I recently toured Lake Lenape dam with local and county officials and got to see firsthand the work being done to rehabilitate the dam due to structural concerns. Not only is the dam important to help maintain water levels for recreational use, but it ensures nearby homes are safe from flooding hazards. As a member of the House Homeland Security and Transportation and Infrastructure Committees, I intend to advocate for community project funding for this project and others like it that are critical to the wellbeing of South Jersey communities.

Read more about my visit to Lake Lenape damn here

Recently, I questioned Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on the Biden Administration's infrastructure plan.

I recently joined Israel Aerospace Industries North America, a U.S. subsidiary of Israel’s largest aerospace and defense company, at the Atlantic City airport for a demonstration of two pieces of technology - one that uses ultraviolet light to disinfect surfaces and another that implements monitoring technology to scan travelers at safe distances and measure their heart rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature. 

One of the critical lessons we have learned from the COVID-19 pandemic is just how vulnerable our world is to infectious diseases. It is vital that we adapt our infrastructure so that when the next pandemic comes, we are not so vulnerable. The technologies that I witnessed are just a singular example of the wider adaptations we need to strengthen our infrastructure against the existential threat of disease, while ensuring the privacy of American travelers is protected.

Read the Press of Atlantic City article here

The situation at the border is dire. Thousands of migrants are coming into America each day risking life and limb, with no signs of slowing down. It is important that we help those who are vulnerable while also focusing on reversing misguided policies that drive migrants to undertake such treacherous journeys. 

Here are some facts to help explain what is going on*

• CBP is currently encountering more than 3,000 individuals per day. Jeh Johnson, Secretary of Homeland Security under President Obama, said at the time that 1,000 encounters per day was a bad number.
  
  
• In February 2021, CBP encountered the highest number of migrants recorded in the month of February in over seven years:
  • 100,441 migrants along the southwest border
  • 28% increase from January
  • 173% increase compared to February 2020
  • 163% increase in family units from January
  • 61% increase in unaccompanied child from January
    
    
• As of March 25, the Biden Administration reported more than 18,000 unaccompanied children in its custody, with roughly 12,500 in HHS facilities and 5,500 in temporary Border Patrol holding facilities.
  
  
• According to reports, DHS estimates between 18,600 and 22,000 children could cross the border in April.
  • For context, CBP data indicates the previous record for unaccompanied minor encounters at the southwest border for the month of April was 8,880.
    
    
• For May, officials are estimating the number could rise to roughly between 21,800 and 25,000.
  • For context, CBP data shows the May 2019 record of 11,475 unaccompanied minors
    
    
• Washington Post reports that DHS is expecting between 500,000 and 800,000 migrants in family groups to cross the border in fiscal year 2021.

*data as of March 29, 2021

As you may have heard, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) recently announced a Notice of Intent (NOI) to begin the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Construction and Operations Plan (COP) that has been submitted by Ocean Wind in regards to their offshore wind farm off the coast of South Jersey.

With this announcement, a 30-day public comment period has been opened and extends until 11:59PM EST on April 29, 2021. You may submit written comments electronically here and search Docket No. BOEM-2021-0024. Click on the “Comment Now!” button to the right of the document link. Enter your information and comment, then click “Submit.”

BOEM will also be hosting virtual scoping meetings that will be held at the following dates and times (Eastern):

• Tuesday, April 13, 2021; 1:00 p.m.
• Thursday, April 15, 2021; 5:30 p.m.
• Tuesday, April 20, 2021; 5:30 p.m.

Registration for the virtual public meetings will open in the coming days and can be RSVP’d for by visiting https://www.boem.gov/ocean-wind.