Democrat,
Today, we wish our Jewish neighbors a joyful and introspective Rosh Hashanah!
Today also kicks off National Hispanic Heritage Month, a time when we come together to celebrate the rich and diverse history of generations of Hispanic people whose aspirations and invaluable contributions have helped shape our nation's history and culture. From September 15th to October 15th, we honor the remarkable achievements, unwavering spirit, and profound influence Latino and Hispanic Americans have on the United States. It is a reminder that our country is a nation of diversity, built on the foundations of unity and shared aspirations.
As New Jersey is home to one of the largest Hispanic communities in the nation, this month, just as every other month, we celebrate the Latino community’s contributions to our state as we strive for a brighter future for all.
ICYMI: Senator Bob Menendez will be hosting his 13th Annual Hispanic Heritage Month Celebration on Sunday, September 24th 2:30pm at Union City High School. You can learn more and reserve a spot here!
This week First Lady Tammy Murphy introduced us to Ria, the director of Nurture NJ, a multi-agency initiative designed to make transformational change in a system that has historically failed our mothers and babies – especially our mothers and babies of color..
Currently, New Jersey is ranked 47th in the nation for maternal deaths and has one of the widest racial disparities for both maternal and infant mortality. These statistics are harrowing which is why I am optimistic about the work the First Lady and Ria are doing to change these outcomes in New Jersey. Ria brings both a vast wealth of knowledge and experience within the birthing world as a doula and a nurse, and the intangible experiences that come along with being a Black woman in America. Ria's professional expertise and lived experience makes her an exceptional advocate for maternal and infant health equity.
“The alarming rise in maternal mortality rates, specifically among Black women, is a national crisis, which is why I’ve been working for years to address this problem, including with my Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act,” said Senator Cory Booker, while reintroducing legislation, alongside Senator Bob Menendez, to provide funding to community-based organizations leading the charge to improve maternal health outcomes, especially for Black women. “We must invest in community-based organizations and implement comprehensive training programs to combat bias and systemic racism that persist within our healthcare system.”
Democrats across all levels of government in New Jersey are coming together to confront the alarming rates of infant and maternal mortality, especially within Black, Hispanic, and Native communities. We must demand that our elected officials continue to actively address the systemic racial disparities deeply ingrained in healthcare, implement comprehensive reforms aimed at improving access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, and expand educational initiatives to empower at-risk communities. It is also imperative that we rally behind leaders like Ria, who are actively working to implement viable solutions, ultimately working toward a future where every mother and child in New Jersey receives the care and support they need to thrive.
Yesterday President Biden gave a speech in Maryland where he dived into the explicit differences between the budget Republicans proposed this summer that would lower taxes for the wealthy, cut Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, and raise costs for families, and Bidenomics - the Biden Administration’s economic policy that is growing the American economy from the middle out and the bottom up.
“Their budget gives $5.1 trillion in additional tax cuts skewed to wealthy people and big corporations while cutting $700 billion from Social Security and a trillion dollars from Medicare,” said President Biden. “They want to raise the Social Security retirement age, which means a 13 percent cut in benefits for seniors who retire at age 67. They want to cut Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act and the Children’s Insurance Program by more than half.”
The difference in economic agendas is crystal clear. While the Republicans continue to try to undermine the middle class, Biden’s economic vision is centered around three key pillars:
- Making smart public investments in America;
- Empowering and educating workers to grow the middle class; and
- Promoting competition to lower costs and help entrepreneurs and small businesses thrive
Bidenomics is already delivering for the American people. Unemployment rates have dropped significantly and more than 13 million jobs - including nearly 800,000 manufacturing jobs - have been added.
Democrats have continued to prioritize reducing income inequality by advocating for higher wages for workers, affordable housing, and accessible healthcare in order to provide the American people with a stronger foundation for economic stability. Through these targeted investments and policies, we can revitalize the economy while continuing to prioritize the needs of American workers and families and I look forward to continuing to work under President Biden's economic leadership towards a more inclusive economy for all.
— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.
P.S. I couldn’t end this newsletter without a special birthday shout out to my incredible wife, Jackie, who has been my rock, my confidant, and my partner in all of life's adventures! Jackie, your unwavering support and boundless love have enriched every moment of my journey. As you celebrate another turn of the sun, may it be filled with all the happiness you deserve! Here's to many more wonderful birthdays and thank you, on behalf of the NJDSC team, for all the work you do to help create change that will affect generations of New Jerseyans to come.
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