Issues
Agriculture
Despite having the highest population density of any state, New Jersey is called the Garden State for a reason. Our farmers produce fresh, abundant quantities some of the most popular fruits and vegetables, which help keep our families healthy.
Civil Rights
Our great nation is built upon the fundamental values of liberty and democracy, and we must ensure that those values are always the bedrock of our society. Every person -- regardless of their race, gender, country of origin, religion or sexual orientation -- is equal and should be treated as such. Anything less undermines those fundamental values upon which our country was founded.
Economy & The Middle Class
In these tough times, many families are struggling despite their willingness to work hard and reduce their own spending. I am fighting to help foster an economic recovery, with investments that create jobs and lay the foundation for long-term economic security.
Education
Nothing is more fundamental to the development of our children than a quality education. As the first member of my family to graduate from college, I know first-hand the power that an education has on a young person's life and the opportunities it unlocks. Beyond the impact it can have on individual lives, ensuring that all of our children have access to a quality and affordable education helps lay the groundwork for a stronger economy in the 21st Century.
Energy
Our energy future is closely tied to our prosperity and the future of our planet. Currently, our nation faces an energy crisis out of which we are not going to be able to dig or drill our way. Family budgets have been battered by wild fluctuations in oil prices, and our reliance on dirty energy has accelerated the severe effects of climate change.
The Environment
We are experiencing a planetary emergency. That means not only that the polar ice caps are melting thousands of miles away, but also that here at home the Jersey Shore could go under water and that flooding that damages and destroys property in our state is getting worse.
Federal Investment in New Jersey
I am working to ensure that federal investments are made in worthwhile projects and programs that make a difference in the lives of families in our state.
Financial Services & Consumer Protection
The economic crisis that began devastating families and financial markets in 2007 and 2008 shows that personal responsibility in finances must be matched by responsibility and accountability on Wall Street. Our nation’s financial system must always be a free market system, and the growth of the financial services industry in New Jersey along the Hudson River is a testament to the benefits that strong financial institutions can bring to our state. However, we have to ensure that effective accountability and consumer protections exist to prevent excessive risks that can wipe out family savings.
Foreign Relations & National Security
Our relations with the international community may involve people and issues thousands of miles away, but they make a difference in our security and economic well-being right here at home. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Chairman of the Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection, I am fighting for a smart and reasoned foreign policy.
Health Care
We all develop health issues, we all need good medical care, and because of this, we are all deeply affected by our health care system. Right now, the system simply doesn’t work as well as it should. It fails the basic test – whether or not quality, affordable health care is widely accessible.
Housing
The global economic crisis that has devastated so many families was rooted in the tsunami of foreclosures, resulting from millions of unmanageable mortgages. We are now in a position in which we have to stop the wave of foreclosures while ensuring that families continue to have access to quality housing options.
Immigration
Whether your family was part of the voyage on the Mayflower, one of the millions that stepped off a ship at Ellis Island, part of those who were brought to this nation against their own will, or, like my own parents, came to this country fleeing tyranny and searching for freedom, the vast majority of Americans have a connection to immigration. Unfortunately, our current immigration laws have failed us.
Labor
Working men and women are the backbone of our state and country – and they are the reason our economy is so resilient. Because of their productivity, we will be able not only to complete an economic recovery, but we will be able to build an even stronger, more secure economy for the 21st Century.
Military & Veterans
The United States military is the greatest military in the world, and its members are helping to defend the greatest country in the world. I have worked to support our military, support our troops and provide resources that will keep them safe during times of conflict and help them recover should they be injured in the line of duty. Beyond that, I believe that we, as a grateful Nation, must also do everything in our power to ensure that we honor our veterans.
Public Safety & Homeland Security
One of our government's most basic responsibilities is to protect the public from threats to our safety, both domestic and foreign. From providing law enforcement with the resources they need to fight crime and the spread of gangs, to keeping guns out of the hands of criminals, I am committed to making every effort to protect New Jersey families from the ravages of crime and gangs, as well as the threat of terrorism.
Seniors
Our seniors have given so much to our communities, and it is our duty to help them thrive in retirement. I have made it a priority throughout my career in public service to help ensure that Social Security will be there to provide the retirement security they’ve earned and deserve and to provide access to affordable, quality health care, including comprehensive prescription drug coverage and support for their family caregivers.
Transportation
As the Chairman of the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development, which helps shape mass transit policy, I am working to reduce traffic congestion, reduce energy costs, make our country more energy independent, and clean the air we breathe.
Technology & Innovation
New Jersey has long been the birthplace of innovation, from the days when Thomas Edison took an invention from his workshop and lit up the world. The breakthroughs that happen here, from the light bulb to disease-eradicating medicines, have not only changed lives, but they have fueled economic prosperity.
Women, Children, & Families
It is my priority as a public servant to fight for change that makes a real difference in the lives of New Jersey’s families. Every day, I work to find ways to make our communities safer, provide tools to help parents with the challenges of caring for their families, and give all New Jersey children a fighting chance at reaching their potential.
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