Press Releases

NEWARK, N.J. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced $13 million in grants through the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Passenger Ferry Grant Program for New Jersey commuter ferry operations. The grants will enable NY Waterway to improve operations and lower emissions, and the City of South Amboy to add operational capacity. “Passenger ferries play a critical role connecting New Jerseyans to jobs and providing more travel options that get people where they need to go,” said... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C.– Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) joined Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass) to announce the?Ensuring Safe and Toxic-Free Foods Act, legislation that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to strengthen the Substances Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) Rule, which exempts companies from seeking pre-market approval for food chemicals. The legislation would also direct the Secretary of HHS to create an Office of Food Chemical... Read More

Washington, DC– Senator Cory Booker (D- NJ) and Representative Dan Goldman (D-NY-10) today called on President Joe Biden and his administration to not lose sight of the increasing danger posed by Israeli settler violence in the West Bank. As the Israeli government responds to legitimate threats from Hamas, Hezbollah, and others, Goldman and Booker are urging the Biden Administration to make clear to our Israeli allies that extremist settler violence poses a direct threat to the objectives of... Read More

Washington, DC – Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ), Dick Durbin (D-IL), and Mazie Hirono (D-HI) joined with Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-12), Joaquin Castro (TX-20), and Pramila Jayapal (WA-07) to call on the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to finalize their proposed rule to expand health coverage for those participating in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, crime victims, and immigrant children. In April 2023, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker, a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, applauded President Biden’s nomination of Adeel Abdullah Mangi to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. If confirmed, Mangi would be the first Muslim American to serve as a federal appellate court judge. “Having come to know Adeel Mangi over the years as a fixture in the New Jersey legal community, I have seen firsthand that he is a person of integrity and deep conviction with an... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Representative Joaquin Castro (D-TX-20) introduced the Advanced Coursework Equity Act, bicameral legislation that would create a federal grant program to help states and school districts increase the enrollment of underrepresented students in advanced coursework and academic programs. The Advanced Coursework Equity Act would allow eligible schools and school districts to receive up to $60 million to implement universal screening for advanced... Read More

WASHINGTON, DC. – Ahead of Veterans Day, U.S. Senator Cory Booker today introduced the Supportive Services for National Guard and Reserve Component Veterans and Families Act, legislation that would expand the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to include former members of the National Guard and Reserves who have retired or separated from service after having served a term of enlistment. Established in 2011, the SSVF program promotes... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – Ahead of Veterans Day this weekend, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) today unveiled his 2024 Veterans Handbook, an updated version of his annual, comprehensive resource guide for New Jersey veterans and their families. The handbook, available online here, is designed to help New Jersey veterans with the transition from military to civilian life and includes information on health benefits, workforce centers, employment opportunities, federal and state education programs, crisis... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced $4.5 billion in federal funding for mass transit improvements in New Jersey and the region, including historic investments in the Gateway Program and the modernization of Newark Penn Station. Joining Booker at Newark Penn Station on Monday morning for the announcement were Representative Rob Menendez, Jr. (D-NJ), Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka, NJ Transit President and CEO Kevin S. Corbett, and Gateway Development Commission CEO Kris... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined U.S. Senators Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Warner (D-VA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Peter Welch (D-VT), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Tina Smith (D-MN), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) to issue the following statement: “The tragic war in Gaza, initiated by Hamas terrorist attacks on innocent civilians on October 7, is causing... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As the toll from the epidemic of gun violence and deadly mass shootings across the country, most recently in Lewiston, Maine, continues to grow, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee and Chair of the Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, reintroduced the Federal Firearm Licensing Act, legislation that would require individuals to obtain a federal firearm license before purchasing or receiving a firearm. Studies have shown... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced $52.5 million in funding to New Jersey ports to improve the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the movement of goods. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is receiving $32 million for the reconstruction of Berth PN-308 at Port Newark, a project vital to the port’s operations, with regional and national benefits, and $20.5 million is going to South Jersey Port Corporation for environmental remediation and improvements at... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) introduced the bicameral Reducing Obesity in Youth Act, legislation that would address the epidemic of childhood obesity in America. The bill would create incentives to improve the future health of American children and affect future national health care costs and national security. U.S. Representative Steve Cohen (D-TN) introduced the House version last month. According to the Centers for Disease and Control Prevention, roughly one in... Read More

NEWARK, N.J. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), U.S. Representative Andy Kim (D-NJ), and USDA Rural Development State Director Jane Asselta announced $13.6 million in grant and loan awards for the township of Edgewater Park for the construction of a public safety building and a community center. “I'm thrilled to see Edgewater Park receive these vital federal investments for its public safety building and community center,” said Senator Booker. “This mix of grant and loans will address the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.) issued the following statement: “I commend President Biden, Vice President Harris, and their Administration for the Executive Order announced today to capture the promise of artificial intelligence and effectively manage its risks. “The Executive Order is further evidence that the United States is poised to lead the world not just in the development of cutting-edge AI technologies, but also in the development of sound and balanced policies to... Read More

Washington, DC – Senator Cory Booker (D-N.J.), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, issued the following statement: “Israel has the right and responsibility to defend itself from terrorist attacks and to ensure that something like what happened on October 7th never happens again.  “Hamas’ attacks against Israel, including the gruesome massacre and kidnapping of civilians, are abhorrent and necessitate a robust response that ensures the long-term safety and security of both... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) joined Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Peter Welch (D-VT), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and 19 of their Senate colleagues to release the following statement: “We condemn Hamas’ horrific terrorist attacks against Israel, for which Israel must hold Hamas accountable. In the course of that endeavor, every effort must be made to protect innocent civilians. Right now, hospitals in Gaza are hours away from... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) introduced the bipartisan Preventing Child Labor Exploitation Act, legislation that would leverage the multi-billion dollars in federal procurement contracts to hold corporations accountable for the exploitation of child workers. The bill would prohibit federal agencies from contracting with companies that have violated federal child labor laws or employ vendors that have failed to address child labor... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Senate adopted an amendment authored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) that would increase funding for the Rural Decentralized Water Systems Program – funding that will allow more low-income Americans in rural communities to access grants and loans to install or repair household sewage systems. The increased funding will now be included in the so-called Minibus Appropriations bill currently being considered by the Senate. According to the... Read More

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and a bipartisan Senate delegation have returned to the United States after a four-day trip to Saudi Arabia, Israel, and Egypt to discuss current affairs in the region with a focus on the conflict between Israel and Hamas, including support for Israel’s right to self-defense, the need to ensure the protection of innocent Palestinians and the continuous flow of life-saving humanitarian... Read More