Dear Neighbor,
 
This week, I had the opportunity to spend time in New Jersey meeting with many of you. The resilience of our community in the face of war abroad and rising prices and hate at home continues to inspire me. We'll be holding some important events in the district in the coming weeks so be sure to check them out below.

In this weeks e-newsletter
1. The War in Iran
2. Fighting Hate and Political Violence
3. Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act
4. Girl Scouts Day Resolution
5. Congressional App Challenge Winners
6. Local Iftars
7. Passport Clinic
8. Congressional Art Competition

The War in Iran

The news out of Iran has been grim. The US and Israel continued their bombing campaign despite lacking a clear plan or withdrawal strategy. The “goals” of this war have been shifting depending on who in the Trump Administration is speaking and on what day. In a briefing to Senators on Tuesday, the Trump Administration said that the goal is NOT to destroy Iran’s nuclear weapons program. They also confirmed that regime change is not a goal. Whatever regime emerges from this conflict is likely to be more hardline than the last.

They also admitted they had no plan to get traffic moving through the Strait of Hormuz, which borders Iran. This has not only led to higher oil and gas prices (which Trump called a good thing… no, really). It also endangers the world’s agriculture. Nearly ⅓ of the world's globally traded fertilizer passes through the Strait of Hormuz.

The President and his Administration have set us and the world on a collision course with disaster. They are spending over $11 Billion per week on the war in Iran, have killed untold numbers of civilians - including over 175 at a girls' school that was bombed, and we’ve seen the loss of at least 13 US service members. 

My colleagues and I stand committed to ending this war that has already cost us so much.

Fighting Hate and Political Violence

In the last week, we've seen several alarming instances of hate and political violence. Last weekend, in New York City, we saw two men throw homemade explosive devices at a protest and counter-protest outside the mayor's home. Luckily, the devices did not detonate, but many could have been seriously killed or injured. 

In Addition, on Thursday a man committed a horrific attack on the Jewish community in Michigan by driving his vehicle into a synagogue before opening fire. It appears the attacker was the only one killed and has now been identified as a naturalized citizen who recently lost family in the conflict in the Middle East. We must join together to confront and dismantle antisemitism where we see it. Equating the actions of Israel with Jewish people is antisemitic.  Many of our Jewish neighbors have been vocal critics of Israel's military actions in Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran.

Regardless of your positions on foreign policy, you should feel safe in your place of worship. That's why I've worked to increase funding to the Nonprofit Security Grant Program to harden security at synagogues, mosques, churches, and other religious buildings across the country. The synagogue attacked this week had just recently gone through active shooter training, which may have saved lives this week. 

If you'd like information about how your place of worship can benefit from a Nonprofit Security Grant, please visit FEMA's website or reach out to my office.

Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act

On Thursday, I reintroduced the Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act, legislation that would support and expand medical coverage of traction alopecia in the military.
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To maintain a professional appearance and adhere to military grooming standards, many servicewomen use tight hairstyles and chemical hair products that can cause permanent damage to the hair and scalp. The use of military headgear can also exacerbate and/or cause permanent damage.
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The Recognition of Traction Alopecia in Service Women Act would add traction alopecia and wigs to the list of covered medical treatments under TRICARE, the uniformed services health care program for active duty service members. It would also direct the Secretary of Defense to create regulations and training materials warning of the risk of traction alopecia.

Girls Scout Day Resolution

Yesterday, I introduced a bipartisan resolution recognizing March 12th as Girl Scouts Day on the Girl Scouts’ 114th founding anniversary. The resolution celebrates the tremendous impact this organization has had on countless young women and girls over time.

For 114 years, Girl Scouts of the USA has offered young women and girls an opportunity to make new friends, learn important skills, build confidence, and become upstanding citizens. The Girl Scouts are about so much more than the cookies — although they are delicious — and I’m so grateful for all the good work they do for communities across the country.


Congressional App Challenge Winners

I am so excited to share the winner of NJ-12’s 2025 Congressional App Challenge - PantryLink.  Michael Yountz, Naisha Singh, Joshua Sambol, and Nupur Bhavsar of Montgomery High School, The Pennington School, and Hillsborough High School have created an app that helps people in need connect to food banks in their area.

When asked what inspired the creation of PantryLink, the students said, “When we were thinking about creating an app for the CAC, we learned about the difficult situation many food banks face in our area. After speaking with people involved with food pantries, we learned that it was difficult for these organizations to connect with people in need. We heard stories of people driving hours for a food bank when there were ones closer to them with the same resources, or that there was food being wasted sometimes because there was not enough awareness. These issues compelled us to create an app that would allow people to easily connect to their local food banks.”

PantryLink not only connects members of the community to food banks, but it also gives food banks the opportunity to coordinate needs with each other and provides donation and volunteering information to those who are in a position to help. I’m incredibly proud of the work this group put into addressing the important issues of food scarcity and the resources that go to waste, and I am excited to see them represent New Jersey’s 12th district at the Capitol for #HouseofCode next month!

Local Iftars

As the holy month of Ramadan enters its final 10 days, I have had the privilege of attending various iftars across New Jersey to break fast with friends and neighbors.
Ramadan is a time for reflection. It is a time that reminds me of the importance of patience and finding the strength, even in the most challenging moments, to show up for others in need.  I’ve seen the Muslim community come together to support each other and support their neighbors in times of crisis and in times of celebration - unwavering in the face of hateful rhetoric and bigotry.


I know that for many Muslim American families, this moment carries a heavy toll. People are watching their loved ones suffer abroad while also confronting hostility here at home. The devastation in Gaza continues to shock the conscience; the scale of civilian suffering is impossible to ignore. At the same time, the decision to draw the United States into conflict with Iran threatens the autonomy of Congress and the American electorate altogether. The people did not ask for this war, and yet it’s the children of working-class families who are fighting these wars of choice.

I pray for a future where every community in this country is treated with dignity and respect. I pray for peace, here at home and abroad. And I pray we find the strength to continue supporting each other until peace finds us. Ramadan Mubarak to all who are observing in NJ-12 and beyond.

Passport Clinic
It’s not too late to RSVP for our next Passport Clinic on Thursday, March 26th, from 1PM to 6PM. Sign up now to renew or apply for a passport and get passport photos taken. Last time we had over 100 people join us. Don’t delay!

Congressional Art Competition
The Congressional Arts Competition is back! All 9th -12th graders are invited to submit their art for the chance to have it hung at the Capitol. Submissions open on Monday are due April 3rd.

You can visit my website for more information.

Follow me on social media
To keep up with the latest between e-newsletters be sure to follow my office on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or Bluesky. I'm "RepBonnie" on each of them.