Trump’s 1st Year: Higher Prices & New Wars

Dear Neighbor,

This week marked one year since Donald Trump returned to the White House. Despite his promises to lower your bills and be a “Peace President” your costs are higher and America is engaged in more foreign conflicts around the globe.

In fact, during Trump’s first full year back in office, we know Garden State families spent over $2,060 more because of inflation and tariffs. That’s money families simply do not have to afford the basics, especially as wages remain flat while CEO compensation skyrockets.

As if Trump’s domestic policies weren’t erratic and harmful enough, this past weekend, Trump threatened to take Greenland by force, endangering the alliances that have kept America safe for generations. Coming off the heels of his actions in Venezuela, Americans are rightly alarmed by Trump’s threats to take military action against our NATO allies.

None of this will result in a safer or more affordable America.

On a happier note…

…we had several developments in New Jersey worth celebrating! A bill passed by the state legislature last week to keep acute care hospital services at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch was signed by former Governor Murphy on the last day of his term.

The new law requires a clear path to preserve inpatient care and a full-service emergency department at Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, while allowing plans for a new facility in Tinton Falls to move forward.

It prevents disruptions in care, avoids overburdening nearby hospitals, and guarantees that patients, especially vulnerable residents, will continue to have access to lifesaving services close to home. Your voices in advocating for community-oriented acute care hospital services in Long Branch were essential to making this happen, and I want to thank you for your role in it.

In case you want to learn more about the law, you can watch my explainer here.

Governor Mikie Sherrill was also sworn in on the same day! Our new governor has an impressive track record of delivering for Garden State families in the House of Representatives. I was proud to call her my colleague and I'm proud to call her a friend. I'm looking forward to working with her Administration to address affordability for New Jerseyans.

Improvements to the area near the Elberon train station

I secured $250,000 in federal Community Project Funding in the latest federal spending bill to improve safety and accessibility around the Elberon library and train station! This funding will be used to resurface the station parking lot, expand the park area around the library, and create bicycle lanes along Lincoln Avenue.

As you might know, President James Garfield was a regular visitor to Long Branch. After he was shot in Washington, he was brought to Elberon, hopefully to recuperate. and local residents helped lay half a mile of railroad track from the Elberon station to make sure that he could get to his oceanfront home quickly and smoothly to recover from his wounds. After Garfield passed, a tea house was constructed with the railroad ties from this emergency railroad line.

The tea house will be relocated to the expanded park next to the Elberon Library. In addition, the City of Long Branch is also coordinating with NJ Transit to create a small exhibit inside the Elberon train station highlighting the area’s history and Garfield’s time in Long Branch.