The people of New Jersey are my first priority in Congress. We need leaders who will ensure that the people they represent have a say in what happens in Washington.
Reduce the influence of money in politics. I’ve supported measures to reform our campaign finance system, improve campaign disclosures, and introduce a constitutional amendment that would overturn Citizens United to stop the flow of dark money into our elections.
Serve the People. We must ensure that every Member of Congress serves the people. That’s why I co-sponsored and voted to pass the For the People Act of 2019 and the For the People Act of 2021 in the House. This is the strongest anti-corruption bill in a generation. It would increase transparency, crack down on corruption in both parties, and strengthen ethics laws. I also voted against increasing pay for Members of Congress and I’m on a bill to require Members of Congress to place their financial assets in a blind trust to prevent conflicts of interest.
Bipartisanship. I am committed to working with Republicans and Democrats in Congress to help New Jerseyans. That’s why 70 percent of the bills I have introduced were alongside a Republican, and over 84 percent of the votes I cast had bipartisan support.
Support workers. Unions helped build our middle class, and I will stand against efforts to curb collective bargaining rights. I proudly supported legislation to increase the minimum wage to $15 and the Butch Lewis Act to protect worker pensions. The American Rescue Plan protected the pensions of tens of millions of Americans with at-risk multiemployer pension plans without cutting their benefits whatsoever. I voted for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act that passed in the House, landmark legislation to support workers’ basic right to organize and negotiate for higher pay, better benefits, and safer working conditions. I am also pushing for the House to vote on the bipartisan Social Security Fairness Act, which would remove the windfall elimination provision that has unfairly impacted so many retirees’ pensions.
Protect Democracy. On January 6, 2020, the world watched as violent extremists attacked the United States Capitol and attempted to stop the peaceful transfer of power. Without adequately confronting what occurred on January 6th and holding those involved accountable, we will never be able to heal and move forward as a nation. I remain committed to supporting the investigation into January 6th so we ensure it never happens again.
Protect Voting Rights. Voting is the bedrock of our democracy, and we need to make it easier, not harder, for U.S. citizens to cast a ballot. I supported the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act to protect the right to vote, expand early voting, mail-in ballots, and no-excuse absentee voting.
Defend Civil Rights. As a former Assistant U.S. Attorney, I am committed to our Constitution. The freedoms outlined in the Constitution are essential for a healthy democracy. I oppose discrimination of all kinds, including based on sex, religion, race, disability, or sexual orientation. I voted to pass the Equality Act, to extend the anti-discrimination protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to LGBTQ Americans in housing, education, employment, credit, public accommodation, federal funding, and federal jury service.
Racial Justice. The brutal murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis shocked the conscience of this nation. I have voted for legislation in the House to increase transparency, combat racial profiling, ban the use of chokeholds, improve training and data collection, and limit access to weapons of war that do not belong on our streets. The House passed the EQUAL Act I championed with Senator Cory Booker and House Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, to end the unjust disparity in federal sentencing between crack and powder cocaine cases.
Accountability. When I first ran for office, I committed to transparency and accountability so our community can share their concerns and proposals directly with me. I’ve held 18 town halls, forums, and webinars with residents, businesses, schools, labor unions, and more across the four counties in our district. Hearing from you makes me a better representative in Washington and I do not take that for granted.