Democrat,

After trying to gut the programs for years, Donald Trump recently promised again that he would try to cut Social Security and Medicare for the over 1 million New Jerseyans who rely on them. In every year of his presidency, Trump tried to cut Medicare and Social Security programs, and he’s making it crystal clear that he’ll try again. People in New Jersey can’t afford to lose access to these critical programs, and the only way to safeguard them is by reelecting President Biden and Vice President Harris.

Make no mistake, Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans want to cut Social Security and Medicare for New Jerseyans:

• Trump said he plans to do “a lot … in terms of cutting” to Social Security and Medicare, which would be devastating to the almost 2 million New Jerseyans who rely on them.


• Trump sought to cut Medicare and Social Security programs every year he was in office.


• Trump called for privatizing Social Security, which he called a “Ponzi scheme.”


• Trump and MAGA Republicans’ plan to gut Social Security and Medicare is extremely unpopular with Americans — including Republicans.

Governor Murphy this week signed landmark affordable housing legislation to support towns in meeting their affordable housing obligations, building on his administration’s promise to create a stronger, fairer, and more affordable state for all New Jerseyans. The legislation develops a new system for municipalities to meet their affordable housing obligations, replacing the current process that exists entirely in the courts.

“One of our Administration’s top priorities has been to establish New Jersey as a national leader in expanding affordable housing,” said Governor Murphy. “With today’s bill signing, we will be able to create more certainty and lower costs in New Jersey’s affordable housing landscape. By establishing new processes and practices for towns to meet their affordable housing obligations, we are able to more quickly and efficiently allocate funding to municipalities and support those building affordable housing in our state. I am proud that my Administration and the Legislature have enacted a coherent and workable framework that no longer leaves this issue exclusively to the courts.”

Access to affordable housing stands as one of the most pressing issues of our time, resonating profoundly in communities across the globe. In New Jersey, this challenge is particularly acute, with soaring housing costs placing immense strain on families and young individuals alike. Yet, by taking decisive action to confront the housing crisis head-on, we can transform New Jersey into a beacon of affordability.

Throughout the month of March, the New Jersey Democratic State Committee will celebrate Women’s History Month with a weekly spotlight of trailblazing women leaders throughout the state.

India R. Larrier is a Senior Project Manager for Community Catalyst, a national health advocacy organization focused on health justice and racial equity. She is a lifelong Essex County resident, now living in Maplewood, NJ.

Formerly, India was an Associate State Director of Advocacy for AARP-New Jersey, where she actively advocated for those aged 50 and older. Before AARP, she worked for the state-wide advocacy and social justice organization New Jersey Citizen Action, where she spoke out and organized events in defense of the Affordable Care Act, expansion of substance use disorder treatment, and prevention services for youth and young adults.

In her hometown of Maplewood, NJ, where she raised three children with her husband, John Larrier, she served two terms as an elected member of Maplewood’s Township Committee (2012-2017) and president of the local Board of Health. She is currently a Maplewood Democratic Committee district leader and Co-Chair of our NJDSC Older Adult Caucus.

Fal Pandya is a passionate advocate for human dignity, focusing her efforts on promoting education, yoga, mental resilience through meditation, and the importance of cultural and interfaith exchange. She founded "Namaste Global" to inspire the next generation towards character building and a sense of global responsibility, all while maintaining a connection to their cultural roots. Fal Pandya has MBA in Finance from NYU and is an investor in real estate and HealthTech start-ups. Fal’s commitment to community service was inspired at an early age by her father's influential leadership roles. Serving as a Hindu Clergy within the Livingston Interfaith Clergy Association and on the executive board of the Hindu-Jewish Coalition with AJC, her engagement extends to speaking at various collaborative and educational forums. Currently, she is actively involved with the AAPI Commission and the NJ-India Commission under Governor Murphy’s administration, and serves as NJDSC Hindu Caucus Co-Chair.

This week the Biden Administration announced that they are canceling student loans for an additional 78,000 public service workers – teachers, nurses, firefighters, and more – through Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Because of the fixes Biden’s Administration has made, student debt for over 870,000 public service workers has now been canceled – compared to only about 7,000 public service borrowers ever receiving forgiveness prior to this Administration. And through all of our various student debt relief actions, nearly four million Americans have had their student debt canceled under Biden’s Administration.

This announcement comes on top of the significant progress we’ve achieved for students and student loan borrowers in the past few years. This includes: providing the largest increases in Pell Grants in over a decade to help families who earn less than roughly $60,000 a year; fixing Income-Driven Repayment plans so borrowers in repayment for years get the relief they earned; and creating the most generous Income-Driven Repayment plan in history – the SAVE plan.

Despite relentless legal and legislative challenges and persistent opposition, President Biden and his administration have stood strong in their commitment to address the student debt crisis. President Biden's administration continues to explore innovative solutions and policies that will provide much-needed financial respite to countless Americans.

— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.

P.S. This weekend marks a vibrant celebration of cultures as both Purim and Holi are observed. Purim, a joyous Jewish holiday, commemorates deliverance from adversity and celebrates the unity we can find when we emerge from struggles stronger than ever. Meanwhile, Holi, the Hindu festival of colors, welcomes spring with vibrancy and a dedication to peace and joy. Wishing everyone a safe and joyful holiday weekend, cherishing the richness of our cultural tapestry! Chag Purim Sameach and Happy Holi!