, physical fitness testing, and completion of core training programs before officers can be deployed. It also strengthens oversight through mandatory use-of-force reporting, inspector general review, and accountability measures for officials who knowingly deploy officers who do not meet required standards. The bill would freeze the hiring of new ICE officers until the agency ensures its current workforce has satisfied all eligibility and training requirements. The FITNESS Act is endorsed by the NAACP and the National Urban League. Read the full text of the legislation here. SEE ALSO:",1,2026-08-12T06:18:38Z,2026-08-12T06:20:33Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/-booker-condemns-confirmation-of-todd-blanche-to-be-attorney-general,Booker Condemns Confirmation of Todd Blanche to be Attorney General,2026-08-08,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Senate voted to confirm Todd Blanche as Attorney General: “The Senate had one job: decide whether Todd Blanche is fit to lead the law enforcement agency that represents the interests of the American people and ensures the fair and impartial administration of justice. He fails by every measure, and my Republican colleagues know it. Yet they betrayed our values and chose political loyalty over facts so damning they should have led to only one conclusion: a no vote. Today, the Senate failed its constitutional duty. “Under his leadership, Todd Blanche has turned the Department of Justice into President Trump’s personal law firm, using the power of the nation’s highest prosecutorial office to dispense favors to his wealthy allies and insurrectionist supporters, to target for investigation and prosecution those who oppose him, and to protect child predators while retraumatizing survivors. There has been no bottom for the future Attorney General. “Throughout his confirmation process, Todd Blanche demonstrated that he lacks the judgment, independence, and integrity required to lead the Department of Justice. He misled the Judiciary Committee about his immunity directive tied to the IRS settlement — a deal that shielded the President, his family, and his businesses from tax audits and investigations for other crimes. He defended the $1.8 billion taxpayer-funded slush fund he established to pay off Trump allies, including January 6th rioters. And when survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s crimes came to him directly, asking for accountability and transparency, they left devastated. “The Attorney General exists to enforce the law equally, without fear or favor, to tell the powerful ‘no’ when the law demands it. Blanche’s record demonstrates that he will be nothing more than a sword for the president against his enemies, and a shield for the president against accountability. “This outcome was brought to us by the most corrupt president in history in coordination with the most compromised cabinet ever. Blanche’s confirmation only makes our work harder and more urgent. Democrats will continue our oversight of the Department of Justice, demand accountability, protect whistleblowers who tell the truth, and stand with career prosecutors and public servants whose commitment to the rule of law is undeniable. America’s laws must be applied fairly and justly to everyone, including the President and those in his Administration who facilitate his corruption. ” ###",1,2026-08-09T05:47:57Z,2026-08-09T05:49:40Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-introduce-legislation-to-strengthen-oversight-of-immigration-detention-facilities-and-hold-private-contractors-accountable,"Booker, Kim Introduce Legislation to Strengthen Oversight of Immigration Detention Facilities and Hold Private Contractors Accountable",2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced legislation to strengthen oversight of the federal immigration detention system by designating ICE funds for reopening the independent Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The bill would also pause DHS payments to detention contractors and subcontractors that the OIDO finds have violated federal law or detention standards until they have implemented recommendations from the OIDO. Congress created the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman in 2019 to investigate detainee deaths in custody, access to medical care, and employee misconduct in ICE facilities to address the record of systemic abuse during the first Trump administration. On March 21, 2025, DHS began to place staff from the OIDO on administrative leave, shutting the Office entirely by May 5, 2026. This dismantling of oversight and accountability came at the same time that DHS surged its immigration detention operations. At least 56 people have died in ICE custody during President Trump’s second term, and more than 70 percent of people detained by ICE have never been convicted of a criminal offense. “The federal government has a responsibility to ensure that anyone in its custody is treated with dignity and humanity. Yet, for too long, private detention contractors have operated with too little accountability and too little oversight. When facilities violate standards, use excessive force, or fail to provide humane conditions, there must be real consequences. This legislation ensures independent oversight and ends the practice of using taxpayer dollars to reward contractors who fail to meet the most basic standards of humane treatment,” said Senator Booker. This legislation would amend the so-called Secure America Act to reduce funding by approximately $114.6 million, from $2.5 billion to $2.385 billion, and provide $28.641 million annually from fiscal years 2026 through 2029 to reestablish the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman within DHS. The Ombudsman would review complaints, investigate misconduct, and recommend improvements to detention conditions. The bill would also prohibit DHS from using these funds to pay contractors found by the Ombudsman to have engaged in misconduct, excessive force, or violations of federal law or detention standards until they implement corrective actions. Read the full text of the legislation here. SEE ALSO:",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-underwood-adams-reintroduce-bicameral-momnibus-act-to-end-americas-black-maternal-health-crisis,"Booker, Underwood, Adams Reintroduce Bicameral Momnibus Act to End America’s Black Maternal Health Crisis",2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) reintroduced the landmark Momnibus Act, a comprehensive legislative package designed to end the nation’s maternal health crisis and directly confront the devastating disparities that continue to claim the lives of Black mothers at alarming rates. U.S. Representatives Lauren Underwood (D-IL-14) and Alma S. Adams (D-NC-12), Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus, introduced companion legislation in the House. “Black mothers in America are dying at rates that are as shocking as they are unacceptable,” said Senator Booker. “The United States has the worst maternal mortality rates among high-income nations, and Black women are more than three times as likely to die from pregnancy-related causes—even though most of these deaths are preventable. This crisis demands urgent, targeted action. I am proud to reintroduce the Momnibus Act, which invests in better care, strengthens community support, and confronts the systemic inequities that put Black moms at risk. Congress must act now to protect mothers and save lives.” “80% of maternal deaths in America are preventable, and the Momnibus is designed to stop them. I’m proud to introduce this historic legislation with Representative Alma Adams and Senator Cory Booker to build on the progress we have made and secure the investments we need to end this crisis,” said Representative Lauren Underwood. “This bill has the tools we need to make America a safer place to give birth, especially for the Black moms and other women of color who are at the highest risk. The Momnibus will save moms’ lives, and Congress must act urgently to pass it.” “The Momnibus Act is the most comprehensive piece of legislation ever drafted to address the maternal health crisis.” said Congresswoman Adams, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of the Black Maternal Health Caucus. “The maternal mortality rate in the United States is worse today than it was 20 years ago. With all the advances of modern science, that speaks to a serious lack of investment in our research and health care systems that care for our moms. Not only that, the rate of mortality for Black women is disproportionately higher and that gap has not shrunk in decades. This is an unacceptable reality, and we must act urgently and boldly to address this crisis. The Momnibus is the solution. Congress must make the safety and health of our moms a priority and get this bill passed into law.” For years, the United States has had the highest maternal mortality rate among high-income countries, with stark racial disparities. In 2024, Black women faced a pregnancy-related mortality ratio more than three times higher than White women—even though more than 80% of pregnancy-related deaths are preventable. The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Alex Padilla (CA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Tim Kaine (VA), Tammy Duckworth (IL), Raphael Warnock (GA), Ruben Gallego (AZ), Martin Heinrich (NM), Brian Schatz (HI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Mazie Hirono (HI), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Peter Welch (VT), Catherine Cortez Masto (NV), Amy Klobuchar (MN), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Adam Schiff (CA), Elissa Slotkin (MI), Michael Bennet (CO), Andy Kim (NJ), Tina Smith (MN), Edward Markey (MA), John Hickenlooper (CO), Chris Van Hollen (MD), Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Patty Murray (WA), Gary Peters (MI), and Bernie Sanders (VT). “In California and across the country, mothers often navigate pregnancy without the resources they need,” said Senator Padilla. “That’s why I’m proud to cosponsor the Momnibus Act to save and improve moms’ lives through smart investments in pre and postnatal care.” The Momnibus Act makes targeted, high-impact investments to address the drivers of the Black maternal health crisis, including social determinants of health, access to culturally congruent care, maternal mental health, community-based supports, and the effects of climate change and public health emergencies on Black mothers and babies. The Momnibus Act is composed of 14 bills that will: Invest in social determinants of health—including housing, transportation, and nutrition—to reduce preventable risks disproportionately affecting Black moms. Extend WIC eligibility during postpartum and breastfeeding periods. Fund community-based organizations trusted by Black families and rooted in the communities they serve. Increase maternal health care funding for veterans, including Black women veterans who face unique barriers. Grow and diversify the perinatal workforce to ensure Black mothers receive care from providers who understand their lived experiences. Improve maternal health data collection to identify and eliminate disparities. Expand maternal mental health and substance use disorder support, with attention to the needs of Black moms. Improve care for incarcerated mothers, who are disproportionately Black. Invest in digital tools to expand access to care in underserved communities. Promote innovative payment models that incentivize high-quality, culturally congruent care. Strengthen federal programs addressing maternal and infant health risks during public health emergencies. Support climate resilience initiatives for moms and babies, including Black families disproportionately exposed to environmental hazards. Invest in research to eliminate racial disparities and prevent maternal deaths. Promote maternal vaccinations to protect moms and infants. The Momnibus Act is endorsed by more than 250 organizations. View the full list of endorsers here. To read the full text of the one-pager here.",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-votes-to-support-ukraine-through-new-sanctions-on-russia/,Senator Kim Votes to Support Ukraine through New Sanctions on Russia,2026-08-07,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) released the following statement after voting yes to increase pressure on Russia with new sanctions: “I voted yes on this bill to intensify pressure on Russia to end their illegal and immoral war against Ukraine. This is a critical moment as Ukraine has been delivering heavy blows against Russian forces. I have deep concerns about the inclusion of tariffs and fought hard to remove them. Having worked in war zones, I know the complex challenges that arise; I felt this legislation still was important to help Ukraine win this war. This moment demands that we stand with Ukraine and stand up against Putin.” ###",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-seek-unanimous-consent-to-pass-bill-requiring-closure-of-delaney-hall-ice-detention-facility,"Booker, Kim Seek Unanimous Consent to Pass Bill Requiring Closure of Delaney Hall ICE Detention Facility",2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and Andy Kim (D-NJ), sought unanimous consent to immediately pass the Delaney Hall Closure Act, legislation requiring U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to permanently close the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility in Newark within 90 days. Senator Booker took to the Senate floor to call for the closing of Delaney Hall following the death of Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, who died on Saturday, August 1, while in ICE custody. Mr. Lopez-Cornejo is the third person in the past nine months to die while or immediately after being detained at Delaney Hall and his death comes amid mounting evidence of dangerous and inhumane conditions, inadequate medical care, and systemic failures at the privately operated facility. Senator Booker has conducted multiple oversight visits to Delaney Hall, where he witnessed firsthand degrading conditions, insufficient medical care, and spoke directly with detainees about repeated failures to protect their health and safety. At least 56 people have died in ICE custody during President Trump’s second term, and more than 70 percent of people detained by ICE have never been convicted of a criminal offense. “Three people have now died at Delaney Hall, and unless Congress acts, there will be more. I have inspected this facility myself and seen the dangerous conditions with my own eyes. No one should die because the government failed to provide basic care to those in custody. Delaney Hall has become a symbol of neglect, abuse, and a failed detention system, and every day it remains open puts more lives at risk,” said Senator Booker. “What I have seen and heard inside Delaney Hall over the last year is absolutely unacceptable and highlights why private prisons like GEO group have no place in New Jersey,” said Senator Kim. “The treatment of those inside is unjust and cruel; I’m cosponsoring this bill because it’s time to shut down Delaney Hall for good before anyone else is harmed.” Senator Booker has repeatedly pushed for stronger oversight and accountability across the immigration detention system. Earlier this year, he introduced the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, comprehensive legislation that would ban private detention centers, end family detention, and strengthen detention standards, improve oversight, and better protect the health, safety, and civil rights of people in ICE custody. He also introduced legislation to restore the Office of the Immigration Detention Ombudsman (OIDO), strengthen accountability for private immigration detention contractors, and the Governors’ Right to Inspect Act, which would authorize governors and state public health and safety officials to inspect immigration detention facilities within their states. SEE ALSO:",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-warnock-van-hollen-colleagues-demand-hud-reverse-changes-gutting-fair-housing-program,"Booker, Warnock, Van Hollen, Colleagues Demand HUD Reverse Changes Gutting Fair Housing Program",2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. —U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) led U.S. Senators Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and 29 Senate colleagues in demanding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rescind a series of proposed changes that would fundamentally undermine implementation of the Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP) — a federal program that funds nonprofit organizations on the front lines of combating housing discrimination and enforcing fair housing protections nationwide. In a letter to HUD Secretary Scott Turner, the Senators warned that HUD's Fiscal Year 2025 and Fiscal Year 2026 funding notices threaten to strip funding from organizations that handle more than 74 percent of housing discrimination complaints in the country. The Senators blasted the new funding notices for bypassing the intent of Congress and fundamentally reshaping the program — locking out experienced fair housing organizations, prioritizing first-time applicants over groups with proven track records protecting Americans from discrimination, and abandoning the organizations that have carried out this work for decades. “Dedicated local fair housing organizations, functioning on small budgets, provide an indispensable service for so many Americans: disabled veterans who require reasonable accommodations in housing, seniors and people with disabilities who need accessible housing, families with children turned away illegally from renting a home, women who are experiencing sexual harassment from landlords, survivors of domestic violence who have been improperly evicted, and victims of racial and other forms of unlawful discrimination,” the senators wrote. The Senators noted that this latest move is part of a pattern: the Trump Administration has repeatedly tried to dismantle fair housing protections, including failed attempts to terminate FHIP grants and proposing to eliminate the program's funding altogether — despite strong bipartisan support in Congress. The Senators are calling on Secretary Turner to immediately rescind and reissue the FY25 and FY26 FHIP funding notices in line with federal law and longstanding program standards. They also demanded HUD turn over information by August 10, 2026 on how the new funding process was developed and implemented, including internal analyses, communications with potential recipients, and any future changes planned for fair housing policy. In addition to Booker, Warnock, and Van Hollen, the letter is