Press Releases

WASHINGTON, D.C – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Debra Haaland (D-NM) today introduced a new bill aimed at eliminating pollution that has disproportionately harmed communities of color, indigenous communities, and low-income communities over generations. The Environmental Justice Legacy Pollution Cleanup Act would invest $100 billion to clean up legacy pollution and would prohibit granting major source air pollution permits in vulnerable communities already suffering harm from... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Burr (R-NC) introduced legislation to posthumously award Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley the Congressional Gold Medal, the nation’s highest civilian honor. “Emmett Till’s gruesome murder by white supremacists was never vindicated by our justice system,” said Senator Booker. “While his lynching and the impunity that followed was unique in its horror, it revealed of the persistent legacy of racialized terror and violence waged... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today sent a letter to the US Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Inspector General requesting an immediate investigation into complaints by a whistleblower alleging horrific mistreatment of immigrant detainees under U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody at the Irwin County Detention Center in Ocilla, Georgia. The letter also urges the inspector general to investigate DHS leadership’s knowledge of these... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez today announced New Jersey has received $75,728,585 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program to support the state’s COVID-19 response and recovery efforts. This funding, which was secured by the senators in the CARES Act, is in addition to the $53 million and $31 million in CDBG grants that were announced earlier this year. “Helping New Jerseyans... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, United States Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced a bill to ensure the United States fulfills its commitments to the World Health Organization. Under the Abiding by U.S. Commitments Act, the United States will continue payments of its dues to the WHO and the other international organizations of which it is a member. In addition to Booker and Durbin, the bill is cosponsored by Senators Leahy (D-VT), Van Hollen (D-MD), Cantwell (D-WA), Gillibrand... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced his support of the Real Economic Support That Acknowledges Unique Restaurant Assistance Needed to Survive (RESTAURANTS) Act of 2020. The legislation, which was introduced by U.S. Senators Roger Wicker (R-MS) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ), would establish a $120 billion revitalization fund to help independent restaurants deal with the long-term structural challenges facing the industry because of COVID-19 and support the reemployment... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez today announced the State of New Jersey was awarded nearly $66 million in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources (HHS) to boost the state’s comprehensive efforts to tackle the opioid epidemic. “Our nation’s opioid epidemic has taken a devastating toll on families and communities across New Jersey,” said Sen. Booker. “Tackling this crisis requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach, and this federal... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker today announced $5,319,625 in annual federal funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to support the operations of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) across New Jersey and their continued response to the COVID-19 public health crisis. “FQHCs are often the first place families and seniors across the state go to when they need affordable and high quality health care,” said Sen. Menendez. “Community health... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), the ranking member of the Senate’s transit subcommittee that oversees the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Capital Investment Grants (CIG) program, and Cory Booker (D-N.J.), along with U.S. Representatives Bill Pascrell, Jr. (N.J.-09), Albio Sires (N.J.-08), Donald Payne, Jr. (N.J.-10), Tom Malinowski (N.J.-07), and Mikie Sherrill (N.J.-11), today applauded the allocation of $248 million for the Portal Bridge replacement project. This... Read More

NEWARK, NJ – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez (both D-NJ) lauded the signing of legislation into law to improve timely access to financial assistance for families of public safety officers lost to COVID-19. The Senate unanimously passed the Safeguarding America’s First Responders Act (SAFR) in May with the House of Representatives following suit in July. The bipartisan legislation, which was introduced by Booker and Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA), clarifies certification... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez joined all 47 Senate Democrats in calling on U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to provide answers regarding reports of recent changes to long-standing practices at the United States Postal Service (USPS) that would result in increased delivery times and costs for election mail, and urged him not take any further action that makes it harder and more expensive for states and election jurisdictions to mail ballots. Despite numerous... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), along with Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Brian Schatz (D-HI), today announced the framework for a new college athletes bill of rights that will advance justice and opportunity for college athletes. The proposal will guarantee fair and equitable compensation, enforceable health and... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez today announced a total of $28,919,131 in federal funding from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to support airports throughout New Jersey, which includes an additional $3,180,239 the senators secured in the CARES Act to help the state’s COVID-19 response.“New Jersey’s airports are vital means of transportation for countless New Jerseyans and serve as economic drivers for our region, but their ability to operate... Read More

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) released the following statement after the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) prohibited member schools from requiring athletes to sign liability waivers exempting institutions from being held accountable for the spread of COVID-19. Booker and Blumenthal wrote NCAA President Mark Emmert requesting this action at the end of June, and introduced legislation to prohibit such liability waivers shortly... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Congressman Joaquin Castro (D-TX) today introduced a bill that would establish an $800 million competitive grant program for states and school districts to increase the enrollment and performance of underrepresented students in advanced courses and programs. Under the Advanced Coursework Equity Act, eligible states and school districts could receive up to $60 million in grants to do things like expand enrollment in advanced courses, cover... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) issued the following joint statement after U.S. District Judge Esther Salas released a video statement this morning to honor the memory of her son and address the need for protecting the privacy of federal judges and their families:“What happened to Judge Esther Salas and her family is a tragedy of unspeakable proportions. No judge should ever feel unsafe or threatened because they have answered the call of public service to... Read More

Washington, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) delivered the keynote address at the virtual National Food Policy Conference hosted by the Consumer Federation of America. During his remarks, Senator Booker discussed his legislative efforts to reform our broken food system and highlighted the negative impacts the current system has on independent family farmers, rural communities, public heath, workers and farm animals. Today, Booker also introduced a bill to boost safety and protect... Read More

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) introduced the Safe Line Speeds in COVID-19 Act to protect worker, consumer, and animal safety by suspending all current and future USDA waivers and regulations that allow companies to increase production line speeds at meatpacking plants during the COVID-19 pandemic. Reps. Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11), Rosa DeLauro (CT-3), and Bennie Thompson (MS-2) have introduced companion legislation in the House of Representatives. Across the country, many meat... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- United States Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Kamala Harris (D-CA) and 23 additional Senators today sent a letter pressing Attorney General Bill Barr and Acting Secretary Chad Wolf for answers on the alarming actions taken against protesters by federal law enforcement agents deployed by the Trump Administration, as well as threats by President Trump to deploy federal officers to more American cities. These steps are all the more... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today led 33 of his Senate colleagues in urging President Trump to reverse his decision to withdraw from the World Health Organization (WHO). The Senators warned that an American withdrawal from WHO will upend efforts to implement a collective international response to the COVID-19 pandemic, inevitably put American lives and economic interests at risk, and undermines American leadership within the international community, while empowering China.... Read More