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Dear Neighbor,
It was an eventful week down in DC. Members of the Trump Administration came to Congress to try to defend the Administration's draconian cuts to important social services while expanding the Pentagon's already inflated budget.
In addition, Congress held votes on Trump's disastrous war in Iran and Speaker Johnson's chaotic attempt to renew the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Finally, if you know a student in the 12th District who is interested in attending one of our nation's fine military service academies, be sure to read below on our application process.
In this E-Newsletter:
1. Director Vought and Secretary Kennedy Hearings
2. War Powers Vote
3. FISA Renewal
4. Advancing Restorative Justice in Schools
5. Service Academy Nominations are OPEN!
6. Hybrid Office Hours
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Hybrid Office Hours
Stop by during my Hybrid Office Hours on Thursday, May 7, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Old Bridge Public Library or online. If you're having issues with a federal agency, my office is happy to assist you.
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Holding the Trump Administration Accountable Over Disastrous Cuts in Dual Hearings
On Wednesday, I attended the Budget Committee hearing in which President Trump’s Director of the Office of Management and Budget (and Project 2025 architect) Russell Vought testified. I grilled him on the grim result of cuts to USAID that have led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of children. In addition, I confronted him on the draconian cuts to programs Americans rely on, including Medicare and Medicaid, in order to pay for President Trump’s war of choice in Iran.
On Thursday, I questioned HHS Secretary Kennedy on how the Trump administration has sought to slash the programs that help our most vulnerable communities.
When I last questioned him a year ago, he told us he understood the ‘life-saving importance’ of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)-- which helps families keep the lights on and heat running when they cannot afford their rising utility bills. Yet in the budget, the Secretary proposed eliminating LIHEAP, which has helped more than 240,000 New Jersey households pay their energy costs. A year later, New Jerseyans are paying 17% more for their energy bills. For many households, that means an extra $260 that could have gone toward groceries, childcare, or prescription drugs. It’s hard to see how this move would make Americans healthy again.
In addition, I questioned him on the Trump Administration's decision to cut research into racial health disparities despite Kennedy's recognition that such disparities exist.
War Powers Vote
On Thursday, I voted for the bipartisan War Powers Resolution to put a halt to President Trump's costly war in Iran. Shamefully, all but one House Republican voted against the resolution, conceding their constitutional responsibility to decide when and if the United States goes to war.
FISA vote
FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which has come under scrutiny for its lack of protections for US citizens’ communications, was due to expire next Monday.
The FISA renewal vote was originally scheduled for Wednesday, then it was pushed to Thursday afternoon, then Thursday night, and then was finally held until 2:15 in the morning.
It was a bad bill on Wednesday, and it only got worse as the week went along. The final bill failed to significantly increase protections for citizens and extended the bill from 18 months to a staggering FIVE years.
Trying to pass surveillance bills that impact the rights and privacy of Americans, in the middle of the night, with last-minute amendments. That's some shady business.
Advancing Restorative Justice in Schools
On Thursday, I reintroduced the Commission on Advancing Restorative Justice in Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 2026. This bill would authorize the Secretary of Education to establish an interagency commission, in close collaboration with the Department of Health and Human Services, to promote restorative justice practices in elementary and secondary education.
Our elementary and secondary educators need our support to transition from historic disciplinary practices that encourage race and gender biases towards students of color to a sensible alternative that employs practices that foster positive classrooms and school culture, creating spaces for students of all cultural backgrounds to thrive.
Our students deserve an education in a safe and fair environment, yet Black and brown are consistently disciplined more than their white peers for similar behaviors. Instead of relying on traditional punishment, restorative justice and restorative practices in schools focus on building positive relationships and fostering a sense of belonging. By creating a supportive environment, educators can help prevent misbehavior and address issues through a constructive, empathetic lens. We need to emphasize repairing harm, restoring relationships, and understanding the root cause of behavior, which can often be tied to trauma or unmet needs.
Service Academy Applications Open
The application period for the 2026–2027 Service Academy nomination cycle is now open. This year’s submission period has been accelerated to ensure all nominations are completed and submitted on time during this transition period. The deadline to apply is Monday, June 25 at 5:00 PM, and applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis due to the shortened window.
If you’re interested in applying, I encourage you to attend one of our virtual information sessions to learn more about the process and what’s required. Sessions will be held on Friday, April 24 from 4:00–5:00 PM and Tuesday, May 5 from 4:00–5:00 PM. RSVP here.
All application materials must be submitted digitally as individual PDF documents and sent together in a single email by the deadline. Completed applications should be emailed to AcademyNominationsNJ12@gmail.com.
For more information about the Service Academy nomination process, please visit, the Service Academy Nominations section of our website.
Hybrid Office Hours
Stop by during my Hybrid Office Hours on Thursday, May 7, from 11 am to 2 pm, at the Old Bridge Public Library or online. If you're having issues with a federal agency, my office is happy to assist you.
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