signed U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Angela D. Alsobrooks (D-MD), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), Peter Welch (D-VT), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tina Smith (D-MN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Christopher A. Coons (D-DE), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Richard J. Durbin (D-IL), Jeffrey A. Merkley (D-OR), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Michael F. Bennet (D-CO), and Mark Kelly (D-AZ).",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senators-kim-and-hagerty-lead-colleagues-in-introducing-bill-to-protect-american-ai-technology-from-foreign-attacks/,Senators Kim and Hagerty Lead Colleagues in Introducing Bill to Protect American AI Technology from Foreign Attacks,2026-08-06,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), Ranking Member of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on National Security and International Trade and Finance and Senator Bill Hagerty (R-TN), along with Senate Banking Chairman Tim Scott (R-SC) and Senator Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), introduced the Blocking Large-Scale Adversarial Distillation Efforts (BLADE) Act of 2026, a bipartisan bill to deter malign foreign actors from stealing the proprietary capabilities of America’s frontier AI companies. “The BLADE Act safeguards both our competitive edge against China and our national security at the same time. As we continue to set the global standard for innovation and unlock new opportunity through AI, it’s critical we have these tools to deter direct attacks on U.S. AI models and maintain as large a lead as possible over our competitors and adversaries,” said Senator Kim. “As the United States must remain at the forefront of competitiveness in artificial intelligence, we cannot allow our adversaries to steal the intellectual property of America’s top AI companies and thereby threaten U.S. national security and economic security,” said Senator Hagerty. “The BLADE Act will expose and punish foreign entities that conduct hostile distillation campaigns against our frontier AI companies. Our nation must counter malign actors who seek to subvert our nation’s leadership and innovation in artificial intelligence.” Recent news reports have detailed the large-scale use of “model extraction attacks” by Chinese entities to distill the unique competitive advantages of America’s top AI models. Such foreign model extraction attacks—which typically circumvent technical controls, use fraudulent or unauthorized credentials, and violate terms of use in order to harvest proprietary capabilities from U.S. models without the owner’s permission—evade U.S. export controls and threaten U.S. economic security and national security. To deter unauthorized and illicit foreign model extraction attacks, the bipartisan BLADE Act would direct the Executive Branch to identify and publicly expose foreign entities behind these malign activities, coordinate with industry to improve detection, and authorize the imposition of Commerce Department export controls and Treasury Department financial sanctions against these foreign entities. “As America’s AI technologies become more advanced, we face new threats from China and other foreign adversaries trying to reproduce them,” said Senator Cortez Masto. “We cannot allow the Chinese Communist Party to steal our companies’ hard work and innovation. America can and will remain dominant in the race to develop cutting-edge AI technologies.” “From startups in South Carolina to companies across the country, American innovators are building the technologies that will shape the future, and the Chinese Communist Party and other foreign adversaries should not be allowed to steal that work. Industrial-scale distillation attacks are unacceptable, and the BLADE Act gives the Commerce Department the tools to expose and punish bad actors targeting American AI models, protect our national security, and keep America ahead in the global AI race. I’m proud to join Senators Hagerty and Kim in defending American ingenuity and holding our adversaries accountable,” said Senator Scott. The BLADE Act builds on Senator Kim’s continued work to safeguard American global competitiveness and national security. In April, Senator Kim co-led the introduction of the bipartisan MATCH Act to modernize U.S. export controls and ensure adversaries cannot buy “chokepoint” semiconductor manufacturing equipment (SME) technology from the United States or our partners that they cannot build themselves. He also recently introduced the bipartisan Export Control Reform Act of 2018 (ECRA) Penalty Increase Act to strengthen penalties for individuals and companies that violate U.S. export control laws. Learn more about Senator Kim’s work to advance a resilience-focused foreign policy agenda here. ###",1,2026-08-07T06:11:19Z,2026-08-07T06:12:42Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-introduces-legislation-to-help-prevent-cancer-among-firefighters,Booker Introduces Legislation to Help Prevent Cancer Among Firefighters,2026-08-05,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Firefighter Investments to Recognize Exposure to Cancer (FIRE Cancer) Act of 2026, legislation to protect firefighters from occupational cancer by allowing fire departments to use federal Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) to establish cancer prevention programs, including multi-cancer early detection testing, preventative screenings, and research. The legislation would authorize $700 million in dedicated funding for these efforts. ""A firefighter's courage doesn't end when the fire is out,"" said Senator Booker. ""Long after the sirens fade, many continue to bear the invisible consequences of repeated exposure to toxic carcinogens. It is unacceptable that those who dedicate their lives to protecting our communities face such devastating health risks simply for doing their jobs. The FIRE Cancer Act is about honoring that sacrifice with action—expanding access to early detection, prevention, and research so we can better protect those who have always protected us."" Firefighters experience significantly higher rates of cancer than the general population due to repeated exposure to toxic chemicals and carcinogens while responding to fires and other emergencies. Occupational cancer remains one of the leading long-term health threats facing firefighters. Specifically, the FIRE Cancer Act of 2026 would: Allow Assistance to Firefighters Grant recipients to establish firefighter cancer prevention programs, including multi-cancer early detection testing and other preventative screenings. Authorize up to $1,750 in grant funding per firefighter for multi-cancer early detection and other preventative tests. Authorize $700 million in dedicated funding for firefighter cancer prevention grants. Establish a voluntary partnership between FEMA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to collect anonymized, de-identified cancer screening data to improve research on cancer trends and occupational exposures among firefighters while protecting participants’ privacy. The FIRE Cancer Act of 2026 would give fire departments additional resources to prevent cancer, detect it earlier, and better protect the health of the firefighters who protect communities across the country.",1,2026-08-08T05:41:38Z,2026-08-08T05:43:24Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-judiciary-committees-vote-to-advance-todd-blanches-nomination-for-attorney-general,Booker Statement on Judiciary Committee’s Vote to Advance Todd Blanche’s Nomination for Attorney General,2026-08-04,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights Subcommittee, issued the following statement after the Committee voted to advance Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General: “Today, the Judiciary Committee advanced a nominee for Attorney General who has made his loyalties clear — and they aren’t to the American people. “Todd Blanche’s record speaks for itself: he has shown neither independence nor integrity, and he is unfit to serve as our nation’s chief law enforcement officer. His only qualification is his unwavering loyalty to President Trump and his political allies — at the expense of the American people and the mission of the office he is charged to uphold. “The Judiciary Committee has advanced a nominee whose motives are plain for the world to see: he is willing to subordinate justice to serve one man, at the peril of everyone else. Don’t take my word for it — listen to the survivors of Jeffrey Epstein, his former DOJ colleagues, and legal experts across both parties. “Todd Blanche engineered a $1.776 billion slush fund to reward the people who attacked the Capitol on January 6, on behalf of his forever-client, Donald Trump. This is a man who refused to meet with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell survivors until a Republican colleague threatened to withhold his vote. “And when he finally did meet with the survivors, they described the encounter as demoralizing, condescending, and gaslighting — a meeting where their voices were minimized and their pain dismissed. “Todd Blanche couldn’t find time for survivors, yet made time to travel to Florida to meet with a convicted child sex trafficker for the specific purpose of extracting testimony to exonerate Donald Trump after his name appeared in the Epstein files hundreds of times. convicted child sex trafficker. Days later, he rewarded her with a transfer to the federal government’s lowest-security prison camp—a facility where people convicted of child sex crimes are not even permitted to be housed. “A vote for Todd Blanche is a vote to co-sign a collusive settlement and immunity deal, to applaud retaliation against career prosecutors and public servants, to reward the stonewalling of survivors, and to subordinate the rule of law to one man's personal and political interests. “The American people are watching, and they will remember this vote. ""I will continue to use every oversight tool available to hold Todd Blanche and the Department of Justice accountable — to insist on transparency, to defend the independence of career prosecutors, and to fight for the principles of justice, fairness, and the rule of law that our democracy depends on.""",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-condemns-detainee-death-in-ice-custody-reaffirms-yearslong-call-for-delaney-halls-permanent-closure,"Booker Condemns Detainee Death in ICE Custody, Reaffirms Yearslong Call for Delaney Hall’s Permanent Closure",2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) released the following statement after Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, 41, died on Saturday, August 1, while held at Delaney Hall: “I unequivocally condemn the death of yet another immigrant at Delaney Hall. It is unacceptable that people continue to die on ICE’s watch. My thoughts are with his family and all who loved him. The circumstances surrounding his death are deeply disturbing: while my team is still collecting facts, public reports indicate that Lopez-Cornejo was denied access to necessary medical treatment while detained — an unlawful and inhumane practice that is well documented at this facility. This is not the first death of a detainee at Delaney Hall, and absent decisive action, it will not be the last. I have visited the facility myself and witnessed these conditions firsthand, so I say this plainly: Delaney Hall must be closed immediately and permanently. “This tragedy does not occur in isolation. ICE has exhibited a pattern of misconduct and abuse across every level of its operations. This death follows a video showing an ICE agent striking a protester with a baton into the path of an 18-wheeler truck. There are reports of detainees being assaulted and pepper-sprayed inside these walls. This is precisely why I refused to support giving this reckless and out of control agency a single dollar more. Congress must act to pass the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act to end the use of for-profit private detention facilities like Delaney Hall and to hold the agency accountable for its failure to provide required medical care. I am demanding answers from ICE regarding the medical care Mr. Lopez-Cornejo was denied, and I urge anyone with firsthand knowledge or any information to contact my office as well as the appropriate authorities. More than 70 percent of individuals in ICE detention have never been convicted of a crime. This man should be alive today. Delaney Hall should have been closed already.”",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-statement-on-republican-farm-bill-text,Booker Statement on Republican Farm Bill Text,2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry, issued the following statement in response to the Farm Bill text released by Senate Republicans: “The Republican Farm Bill released on Friday fails to meet the moment of crisis facing America's farmers and families. Democrats should remain united and only support a Farm Bill that includes a clean two-year delay of the SNAP cost shift to states. The bill must also provide immediate, meaningful assistance for the hundreds of thousands of small and mid-sized farmers—including livestock, dairy, fruit, vegetable, and diversified producers—who have been left behind by federal farm policy for far too long.”",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-urges-judiciary-republicans-to-reject-todd-blanches-attorney-general-nomination-citing-extensive-record-of-misconduct,"Booker Urges Judiciary Republicans to Reject Todd Blanche’s Attorney General Nomination, Citing Extensive Record of Misconduct",2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights, sent a letter to Chairman Chuck Grassley urging Republican colleagues to oppose Todd Blanche’s nomination for Attorney General. Booker’s letter lays out an extensive record of alleged misconduct including: misleading Congress, politicizing the Department of Justice, retaliating against career public servants, mishandling the release of the Epstein files, and undermining the rule of law. Booker’s letter follows Blanche’s order purporting to rescind the Department of Justice’s so-called “Anti-Weaponization Fund.” Booker argues that the action does not resolve the underlying concerns surrounding the agreement and instead leaves in place sweeping immunity protections for President Trump, his family, associates, and others from potential federal, civil and criminal liability. Booker also contends that the order does not prevent future payments through other avenues or address the broader effort to use the Justice Department to protect political allies from accountability. “The order is legally defective on its face. It is not signed by President Trump or his counsel and is therefore unenforceable under the terms of the original agreement,” wrote Senator Booker. “The order also fails to foreclose the Department from settling claims by individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6 attack through other avenues, and Mr. Blanche makes no commitment to reject such claims. And the clarification regarding the immunity directive only confirms that the sweeping immunity for the President remains fully in effect — prohibiting every federal agency from investigating or prosecuting the President, his family, his associates, and an undefined universe of other individuals, not merely for tax liability, but for any civil or criminal offense, known or unknown, as of the date the directive took effect,” continued Senator Booker. “The question before this Committee is not merely whether Mr. Blanche is fit to lead the Department of Justice. It is whether the Senate will hold the line on the principle that no one, including the President of the United States, is above the law,” wrote Senator Booker. “Courts have lost confidence in the representations of DOJ attorneys, and public trust in the Department has been severely undermined. His record is rife with examples of prosecutorial misconduct and a disregard for the rule of law—if not outright disdain for it,” said Senator Booker. “A vote to confirm Mr. Blanche is a vote to ratify all the misconduct outlined in this letter: the collusive settlement, the immunity deals, the retaliation against career prosecutors, the stonewalling of Epstein survivors, and the subordination of the rule of law to one man’s personal and political interests. The American people are watching. History will record this vote. We urge our colleagues to cast it accordingly,” concluded Senator Booker. Read the full text of Senator Booker’s letter here. ###",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-andy-kim-statement-supporting-bipartisan-continuing-resolution/,Senator Andy Kim Statement Supporting Bipartisan Continuing Resolution,2026-08-03,2026,2026-08,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.) released the following statement after voting to move a bipartisan continuing resolution (CR) forward that would keep the government funded through December 11, 2026: “When Democrats stand up for the American people, we can deliver for them; that’s what this continuing resolution does. It not only keeps the government open, it stands in the way of Donald Trump weaponizing this funding for his extreme political agenda. “Congressional Republicans have an opportunity to work with us on a budget aligned with the priorities of American working families. Those families will be watching in the coming months; it’s up to Republicans to do the right thing and help deliver a full budget that provides the relief and support the American people deserve.” ###",1,2026-08-05T07:37:37Z,2026-08-05T07:38:44Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-lead-delegation-urging-approval-of-new-jerseys-appeal-for-federal-disaster-assistance-after-initial-request-was-denied,"Booker, Kim Lead Delegation Urging Approval of New Jersey’s Appeal for Federal Disaster Assistance After Initial Request Was Denied",2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Andy Kim led members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in urging President Donald J. Trump to approve Governor Mikie Sherrill’s appeal of FEMA’s denial of the State’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following the devastating February 22–23, 2026, winter storm. New Jersey submitted its original request for federal disaster assistance on April 7, 2026, and FEMA denied that request on July 2, 2026. “According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, approximately 24 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours across eastern and central New Jersey, and eight of the State’s 21 counties recorded record or near-record snowfall totals and qualify as ‘core counties’ as laid out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG). Another four counties met the ‘contiguous county’ requirements for snow assistance outlined in the PAPPG,” wrote the lawmakers. The lawmakers’ latest appeal follows a bipartisan April 21 letter from the delegation pressing the Administration to approve the State’s initial request, citing the storm’s deadly impacts, widespread outages affecting more than 127,000 customers, hundreds of accidents, and nearly $100 million in statewide damages. The February storm claimed 12 lives across nine counties, caused extensive power outages, and inflicted significant damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure—costs that New Jerseyans should not be forced to shoulder alone. Preliminary damage assessments for Public Assistance teams documented significant emergency work and damage to public facilities and infrastructure across 19 counties. The storm further strained New Jersey’s emergency response capacity, which was already stretched after the State responded to a major snow and ice storm just weeks earlier and managed six active federal disaster declarations. “A careful review of the State of New Jersey’s appeal demonstrates that this request far exceeds all Stafford Act statutory and regulatory thresholds. The extent of the damage, the operational burden throughout the State, and the cumulative impacts of recent and related extreme weather all provide overwhelming evidence that New Jersey’s request must be granted,” wrote the lawmakers. In addition to Senators Booker and Kim, the letter was signed by New Jersey U.S. Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ-1), Herb Conaway Jr. (D-NJ-3), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-8), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-9), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Analilia Mejia (D-NJ-11), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12).",1,2026-08-01T07:27:26Z,2026-08-01T07:28:22Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-schiff-introduce-bill-to-promote-sustainability-and-protect-consumers-through-standardized-tracking-and-accountability-for-recycled-plastic-claims,"Booker, Schiff Introduce Bill to Promote Sustainability and Protect Consumers Through Standardized Tracking and Accountability for Recycled Plastic Claims",2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Adam Schiff (D-CA) introduced the Tracking Plastic Act, which would implement a standardized process for tracking recycled materials to address mislabeling and fraud by companies, reduce errors, and verify the origins of recycled plastic content, helping Americans better understand the environmental impact of the products they are buying. The legislation would crack down on misleading recycled plastic claims by establishing the first standardized federal system to track and verify recycled plastic content throughout the supply chain. It would protect consumers from deceptive environmental claims, hold companies accountable for the accuracy of their labeling, and strengthen confidence in America's recycling system. Companies currently use inconsistent methods to measure and report recycled plastic content, making it difficult to verify claims and leaving consumers vulnerable to misleading or inaccurate labeling. The Tracking Plastic Act would create a transparent, science-based framework for tracing recycled plastic content, improving accountability, reducing fraud, and giving Americans confidence that products marketed as environmentally responsible are backed by credible data. “Every time Americans pick up a product at the store, they should be able to trust what they see on the label and not have to wonder whether the products they buy are truly helping to reduce plastic waste,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation will give consumers the honest information they need, strengthen our recycling systems, and ensure companies are accountable for helping address the plastic pollution crisis.” “Implementing a reliable process of tracking recycled materials will provide Americans with accurate information on plastics used in the products they’re buying. Consumers deserve the truth when making choices among competing products. Our legislation will crack down on companies that mislead the public on their reporting of recycled plastic content,” said Senator Schiff. “Consumers deserve clear, accurate labeling to help them make informed choices about their purchases,” said Senator Merkley. “Commonsense legislation like this one empowers consumers to understand just how much plastic they’re buying, while ensuring manufacturers are accountable for the recycled content claims they make.” The Tracking Plastic Act would establish a federal working group on recycled plastic content traceability with representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency, the Federal Trade Commission, the Department of Agriculture, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Department of State, the National Institute of Standards and Technology, the National Laboratory of the Rockies, institutions of higher education, and the National Academy of Sciences. The working group would: Develop recommendations to improve the measurement, traceability, and reporting of recycled plastic content across applicable sectors of the economy; and Develop recommendations to increase the use of post-consumer resin. In addition to Booker and Schiff, the legislation is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and Ron Wyden (D-OR). The Tracking Plastic Act is endorsed by the Association of Plastic Recyclers, Recycling Partnership, World Wildlife Fund, Ocean Conservancy, and Monterey Bay Aquarium.",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senators-kim-and-booker-lead-delegation-urging-approval-of-new-jerseys-appeal-for-federal-disaster-assistance-after-initial-request-was-denied/,Senators Kim and Booker Lead Delegation Urging Approval of New Jersey’s Appeal for Federal Disaster Assistance After Initial Request Was Denied,2026-07-31,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Andy Kim and Cory Booker led members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in urging President Donald J. Trump to approve Governor Mikie Sherrill’s appeal of FEMA’s denial of the State’s request for a Major Disaster Declaration following the devastating February 22–23, 2026, winter storm. New Jersey submitted its original request for federal disaster assistance on April 7, 2026, and FEMA denied that request on July 2, 2026. “According to data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, approximately 24 inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours across eastern and central New Jersey, and eight of the State’s 21 counties recorded record or near-record snowfall totals and qualify as ‘core counties’ as laid out by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the Public Assistance Program and Policy Guide (PAPPG). Another four counties met the ‘contiguous county’ requirements for snow assistance outlined in the PAPPG,” wrote the lawmakers. The lawmakers’ latest appeal follows a bipartisan April 21 letter from the delegation pressing the Administration to approve the State’s initial request, citing the storm’s deadly impacts, widespread outages affecting more than 127,000 customers, hundreds of accidents, and nearly $100 million in statewide damages. The February storm claimed 12 lives across nine counties, caused extensive power outages, and inflicted significant damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure—costs that New Jerseyans should not be forced to shoulder alone Preliminary damage assessments for Public Assistance teams documented significant emergency work and damage to public facilities and infrastructure across 19 counties. The storm further strained New Jersey’s emergency response capacity, which was already stretched after the State responded to a major snow and ice storm just weeks earlier and managed six active federal disaster declarations. “A careful review of the State of New Jersey’s appeal demonstrates that this request far exceeds all Stafford Act statutory and regulatory thresholds. The extent of the damage, the operational burden throughout the State, and the cumulative impacts of recent and related extreme weather all provide overwhelming evidence that New Jersey’s request must be granted,” wrote the lawmakers. In addition to Senators Kim and Booker, the letter was signed by New Jersey U.S. Representatives Donald Norcross (D-NJ-1), Herb Conaway Jr. (D-NJ-3), Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ-5), Frank Pallone (D-NJ-6), Robert Menendez (D-NJ-8), Nellie Pou (D-NJ-9), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ-10), Analilia Mejia (D-NJ-11), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ-12). Read the full text of the letter here. ###",1,2026-08-04T07:35:49Z,2026-08-04T07:37:27Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senators-kim-and-husted-introduce-bipartisan-bill-to-protect-children-from-ai-companion-chatbots/,Senators Kim and Husted Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Protect Children from AI Companion Chatbots,2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ) and Jon Husted (R-OH) introduced the Children Harmed by AI Technology (CHAT) Act 2.0. to establish a federal framework to protect minors from harms associated with companion artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots through a tiered, risk-based approach. The bipartisan legislation would also prohibit AI companion chatbots from engaging in harmful behaviors with minors, including encouraging self-harm, generating sexual content, impersonating humans or licensed professionals, and engaging in emotionally manipulative or romantic interactions. “We all just want peace of mind that our kids will be okay growing up in this era of algorithms and AI. That’s why we need guardrails in place to keep up with ever-evolving technology like chatbots and make sure our kids’ safety, mental health, and well-being are always put first,” said Senator Kim. “We need to protect children in the digital world the same way we do in the physical world. As AI becomes more advanced and more accessible, we have a responsibility to make sure these tools are not exposing children to dangerous, manipulative or inappropriate interactions. The CHAT Act 2.0 would put guardrails in place to keep parents informed, protect children from harm and ensure their safety comes before unchecked technology,” said Senator Husted. AI companion chatbots are computer programs designed to simulate human conversation, either through text or voice, and have prompted users to engage in self‑harm and exposed minors to adult content. In one Texas case, a Character.AI chatbot encouraged a teenager to kill his parents because they restricted his screen time. TheCHAT Act 2.0 would: Require age assurance and parental involvement, including parental controls and notification if a minor expresses suicidal ideation. Mandate clear disclosures that chatbots are not human, establish use limits and break reminders, implement crisis referral protocols and prohibit AI from providing crisis counseling to minors. Impose stronger safeguards on higher-risk systems, including limits on memory, professional supervision for therapeutic AI and pre-deployment risk assessments. Include strong data privacy protections and enforcement authority for the Federal Trade Commission and state attorneys general. Create a three-tier framework that applies appropriate safeguards based on a chatbot’s intended purpose: Educational chatbots, Companion chatbots, Health chatbots. As a father of two young boys, the CHAT Act 2.0 is a part of Senator Kim’s longstanding commitment and ongoing work to protect all children online. Earlier this month, Senator Kim introduced the bipartisanDigital Age Assurance Act to establish new age reporting requirements that would prevent kids from accessing age-inappropriate content. The bill also prioritizes protecting kids’ privacy with a number of provisions preventing kids’ data from being sold or transferred and banning targeted advertisement to children. ###",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-heinrich-murray-colleagues-demand-trump-administration-restore-funding-for-energy-projects-that-were-illegally-canceled-and-politically-targeted,"Booker, Heinrich, Murray, Colleagues Demand Trump Administration Restore Funding for Energy Projects That Were Illegally Canceled and Politically Targeted",2026-07-30,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ); Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Ranking Member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and Patty Murray (D-WA), Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, and 36 Senate colleagues sent a letter to U.S. Department of Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought demanding that the Trump administration restore funding for the 223 energy projects canceled in October 2025. The Trump administration has since admitted to illegally canceling energy grants not on the merits of the projects, but because they were in states that did not vote for President Trump in the 2024 election. The canceled funding had supported Congressionally-approved energy initiatives in communities nationwide. “Now that court documents have confirmed what we knew to be true, we write to demand that you restore previously awarded funding that the Trump administration has weaponized in an attempt to punish perceived political enemies,” the senators wrote. “Once an administration begins punishing Americans for how they vote, the threat extends far beyond these projects: no state, community, business, or worker can trust that the federal government will apply the law fairly,” the senators continued. “This is not only an attack on jobs, affordable energy, and America’s economic competitiveness. It is an attack on the rule of law and the basic democratic principle that the federal government serves the entire country—not merely those who support the President.” “At a time when energy prices are skyrocketing, the administration is hell-bent on political retribution instead of working to bring down costs for millions of Americans. The American people deserve to have a government that works for them—not one that is willing to push energy prices even higher and put the country’s energy security at grave risk,” the senators concluded. “For the good of our country, the rule of law, and the American people, we demand that you change course and restore the previously awarded funding.” In addition to Booker, Heinrich, and Murray, the letter was signed by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and U.S. Senators Adam Schiff (D-CA), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Alex Padilla (D-CA), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Richard Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Edward J. Markey (D-MA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tina Smith (D-MN), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jack Reed (D-RI), and Angus King (I-ME). All 36 Democratic Senators from states with canceled grants and funding signed the letter. Senators Booker, Heinrich, Murray, and colleagues previously sent a letter in October 2025 when project grants were initially canceled despite having been approved and appropriated by Congress, demanding the restoration of these funds.",1,2026-08-06T07:37:31Z,2026-08-06T07:38:34Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-announces-nearly-26-million-in-grants-for-nonprofit-and-faith-based-organizations-across-new-jersey/,Senator Kim Announces Nearly $26 Million in Grants for Nonprofit and Faith-based Organizations Across New Jersey,2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-N.J.), member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and Ranking Member on the HSGAC Subcommittee for Disaster Management, District of Columbia, and Census, announced nearly $26 million in grant funding from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Nonprofit Security Grant Program for nonprofits and faith-based organizations in New Jersey. The funding, designed to help religious institutions and nonprofits increase security for facilities and communities, will be distributed by New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness to selected organizations across New Jersey later this year. “Everyone has the right to practice their religion or gather in their community safely,” said Senator Kim. “I’m proud to help secure these grants to ensure that our communities have the resources needed to protect their facilities and worship in peace. I’ll continue to fight for these institutions and safeguard these vital programs, especially in the wake of increased threats at places of worship across New Jersey.” As a member of the House and Senate, Senator Kim has worked together with nonprofit and faith leaders across New Jersey to advocate for additional funding to keep communities safe. He has recently convened roundtable discussions with faith leaders where he’s heard concerns about the lack of federal resources coming to our state. Because of that, Senator Kim has repeatedly asked for increased funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program and raised issues with senior officials at the Department of Homeland Security. ###",1,2026-07-30T07:32:48Z,2026-07-30T07:34:08Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senators-kim-and-booker-introduce-legislation-to-rename-new-jersey-post-office-after-tuskegee-airman-and-willingboro-trailblazer-chief-master-sergeant-james-a-cotten/,Senators Kim and Booker Introduce Legislation to Rename New Jersey Post Office After Tuskegee Airman and Willingboro Trailblazer Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cotten,2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Yesterday, in celebration of the United States Postal Service’s 250 years of delivering mail to the American people, U.S. Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, and Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced legislation to rename a post office in New Jersey’s 3rd Congressional District in honor of the late Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cotten, a Tuskegee Airman and decorated military trailblazer whose decades of service to his country were matched by decades of service to the Willingboro community he called home. Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (NJ-03), along with Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. (NJ-06), LaMonica McIver (NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Rob Menendez (NJ-08), introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “James Cotten was a hero and a leader that made Willingboro proud and our country safer. He is a reminder that the impact of public service ripples across generations. This isn’t just the renaming of a post office, it’s a reminder of work done to break down racial barriers and build community. Mr. Cotten represented the best of America and I’m proud to work with my colleagues to make sure his name is never forgotten,” said Senator Kim. “Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cotten did not simply serve his country—he helped transform it. As a Tuskegee Airman, a military trailblazer, and a pillar of the Willingboro community, he broke barriers that were meant to hold people back and opened doors for generations to come,” said Senator Booker. “His life is a powerful reminder that service is not defined by a title or a single moment, but by a lifelong commitment to lifting up others and strengthening the communities we call home. Renaming this post office in his honor ensures that his heroism, perseverance, and extraordinary legacy will continue to inspire all who learn his story.” Cotten’s story spans nearly seven decades of service. Drafted into the Army in 1945, he was assigned to the Army Air Corps as an air operations specialist with the 332nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron — part of the storied Tuskegee Airmen — before integrating the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron when the military desegregated. Over a military career spanning more than 20 years, he rose through the ranks before retiring from active duty in 1965 at McGuire Air Force Base. He then spent another 45 years serving the Department of Defense as a civilian. His impact didn’t end at the base gates. Back home in Willingboro, Cotten became one of the first African Americans to deliver mail in the community and remained active for years in local civic and financial institutions. His life’s work has been recognized at the highest levels: a Congressional Gold Medal in 2012, and personal recognition from President Barack Obama in 2013 as one of the nation’s honored veterans. Naming a post office after Cotten ensures that every piece of mail passing through Willingboro carries forward the memory of a man who fought for his country twice: once against a foreign enemy, and once against the barriers his own country put in front of him. Read the full text of the legislation here. ###",1,2026-07-30T07:32:48Z,2026-07-30T07:34:08Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-klobuchar-welch-demand-answers-on-usda-plan-that-threatens-critical-rural-infrastructure-and-services,"Booker, Klobuchar, Welch Demand Answers on USDA Plan That Threatens Critical Rural Infrastructure and Services",2026-07-29,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee, joined Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, and Senator Peter Welch (D-VT), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Rural Development, Energy, and Credit, along with 19 other Senate colleagues, in issuing a forceful warning in a new letter to Deputy Secretary Vaden about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s proposed reorganization of the Rural Development mission area. The senators make clear that the plan raises serious, immediate concerns about the Department’s direction and the potential consequences for rural communities nationwide. “Rural communities, small businesses, and families will lose access to important services if the proposed reorganization plan moves forward,” wrote the senators. The senators stress that the proposed restructuring is not a routine administrative shift—it is a direct threat to the essential services rural America depends on. Rural Development administers grants and loans for small businesses, supports rural housing, finances health clinics and childcare centers, and drives major infrastructure projects for water, electric, and broadband systems. These programs are lifelines for communities already facing rising costs for gas, groceries, and agricultural inputs due to tariffs and Trump’s reckless policies. “In order for rural communities to benefit from these projects, the Rural Development agency must have the capacity to process applications and disburse funds,” the senators continued. “Rural Development’s depletion of staff has already left rural America without the support it needs as the prices of gas, groceries, and agricultural inputs are skyrocketing as a result of tariffs and foreign conflicts. Without adequate and expert staff, the money that Congress has appropriated to help rural communities will not reach its intended beneficiaries.” In addition to Booker, Klobuchar, and Welch, the letter was signed by Senators Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Angus King (I-ME), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Raphael Warnock (D-GA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patty Murray (D-WA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Mark Warner (D-VA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tina Smith (D-MN), John Fetterman (D-PA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH). To prevent further harm, the senators requested detailed answers from USDA by August 5, 2026, including: An analysis of how staffing cuts will affect Rural Development services A current breakdown of staffing levels and two-year projections by sub-mission area Hiring plans for the next three months Training plans to ensure new staff can effectively serve rural communities A strategy to recruit the next generation of Rural Development employees Safeguards to prevent further failures in Rural Development’s technology modernization",1,2026-07-31T07:49:23Z,2026-07-31T07:50:48Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-introduce-legislation-to-rename-new-jersey-post-office-after-tuskegee-airman-and-willingboro-trailblazer-chief-master-sergeant-james-a-cotten,"Booker, Kim Introduce Legislation to Rename New Jersey Post Office After Tuskegee Airman and Willingboro Trailblazer Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cotten",2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, in celebration of the United States Postal Service's 250 years of delivering mail to the American people, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs, introduced legislation to rename a post office in New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District in honor of the late Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cotten, a Tuskegee Airman and decorated military trailblazer whose decades of service to his country were matched by decades of service to the Willingboro community he called home. Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., M.D. (D-NJ), along with Representatives Frank Pallone Jr. (D-NJ), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), and Rob Menendez (D-NJ), introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “Chief Master Sergeant James A. Cotten did not simply serve his country—he helped transform it. As a Tuskegee Airman, a military trailblazer, and a pillar of the Willingboro community, he broke barriers that were meant to hold people back and opened doors for generations to come,” said Senator Booker. “His life is a powerful reminder that service is not defined by a title or a single moment, but by a lifelong commitment to lifting up others and strengthening the communities we call home. Renaming this post office in his honor ensures that his heroism, perseverance, and extraordinary legacy will continue to inspire all who learn his story.” ""James Cotten was a hero and a leader that made Willingboro proud and our country safer. He is a reminder that the impact of public service ripples across generations. This isn't just the renaming of a post office, it's a reminder of work done to break down racial barriers and build community. Mr. Cotten represented the best of America and I'm proud to work with my colleagues to make sure his name is never forgotten,"" said Senator Kim. Cotten's story spans nearly seven decades of service. Drafted into the Army in 1945, he was assigned to the Army Air Corps as an air operations specialist with the 332nd Fighter Interceptor Squadron — part of the storied Tuskegee Airmen — before integrating the 334th Fighter Interceptor Squadron when the military desegregated. Over a military career spanning more than 20 years, he rose through the ranks before retiring from active duty in 1965 at McGuire Air Force Base. He then spent another 45 years serving the Department of Defense as a civilian. His impact didn't end at the base gates. Back home in Willingboro, Cotten became one of the first African Americans to deliver mail in the community and remained active for years in local civic and financial institutions. His life's work has been recognized at the highest levels: a Congressional Gold Medal in 2012, and personal recognition from President Barack Obama in 2013 as one of the nation's honored veterans. Naming a post office after Cotten ensures that every piece of mail passing through Willingboro carries forward the memory of a man who fought for his country twice: once against a foreign enemy, and once against the barriers his own country put in front of him.",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-leads-senators-in-urging-ferc-to-expedite-rule-on-dynamic-line-ratings-to-lower-energy-costs-and-modernize-the-grid,Booker Leads Senators in Urging FERC to Expedite Rule on Dynamic Line Ratings to Lower Energy Costs and Modernize the Grid,2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), joined by Senators Ed Markey (D-MA) and Peter Welch (D-VT), led Senate colleagues in sending a letter to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the agency to strengthen and finalized its proposed rule on dynamic line ratings (DLR)—technology that would increase grid capacity, enhance reliability, and reduce energy costs for consumers. ""Americans simply cannot wait any longer for solutions to their energy needs. They need relief now. To promote the safety, security, and affordability of our nation's electricity system, we request that FERC strengthen and finalize the 2024 ANOPR. Thank you for your careful consideration of this request,"" the senators wrote. ""While we need investments in new infrastructure to expand and modernize our electric grid, many of these investments will take years before they result in lower costs for customers. Advanced transmission technologies, like DLR, present a simple and effective near-term solution: a proven, readily accessible technology that delivers a significant return on investment and saves customers money,"" the senators continued. ""Widespread implementation of this technology will improve the efficiency and reliability of our nation's entire electricity system, increasing transmission capacity to help meet the growing demand for electricity,"" they added. “We request that FERC strengthen and finalize the 2024 ANOPR,” the senators concluded. Joining Booker, Markey, and Welch on the letter are U.S. Senators Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Chris Van Hollen (D-MD).",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-reintroduces-supreme-court-term-limits-bill-to-restore-americans-trust-in-the-court,Booker Reintroduces Supreme Court Term Limits Bill to Restore American’s Trust in the Court,2026-07-28,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) are pushing to establish term limits for Supreme Court justices, reintroducing the Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits , legislation that would effectively impose 18-year term limits and put Supreme Court appointments on a predictable, regular schedule–as the Court’s approval rating among Americans nears a historic low. Under the proposal, a new justice would join the Court every two years, hear the full range of cases for 18 years and then transition to a limited role handling only the small number of cases the Constitution requires. “It is unacceptable that our highest court has the lowest standards of accountability—no one should hold immense, unchecked power for decades in the manner our Court currently operates. The Supreme Court is not the possession of any president or political party; it is a sacred institution meant to reflect our nation across generations, not a single political moment. This legislation strengthens trust in our highest Court, protects its impartiality, and ensures it can fulfill its constitutional purpose: delivering equal justice for every American,” said Senator Booker. “The Supreme Court’s disastrous Citizens United decision supercharged an organized, dark-money funded scheme by right-wing special interests to capture and control the Court. The result is a distorted judicial process that sides with the wealthiest interests at the expense of ordinary Americans, and President Trump is only eager to keep up the scheme to consolidate his own power,” said Senator Whitehouse, Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Courts Subcommittee. “Term limits and regular appointments would make the Court more representative of everyday Americans and help restore the Supreme Court to the proper independent body it was created to be. More than ever, it’s important we get this right.” “As the Supreme Court faces a legitimacy crisis, fundamental reforms are needed to restore trust and credibility. Implementing term limits would make the Court more representative of America, and preserve an institution that is increasingly influenced by toxic politics and partisan obstruction. This legislation is critical to the Supreme Court’s survival as an independent branch of government, and its accountability to the American people,” said Senator Blumenthal. “The Supreme Court has reached unprecedented and unacceptable levels of politicization,” said Senator Padilla.“Term limits are a commonsense solution to lower the temperature on the Judiciary and start restoring trust in the highest court in our land.” Right-wing billionaires, the fossil fuel industry, and other special interest groups have spent hundreds of millions building a network of of front groups to capture the Supreme Court and dictate who gets appointed and shape how those appointees rule, resulting in a Court that has repeatedly greenlighted donor-friendly policies in cases like Dobbs. V. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, Shelby County V. Holder, and Citizens United V. FEC–decisions reshaping American life in ways out of step with the public. The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act seeks to depoliticize the appointment process and ensure the Court serves the American people, not billionaires, by using Congress’s constitutional authority over the Court’s appellate jurisdiction to: 1) limit appellate cases to the nine most recently appointed justices; while 2) allowing all justices to retain authority over original jurisdiction cases, as the Constitution requires; and 3) permitting justices to stepp in to hear appellate cases when a sitting justice has a conflict or is unavailable. The bill also establishes regular appointments by requiring the president to nominate one justice within the first 120 days of the first and third years of each presidential term, with the law taking effect only at the start of the first new presidential term after enactment. The United States is one of only five nations that grants lifetime tenure to its highest court’s judges. Americans overwhelmingly want a Supreme Court that better reflects and answers to the public it serves, and recent polling finds that two out of every three Americans back term limits for the justices. The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act is endorsed by the Brennan Center for Justice, National Women’s Law Center Action Fund, Public Citizen, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW), Project on Government Oversight (POGO), Alliance for Justice, People for the American Way, Newtown Action Alliance, National Association of Consumer Advocates, Stand Up America, True North Research, End Citizens United, Voto Latino, National Council of Negro Women, Inc., and Reproductive Freedom for All. “The Supreme Court needs term limits. It has vast power and minimal accountability. A single justice can now shape the law for generations. This is at odds with the democratic principle that no one should hold too much power for too long. At a time when trust in the Court is hovering at record lows, term limits should be at the top of the list of reforms. It would bring new perspectives and voices to the Court while strengthening the link between the Court and the American people. Congress should work to pass Supreme Court term limits into law,” said Michael Waldman, President and CEO of the Brennan Center for Justice. “We applaud the re-introduction of the term limits proposal spearheaded by Senate champions of a fair Supreme Court. We are all witnessing the disastrous consequences of the appointment of ideologues hand-picked to use judicial power to limit our freedoms. The regressive billionaires who have backed Leonard Leo’s court capture agenda are counting on ringers, like Clarence Thomas, who are biased in their favor spending thirty or forty years dismantling our rights. This proposal–which limits the gaming of retirement for partisan purposes and disincentives the selection of young operatives for the bench–is one of several worthy reform initiatives that must be considered in order to restore and expand the rights of We the People in our democracy,” said Lisa Graves, Executive Director of True North Research. “Congress cannot remain passive while a corrupt Supreme Court continues to favor the powerful and harm the rest of us. The BATL Act recognizes that we can and we must structurally reform the Court,” said Marge Baker, Executive Vice President at the People for the American Way. “Right-wing dark money groups orchestrated a capture of the Supreme Court over many decades. It’s how we got Citizens United and a corrupt government that only works for its donors while failing the American people,” said End Citizens United President Tiffany Muller. “The fix is simple: judicial term limits and biennial appointments would make the Court fairer, more accountable, and less susceptible to dangerous partisan schemes. This is a first step toward restoring public trust in an institution meant to be a last line of defense for justice and protecting Americans’ rights. We’re grateful to Senators Booker, Whitehouse, Blumenthal, and Padilla for their commitment to making government work for all Americans.” “Supreme Court justices hold too much power for too long. We applaud this common-sense solution to bring the Supreme Court in line with courts throughout the country and the world by ensuring regular turnover,” said David Janovsky, Acting Director of The Constitution Project at the