Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Roger Wicker (R-MS) today introduced the Providing Research and Estimates of Changes in Precipitation Act, or PRECIP Act, legislation that would update out-of-date precipitation data in the U.S. by providing the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with funding and guidance to conduct future research. The PRECIP Act would also direct NOAA to studythe ongoing changes in precipitation that will help... Read More

WASHINGTON – Cory Booker (D-N.J.), U.S. Senators Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Rob Portman (R-Ohio), and Todd Young (R-Ind.), all members of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, released the following statement on Wednesday’s meeting between the foreign ministers of Israel and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the U.S. Department of State. The senators are the lead sponsors of S. 1061, the Israel Relations Normalization Act of 2021, which has 69 sponsors/cosponsors.“Today, we witnessed... Read More

Washington, DC - United States Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland urging the Department of Justice (DOJ) to decriminalize cannabis by removing the drug from the Federal controlled substances list. Under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA), the Attorney General can remove a substance from the CSA’s list, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS), based on the finding that it does not have... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Rand Paul (R-KY) introduced the FDA Modernization Act to end animal testing mandates. This legislation would end an outdated FDA mandate that experimental drugs must be tested on animals before they are used on humans in clinical trials. The bill would not ban animal testing outright, but would allow the option for drug sponsors to use alternative methods where they are suitable.This legislation is currently co-sponsored by U.S.... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C - U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today met with leaders of the New Jersey Haitian community and Haitian elected officials to discuss issues affecting the Haitian diaspora in the state and the treatment of Haitian immigrants at the Southern Border. The meeting occurred a week after images showed Border Patrol agents on horseback violently interdictingmigrants attempting to cross the Rio Grande River, and as nearly 2,000 Haitian immigrants, including more than 170... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), along with 19 other Senators and Representatives, urged the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to work with independent family farmers and ranchers to help address the food shortages currently impacting schools, and consequently, school meals, across the country. Due to supply chain disruptions within large multinational food corporations, many schools throughout the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Jon Ossoff (D-GA), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Alex Padilla (D-CA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) today led a group of 25 Senators to urge the inclusion of a direct pay option for residential renewable energy property tax credits in Section 25D of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (25D). In a letter, the Senators detailed how a direct pay option would help low- and moderate-income (LMI) households install solar energy systems and... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded the passage of the CROWN Act out of the House Judiciary Committee.“No one should be harassed, punished, or fired for the beautiful hairstyles that are true to themselves and their cultural heritage, yet Black people – especially Black women – face unjust harassment because of their natural and protective hairstyles, including denial of employment opportunities and exclusion... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (both D-NJ) raised concerns to the Federal Aviation Administration over the agency’s proposed changes to the structure of the William J. Hughes Technical Center located in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey. The changes would restructure the current research, development, testing, and evaluation operations of the facility, decentralizing the center’s operations, threatening the effectiveness and autonomy of the center and... Read More

Washington, DC – Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH), Rand Paul (R-KY), Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Patrick Leahy (D-VT), the bipartisan Senate sponsors of the EQUAL Act, issued the following statement:“Today, House Republicans and Democrats joined together in passing the EQUAL Act, legislation that will once and for all eliminate the unjust federal crack and powder cocaine sentencing disparity. Enjoying broad support from faith groups, civil rights... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), and Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) led a group of colleagues in urging the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) to improve equity and access to high-quality K-12 data science education. The Senators also asked how Congress can better support the development and deployment of data science curriculum to reach more communities and open doors to STEM careers.Increasing access... Read More

WASHINGTON, Sept. 22 — Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Mazie K. Hirono (D-Hawaii), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) issued the following statement on upcoming votes regarding infrastructure and reconciliation legislation:“In the coming weeks, Congress has the opportunity to pass the most consequential... Read More

Washington, DC -- Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement:“America has a serious problem when it comes to discriminatory policing and excessive and deadly force used against communities of color. We can’t properly honor the lives of the victims of this violence if we don’t take meaningful steps to prevent future violence and deaths from occurring and make our communities safer.“We made it clear from the beginning of our negotiations that a bill must ensure true... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. —Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-NJ) urged the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end the out-of-state transfer of people detained in New Jersey, and to release detainees from custody who do not fall under the current enforcement prioritization scheme. The letter comes on the heels of legislation recently passed and signed into law by New Jersey legislators and Governor Phil Murphy prohibiting state, local, and private entities from... Read More

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, reintroduced the Do No Harm Act, legislation to restore the Religious Freedom Restoration Act’s (RFRA) original intent and prohibit individuals and businesses from using religion to deny others’ civil rights. Representative Bobby Scott (D-VA) introduced this legislation earlier this year in the U.S. House. In response to the 1990 Supreme Court case, Employment Division v. Smith, which excused... Read More

Washington D.C. -- Senator Booker (D-NJ) joined the entire New Jersey bicameral congressional delegation in a letter urging Congressional Appropriations Committees to supply emergency funding for the state of New Jersey in wake of the destruction caused by Tropical Storm Ida. Emergency supplemental appropriations would immediately help the thousands of New Jerseyans who suffered catastrophic damage to their homes and who will undoubtedly need more assistance in the long-term.“New Jersey faces a... Read More

Newark, N.J. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-N.J.) today applauded President Biden and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for adding Essex, Hudson, Mercer and Union counties to the Major Disaster Declaration that was first issued to several counties on Sunday. The declaration will make these counties eligible for more federal resources as areas recover from damage caused by Tropical Storm Ida.The storm caused historic flash flooding, tornadoes and record... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, John Thune (R-S.D.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), and Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) today announced the American Beef Labeling Act, legislation that would reinstate mandatory country of origin labeling (MCOOL) for beef. This legislation, which will be formally introduced next week, would require the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, to... Read More

Newark, NJ – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) met with President Joe Biden, Governor Phil Murphy, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell, and local and state officials in Hillsborough, New Jersey, to discuss and survey damage following historic rain and flooding caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida. During a briefing hosted by local officials in Hillsborough, New Jersey, Booker joined the President and called for the quick completion of preliminary damage assessments by FEMA in New Jersey... Read More

Newark, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) today applauded the Emergency Declaration issued to New Jersey for the damage inflicted on the state by Tropical Storm Ida. The storm caused historic flash flooding, tornadoes and record rainfall, and resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 23 New Jerseyans.The senators last night led the entire congressional delegation in a letter urging President Biden to approve Governor Phil Murphy’s request for a Major Disaster... Read More