Dear Neighbors,
During this Thanksgiving holiday, I'm wishing you and your family and friends all the best for a safe and relaxing weekend. I am grateful to serve as your representative in Congress, and I hope your holiday weekend is filled with joy and happiness. I’d also like to congratulate the Marching Scarlet Knights, the Marching Band at Rutgers University, who for the first time ever, will be participating in the annual Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City!
Do Not Purchase Water Beads this Holiday Season
As the holiday shopping season begins, it is important that parents and all shoppers be warned about the danger water beads pose to children. Water beads, which are often sold as toys, crafts, or sensory tools, come in all sorts of bright colors and themes to attract children’s attention. While they may seem harmless—and are often labeled ‘non-toxic’—water beads can cause devastating and life-threatening injuries to children. The small polymer beads absorb fluid and can swell to 100 times their original size when swallowed. Unfortunately, these products aren’t hard to get and are easily purchased online and from big box stores who are marketing them to children despite thousands of emergency room visits caused by water beads in recent years. I’ve now introduced legislation in Congress to ban water beads, but I urge all holiday shoppers to leave water beads off their shopping lists while we work to remove these products from store shelves.
Open Enrollment & COVID Tests
Open enrollment is now live through December 31 for coverage starting at the beginning of 2024. Go to getcovered.nj.gov for more information to find a plan that works for you.
The Biden Administration is offering Americans free at-home coronavirus tests through the Postal Service. Households can order four free tests every month at covidtests.gov.
Click here to visit my website or call my offices directly if you have questions or need help with a federal agency:
Middlesex County: 732-249-8892
Monmouth County: 732-571-1140
Sincerely,