Project on Government Oversight. “It’s long past time for Congress enact serious reforms to ensure that the Supreme Court is made up of fair-minded, independent justices guided by the Constitution and the rule of law—not wealthy interests, political loyalty, or ideological agendas,” said Alison Gill, senior director of democracy and nominations at the National Women’s Law Center Action Fund. “This commonsense Supreme Court term limits bill would help restore public confidence in the Court’s independence and integrity. At a time when public trust in the Court is at an all-time low, this legislation would take a meaningful step toward ensuring that the nation’s highest court remains accountable to the Constitution—not politics.” “The Supreme Court’s decision to take up the challenge to Connecticut’s assault weapons ban—enacted after the Sandy Hook massacre to protect future generations from the same horror—underscores why Supreme Court reform can no longer wait,” said Po Murray, Chairwoman of Newtown Action Alliance. “When a handful of lifetime-appointed justices can put lifesaving laws and millions of lives at risk decades after they were enacted, our democracy is out of balance. Biennial appointments and eighteen-year terms would restore accountability, reduce the political warfare surrounding every vacancy, and help ensure the Court remains connected to the American people it serves. Survivors should not have to relive their trauma every time the Court reconsiders whether their states have the constitutional right to protect themselves from weapons of war.” “Serious and repeated allegations of ethical misconduct at the Supreme Court have undermined public faith in the judiciary. This self-inflicted crisis raises serious concerns about whether the Supreme Court’s credibility can survive without meaningful reform,” said Debra Perlin, Vice President for Policy at Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW). “The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act of 2026 is a strong response to this crisis. It uses the Court’s jurisdiction to create term limits for Supreme Court justices and permits those justices whose terms have ended to retain their seats in a senior status position. This legislation could help both end partisan manipulation of the Court’s composition and reduce ethics problems among justices. CREW commends Senators Booker,Whitehouse, Blumenthal, and Padilla for continuing to lead the charge on the need to address Supreme Court ethics and introducing this crucial piece of legislation.” “No one should hold power for life. Lifetime appointments to the Supreme Court give nine individuals the power to shape federal law for decades, if not generations. Eighteen years is long enough. Every major democracy in the world except the United States, and 49 of 50 states, limit their top judges with term limits, elections, or mandatory retirement ages. That’s why three-fourths of Americans support term limits for Supreme Court justices. We applaud Senator Whitehouse’s leadership and urge his Democratic colleagues to rally behind this commonsense legislation,” said Brett Edkins, Managing Director of Policy and Political Affairs at Stand Up America. The Supreme Court Biennial Appointments and Term Limits Act is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Adam Schiff (D-CA), and Patty Murray (D-WA).",1,2026-07-29T07:41:48Z,2026-07-29T07:42:57Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-colleagues-introduce-bill-to-expand-health-care-access-for-underserved-communities,"Booker, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Expand Health Care Access for Underserved Communities",2026-07-27,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-CA), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI), joined by Representatives Raul Ruiz (D-CA-25), Robin Kelly (D-IL-02), and Grace Meng (D-NY-06), introduced the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) of 2026 today. The bicameral legislation would tackle longstanding health disparities and work to ensure every person has a fair shot at good health — regardless of race, ethnicity, gender, geography, or income. HEAA targets the inequities facing racial and ethnic minorities, women, the LGBTQ+ community, rural communities, and socioeconomically disadvantaged populations across the country. The bill was introduced in coordination with the Congressional Tri-Caucus — the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC), Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), and Congressional Black Caucus (CBC). “For too long, too many people in underserved communities have been forced to fight harder for the care they need—facing higher barriers, fewer resources, and a health care system that too often fails them,” said Senator Booker. “These disparities are not just statistics; they represent lives lost, families impacted, and communities left behind. This legislation takes a critical step toward breaking down the systemic barriers that stand between people and the timely, effective, and equitable care they deserve.” “Affordable, culturally competent healthcare is a right all Americans deserve,” said Senator Padilla. “Systemic inequities coupled with the Trump Administration’s attacks on Medicaid and cuts to hospitals have led to historically marginalized groups without access to essential care. Our bill will help dismantle barriers to care by expanding access to mental health and reproductive care, addressing diseases that disproportionately impact underserved communities, and improving the data we need to better identify and reduce health disparities.” “As The Trump regime and Congressional Republicans continue to attack healthcare and diversity initiatives from all fronts, working to ensure healthcare is affordable and accessible to all has never been more relevant. We know that people of color and other marginalized groups face unique challenges that require targeted solutions, and restoring the coverage the Trump regime stripped away is just the baseline,” said Senator Hirono. “From investing in stronger data protection to ensuring health resources are accessible to all, this legislation is a critical step to ensuring our healthcare is truly equitable.” Specifically, HEAA would eliminate racial and ethnic health inequities by: Expanding access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care Strengthening and diversifying the healthcare workforce Removing cost, citizenship, and administrative barriers to coverage and care Increasing federal support for Medicare, Medicaid, and public health systems Establishing innovative models for maternal, child, mental, and behavioral health care Funding prevention programs for high-impact diseases that disproportionately affect marginalized populations Modernizing data collection and expanding telehealth access Investing in nutrition, environmental justice, and community-based supports to address the social determinants of health and systematically reduce disparities Reinstating offices and agencies that have worked to guarantee every American access to healthcare, and rescinding recent executive orders that target American communities In addition to Booker, Padilla, and Hirono, in the Senate the bill is cosponsored by Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (D-GA). In addition to Ruiz, Kelly, and Meng, in the House the bill is cosponsored by Representatives Pete Aguilar (D-CA-33), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC-AL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR-01), Judy Chu (D-CA-28), Frederica Wilson (D-FL-24), Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY-07), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), Pablo Hernández (D-PR-AL), Jesús “Chuy” García (D-IL-04), Ted Lieu (D-CA-36), Jonathan Jackson (D-IL-01), Doris Matsui (D-CA-07), Maxwell Frost (D-FL-10), Andrea Salinas (D-OR-06), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA-07), Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Analilia Mejia (D-NJ-11), Christian Menefee (D-TX-18), Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13), Gwen Moore (D-WI-04), Troy Carter (D-LA-02), Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07), Jill Tokuda (D-HI-02), Jahana Hayes (D-CT-05), and Emily Randall (D-WA-06). “I grew up the son of farmworkers, and I became an emergency physician because I saw what happens when our communities don’t have access to care in time,” said Representative Ruiz. “No family should have to choose between a day’s wages and a doctor’s visit or go without care because of their zip code or income. The Health Equity and Accountability Act takes real, comprehensive steps to close these gaps, strengthening our health care workforce, investing in maternal and mental health, and holding our health care system accountable for results. I’m proud to lead this fight alongside my Tri-Caucus colleagues and partners.” “The Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) is a comprehensive, bold commitment to closing health equity gaps, expanding language and mental health access, and improving research diversity on health disparities across our entire healthcare system,” said CBC Health Braintrust Chair, Congresswoman Robin Kelly. “With the inclusion of my legislation, the Access to Birth Control Act and the WELLS Act, HEAA directly strengthens reproductive healthcare and ensures every mother receives safe, dignified care during childbirth. On behalf of the Congressional Black Caucus, I am proud to co-lead the introduction of this bill to deliver the equitable, high-quality care that every American deserves.” “Every American—no matter their race or socioeconomic background—deserves access to affordable, high-quality health care,” said Representative Grace Meng, Chair of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus. “Yet too often, Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders face obstacles to care, from language barriers to a shortage of culturally competent providers. That’s why I am proud to join my Tri-Caucus colleagues in introducing the Health Equity and Accountability Act, a bold piece of legislation that will improve health outcomes and address everything from health disparities to language access for minority and underserved communities across the country. At a time when the president and congressional Republicans are stripping health care coverage from millions of people, we will keep fighting for a future where health care is accessible for all.” “Health disparities for some are a drag on health care for all. This legislation is designed to make our health care system more robust by targeting structural inequalities. Latino communities continue to face some of the starkest barriers to care in our nation—from language access to insurance coverage to chronic underinvestment—and those inequities have only deepened under the relentless attacks on health care from the Trump administration and MAGA Republicans,”said Representative Adriano Espaillat, Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. “That is why CHC Members are proud to take up the mantle of Tri-Caucus leadership in introducing this bill, because at a moment when so much is under threat, our communities cannot afford anything less than a bold, comprehensive vision for health equity.” “Every American deserves access to quality health care, no matter where they come from, what language they speak, or how much they earn,” said Congresswoman Matsui. “The Health Equity and Accountability Act recognizes that our communities are not monolithic and strengthens language access, improves health data, and expands culturally responsive care so every patient is treated with dignity. That means building a healthcare system that reflects the people it serves and meets their distinct needs.” HEAA is endorsed by over 40 organizations, including UnidosUS; National Minority Quality Forum; Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum (APIAHF); Prevention Institute; AIDS Alliance for Women, Infants, Children, Youth & Families; National Black Women’s HIV/AIDS Network, Inc.; First Focus Campaign for Children; American Kidney Fund; National Hispanic Health Foundation; National Urban League; Housing Works; Hepatitis B Foundation; Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations (AAPCHO); Montefiore Starfish Program; Health Betterment Initiative; National Health Law Program; The Praxis Project; National Kidney Foundation; Healthy Kinder International, LLC; The LGBTQIA+ Cancer Network; Autistic Self Advocacy Network; Families USA; Justice in Aging; National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC); CenterLink; African American Health Alliance; Equality California; Silver State Equality; Coalition for Asian American Children and Families; National Partnership for Women and Families; In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda; American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network; National Latina Institute for Reproductive Justice; Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids; Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP); Hyperemesis Education & Research (HER) Foundation; Power to Decide; AFT: Education, Healthcare, Public Services; Korean Community Services of Metropolitan, Inc.; Southeast Asia Resource Action Center (SEARAC); Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF). “At a moment when historic cuts to Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage threaten the health and financial security of millions, the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA) offers a vital path forward,” said UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murguía. “For Latino families, HEAA would help ensure that language, cost, immigration status or ZIP code never stand between a person and the care they need, while strengthening a diverse healthcare workforce for the future. We commend the Congressional Tri-Caucus for its decades of persistence and solidarity in advancing the principle that every person deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life.” “The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) is honored to support the reintroduction of the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA), which includes thoughtful and impactful measures to close gaps in health and in health care that have long plagued the nation,” said Gary Puckrein, President and CEO, National Minority Quality Forum. “As a national patient advocacy and research organization focused on the reduction of patient risk across all populations, NMQF believes that if we are serious about ending health inequities, we have to be serious about evaluation, oversight and accountability. We must ensure that programs designed to eliminate all health inequities are not only well-intentioned, but rigorously evaluated, transparently reported, and relentlessly improved in service of a healthier and fairer nation. Health equity cannot be achieved by good intentions alone; it requires a system that tracks outcomes, exposes gaps, and demands progress until every community has a fair chance at optimal health.” “At a time when many of the hard-won gains in health equity are under threat, theHealth Equity and Accountability Act reaffirms our nation’s commitment to ensuring that every community has the opportunity to achieve optimal health,” said Juliet K. Choi, President and CEO of the Asian & Pacific Islander American Health Forum. “This landmark legislation reflects the enduring partnership between the Congressional Tri-Caucus and community leaders to advance evidence-based policies, from improving representative data collection and language access to expanding clinical trial participation and addressing persistent disparities affecting Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders and historically and medically underserved communities.” “NHeLP is proud to support the reintroduction of the Health Equity and Accountability Act (HEAA),” said Jennifer Cannistra, Executive Director, National Health Law Program. “Now more than ever, HEAA lays the groundwork we need to ensure people of color, women, immigrants, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and people with limited English proficiency can get equal access to the high-quality, culturally and linguistically appropriate care they need.” “Individuals with limited English proficiency (LEP) need effective communication with their health care providers and the health care system to enroll in coverage, prevent medical errors, understand diagnosis, and actively participate in their care,” said Mara Youdelman, Managing Director of Federal Advocacy, National Health Law Program. “HEAA provides critical steps to ensure that language access services are both widely accessible and paid for. An LEP individual should never have to face the question of whether language services are provided but instead only has to answer what is the best way to communicate with them.” “Families USA proudly supports the Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026, which offers vital policy solutions to eliminate the long-standing health disparities worsened by recent historic federal health care cuts,” said Anthony Wright, Executive Director, Families USA. “As a longtime health consumer advocates, we support these bold policies to improve our health system for everyone, and especially to meet the specific and immediate needs of vulnerable communities under attack right now, including immigrants, LGBTQ+ people, and communities of color. HEAA recognizes that our health system is stronger when everyone is included, with broad improvements for all coupled with specific efforts to address the health gaps and issues in specific communities.”",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-warren-welch-introduce-bill-to-stop-big-ag-from-rigging-the-seed-market-against-farmers,"Booker, Warren, Welch Introduce Bill to Stop Big Ag from Rigging the Seed Market Against Farmers",2026-07-27,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT) introduced the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act to stop Big Agriculture from rigging the patent system against family farmers — and to bring down grocery prices for everyone else. A seed used to belong to the farmer who planted it. Now, just four corporations control more than 75 percent of the U.S. corn and soybean seed markets, and they've built that dominance by weaponizing patent law against the very people who feed the country. Congress never intended this. Lawmakers deliberately built a balance into seed law, one that let companies profit from innovation while protecting farmers' and the public's basic right to save, study, and share seeds. Dominant seed companies blew past that balance by reaching for utility patents: a far more aggressive form of protection, with