Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today led a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) urging them to address the predatory behavior in the prepaid card market that impacts formerly incarcerated people. Sen. Booker was joined by Sens. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Mark Warner (D-VA), Dick Durbin(D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Joe Manchin (D-WV), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Benjamin Cardin (D-MD), Bernard Sanders (I-VT), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Al Franken... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed a budget deal that also responsibly lifts the nation’s debt limit before the Nov. 3 deadline and raises domestic and defense spending caps.  “I am relieved that Congress has finally come together to pass a budget that averts the fiscal catastrophe of a default, protects our national and economic security, and safeguards the promises we’ve made to our... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker(D-NJ) today issued the following statement after the Senate passed a one-month extension of federal transportation funding that included a three year extension of the implementation deadline for Positive Train Control technology. The Senate also confirmed Sarah Feinberg as Administrator of the Federal Railroad Administration, responsible for overseeing our nation’s rail system and implementation of PTC. Booker, the top-ranking Democrat on the... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., issued the following statement in response to the release of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s (GAO) report on the status of Superfund cleanups. Last year, Booker and Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-CA, requested that the GAO assess what progress has been made to clean up Superfund sites in the wake of a 2010 GAO report that showed the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) did not have adequate funding to clean up these toxic sites. The... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after the bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, broad-based legislation he introduced last month with a coalition of Republicans and Democrats to begin the process of reforming our criminal justice system, was passed today by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.    “For decades, our broken criminal justice system has held our nation back from realizing its... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC–U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., today issued the following statement on the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) action to tamp down exorbitant phone rates charged to prison inmates: “Providing communications services at fair and reasonable rates is critical to ensuring that incarcerated people maintain the supportive ties with their families that contribute to successful reentry into society. Extreme phone rates that exponentially exceed regular market rates... Read More

    WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today led a letter to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Thomas Wheeler applauding the Commission’s proposal to cap intrastate prison phone rates.  Joining Sen. Booker on the letter are Senators Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ed Markey (D-Mass.), Bob Casey (D-PA), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Al Franken (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE),... Read More

  WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) today announced that Tom Pietrykoski will join his office as New Jersey Press Secretary, effective October 26. Pietrykoski, who will be based in Booker’s Newark state office, joins Communications Director Jeff Giertz and Press Secretary Monique Waters on Booker’s press team. “Tom knows New Jersey deeply and is passionate about serving the people of our state,” Booker said. “His skills and experience make... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker(D-NJ) today led a letter to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman John Thune urging a comprehensive approach to any extension of the Positive Train Control (PTC) implementation deadline.  Joining Sen. Booker on the letter are Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Tom Carper (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and Edward Markey (D-Mass.).   The... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (both D-N.J.) released the following statements after their bill to rename the Waldwick, New Jersey,  post office the “Staff Sergeant Joseph D’Augustine Post Office Building,” was signed into law by President Obama.   “Marine Staff Sergeant Joseph D’Augustine made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country,” Sen. Booker said. “His loss will always be felt by his... Read More

WASHINGTON —  The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee voted unanimously on Wednesday to approve the Fair Chance Act, a bipartisan bill led by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) to give formerly incarcerated individuals a fairer chance at employment.  Other cosponsors include Sen. Joni Ernst(R-IA), Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.), Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH), Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.), and Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH).    ‎"The... Read More

Washington, DC – Today, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker attended the Senate Committee on the Judiciary’s judicial nomination hearing and introduced Brian R. Martinotti and Julien Xavier Neals, nominees that he recommended to serve in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey.   Senator Booker’s introduction and the nominees’ testimonies are available here.  Read More

WASHINGTON – A bipartisan group of senators led by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin today is introducing comprehensive legislation aimed at recalibrating prison sentences for certain drug offenders, targeting violent criminals, and granting judges greater discretion at sentencing for lower-level drug crimes. The package also seeks to curb recidivism by helping prisoners successfully re-enter society. The Sentencing Reform and... Read More

  Senators say: Youth and the digital battlespace are areas that require additional attention and resources    WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) led a bipartisan letter urging President Obama to use the upcoming Global Youth Summit at the 70th Session of the United Nations General Assembly as an opportunity to focus global attention on the need to scale up efforts to combat ISIL and other violent extremists’ use of social... Read More

“Pope Francis’ address to Congress was a stirring reminder of our duty as public servants to stand up for those with the least among us. I was especially moved by Pope Francis’ compassionate perspective on pressing issues facing our nation today, from the need to reform the criminal justice system to addressing climate change.  His presence with us and his words today should invigorate the spiritual and moral compass within us as our nation continues its work to fully... Read More

  Washington, DC – As Pope Francis arrived this afternoon for his visit to the United States and prepares for the first-ever papal address to a joint session of Congress on Thursday, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) spoke on the Senate floor to underscore the need for the Senate to pass broad-based criminal justice reform legislation. Read More

NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, and U.S. Representatives Donald Payne, Jr., and Albio Sires joined Essex County Executive DiVencenzo, Jr., and Newark Fire Chief John G. Centanni today to announce that the Newark Fire Department has been awarded a $7.4 million federal Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant to hire 38 firefighters and help bring the department in compliance with nationally recognized best-practices... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, (D-N.J.) issued the following statement after his bipartisan Emergency Information Improvement Act of 2015 passed the U.S. Senate. The legislation designates public broadcasting stations as one of several nonprofits eligible for federal assistance when damaged by storms and other disasters.   “The Senate passage of this bill is an encouraging show of support for public radio and broadcast stations, which provide critical information during... Read More

Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement highlighting the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)’s decision to extend the Sandy Claims Review deadline by 30 days and encouraging New Jersey residents affected by Superstorm Sandy to use the extended time to enroll in the claims review process.‎ “For nearly three years, New Jerseyans have fought diligently to recover from... Read More

Washington, DC – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) issued the following statement applauding the steps forward on constructing new Hudson River rail tunnels represented by Govs. Chris Christie, R-N.J., and Andrew Cuomo’s, D-N.Y., letter to President Obama today: “Today’s proposed funding framework is a major development and a sign of tangible progress in our effort to build new Hudson River rail tunnels,” said Sen. Booker. “It’s... Read More