Dear Neighbors,
The House adopted an agreement this week to avert a rail strike that would have devastated our economy. I voted for it, because I believe it's in the best interest of the American people to keep our rail system running. Railroad workers work around the clock to keep our economy running, and they deserve essential workplace protections and benefits.
I also proudly supported the amendment that the House adopted to add seven days of paid sick leave for railroad workers to the original agreement. This is a key priority for labor and a value that Democrats share. The Senate will now take up the legislation.
Railroad corporations continue to make obscene profits on the backs of workers. That’s why Democrats continue to fight for more of railroad workers’ priorities, including paid sick leave.
A rail shutdown would grind our economy to a halt and affect the lives of nearly every family:
- as many as 765,000 workers, including many union members, would lose their jobs in just the first two weeks of a strike
- millions of families wouldn’t be able to get groceries, medications and other goods
- many communities wouldn’t be able to keep their water supply clean
- businesses wouldn’t be able to get their products to market
- perishable goods would spoil before reaching consumers
The shutdown-averting legislation will give America’s families and businesses confidence in our economy this holiday season.
Progress To Protect Marriage Equality
Democrats will soon send a historic bill to President Biden’s desk to protect marriage equality under federal law. Enacting this legislation is a major victory for freedom, dignity, and equality and will ensure the federal government will never again stand in the way of marrying the person you love.
The Respect for Marriage Act enshrines into federal law marriage equality for same sex and interracial couples. It also finally repeals the discriminatory and unconstitutional Defense of Marriage Act, so that no future Administration or Majority in Congress can wield this appalling policy as a weapon against the LGBTQ+ community.
In his disturbing concurrence to the Dobbs decision, Justice Clarence Thomas explicitly took aim at Obergefell, which underpins the right to marriage equality. If the extremist Republican-controlled Supreme Court weakens or eliminates Obergefell, it would rip away another fundamental freedom and upend the lives of countless families across the country. The House is expected to take up the Respect for Marriage Act next week, and I look forward to supporting it.
If you have questions about resources available to New Jerseyans related to COVID-19, click here to visit my website or call my offices directly:
Middlesex County: 732-249-8892
Monmouth County: 732-571-1140
Sincerely,
