For over a month, people in New Jersey have reported unidentified drones flying over the state. Despite these reports, the administration has downplayed the issue, claiming the sightings cannot be verified and leaving the residents to figure things out on their own. The lack of transparency has been unacceptable.

Now, the Federal Aviation Administration announced new restrictions for drones over 22 communities, including over sensitive areas, in New Jersey. They have also authorized the use of 'deadly force' against the drones if they present an 'imminent security threat.' If these drones are a real threat, the public deserves to know what they are, who is operating them, and why they are here. If they are not, then why are flight restrictions over critical infrastructure being authorized? 

A new possibility has been proposed that the federal government is only detecting normal aircrafts because unidentified drones are evading detection. They may be evading government detection through the use of frequency skipping, which means the drones switch communication channels rapidly, so they are unable to be traced. To get to the bottom of this, New Jersey and New York are bringing in more advanced detection capabilities to better understand what is happening.

People should not be left in the dark. They deserve answers, and they deserve them now.

Click here to read my most recent statement on the issue.

Recently, I met with leaders from Atlantic City Electric (ACE) and Exelon to discuss the rising utility bills in South Jersey. I am pleased to share that as a result of our meeting, ACE has committed to an additional audit of their billing system and will investigate claims of overcharging. They also plan to put together a more efficient process to ensure that customer complaints are more immediately addressed.

While these are positive steps, there is more work to be done. The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) delayed its vote on ACE's proposed 8% rate increase until April. We must keep up the pressure on the NJBPU to ensure they know that any rate hike is not in the best interest of our residents. I will continue to keep you informed on this process.

If you are still having issues with your utility billing, click here.

To read the full release, click here.

Recently, I questioned the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Director Ur Jaddou during a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing about a parole program, that is riddled with fraud and abuse. This program allows illegal immigrants from the countries, Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, and Nicaragua to remain in the U.S. if they have a sponsor.

Since it was introduced in 2022, this program has allowed nearly 500,000 people to enter the country. Many of these individuals had no legitimate path to enter the U.S. before being granted parole under this flawed system. However, the issue goes far beyond just those four countries. People from over 70 countries are now entering the U.S. through this parole loophole, bypassing our legal immigration system entirely.

Programs like this undermine the integrity of our immigration system and harm the legal immigrants who are following the law and waiting their turn. It is time to stop enabling this crisis and focus on securing our borders, enforcing the law, and ensuring only those who follow the proper channels are allowed to enter and stay in our country.

Click here to watch my full line of questioning.

This week, I introduced the Stopping Harmful Image Exploitation and Limiting Distribution (SHIELD) Act, a bill designed to address the rising threat of online exploitation. I was proud to be joined by five of my colleagues as original cosponsors of the bill.

In today's digital age, we are seeing an alarming rise in digital exploitation. Predators are targeting individuals, especially children and vulnerable adults, by threatening to share intimate images or videos without consent. Unfortunately, our laws have not kept up with these dangers, letting many perpetrators get away without any consequences.

The SHIELD Act would close these gaps by modernizing our legal framework and ensuring that those who exploit others for personal gain are held accountable. I am committed to leading this fight to ensure no one is left unprotected and that justice is served for every victim.

Click here to read the full release.

As we approach the end of the year, I want to take a moment to wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. I hope this time of year brings you joy, peace, and the opportunity to make lasting memories with family, friends, and loved ones.

May your holidays be filled with warmth and happiness, and may you find moments of rest and reflection as we wrap up 2024. Wishing you all the best for a joyful holiday season and an exciting new year ahead!