Press Releases

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) introduced a Senate resolution today to recognize the contributions of American entrepreneurs and officially establish National Entrepreneurs’ Day as a federally recognized observance day. The Moran-Booker Senate resolution aims to have Congress identify the third Tuesday of every November as National Entrepreneurs’ Day.   “Today and every day of the year, entrepreneurs deserve to be honored and... Read More

Today, New York and New Jersey leaders announced that they have reached an agreement on funding commitments and a governance structure that will allow the critically important Gateway Tunnel Project to move forward. The agreement marks a major milestone in the effort to build a new trans-Hudson river tunnel that is an essential portion of Amtrak’s eight-state Northeast Corridor that connects the states of New York and New Jersey and is one of our region’s most critical major... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. –U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today praised the White House’s endorsement of the Equality Act, comprehensive legislation that would ban discrimination against LGBT Americans.   “I am grateful for President Obama’s support in our legislative fight to achieve justice and equality for those who endure discrimination due to their gender identity or sexual orientation. Brave men and women in every generation throughout America’s history have... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), introduced the Strengthening Technical Assistance, Resources, and Training to Unleash the Potential of Veterans Act (STARTUP-Vets), legislation which would increase access to capital and educational resources for veterans aspiring to enter the small business sector. Veterans Day is tomorrow, Wednesday, November 11.   “Many of our nation’s veterans possess a breadth of professional skills and experience that are ideal... Read More

  Senators: “Decisions about protecting species under the Endangered Species Act should be made based upon science – such provisions have no place in the appropriations process.”    WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today led a letter to President Obama urging him to reject all spending bill riders that would undermine Endangered Species Act protections for particular species or otherwise erode the Endangered Species... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Mike Lee(R-UT) today introduced the Stop Debt Collection Abuse Act of 2015, legislation that promotes fairness and strengthens protections for ordinary consumers against predatory debt collection practices.     “From unpaid traffic tickets to overdue student loans, debts owed to the government have too often become a license for debt collectors to harass and intimidate well-meaning families who are struggling to get... Read More

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