none of the traditional carve-outs for seed saving, research, or experimentation. The consequences are stark. Smaller seed companies trying to develop competing products get boxed out entirely, forced into restrictive licensing deals just to survive. Farmers get locked into exploitative contracts that strip away a right they have exercised for thousands of years: saving seed from one harvest to plant the next. Instead, they're forced back to the same corporations, year after year. Growers deserve autonomy to research, breed or experiment with seeds. The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act puts a stop to it, on two fronts: Restores the right protections for seeds. The bill makes clear that seeds and plants can only be protected under the Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) and the Plant Patent Act (PPA) — the two laws Congress actually built for this purpose, both of which safeguard farmers' and researchers' rights. This applies to pending and future patents, leaving existing patents untouched. Puts control back in farmers' hands. The bill bars corporate seed giants from using contracts to strip farmers of their right to save seed between growing seasons, or to research, breed, experiment with, or propagate the seeds and plants they've purchased. If signed into law, the Fair Seeds for Farmers Act would let farmers save seed the way they always have — lowering their costs, easing the price of groceries for every American family, and increasing fair competition for small seed companies. “When a handful of powerful corporations dominate the seed market, they can dictate which seeds get planted and the amount of independence growers have over the crops they produce, and the costs ultimately show up in the prices families pay at the grocery store,” said Senator Booker. “This legislation gives farmers the freedom to save seeds, restores competition to the marketplace, and helps lower one of the biggest costs of producing the food we all rely on.” “For decades, Big Ag has ripped off farmers and jacked up food prices for families,” said Senator Warren. “My bill will break these companies’ stranglehold on seeds to lower grocery bills for Americans and give our farmers more freedom over their crops.” “Rapid consolidation in the seed industry has had a direct and brutal impact on farms in Vermont and across the country. Big corporations’ abuse of the patent system is making farmers pay more to plant, and those higher costs are felt throughout the entire food system–the end result is families paying more at the grocery store,” said Senator Welch. “We’re taking on corporate power in the seed industry to keep family farms in business and lower costs for hardworking Americans.” The Fair Seeds for Farmers Act is endorsed by the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition, Farm Action Fund, American Economic Liberties Project, Open Markets Institute, RAFI-USA, National Family Farm Coalition, Environmental Working Group, Northeast Organic Farming Association Massachusetts, and Organic Seed Alliance. U.S. Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA-02) and Greg Casar (D-TX-35) introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives last week.",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-kim-introduce-legislation-to-rename-sussex-county-va-clinic-after-new-jersey-veteran-tony-gallopo,"Booker, Kim Introduce Legislation to Rename Sussex County VA Clinic After New Jersey Veteran Tony Gallopo",2026-07-24,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ) introduced legislation to rename the Sussex County VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Newton the “Anthony J. ‘Tony’ Gallopo Veterans Affairs Clinic.” Tony Gallopo was a U.S. Navy veteran who served as Vice Commander of the New Jersey Department of the American Legion and Commander of American Legion Post 86 in Newton. He played an instrumental role in the opening of the Newton clinic in 2017. Before enlisting in the U.S. Navy, he was active in the Saddle Brook Fire Department. Following his military service, Tony worked as a corrections officer and remained an active member of the Paramus Elks. U.S. Representatives Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Air Force veteran Herb Conaway (NJ-3) led the entire New Jersey Delegation in introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “New Jerseyans across our state have benefited from the lifelong service and heroism of Tony Gallopo,” said Senator Booker. “Tony continued to serve our country long after his military service ended by standing up for others and advocating for the care that our veterans deserve. He has been a valued partner to my office on issues impacting our veterans, and he was one of the leaders I had the honor of working with as we successfully fought to open a brand new VA Clinic in Sussex County. Tony’s leadership with the American Legion made a lasting difference for veterans not only in Sussex County but across New Jersey. This legislation will ensure that his legacy of service and dedication to his fellow veterans continues to be honored.” “Mr. Gallopo was a patriot who served his country in the Navy before fighting tirelessly for veterans in Sussex and Warren Counties until his last days,” said Senator Kim. “It is because of Tony’s commitment and advocacy that veterans in New Jersey’s northern counties now have this CBOC to receive the care they need - it is an honor to be able to work alongside Senator Booker to dedicate the Newton clinic in Tony’s name. May his service and fight never be forgotten.” Read the full text of legislation here. ###",1,2026-07-25T07:13:44Z,2026-07-25T07:15:09Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-leads-senate-colleagues-in-introducing-resolution-to-uplift-disability-community-and-honor-36-years-of-the-ada/,Senator Kim Leads Senate Colleagues in Introducing Resolution to Uplift Disability Community and Honor 36 Years of the ADA,2026-07-24,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a group of 29 Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution to honor the disability community, uplift the impact of the historic legislation, and call for continued commitment to increasing inclusivity and accessibility. The Resolution recognizes: “The importance of independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling to protect the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities.” In the resolution, the Senators outline the ADA’s long-success ensuring individuals with disabilities have the right to live, work, and participate as members of their communities and receive necessary care and support through access to Medicaid home and community-based services. The Senators condemn a June 18th Department of Justice opinion that has since threatened this hard-won progress toward full integration of individuals with disabilities into society and commit to working to stop attempts to dismantle the ADA. “The Americans with Disabilities Act represents the floor, not the ceiling, of efforts needed to dismantle barriers to full participation, equal opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities,” reads the Resolution. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). 36 years since the ADA was signed into law on July 26th, 1990: More than 8,400,000 individuals receive home and community-based services through Medicaid; individuals with disabilities are participating in the labor force at a rate of over 41 percent; on average, it is 3 times less expensive to serve someone through home and community-based services relative to an institution; and individuals returning to the community from institutions report improved life satisfaction, reduced unmet needs, and enhanced feelings of dignity. The resolution builds on Senator Kim’s continued work to uplift the disability community in New Jersey and across the country. As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, the Senator has pushed against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s cuts and actions at the agency that have threatened to leave the disability community without the resources or federal support they need. He continues to fight against the Trump administration’s assault on Medicaid on behalf of the roughly 200,000 New Jerseyans who rely on Medicaid for help with their disabilities and uplift the disability communities’ voice in Congress. ###",1,2026-07-25T07:13:44Z,2026-07-25T07:15:09Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senators-kim-schiff-lummis-barrasso-introduce-bill-to-protect-children-online-through-new-age-reporting-requirements/,"Senators Kim, Schiff, Lummis, Barrasso Introduce Bill to Protect Children Online through New Age Reporting Requirements",2026-07-24,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senators Andy Kim (D-NJ), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), and John Barrasso (R-WY) introduced the bipartisan Digital Age Assurance Act to protect children online by requiring operating system providers to collect and share users’ ages exclusively with app developers so they can block kids from accessing age-inappropriate content. The bill prioritizes protecting kids’ privacy with a number of provisions preventing kids’ data from being sold or transferred and banning targeted advertisement to children. “Like most parents, I have a lot of anxiety about keeping my two boys safe from dangers online as they grow up in a world full of ever-evolving technology. We owe it to parents and kids to put guardrails in place before more harm is done. The Digital Age Assurance Act puts kids’ data privacy first as we make sure congress and tech companies do their part to make online spaces safer for our kids,”said Senator Kim. “Parents deserve the peace of mind of knowing that when their children use the internet and digital applications, they are shielded from inappropriate and harmful content. And tech companies that host kids on their platforms must be held accountable for protecting young users,” said Senator Schiff. “That’s why I’m proud to work with Senators Kim, Lummis, and Barrasso on a comprehensive federal age-assurance framework that follows California’s important work in this space and ensures that the digital content kids see is age-appropriate and that their privacy is protected from invasive data collection. We have seen what happens when an entire generation of young people grow up without technological guardrails and are left vulnerable to cyberbullying, mental health threats, and more. California has been a leader in requiring online platforms to implement necessary safeguards, and it’s time Congress follow its lead in addressing this issue.” “In Wyoming, we believe protecting our kids and protecting our freedoms go hand in hand, and this bill proves you don’t have to sacrifice one for the other,” said Senator Lummis. “By keeping government IDs and facial scans out of the equation, the Digital Age Assurance Act gives parents real protection for their children while giving platforms a trusted, privacy-protective way to know when those protections should apply.” More kids are getting online, at earlier ages – with recent data finding that by age 2, 4 in 10 children have their own tablet; by age 4, more than half of children have their own tablet; and by age 8, nearly 1 in 4 children have their own cellphone. The Digital Age Assurance Act works to prioritize kids’ online safety while including substantive child privacy protection rules. Specifically, the bipartisan legislation would: Establish a device-level age assurance framework requiring operating system providers to collect a user’s age during operating system account creation or from existing account holders, Require operating systems to convert a user’s age into privacy-protective age brackets—under 13; ages 13–15; age 16; and age 17 or older—rather than sharing the user’s exact age or date of birth, Create a secure, real-time operating system signal that applications, browsers, application stores, and covered websites must request and use as the primary indicator of a user’s age, Permit signals to include age verification methods that minimize data disclosure, including the use of verifiable credentials and zero-knowledge proofs, Require children under age 17 to link their operating system account to a parent or legal guardian account and allow the user or linked parent or guardian to view the child’s age bracket data, Establish a process for resolving conflicting age information, including user notice, an opportunity to correct inaccurate information, and distribution of an updated age signal, Prohibit developers and covered website operators from requesting more age information than the standardized signal or sharing age bracket data with third parties, Impose data minimization requirements limiting the collection, retention, use, and combination of age-related information, including prohibitions on using age bracket data for profiling, engagement optimization, or targeted advertising, Prohibit the transfer of children’s personal data to data brokers, while preserving contextual advertising that does not rely on personal data or behavioral profiling, Establish enforcement by the Federal Trade Commission and State Attorneys General, including civil penalties of up to $2,500 per negligent violation and $7,500 per knowing or intentional violation, which may be multiplied by the number of children affected, Include competition safeguards preventing operating system providers and application stores from imposing more restrictive age-related requirements on third-party applications or using age bracket data to disadvantage competitors, and Create a national baseline that preempts only conflicting State requirements while preserving Federal or State laws that provide protections at least as strong as the Act. The Digital Age Assurance Act is endorsed by: American Psychological Association, Mission Kids Child Advocacy Center, The Arc of New Jersey, Digital Defenders United, and New Jersey Children’s Alliance. “Parents shouldn’t have to choose between letting their kids participate in the digital world and keeping them safe. That’s exactly the balance I set out to strike with California’s Digital Age Assurance Act — protecting children online without sacrificing their privacy,”said Assemblymember Buffy Wicks (D- CA). “I’m thrilled to see Congress build on California’s leadership with a bipartisan, privacy-first framework that empowers parents, protects children, and establishes a consistent national standard for age assurance. Parents deserve confidence. Kids deserve safety. Families should never have to sacrifice one for the other.” ###",1,2026-07-25T07:13:44Z,2026-07-25T07:15:09Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-leads-senate-colleagues-in-introducing-resolution-to-uplift-disability-community-and-honor-36-years-of-the-ada-2/,Senator Kim Leads Senate Colleagues in Introducing Resolution to Uplift Disability Community and Honor 36 Years of the ADA,2026-07-24,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ahead of the 36th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), member of the Senate Health, Education, Labor & Pensions (HELP) Committee, led a group of 29 Senate colleagues in introducing a resolution to honor the disability community, uplift the impact of the historic legislation, and call for continued commitment to increasing inclusivity and accessibility. The Resolution recognizes: “The importance of independent living and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities made possible by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and calling to protect the right of individuals with disabilities to live in their own homes and communities.” In the resolution, the Senators outline the ADA’s long-success ensuring individuals with disabilities have the right to live, work, and participate as members of their communities and receive necessary care and support through access to Medicaid home and community-based services. The Senators condemn a June 18th Department of Justice opinion that has since threatened this hard-won progress toward full integration of individuals with disabilities into society and commit to working to stop attempts to dismantle the ADA. “The Americans with Disabilities Act represents the floor, not the ceiling, of efforts needed to dismantle barriers to full participation, equal opportunity, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities,” reads the Resolution. The resolution is cosponsored by Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Angus King (I-ME), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jack Reed (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Christopher Van Hollen (D-MD), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), John Fetterman (D-PA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Ed Markey (D-MA), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Chris Murphy (D-CT), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI). 