Press Releases

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

Washington, DC – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued the following statement applauding the Obama Administration’s college financial aid simplification initiative announced today. Under the plan, beginning October 1, 2016, students and families will be able to fill out the FAFSA for the 2017-2018 academic year using “prior-prior year” income data as they are preparing for the college application process, rather than having to wait until January 1st. This change was also... Read More

  “I will never forget those we so tragically and suddenly lost 14 years ago today. We honor their memories and the courage and compassion of first responders, including many of New Jersey’s own, who rushed into harm’s way to help. The days and years that have followed are a true reflection of American resilience and strength. My thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of the thousands we lost, and all who are still feeling the pain and heartbreak of that... Read More

Washington, DC –  Today, Members of Congress led by U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) in the Senate and Reps. Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) and Darrell Issa (R-CA), in the House of Representatives, introduced the Fair Chance Act, bipartisan, bicameral legislation that would give formerly incarcerated people a fairer chance at securing employment by prohibiting federal contractors and federal agencies from asking about the criminal history of a job applicant until an... Read More

Newark, NJ – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) has sent a letter to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Administrator Dr. Kathryn Sullivan urging her to deny four seismic survey applications for oil and gas exploration in the Atlantic Ocean.  Seismic exploration for oil-and-gas is the first step towards potential offshore drilling in the Mid-Atlantic, which represents a significant threat to the environment, the fishing industry, and New Jersey’s costal... Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 18, 2015 Booker, Christie, Foxx, Menendez Joint Statement    Newark, NJ – Today, following a meeting in U.S. Senator Cory Booker’s Newark office on the Hudson River Tunnel project , Booker, D-N.J., Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., U.S. Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, and U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., issued the following statement: “Transit across the Hudson River carries an enormous and increasing share of this region's... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC– Today, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, (D-N.J.) released the following statement commemorating the anniversary of the signing of the Voting Rights Act into law fifty years ago today. “Today, and every day, I am reminded that we drink deeply from wells of freedom and liberty that we ourselves did not dig.  As we reflect on the myriad of challenges our country continues to face, it’s vital that we remember just how far we have come by relentlessly defending and... Read More

Each day, in jails and prisons across America, youth under the age of 18 are held in solitary confinement often for weeks or months at a time   Solitary confinement is “a violation of one’s human dignity”   Booker, Durbin, Paul, Lee, call on federal juvenile centers to cease this harmful practice   WASHINGTON, DC–U.S. Sen. Cory Booker(D-NJ), today introduced the MERCY Act,  legislation which would prohibit the solitary confinement of juveniles tried in... Read More

  Washington, DC - U.S. Sens. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Patty Murray (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), and Gary Peters (D-MI) today introduced the Scale-Up Manufacturing Investment Company (SUMIC) Act of 2015, legislation that increases access to capital for entrepreneurs looking to scale-up and commercialize their advanced manufacturing innovations.   “Small businesses are the backbone of the U.S. economy and a tremendous engine for innovation and job... Read More

Washington– US Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) released the following statement on the Senate’s effort to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood:  “Millions of women rely on Planned Parenthood’s healthcare centers to receive critical care like breast and cervical cancer screenings, sex education, and family planning services. In New Jersey alone, 26 Planned Parenthood health centers serve over 100,000 of our state’s residents.  Just last year, Planned... Read More

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee, today issued the following statement after President Obama and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) unveiled the final rule to curb carbon emissions from power plants: “I commend President Obama and EPA Administrator McCarthy for finalizing ambitious policies to reduce carbon pollution and combat climate change. We’re in a race against climate change... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), joined a bipartisan and bicameral coalition of congressional leaders to announce that they will work together to develop new solutions to provide access to capital and new private sector investment in distressed communities all across the country. Led by Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tim Scott (R-SC) in the Senate and Pat Tiberi (R-OH) and Ron Kind (D-WI) in the House, this group will work together to produce legislation in the fall.... Read More