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Democrat,
I want to start this week by highlighting that the application for federal student loan debt relief is open now until December 31, 2023. Filling it out takes less than 5 minutes and eligible applicants could receive up to $20,000 in loan forgiveness if they were Pell Grant recipients and up to $10,000 for non-Pell Grant recipients.
Click here to apply! [[link removed]]
On Monday, because of President Biden’s administration, retailers began selling hearing aids over the counter at much lower costs for consumers. The FDA estimates that the rule could lower average costs by as much as $3,000 per pair of hearing aids, which could impact nearly 30 million Americans with hearing loss.
You can read more about this historic move towards more affordable healthcare here. [[link removed]]
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Governor Murphy was in Utah this week for the National Governors Association’s Youth Mental Health Convening. Gov. Murphy serves as Chair of the NGA alongside Governor of Utah, Spencer Cox, as Vice-Chair.
The convening included panel and roundtable discussions with medical professionals, parents, and youth focusing on the current state of youth mental health, providing youth with the supports and tools needed to cope with stressors and challenges, building resiliency, and addressing workforce shortages so we can provide our children and families with health care services when they need it.
Governor Murphy’s 2022-2023 Chair’s Initiative focuses on four key pillars to addressing youth mental health:
*
Addressing
Prevention
And
Resilience
Building
-
providing
youth
with
the
supports
and
tools
necessary
to
cope
with
stressors
and
challenges,
helping
them
to
thrive
and
reduce
likelihood
of
engaging
in
unhealthy
or
damaging
behaviors.




*
Increasing
Awareness
And
Reducing
Stigma
-
promoting
awareness
of
mental
health
resources
and
foundational
mental
health
knowledge
by
expanding
easy
access
points
to
education,
helplines
and
state
services.




*
Insuring
Access
And
Affordability
Of
Quality
Treatment
And
Care
-
addressing
the
barriers
that
prevent
youth
from
accessing
care
including
ensuring
high
quality
care
is
available
in
the
places,
spaces,
and
timeframes
that
youth
want
and
need,
and
that
costs
and
lack
of
insurance
coverage
do
not
prevent
access.




*
Training
And
Supporting
Caregivers
And
Teachers
-
expanding
existing
training
and
supports
so
that
those
caring
for
and
interacting
with
youth
daily
have
the
tools
and
understanding
to
identify
mental
health
needs
and
how
to
facilitate
access
to
supports
for
youth
Governors Murphy and Cox also have a new joint piece in The Hill entitled “A wake-up call for youth mental health,” which you can read here. [[link removed]]
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You can use the Voter Resources [[link removed]] page on our website to check voter registration status, apply to vote by mail, and track your ballot.
It is critical that Democrats show up in large numbers for this midterm election so mobilizing voters from around our state is urgent and we need your help. We have several opportunities coming up to get involved and phone or text bank right from the comfort of your own home:
Our Choose Choice Phone Bank and Texting [[link removed]] happens every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. We contact women in our most vulnerable congressional districts and make it clear where women in New Jersey stand on the right to our own bodies. Former Texas State Senator Wendy Davis will be our special guest on Tuesday, October 25th!
The LGBTQ+ Caucus will be hosting phone banking sessions on Thursdays to support LGBTQ+ candidates running for office. You can sign up here to join . [[link removed]]
The Black and Progressive Caucuses will also be calling voters in Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman's district on Thursday, October 27th. Sign up here! [[link removed]] The Veterans Caucus will be getting out the vote for veterans in New Jersey on Sunday, October 30th. Sign up here to join! [[link removed]]
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I didn’t want to pass over the monumental news of President Biden deciding to pardon federal marijuana possession charges - massively changing and improving the lives of thousands of Americans who had previously been convicted of simple possession and could be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result. He also requested that the Attorney General and Secretary of Health & Human Services look at how marijuana is classified. Currently, marijuana is classified the same as heroin - and more dangerous than fentanyl, which we know not to be the case.
While Governor Murphy and our Democratic legislative leaders led the fight to legalize marijuana here in New Jersey, these moves at the federal level are important milestones in rectifying the lives that have been upended because of the bad policies that resulted in a massive, unfair, and racially charged boom in our jails and prisons.
— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.
P.S. I was pleased to attend two incredible community events in Newark this last week - the Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday and the Dedication of the Senator Ronald L Rice Sports Complex at Vailsburg Park, commemorating the years of dedicated service Senator Rice gave to Newark, and New Jersey.
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