36 years since the ADA was signed into law on July 26th, 1990: More than 8,400,000 individuals receive home and community-based services through Medicaid; individuals with disabilities are participating in the labor force at a rate of over 41 percent; on average, it is 3 times less expensive to serve someone through home and community-based services relative to an institution; and individuals returning to the community from institutions report improved life satisfaction, reduced unmet needs, and enhanced feelings of dignity. The resolution builds on Senator Kim’s continued work to uplift the disability community in New Jersey and across the country. As a member of the Senate HELP Committee, the Senator has pushed against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s cuts and actions at the agency that have threatened to leave the disability community without the resources or federal support they need. He continues to fight against the Trump administration’s assault on Medicaid on behalf of the roughly 200,000 New Jerseyans who rely on Medicaid for help with their disabilities and uplift the disability communities’ voice in Congress. ###",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-budd-reintroduce-bipartisan-legislation-to-bring-dental-care-to-millions-of-americans,"Booker, Budd Reintroduce Bipartisan Legislation to Bring Dental Care to Millions of Americans",2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ted Budd (R-NC) reintroduced the Action for Dental Health Act, bipartisan legislation to close the gap in dental care access for communities across the nation facing severe provider shortages. The bill reauthorizes the Health Resources and Services Administration's (HRSA) grant funding to address dental workforce needs at $15 million annually for fiscal years 2027 through 2031, helping states recruit, train, and retain dental providers where they are needed most. “Oral health is inseparable from our overall health, but for too many Americans, where they live limits their access to routine dental care because of workforce shortages,” said Senator Booker. “By passing this bipartisan legislation, we can strengthen the dental workforce, help states meet the needs of underserved communities, and ensure more Americans receive the preventive care they need and deserve.” The need is stark: 63 million Americans live in areas without access to dental care, and the country needs 10,700 more dental practitioners just to meet current demand. In 2024, only 66 percent of adults saw a dentist at all–leaving millions to face preventable pain, infection, and costs that routing care could have stopped. “Americans deserve access to reliable dental care, but with 63 million Americans living in areas impacted by industry workforce shortages, closing the oral healthcare provider gap is needed to put patients first. I am proud to join my colleague, Senator Booker, in introducing this bipartisan legislation to help ensure more Americans can get the care they need,” said Senator Budd. “Everyone deserves access to oral health care. Reauthorizing Action for Dental Health will maintain and expand proven programs that connect underserved communities with vital dental services they need to improve their health now and for years to come. We thank Senators Booker and Budd for championing this important legislation and helping move us closer to a future where more Americans can access the critical oral health care they need,” said ADA President Richard Rosato, D.M.D. The Action for Dental Health Act is endorsed by the American Dental Association. Read a one-pager on the bill here.",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-leads-colleagues-in-urging-surface-transportation-board-to-conduct-rigorous-review-of-proposed-185-billion-union-pacific-norfolk-southern-merger,Booker Leads Colleagues in Urging Surface Transportation Board to Conduct Rigorous Review of Proposed $185 Billion Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern Merger,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), joined by a group of 22 Senate colleagues, sent a letter to the Surface Transportation Board (STB) urging the agency to conduct a thorough and independent review of Union Pacific Railroad’s proposed $185 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern Railway, warning that the merger could significantly affect workers, consumers, competition, and the nation’s freight rail system. The proposed transaction would combine two of the nation’s four largest freight railroads, creating the first transcontinental railroad and the largest railroad company in American history. “As the Surface Transportation Board (STB) considers the proposed merger between Union Pacific Railroad (UP) and Norfolk Southern Railway (NS), we write to express serious concern about the transaction and urge you to thoroughly investigate the potential impacts it would have on competition, workers, and safety in an increasingly consolidated rail industry. If approved, the unprecedented merger would not only create the first transcontinental railroad but it would significantly consolidate our nation’s transportation system, slashing rail jobs across the country, raising prices for customers and consumers, and creating potential supply chain bottlenecks and greater market instability,” wrote the senators. “The proposed UP-NS merger would affect upwards of 50,000 employees directly, though workers on all railroads within the United States will be impacted either directly or indirectly. While under federal law rail workers are provided standard ‘New York Dock’ labor protections, which provide job security after a merger, recent trends in the rail industry have created risks to these workers’ job protections and collective bargaining agreements under a standard merger agreement,” wrote the senators. “We also ask the STB to scrutinize any workforce reductions undertaken by UP or NS before consummation of the transaction, as such actions would undermine any commitment to maintain the workforce afterward,” continued the senators. “In addition to threatening job protections and job stability for rail workers, the proposed merger poses substantial risks for shippers themselves as it will further concentrate market power in an industry that already has limited competitive options. Combining UP and NS would create a single rail handling nearly half of the nation’s rail freight. This significantly increases the likelihood of higher transportation rates and reduces service alternatives for farmers and businesses that depend on reliable, cost-effective rail service,” continued the senators. The senators are urging the STB to specifically: Conduct a thorough investigation of whether the proposed Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern transaction meets the STB’s requirements that a combination will enhance competition. Solicit testimony and evidence regarding the proposed transaction’s impact on rail customers and consumers of goods that are shipped by rail. Conduct a rigorous assessment of the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern merger’s impacts on rail safety, staffing levels, workforce quality of life, system performance, and competition. Solicit testimony and evidence regarding past workplace commitments made by UP and NS, including whether such assurances were measurable, enforceable, and ultimately realized. Evaluate the broader implications of further consolidation in the industry, including effects on national employment levels, job displacement, and the resilience of the freight rail network. “Ultimately, the proposed transaction’s likely harms to competition, workers, safety, customers and consumers indicate that the parties are unlikely to demonstrate that this merger would enhance competition and satisfy the public interest standard,” concluded the senators. Senator Booker was joined by Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT),Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), and Peter Welch (D-VT).",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-leads-congressional-democrats-in-renewed-push-to-guarantee-a-nationwide-right-to-ivf-and-lower-costs-for-families,Booker Leads Congressional Democrats in Renewed Push to Guarantee a Nationwide Right to IVF and Lower Costs for Families,2026-07-23,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), and Patty Murray (D-WA) reintroduced the Right to IVF Act, a sweeping legislative package to tear down the barriers that keep millions of hopeful parents from building their families through in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and other assisted reproductive technology (ART). This pro-family legislation would guarantee a nationwide right to access IVF, slash the cost of treatment, expand IVF coverage for military families, and require every employer-sponsored insurance plan in the country to cover it. “No one chooses infertility,” said Senator Booker. “It’s a medical condition that leaves too many families and individuals feeling alone long before they ever seek treatment. When people turn to IVF, they’re choosing hope. They’re choosing the chance to build the family they’ve always dreamed of. But that hope comes with a price tag that is simply out of reach for far too many. The medications, procedures, and cycles can cost tens of thousands of dollars. Families and individuals already carrying the emotional weight of infertility are then hit with financial barriers that no one should have to face trying to bring a child into this world. We have to change that. We have to remove those barriers and make IVF affordable and accessible to everyone who needs it. Because the ability to build a family should not be reserved for the wealthy or the lucky, it should be within reach for us all.” “Almost two years after promising free IVF for all Americans if he were elected, Donald Trump has still failed to deliver,” said Senator Duckworth. “Trump and Republicans’ ‘support’ for IVF is nothing but lip service. They want us to have more babies, yet they’ll do nothing to actually help make it easier for the millions who struggle with infertility to start and grow their families. The Right to IVF Act would immediately make IVF treatment more affordable for millions of hopeful parents across the country. From middle class families, to our brave servicemembers and Veterans, to federal employees and more—every American deserves the right to access the treatment and tools they need to build the family of their dreams without burning through their savings. If Republicans really support IVF, then let’s get this done. No more delays.” “For millions of American families, IVF isn’t politics—it’s hope,” said Leader Schumer. “Donald Trump ran on a promise that he would make IVF free, and yet he has done nothing but attack women’s reproductive rights and undermine access to fertility care—another lie in his long list of broken promises to American families. Our Right to IVF Act is essential to putting a deeply personal health care decision back in the hands of American families. While Donald Trump and Republicans erect barriers between hopeful parents and IVF, Democrats will never stop fighting to protect access so that every family can build the future they dream of.” “Republicans are not pro-family and they won’t lift a finger to help families get IVF—the Texas Republican Party just recently made banning IVF a part of their official party platform,” said Senator Murray. “I have fought for a long time to make sure at least servicemembers and veterans, especially wounded warriors, can get the IVF care they need to build a family. But the reality is that we have a Republican Speaker of the House who believes an embryo should have the same rights as an adult woman with children who count on her. America’s pro-IVF majority should wake up to the fact that Trump could not care less about IVF—he broke that promise and he is happy to let Republicans attack IVF and all of our reproductive rights. Meanwhile, Democrats are fighting to make sure all Americans can access and afford health care to build their families.” U.S. Representatives Lori Trahan (D-MA-03), James Walkinshaw (D-VA-11), Rick Larsen (D-WA-02), Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03) and Laura Gillen (D-NY-04) are introducing companion legislation in the House of Representatives. “Like so many people in our country facing fertility challenges, my husband and I turned to IVF as our last hope to have kids,” said Representative Trahan. “After years of appointments, injections, and setbacks, and thanks to our remarkable physicians, we have two beautiful daughters. No one should lose the chance to start or grow a family because of their zip code. The Right to IVF Act guarantees the right to family-creating fertility care in every state and puts it within reach for the millions of families who need it.” “Deciding when and how to build a family is a deeply personal choice that belongs to families, not politicians,” said Representative Walkinshaw. “For millions struggling with infertility, IVF offers hope and a path to parenthood. I’m especially proud the Right to IVF Act includes my legislation requiring IVF coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, ensuring the federal government leads by example. I’m honored to join Senator Duckworth, Congresswoman Trahan, and this coalition to protect IVF nationwide and expand access for servicemembers, veterans, federal employees, and working families.” “For many Americans, fertility treatments like IVF are essential to start families of their own,” said Representative Larsen. “This comprehensive legislation will guarantee access and expand coverage for IVF and other fertility services. The legislation also includes my bill with Senator Murray, the Veteran Families Health Services Act, to ensure fertility treatments are included in servicemembers’ and veterans’ health benefits. I will keep working with my colleagues in the House and the Senate to make sure that women and men in uniform and working families do not have to sacrifice their dreams of having a family.” “There are few experiences as hard as wanting to start a family and not being able to,” said Representative DeLauro. “That is why I am fighting to ensure Americans have access to IVF treatments when they want to start one. I am proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Right to IVF Act – because building a family in the United States should never be difficult.” “I am proud to help lead this critical bill ensuring millions of Americans can access IVF to build their families, no matter where they live,” said Representative Gillen. “Families struggling to conceive go through indescribable heartbreak and stress. The last thing they should worry about is legal challenges to IVF delaying or outright halting procedures. Infertility is not a partisan issue. I will continue to work across the aisle in Congress to protect access to IVF and adjacent reproductive technologies that have helped countless individuals experience the joy of parenthood.” Last Congress, Senate Republicans shamefully blocked the Right to IVF Act — the fourth time Senate Republicans have blocked legislation to protect nationwide access to IVF — exposing just how hollow their claims to support IVF really are for the millions of Americans who rely on it to build their families. While Senate Democrats keep fighting to protect IVF and reproductive freedom, Senate Republicans keep making it abundantly clear, through their anti-choice extremism and record Medicaid cuts, that they would rather gut basic health care for millions of Americans than make it easier for their own constituents to start and grow a family. This legislative package builds on Booker's ongoing efforts to protect and strengthen access to IVF, including the Access to Infertility Treatment and Care Act, which would make fertility care — including IVF — more affordable by requiring employer-sponsored and public insurance plans to cover fertility treatments. It would also set a baseline standard of high-quality fertility coverage across private health insurance plans while shielding Americans from excessive out-of-pocket costs. In addition to Booker, Duckworth, Murray, and Schumer, the legislation is cosponsored by the entire U.S. Senate Democratic Caucus. The Right to IVF Act is supported by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), RESOLVE: The National Infertility and Family Building Association, Center for Reproductive Rights (CRR), Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), National Women’s Law Center (NWLC), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), GLBTQ Legal Advocates and Defenders (GLAD Law), Academy of Adoption & Assisted Reproduction Attorneys, Stand with IVF, AllPaths Family Building, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Atheists, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technology, Society for Reproductive Endocrinology & Infertility, Society of Reproductive Biologists & Technologists, Society for Reproductive Surgeons, California LGBTQ Health and Human Services Network, Endocrine Society, Equality California, Families USA, GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ+ Equality, Guttmacher Institute, Hadassah, Human Rights Campaign, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, Indivisible, Justice + Joy National Collaborative, Legal Momentum, Military Family Building Coalition, MomsRising, National Asian Pacific American Women’s Forum, National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women’s Health, National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Council on Jewish Women, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, National Partnership for Women and Families, National Women’s Political Caucus, Physicians for Reproductive Health, Reproductive Freedom for All, Service Women’s Action Network, Silver State Equality, What to Expect Project and Women’s March.",1,2026-07-24T07:30:11Z,2026-07-24T07:31:13Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-led-spotlight-forum-exposes-todd-blanche-is-unfit-to-lead-department-of-justice-and-should-be-fired,Booker-Led Spotlight Forum Exposes Todd Blanche is Unfit to Lead Department of Justice and Should be Fired,2026-07-22,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) convened a spotlight forum with fellow Senate Judiciary Committee (SJC) Democrats to lay out the case against Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, arguing that he is unfit to lead the Department of Justice and should not be confirmed to the position permanently. The forum examined how Blanche's tenure has undermined the rule of law, failed Jeffrey Epstein's survivors, and hollowed out the Department's independence — installing an Acting Attorney General who has put the President's interests ahead of his constitutional oath. Joining Booker were SJC’s Ranking Member, Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Senators Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), and Adam Schiff (D-CA). The senators heard from four witnesses: Perry A. Carbone, former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, former Chief of the White Plains Division, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey. He served as Co-Chief of the White Plains Division alongside Todd Blanche. Liz Stein, human trafficking survivor, advocate, and one of the most prominent public voices among survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, who recently met with Blanche. Claire Finkelstein, Algernon Biddle Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and founder and faculty director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL), a nonpartisan interdisciplinary institute affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. Peter Carr, Director of Communications at Justice Connection; former Public Information Officer and Acting Director of Public Affairs at the Department of Justice; and spokesman for Special Counsels Jack Smith and Robert Mueller. ""Todd Blanche is not fit to serve as the nation's chief law enforcement officer,"" said Senator Booker. ""He mishandled Epstein survivor records, exposing survivors to further trauma. He turned the Justice Department into a shield for President Trump and a sword against his enemies. And he ran a slush fund so unlawful that even my Republican colleagues are begging him to shut it down. An Attorney General who has to be talked out of misconduct he's already committed doesn't deserve a promotion — he deserves to be fired."" “Todd Blanche only agreed to meet the Epstein survivors after his nomination