Democrat,
Last weekend I was excited to make an appearance on News 12’s Power and Politics to discuss President Biden’s reelection campaign, as well as what we have been able to accomplish under the Biden-Harris administration’s leadership over the past few years. Check it out below!
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This week we also dropped the second video in our "Get to Know Chairman Jones," series! Check out Part 2, filmed from my mobile office – the Chit Chat Diner in West Orange – to hear some advice for people interested in working in politics, a fun fact about myself, and more below:
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Make sure you’re following NJDSC on Instagram [[link removed]] , Twitter [[link removed]] , and Facebook [[link removed]] !
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This week Governor Murphy proposed an addition of $10 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funding for Fiscal Year 2024 to support the continuation of the Firefighter Grant Program, which provides funding to local and regional fire departments across New Jersey and would ensure firefighters have proper protective, cleaning, and sanitizing equipment.
“The firefighters of our state provide an essential service and they deserve to do so with the best equipment the market has to offer. That is why I was pleased to announce an additional $10 million dollars towards the American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program in my proposed budget,” said Governor Murphy. [[link removed]] “Our first responders risk their lives daily to make sure our communities are safe and healthy, and this Administration will continue to prioritize their needs to keep them safe while they do their jobs.”
This critical funding helps fire departments cover the costs of much needed equipment, including:
*
protective
clothing
(turnout
clothing
ensembles,
pants,
garments,
helmets,
hoods,
gloves,
footwear,
etc.);
*
cleaning
and
advanced
cleaning
equipment;
*
oxygen
equipment;
*
personal
protective
equipment
(PPE);
and
*
other
fire/virus
protection
equipment
as
determined
to
be
appropriate
by
DLGS.
This proposal showcases Governor Murphy’s commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of the brave firefighters who risk their lives to protect their communities. It is heartening to see our government taking proactive measures to support those who serve and protect us, and I am confident that this funding will make a significant difference in ensuring the safety and well-being of New Jersey's firefighters.
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Throughout the month of May, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee will celebrate both Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month and Jewish American Heritage Month with a weekly spotlight on trailblazing leaders throughout the state. This week we are proud to highlight our Progressive Caucus Co-Chair Doris Lin and AANHPI Chair Ludi Hughes.
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Doris Lin is co-chair of the NJDSC Progressive Caucus and is legal director for the Animal Protection League of NJ. She holds a B.S. in applied biological sciences from MIT and a JD from the University of Southern California Gould School of Law. In law school, she received the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association's Outstanding Service award. She is also an active member and former chair of the NJ State Bar Association’s Animal Law Committee. On Sunday afternoons you can usually find her serving a free hot meal with Jersey Shore Food Not Bombs at the Asbury Park train station. She is also the Democratic municipal vice chair for Freehold Township, where she lives with her husband, two daughters, two rabbits, and one dog.
Make sure you keep up on what NJDSC’s Progressive Caucus is doing on Facebook [[link removed]] and Twitter [[link removed]] .
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Ludi Hughes is presently the Chairwoman of Asian American Heritage Council of NJ (AAHCNJ) and the Filipino American Festival, Inc. (FAFI). AAHCNJ founded in 1994 is a non-profit, non-partisan organization and its mission is to celebrate, integrate and unite Asian Americans in the State of New Jersey. AAHCNJ promotes cultural diversity of each Asian ethnic groups by celebrating an annual cultural heritage celebration to become one force, one group, one community: The Asian Americans blending into the mainstream America. Presently, Ludi is the Chairwoman for the Filipino American Festival, Inc. founded 10 years ago.
As an active leader in the community, Ludi is one of the most visible and influential Asian American Democratic leader in the Garden State and held many positions in many non-profit organizations. In 2022, Ludi was appointed as the Chair for the NJ Democratic Party Asian Caucus by the Chairman of NJ Democratic Committee Mr. Leroy Jones. Ludi has been a member of a powerful grass root organization, the League of Women Voters where she learned
to participate in political process and studies issues that are important in our daily lives. She spearheaded a very successful first Asian American Cultural Heritage Parade and Festival attended by approximately 15,000 Asian Americans in the tri-state area. She is a member of the committee for the Rutger’s Center for American Women and Politics Ready to Run for Asian women. She was one of the Asian women who put together this program and named it “The Rising Star” campaign program for Asian American Women.
Make sure you keep up with NJDSC’s AANHPI Caucus on Facebook [[link removed]] .
Additionally, if you are interested in getting involved with the Progressive, AANHPI or any other caucuses, you can sign up here. [[link removed]]
This week House Republicans voted on the Default on America Act [[link removed]] , a bill that would impose deep spending cuts, severely impact veterans and hardworking families, and hinder economic growth. The proposed cuts affect critical areas like healthcare, education, and infrastructure, leading to reduced access and increased costs for those who depend on these services.
The Default on America Act stands in sharp contrast with President Biden’s budget [[link removed]] , which invests in America, lowers costs for families [[link removed]] , protects and strengthens Medicare and Social Security, and reduces the deficit by nearly $3 trillion over 10 years, while ensuring no one making less than $400,000 per year pays a penny more in new taxes.
The Default on America Act would mean at least $1.7 billion fewer federal grant dollars invested in New Jersey, including cuts that would:
Jeopardize transportation safety and infrastructure by withholding vital transportation infrastructure funding - New Jersey would stand to lose nearly $174 million in funding for transit and highway infrastructure projects all across the state


Strip nutrition food assistance from 43,000 New Jersey women, infants, and children that receive assistance through the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), increasing child poverty and hunger.


Raise housing costs for 20,200 families in New Jersey who would lose access to rental assistance, including older adults, persons with disabilities, and families with children, who without rental assistance would be at risk of homelessness. The Act would also mean as many as 1,600 families across New Jersey who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or attempting to flee domestic violence would lose access to emergency housing vouchers.


Threaten medical care for 50,500 New Jersey Veterans that could lose access to outpatient visits, leaving them unable to get appointments for care like wellness visits, mental health services, and substance disorder treatment.


Jeopardize health insurance coverage and access to care for 701,000 New Jerseyans.

This is just the tip of the iceberg of disastrous outcomes of this extremist Republican plan. The Default on America Act would have severe consequences for our most vulnerable communities. Instead of defaulting on our responsibilities, we should be investing further in our communities. By investing in education, healthcare, housing, and other essential services, we can help lift people out of poverty and create a more equitable society instead of exacerbating already existing social inequalities. Our communities are only as strong as their most vulnerable members, and we must prioritize those needs to ensure a brighter future for everyone.
— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.
P.S. Tickets are on sale for our 2023 NJDSC Conference! Join us for one or more events as we road trip across the state on June 8-10! We will meet and network with other Democrats from across New Jersey as we prepare for the 2023 election season.
Tickets for the convention are $50 and include access to all events. After you purchase your ticket, you MUST RSVP for every event you wish to attend. Some events have limited capacity.
Find more info and purchase tickets here! [[link removed]]
Note: Ticket prices will rise to $75.00 after May 15th so be sure to get your ticket early!
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Paid for by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
New Jersey Democratic State Committee
142 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
United States
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