Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today blasted the Trump Administration’s immigration policy that limits the number of people allowed to apply for asylum, known as metering, in light of recent fatalities near the Southern Border.    “This administration has used its power to create a humanitarian crisis while stripping migrants of their basic dignity,” Booker wrote, in a letter to Acting DHS Secretary Kevin McAleenan. “Seeking asylum in this country is a legal right, not a tool... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, today issued the below statement following his vote in favor of an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would prohibit funds from being used for military operations against Iran without explicit authorization from Congress: “The Trump Administration has chaotically and irresponsibly escalated tensions with Iran by marching our country to the brink of an... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today urged the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to more closely examine how racial disparities affect the student debt crisis. The letter comes as Congress considers student loan legislation as part of the reauthorization of the Higher Education Act.     In a letter to John C. Williams, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, Senator Booker asked that the Bank assess the effects of racial disparities on the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today introduced the Remove Marijuana from Deportable Offenses Act, which would no longer make marijuana use, possession, and distribution grounds for inadmissibility or deportation under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The bill would end efforts by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to use minor drug offences—including possession of as little as 30 grams of marijuana—to target immigrants for deportation.   According to a Human... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today called on Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-SC) to hold an oversight hearing on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), in the wake of “egregious and appalling abuses” revealed in recent news reports.   “I am writing to you to request that the Senate Judiciary Committee hold an oversight hearing over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to provide Committee members... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Kamala Harris (D-CA), along with Representative Gregory W. Meeks (D-NY) today introduced a resolution honoring the contributions of African Americans to America’s musical heritage. The resolution also calls for greater access to music education for African American students, who received the lowest scores of all ethnicities on the most recent National Assessment for Educational Progress arts assessment. Another recent Department of Education... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), U.S. Senator Bob Menendez (D-NJ), and U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), along with Reps. Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Jeff Van Drew (NJ.-02), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Frank Pallone (NJ-06), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), Albio Sires (NJ-08), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ -12) sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross regarding growing concerns about the 2020... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the below statement on the breaking news on Iran:   “For months, this Administration has led us on a march to war, with no off ramp. This is not reality television, where decisions are made in the pursuit of maximum drama. The President together with his top officials have been bent on escalating an already tenuous situation in the Middle East, with no plan in place to de-escalate... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) released the following statement on his vote in support of the resolutions disapproving arm sales to Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE):    “Today’s bipartisan vote disapproving of the Administration’s plan to sell weapons to Saudi Arabia and the United Emirates is a clear signal that even the Administration’s allies are fed up with attempts to circumvent Congressional authority and continue to provide arms to Saudi Arabia and the... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with Congressmen Donald Norcross (D-NJ) and Bill Pascrell (D-NJ), today reintroduced legislation that addresses the country’s real and growing teacher shortage by completely overhauling the current student loan forgiveness program and boosting financial assistance for teachers.    The Supporting the Teaching Profession Through Revitalizing Investments in Valuable Educators (STRIVE) Act would overhaul the student loan forgiveness program by... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today testified on H.R. 40, legislation to study and develop reparations proposals, during a hearing in the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties.   Senator Booker’s reparations bill, S.1083, is the Senate companion to H.R. 40 and was introduced in April. It is the first bill introduced in the Senate to study proposals for reparations for African-Americans. The landmark bill has reached 12 cosponsors... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee (EPW) unanimously voted to advance legislation that could help communities across the country remove lead from drinking water. Specifically, the Water Infrastructure Funding Transfer Bill would give states facing public health crises from lead in drinking water the flexibility to make a one-time transfer of a portion of their available funds from their Clean Water State Revolving Fund to their Drinking Water State... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.—A bipartisan resolution written by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) to designate June 12 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day passed the Senate unanimously. The resolution recognizes the distinguished service of women in the Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Forces. The date of June 12 is significant, as it marks the anniversary of the signing of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act of 1948, allowing women to serve as permanent members of the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A bipartisan bill authored by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) to modernize the Internal Revenue Service’s (IRS) income verification process passed the Senate late Thursday, as part of a broader IRS reform package.    The IRS Data Verification Modernization Act, co-authored by Booker and Senator Mike Crapo (R-ID), would improve the process by which the IRS verifies the income of small businesses and consumers who are seeking credit assessments by automating it.     “It’s... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A reparations bill (S.1083) led by U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, has reached 12 cosponsors in the Senate. The landmark bill, introduced by Booker in April, is the only reparations bill ever to be introduced in the post-Reconstruction U.S. Senate.   This bill would establish a commission to study the impact of slavery and continuing discrimination against African-Americans and make recommendations on reparation proposals for the... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the State Department to fill key positions in Sudan, in light of ongoing and increasing political turmoil in the region.   In a letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sent Friday, Booker called for the appointment of a Special Envoy for Sudan and South Sudan and an ambassador to the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum, Sudan, to lead U.S. diplomatic efforts to facilitate a transition to civilian... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement in response to the death of Cadet Christopher James “CJ” Morgan, the West Point cadet who was tragically killed on Thursday ahead of a training exercise. Morgan was from West Orange, New Jersey.   “My deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of West Point Cadet CJ Morgan. It is always tragic when a life ends too early, but in the short time he had, CJ dedicated himself to his country and leaves behind a... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Marsha Blackburn (R-TN), along with Representative Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ) introduced a bipartisan, bicameral resolution designating a Women Veterans Appreciation Day, to recognize the growing presence of women in the Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve Forces, and honor women veterans for their dutiful military service. The Senate version of the resolution designates June 12 as Women Veterans Appreciation Day each year. That date marks the... Read More

WASHINGTON D.C.—U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ), and Rep. Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ) yesterday expressed their concerns about the recent reassignment of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers from the New York metropolitan area to the southern border. The region has reportedly lost over 50 CBP officers as major airports and marine terminals, including the Newark Airport and Port Newark, prepare for the busy summer travel season. In a... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Bob Menendez (D-NJ) yesterday introduced a bill extending the authorization funding deadline for a monument dedicated to Gold Star families, which is currently set to expire in January 2020. Under the Gold Star National Monument Extension Act of 2019, funding for the construction of the monument would continue through January 2027. The monument would honor the families that have lost a loved one in service to our nation. "The Gold Star... Read More