was jeopardized, and even then, he deflected blame for the botched release of the Epstein files and failed to present a plan to protect victims while pursuing perpetrators,” said Ranking Member Durbin. “Even beyond the Epstein files cover-up, he has enabled the weaponization of DOJ, eroding public confidence in the institution. Todd Blanche is a danger to the Constitution and rule of law.” “The MAGA Department of Justice is a disgrace. More than 10,000 lawyers have fled or been forced out, often after being asked to carry out illegal or unethical orders. Todd Blanche is at the center of the rot. If he becomes the next attorney general, Blanche — once Trump’s personal criminal defense attorney — will wield the Department of Justice against the president’s personal and political enemies, at the expense of the American people,” said Senator Whitehouse. “From the botched release of the Epstein files to the attacks on Donald Trump’s perceived political enemies, the Department of Justice under Todd Blanche has been transformed into the Department of Corruption and Retribution,” said Senator Hirono. “Todd Blanche has made it abundantly clear that his client is Donald Trump—not the American people. I will continue urging my colleagues to vote against his nomination.” “Todd Blanche made it perfectly clear in his nomination hearing and his track record at the Department of Justice that his loyalty lies with President Trump. The president’s political and financial interests will come before the American people. Todd Blanche’s laundry list of ethical violations, corrupt dealings, and penchant for political prosecutions is a nightmare scenario for the rule of law in America,” said Senator Welch. “I urge all of my colleagues to stand steadfast in opposing his nomination to serve as Attorney General.” “Todd Blanche has allowed the President to abuse the Department of Justice to go after his political enemies with absurd ‘seashells’ cases, engaged in the most blatant self-dealing by representing both Trump and his government in his scam IRS tax immunity deal, and blessed a corrupt slush fund for cop beaters. This is hardly the stuff of Attorney Generals. Today’s hearing provided other critical voices to explain why the Senate must vigorously oppose his confirmation,” said Senator Schiff. “The Department of Justice cannot fulfill its mission unless the American people believe its decisions are made independently guided by the facts and the law, not by politics or personal loyalty,” said Perry Carbone, former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Chief of the White Plains Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey. “Without that independence, public confidence in the rule of law begins to erode.” “After refusing to acknowledge Epstein survivors for nine months, Todd Blanche finally met with us in what was clearly a check-the-box exercise intended to secure the vote of Sen. Thom Tillis,” said Liz Stein, Epstein survivor. “I left that meeting with even greater concerns about Todd Blanche’s fitness to lead the Justice Department. He repeatedly interrupted survivors, refused to take responsibility for the department’s mishandling of the Epstein files and offered no credible plan to investigate anyone beyond Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Survivors deserve an attorney general who will pursue accountability wherever the evidence leads, not one who treats us as a political obstacle. Sens. Tillis and Cornyn — and every member of the Senate — should vote no on Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general.” ""Todd Blanche’s legacy to date suggests he is unfit to serve the country as attorney general. His undivided loyalty to a self-serving president, whose interests he defends above all else, have created professional conflicts that can only be addressed through a debilitating commitment to extensive recusal. As attorney general, Mr. Blanche would have to choose between abandoning his professional integrity and rendering himself ineffectual by his own extensive need to recuse. Dishonest or ineffectual — either way Mr. Blanche is not an appropriate choice for attorney general,"" said Claire Finkelstein, Algernon Biddle Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and founder and faculty director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL), a nonpartisan interdisciplinary institute affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. “Firings under Todd Blanche's leadership send an unmistakable message: agents, analysts, lawyers, and even spokespeople can be fired simply because of their assigned cases,” said Peter Carr, Director of Communications, Justice Connection; former Public Information Officer and Acting Director of Public Affairs for the Department of Justice, and spokesman for Special Counsels Jack Smith and Robert Mueller.“Agents or prosecutors who think they’ll be fired for their cases are less likely to accept difficult assignments. And they might start looking more at the long-term consequences of an investigation for their careers, rather than at the facts and the law. That's not the justice we should want for our country.” Today’s forum builds on Senator Booker’s ongoing oversight of the Department of Justice and his repeated efforts to obtain information from Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche regarding the Department’s handling of the Epstein files, its adherence to ethical obligations, and actions that threaten the Department’s independence. Most of those requests have been ignored. In recent months, Senator Booker has sent multiple oversight letters, pressed Department officials for answers, and introduced legislation aimed at strengthening accountability and restoring public trust in the Justice Department. WATCH A RECORDING OF THE FORUM HERE. SEE ALSO:",1,2026-07-23T07:31:02Z,2026-07-23T07:32:26Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/media-advisory-for-wednesday-july-22-2026-at-230pm-et,"***MEDIA ADVISORY FOR WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2026 AT 2:30PM ET***",2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Wednesday, July 22, at 2:30 PM ET, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) will convene a spotlight forum with Senate Judiciary Committee members to examine the Department of Justice’s abandonment of the rule of law, its failure to deliver justice for Epstein survivors, and the erosion of institutional independence under an Acting Attorney General who answers to the President rather than the Constitution. The forum will feature testimony from former senior department officials, human trafficking and survivors’ rights experts, and legal experts. WHO: U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) U.S. Senator Mazie Hirono (D-HI) U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-VT) U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) WITNESSES: Perry A. Carbone, former Chief of the Criminal Division in the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Chief of the White Plains Division, and Assistant U.S. Attorney in the District of New Jersey. Served as Co-Chief in White Plains with Todd Blanche. Liz Stein, human trafficking survivor, advocate, and one of the most prominent public voices among survivors of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell who recently met with Blanche. Claire Finkelstein, Algernon Biddle Professor of Law and Professor of Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania Carey Law School, and the founder and faculty director of the Center for Ethics and the Rule of Law (CERL), a nonpartisan interdisciplinary institute affiliated with Penn Law. Peter Carr, Director of Communications, Justice Connection; former Public Information Officer and Acting Director of Public Affairs for the Department of Justice, and spokesman for Special Counsels Jack Smith and Robert Mueller. WHEN: Wednesday, July 22, 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM ET WHERE: United States Senate Dirksen Senate Office Building Room G-50 Livestream link available here. Press Gaggle to Follow the Forum",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-introduces-landmark-medikids-legislation-to-guarantee-healthcare-for-all-children/,Senator Kim Introduces Landmark “MediKids” Legislation to Guarantee Healthcare for All Children,2026-07-21,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ), introduced MediKids, monumental legislation guaranteeing healthcare to all children in America from birth to age 26. “As parents – we promise to do all we can to look after the health and safety of our children. Nothing is more essential than caring for our kids – but as a country, we are failing to uphold that same promise,” Senator Kim said. “Millions of children are falling through the cracks of our healthcare system, and we are the only ones who can stand up and help. I built MediKids to be a step we can take right now to guarantee every single child in the United States the care they need, when they need it. No kid should go without care in our country.” WATCH AND SHARE (Also on: Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Threads, Substack, and Bluesky) 4.4 million children in America do not have healthcare coverage and 1 in 3 kids is underinsured – meaning about 23 million kids’ healthcare coverage is unable to meet their needs. To provide free, high-quality insurance coverage to every kid, MediKids would automatically enroll every child and young adult in America in Medicaid’s robust Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit, which provides comprehensive and preventive health care services for children who are enrolled in Medicaid. Specifically, this legislation would: · Automatically enroll every child in MediKids at birth, · Provide continuous eligibility for children enrolled in MediKids until age 26, regardless of income, immigration status, or health condition; and · Cover 100% of the federal medical assistance percentage (FMAP) for this population. Find more information on MediKids here and read the full bill text of the MediKids Act here. MediKids is co-sponsored by Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) and endorsed by: First Focus Campaign for Children, What To Expect Project, American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists, (ACOG), ZERO TO THREE, Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric, and Neonatal Nurses (AWHONN), Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs (AMCHP), National Association of School Nurses, National Education Association (NEA), Families USA, MomsRising, NAACP NJ, Save Our Schools, New Jersey Citizen Action, SPAN Parent Advocacy Network, The Arc of NJ, The New Jersey Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, and CASA of New Jersey. “At a time when the uninsured rates for children is rising and children face unacceptably high rates of infant and child mortality, a growing mental health crisis, and declining immunization rates, Senator Andy Kim’s MediKids bill puts children back on the path toward ensuring all children have health coverage and improved access to care. No child in this country should go without health care simply because of what their parents earn, their zip code, or whether they can navigate a complex and fragmented health care system. In an effort to improve the health, development, and well-being of children, MediKids represents the kind of ambitious, child-centered thinking that the moment demands for our children and grandchildren,” said Bruce Lesley, President of FirstFocus Campaign for Children. “Medicaid is first and foremost a children’s program that was created with their health needs in mind, helping families receive everything from milestone checkups, to sick care, to immunizations. Pediatricians see first-hand how Medicaid works for the children and families who rely on it – support that should be available to all children, regardless of where they live or where their parents work, and MediKids would do just that. The American Academy of Pediatrics applauds Senator Kim for his leadership on this bill and urges Congress to advance it,” said Andrew D. Racine, MD, PhD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics. ###",1,2026-07-22T07:34:13Z,2026-07-22T07:35:16Z https://www.kim.senate.gov/press_release/senator-kim-hears-from-veterans-visits-coast-guard-and-small-businesses-in-tour-of-cape-may-county/,"Senator Kim Hears from Veterans, Visits Coast Guard and Small Businesses in Tour of Cape May County",2026-07-20,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Andy Kim,K000394,www.kim.senate.gov,kim,https://www.kim.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases,scraper,"CAPE MAY COUNTY, NJ – This weekend, Senator Kim (D-NJ) traveled down the shore to Cape May. He heard from small business owners and veterans, discussed upgrading historic Cape May infrastructure and museums, and toured the Cape May Coast Guard Training Center, the 5th largest Coast Guard base in the country and the basic training site of all its enlisted Guardsmen. “Our shore has so much to offer, from local businesses serving great food, to beaches and historic sites, to our Coast Guard Training Center,” said Senator Andy Kim. “From Avalon to Cape May, this visit highlighted why we must invest in every corner of the state and support those who make these shore communities run year-round.” Senator Kim started his morning with a special edition of his Diner Talk series, where he spoke with veterans on healthcare, the reality of their daily life as veterans living in Cape May, and the federal government support they need and deserve. He then traveled to Avalon to speak with small business owners from Uncle Bill’s Pancake House, Ferguson Dechert Real Estate, and Avalon Coffee and Bagel. Joined by Mayor John McCorristin, Avalon Borough Council President, Greg “Chet” Johnson, and Avalon Borough’s Business Administrator Scott Wahl, Senator Kim heard about the impacts of tariffs and inflation on these businesses and the importance of the tourist season for their year-round success. After, Senator Kim toured the U.S. Coast Guard Training Center (CGTC), a pillar of the Cape May community, and the first stop for all recruits looking to join the Coast Guard. Throughout the tour, Senator Kim spoke with leadership about how they will utilize the $400 million in funding the CGTC recently received and heard from recruits and Cadets about their experience and commitment to serving this country. He then hopped on a trolley with Cape May Museum, Arts, and Culture (Cape May MAC) staff to visit key cultural and historic sites including the Cape May Light House, a guiding beacon along the East Coast which Senator Kim has requested $500,000 for needed upgrades and repairs in Congressionally Directed Spending (CDS) for the upcoming year. During the trolley ride, they discussed the importance of maintaining vital infrastructure and preserving historical sites. “The importance of our government officials on all levels working together and recognizing the cultural and economic importance of Cape May – specifically the significant way that Cape May MAC has contributed to that for 56 years – is always a welcomed sign,” said Jody Alessandrine, Executive Director, Cape May MAC. “Cape May consistently attracts visitors year-round, enabling there to be a 12-month economy. That is not only because we’re our nation’s first seaside resort and the only National Historic Landmark City, but because, collectively, we’ve figured out how to make government work for the good of both residents and visitors.” Senator Kim finished his day by visiting the Harriet Tubman Museum to see their 250th Anniversary programming, which was made possible in-part by $1 million in funding that Senator Kim secured for them in 2026’s federal funding requests. ###",1,2026-07-21T07:32:02Z,2026-07-21T07:33:33Z https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press/booker-banks-move-to-modernize-outdated-retirement-plan-filing-rules,"Booker, Banks Move to Modernize Outdated Retirement Plan Filing Rules",2026-07-20,2026,2026-07,Democrat,Senate,NJ,Cory A. Booker,B001288,www.booker.senate.gov,booker,https://www.booker.senate.gov/news/press,scraper,"WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Jim Banks (R-IN) introduced the Form 5500 Filing Simplification Act, bipartisan legislation to cut red tape for employers who offer retirement plans to their workers. Every year, retirement plans must file a Form 5500 with the federal government detailing their operations, finances, and compliance. But overlapping deadlines and outdated paperwork requirements force employers — especially small businesses without in-house benefits staff — to file the same information twice and chase down wet-ink signatures. The Form 5500 Filing Simplification Act fixes both problems. It establishes a single, uniform filing deadline to eliminate duplicative filings, and it modernizes the process by permitting electronic signatures on required forms and reports — all while preserving the oversight and transparency that protect workers' retirement savings. “Our commonsense bill simplifies and modernizes the reporting process for employer sponsored retirement plans reducing paperwork and eliminating outdated or unnecessary administrative hurdles. By cutting red tape, these changes would reduce the compliance burdens on small and mid-size businesses offering retirement plans to their hardworking employees, ”said Senator Booker. “Employers shouldn’t have to jump through unnecessary bureaucratic hoops just to comply with federal employee plan reporting requirements. This bipartisan bill cuts red tape, simplifies the filing process, and lets businesses spend more time serving their employees,” said Senator Banks. Key Provisions of the Form 5500 Filing Simplification Act: One deadline, set in statute. Establishes a single, uniform filing deadline for Form 5500 annual reports — replacing the current patchwork that varies by plan type. No more extension paperwork. Eliminates the need for most plan sponsors to file a separate IRS Form 5558 extension request. Electronic signatures. Permits Form 5500 filings and related reports to be signed electronically, ending the wet-ink requirement. Agency modernization. Directs the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Labor, and the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation to update filing requirements and conform their regulations. No loss of accountability. Maintains all existing oversight and transparency requirements for employee benefit plans. The legislation is endorsed by the American Retirement Association, the ERISA Industry Committee, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the CHRO Association, and the American Benefits Council.",1,2026-07-28T07:37:32Z,2026-07-28T07:38:50Z