Big Wins in the Final Weeks of 2022

A Message From Congresswoman Sherrill

Dear Friends,

It has been a busy month in Washington wrapping up the 117th Congress and securing year-end wins for New Jersey’s 11th District. I am writing to give you an update on the legislation we have passed this month, including this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will bring federal dollars directly back to the district to protect us against flooding, combat climate change, and strengthen our supply chains.

I was also proud to vote to codify the fundamental right to same-sex and interracial marriage into law. Additionally, I stood alongside my colleagues to honor the United States Capitol Police with a Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery and sacrifice on January 6th. Keep reading to learn more.

Take care,

Mikie Sherrill

The 2023 National Defense Authorization Act

I joined my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to pass the NDAA, a bill that will deliver a stronger national defense and support our men and women in uniform. I was able to secure key NJ-11 priorities, including major funding for Picatinny Arsenal and combating climate change, and the Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act.

Click here to read more about what this year’s NDAA is bringing back to NJ-11.

Improving Our Water Infrastructure

I am proud we were able to come together and include the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) in the NDAA. This bipartisan legislation will protect our neighborhoods from flooding events, restore our environment and ecosystems, and strengthen our nation’s supply chains by supporting our ports and harbors.

This year’s WRDA enables the Army Corps to lay groundwork for future flood control projects and start critical water and wastewater projects in NJ-11 - from flood investigations and flood control feasibility studies for all four counties, the Whippany, Peckman, and Passaic Rivers to sewer installations in Jefferson to improve Lake Hopatcong's water quality and projects to remove PFAS from our drinking water. Learn more on my website.

Protecting Federal Judges and Their Families

The bipartisan, bicameral Daniel Anderl Judicial Security and Privacy Act, that Senator Bob Menendez and I introduced, was included in this year’s NDAA. This bill will extend protections for all federal judges.

U.S. District Court Judge Ester Salas and her husband tragically lost their son in a targeted attack on their home in July 2020. The gunman had previously argued a case before Judge Salas and used publicly available information to target the judge.

Judge Salas and her husband experienced a tragedy that no parent should ever endure and with this bill, we are taking action to protect our public servants on the federal bench and prevent this type of violence in the future.

Supporting Picatinny Arsenal

Picatinny Arsenal, located right here in NJ-11, is a premier center for military innovation. The Arsenal is at the cutting edge of modernization of armaments and ammunition and is a critical player in the development of next-generation technology for the Department of Defense. It is our district’s largest employer and contributes more than $1 billion to New Jersey's economy.

I was proud to secure more than $152 million above the President’s budget request for Picatinny programs in the 2023 FY NDAA. This funding will support the Arsenal’s research and development capabilities and bring more highly paid jobs to New Jersey.

Codifying the Right to Same Sex & Interracial Marriage

I was very proud to stand with Americans across the country and vote to defend marriage equality. However, I was shocked that we had to vote for rights that are so intrinsic to who we are as a nation and as individuals. Unfortunately, extremist Republicans in Congress tried to take down the bill at the last minute. Make no mistake, regardless of who is in the majority, I will continue to fight for the safety, dignity, and rights of all Americans.

Who you love and want to marry shouldn’t be up for political debate or under legal attack. With this bill, we codified same-sex and interracial marriage to protect these freedoms from being infringed upon by extremists.

Fighting for Women’s Equality on the Field

I joined Kelley O’Hara, former USWNT member and leader in the fight for equal pay, and Lindsay Kagawa Colas, a top women’s sports talent agent, for a conversation on how we can improve opportunities for women on the field at youth, collegiate, and professional levels.

As we head into 2023, I look forward to continuing to fight to strengthen Title IX, which has transformed not only the classroom, but also girls’ access to sports and the benefits of athletic teams, including future scholarship opportunities. I will continue to be an advocate for investing in women's sports and for gender equality on and off the field.

In case you missed it, click here to watch our live conversation!

Honoring the U.S. Capitol Police

The U.S. Capitol Police and D.C. Metro Police are the first people I see in the morning as I enter the Capitol and the last ones I see as I head home. Every day my colleagues, staff and I feel safe because of their service.

On January 6th, they served with incredible bravery and heroism as they defended our democracy against an insurrection. I joined my colleagues in honoring them with a Congressional Gold Medal. Thank you for being our heroes. Our nation owes you a debt of gratitude.