Dear Friend,
As we kick off summer with Independence Day celebrations and trips to the Jersey Shore, I am excited to share with you some big legislative accomplishments for District 37 and New Jersey.
Major Port Authority Reform Achieved
For the first time in decades, New Jersey and New York have come together to create binding change at the Port Authority. A transparency bill I have championed for several years was finally signed into law last week, bringing us a critical step closer to reforming the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. A3350/S2183 subjects PANYNJ to the New Jersey Open Public Records Act and the New York Freedom of Information Law. Now, PANYJ must do more than talk about being open to the public. It must actually adhere to the open records laws of two states.
Helping our Loved Ones Manage Alzheimer’s Disease, Dementia, and Aphasia
In recognizing the national Alzheimer’s and Brain Awareness Month and New Jersey’s Aphasia Awareness Month, I moved forward several legislative initiatives to help individuals with dementia and their families. First, both the Assembly and Senate passed my bill A1102/S1145 to regulate memory care homes and require them to be overseen by the Department of Health. Second, I introduced A4639/S3071 to establish the NJ Aphasia Task Force to assess the needs of individuals with Aphasia and their families and address any issues in accessing services and supports.
At Alzheimer’s Day in Trenton
Preserving the Palisades and Promoting Job Growth
As a longtime proponent for environmental preservation and an advocate for bringing new jobs to Bergen County, I was proud to join with leaders of LG and preservation advocates as they announced their agreement on LG’s new building design. The compromise is an example of what we can accomplish when government, business, and environmentalists join together. I look forward to the opening of LG’s new world-class complex in its home of Englewood Cliffs.
At LG headquarters with Mayor Frank Huttle, LG President and CEO William Cho, Vice President I.D. Kim and Laurence Rockfeller
Advocacy in Trenton
June is a busy month at the State House. In addition to passing our state budget, it is also the time when advocates from across New Jersey come to show support for legislation and bring attention to important issues. I always appreciate the opportunity to meet with advocates in Trenton.
Met with the Orthodox Union and District 37 residents to express my support for increasing school security funding, technology aid, and school nurses for all schools in our state. We were successful in doing this in the final FY 2016 budget.
Celebrating the passage of AR236 by the Assembly Human Services Committee. This legislation urges counties and municipalities to enact “Stigma-Free Zone” resolutions to reduce stigma of mental illness. It was inspiring by the impactful work of Stigma-Free Zones in Bergen County.
Supporting survivors of sexual assault with NJCASA’s Patricia Teffenhart after the final passage by both houses of the Sexual Assault Survivor Protection Act of 2015 on June 25th. A4078/S2686 now heads to the Governor’s desk to be signed.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions or concerns.
