Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), the top Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety, & Security, issued the following statement regarding last night’s Amtrak derailment in Philadelphia: “My thoughts and prayers are with the families and loved ones of the individuals who were killed or injured in last night’s train derailment, and with all those who were affected. I am so thankful for the... Read More

Washington, DC – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker, (D-NJ) and John Hoeven’s (R-ND) Commercial UAS Modernization Act has received strong endorsements from a number of stakeholders following its introduction earlier today. The legislation sets interim operating guidelines for commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and creates a framework to promote American innovation in the rapidly growing field. In just a few short hours since its introduction, the Commercial UAS... Read More

U.S. Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (both D-N.J.) today announced the Senate passage of their bill to rename the Waldwick, New Jersey, post office the “Staff Sergeant Joseph D’Augustine Post Office Building,” honoring the legacy of Staff Sergeant Joseph D’Augustine — a United States Marine and Waldwick native who was killed in action in Afghanistan in 2012. Staff Sergeant D’Augustine, a 2001 Waldwick High School graduate, was an explosive ordinance... Read More

Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., issued the following statement regarding today’s Senate procedural vote on Trade Promotion Authority (TPA): "I would have voted no today because I believe that these four important trade bills should be considered together, not separately. I have strong concerns about TPA more broadly, and my concerns are compounded if fast track moves forward without the customs trade enforcement package already passed out of the Finance Committee.... Read More

Washington, DC – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), and John Hoeven (R-ND), today introduced the Commercial UAS Modernization Act, legislation that sets interim operating guidelines for commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), commonly known as drones, and creates a framework to promote American innovation in the rapidly growing field. “There is so much potential that can be unlocked if we lay the proper framework to support innovation in unmanned aircraft systems,” Sen. Booker... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Sherrod Brown (D-OH), today led a group of 25 of their Senate colleagues in urging President Obama to expand job opportunities and reduce recidivism by taking executive action and requiring federal contractors and federal agencies to “ban the box” on job applications. Reforming hiring practices has widespread support from both public and private institutions. Sixteen states and more than 100 cities and counties have already... Read More

Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Cory A. Booker, D-N.J., issued the following statement after the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act passed in the Senate today. Booker signed on as a cosponsor of the bill last month. “The United States must do everything in its power to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon – nothing less than American security, the safety of our allies, and Middle East stability is at stake. I commend Senators Menendez, Corker and Cardin for their leadership... Read More

NEWARK, NJ – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), the top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety & Security, today hosted a field hearing in Newark, New Jersey, on America’s passenger rail system. The field hearing sought input to shape forthcoming legislation that will update and improve passenger rail in the United States. “The Northeast Corridor is an indispensable transportation asset and economic driver... Read More

WASHINGTON — Today, Democratic U.S. Sens. Tom Udall (N.M.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Jeff Merkley (Ore.) and Cory Booker (N.J.) announced a major breakthrough agreement in historic legislation to reform the nation's broken chemical safety law, a day before a "markup" hearing to finalize the legislation in the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. Following intense weekend negotiations, the bipartisan compromise agreement strengthens protections under the proposed law and expands... Read More

WASHINGTON – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker D-N.J., member of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Craig Fugate expressing deep concerns regarding FEMA’s preliminary FY2015 Annual Risk Assessment and Profile of New Jersey. The assessment would lower New Jersey’s threat score and therefore could also decrease the state’s access to FEMA preparedness grant funding. “This... Read More

WASHINGTON –U.S. Sens. Cory A. Booker D-N.J., Brian Schatz D-HI., Gary Peters D-MI, all members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan urging the agency to take steps to modernize their 190,000-strong fleet of vehicles by investing in technology solutions to improve safety and reduce emissions. “We applaud the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) recent issuance... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – On Earth Day and the week of the five-year anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf Coast, U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Edward Markey (D-MA), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Jack Reed (D-RI) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) introduced the Clean Ocean and Safe Tourism (COAST) Anti-Drilling Act. The legislation prohibits the U.S. Department of... Read More

Recently, Sen. Booker wrote an op-ed published by the Huffington Post​, in which he noted the many injustices endemic to today's criminal justice system, and stressed the dire need for broad-based reform. ​​Our Criminal-Legal System: Justice Doesn't Have to Be Missing from Equation ​By Cory Booker April 15, 2015 The facts about the criminal-legal system in America are sobering: The United States accounts for only 5 percent of the globe's population, but for 25 percent of... Read More

CAMDEN, NJ – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker’s (D-NJ) South Jersey office today announced that it will hold mobile office hours in Atlantic County. The Senator's constituent services staff will be on hand to provide residents assistance regarding federal agencies and services and will answer any related questions. Senator Booker’s mobile office hours are being hosted at the Egg Harbor City Municipal Building. For more information, residents are asked to call (856) 338-8922 or email... Read More

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sen. Cory A. Booker (D-NJ), sent a letter to Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Chairman Roy Blunt (R-MO), and Ranking Member Charles Schumer (D-NY), urging them to update Senate policies pertaining to the usage of digital media and technology. Booker was joined on the letter by Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO). In the letter, Sens. Booker and McCaskill encourage the Committee to consider rule changes that better reflect the growing utility and reach of... Read More

WASHINGTON– U.S. Sen. Cory A. Booker, D-N.J., today issued the following statement after voting early this morning against the Senate’s budget for Fiscal Year 2016, which calls for $4.3 trillion in cuts to mandatory spending programs such as Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) over 10 years: “The American people deserve a budget that is responsible and inclusive, one that holds true to our values and priorities as a nation. The steep and careless... Read More

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Sens. Cory A. Booker (D-N.J), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) along with U.S. Reps. James P. McGovern (D-Mass.) and Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) wrote to U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Secretary Anthony Foxx, urging him to review results of a 2012 DOT study on the impact of heavy commercial trucks on the nation’s roads and highways prior to publicly releasing the study results, noting their concerns with the study’s methodology and... Read More

WASHINGTON – Late yesterday evening, the United States Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution calling for the Internet of Things to promote economic growth and greater consumer empowerment. The resolution, introduced by U.S. Sens. Cory A. Booker (D-N.J.), Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), and Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) generated from a Senate Commerce Committee hearing earlier this year titled “The Connected World: Examining the Internet of Things.” Senator... Read More

WASHINGTON - U.S. Sen. Cory A. Booker, D-N.J., today praised White House action that seeks to speed and expand broadband deployment and adoption by addressing regulatory hurdles and encouraging investment and training. Booker is a member of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications and broadband technology policy. "Expanding the availability of broadband and enhancing Internet access will help to level the technology playing... Read More

WASHINGTON –U.S. Sens. Cory A. Booker D-N.J., and Deb Fisher, R-Neb., members of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, have sent a bipartisan letter to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Administrator Mark Rosekind to request an update on agency policies related to automated vehicle technology and to urge the NHTSA to embrace policies that promote innovation in and the improved safety benefits of the technology. “These technologies promise... Read More