Mikie Sherrill for Congress

Press Release: Menendez & Sherrill: We can’t allow our towns, counties, state to go bankrupt. Congress needs to act.

The COVID-19 pandemic continues to roil our state. And while the actions taken by Gov. Phil Murphy — and every New Jerseyan — to flatten the curve are working, to date we’ve lost more than 11,000 of our friends, family and neighbors to this virus, and thousands more remain sick.

Countless medical and healthcare professionals remain on the frontlines in our fight to defeat the coronavirus. Grocery store clerks, pharmacy, warehouse employees, transit workers, and others are putting their own health at risk to keep medicine and food supply chains running and to ensure essential employees get to their jobs.

Over a million hardworking New Jerseyans have filed for unemployment. More than 125,000 small businesses across the state have applied for the Paycheck Protection Program and millions of families remain sequestered in their homes.

But the social distancing measures we’ve all had to endure to flatten the curve, contain the pandemic and protect our health care system from being overrun have created enormous economic hardship. COVID-19 has taken not only a personal toll on New Jerseyans, it is also creating an economic burden that, if we fail to act, will affect communities and families for generations to come.

Our state and local governments have gone to extraordinary lengths to respond to the public health emergency – setting up testing sites, acquiring personal protective equipment, expanding contact tracing, transitioning our schools to remote learning – all to support our communities.

With each passing day, our state, counties, cities and towns lose more of the tax revenue they depend on to provide residents with the essential services that make New Jersey such a great place to live and work. Sales tax revenue has plummeted with consumers staying home. Highway tolls, bus and train fares, even parking meter collections are down with more teleworking and fewer traveling. And with so many of our residents out of work, it’s becoming increasingly difficult for New Jersey families and small businesses to pay income and property taxes.

As a result, communities across our state are forced to make difficult decisions about whether to lay off police officers, firefighters and teachers, to close libraries and parks, or to halt trash pick-up and road maintenance. Without bold federal action, we will have another devastating crisis developing in our state.

Despite what some in Washington might think, we can’t allow our state, counties, and towns to go bankrupt. We deserve a better federal response.

Our bipartisan legislation will provide New Jersey with the support it needs to battle COVID-19 and avoid mass layoffs, significant property tax increases, and cuts to essential services. The State and Municipal Assistance for Recovery and Transition (SMART) Fund will deliver desperately needed resources to frontline state and local governments across the country, while prioritizing the areas hit hardest by the virus and economic fallout.

In March, Congress provided $150 billion for states, large cities, and counties with populations above 500,000 in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, but it didn’t go far enough nor provide the necessary flexibility.

Moreover, funding in the CARES Act failed to recognize the reality on the ground that some states and communities have unfortunately been hit harder than others. New Jersey only received 2% of the available funds despite having more than 10% of the nation’s COVID-19 cases, which required the state to slow the spread by closing non-essential businesses more quickly than most. The SMART Fund corrects that injustice.

In response, the SMART Fund provides an additional $500 billion in state and local aid, delivering on the bipartisan request from the National Governors Association. And every state, county and municipality in the country will qualify for direct assistance. That ensures New Jersey’s smaller counties and towns won’t be left out.

The formula for distributing the federal funds is equally important. The SMART Fund doesn’t rely on population alone. Instead, it rightly factors in infection rates and revenue losses to ensure the hardest-hit states, like New Jersey, get their fair share.

New Jersey and the Northeast region drive one-fifth of the entire U.S. economy. We always step up to help our fellow Americans during times of crisis, and now it’s time for the federal government to support us when we need it most. The SMART Fund makes sure those hard-earned tax dollars come back to our state at this critical juncture.

When times are tough, New Jerseyans know how to stick together. We have seen during this pandemic the bravery, fortitude, and Jersey grit that define our state. We are working together with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to secure our future so that together, we can get through this crisis and proudly remain Jersey strong.

Bob Menendez is New Jersey’s senior United States senator.

Mikie Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Posted on May 27, 2020 by By Bob Menendez and Mikie Sherrill on 5/27/2020

Press Release: Rep. Sherrill Endorsed by National Organization for Women PAC

West Caldwell, NJ—Representative Mikie Sherrill announced her endorsement today by the National Organization for Women Political Action Committee (NOW PAC) for her dedication to the fight for the advancement and equality of women. This is the second cycle in a row Representative Sherrill has earned NOW PAC’s endorsement.

“Having the voices of women at the decision-making table makes our country stronger,” said Representative Sherrill. “I have worked hard during my first year in Congress to fight for equal pay, paid parental leave, and reproductive freedom, as well as elevate the experience of women in national security. I’m grateful for the support of NOW and look forward to working together for the benefit of New Jersey women and families.”

“Mikie Sherrill is the strong independent voice we need to stand up to bullies when hard-won women’s rights are constantly under attack,” said Anjali Mehrotra, President of the National Organization for Women of New Jersey. “As we continue the fight for equality, we also recognize that having women represent us in Congress is imperative to having our voices heard. For these reasons and the work that Congresswoman Sherrill has already done on behalf of the women of the 11th District, National Organization for Women of New Jersey applauds her endorsement by NOW PAC.”

This is another major endorsement for Representative Sherrill’s re-election bid. She recently earned the endorsement of Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. Representative Sherrill’s strong work in Congress for New Jersey families has earned her key endorsements for 2020, including: NARAL, Planned Parenthood Action Fund, Foreign Policy for America, National Women’s Political Caucus, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Sierra Club, and the Brady Campaign to End Gun Violence.

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Posted on March 11, 2020 by Team Mikie

Press Release: Rep. Sherrill Endorsed by Giffords for Commitment to Gun Safety

West Caldwell, New Jersey—Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) announced today that her strong record as a gun safety advocate in Congress earned her an endorsement from Giffords, the gun violence prevention organization founded by former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords.

“I’ve made it my mission in Congress to fight for common sense gun safety measures that the majority of Americans agree on,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “New Jersey has some of the strongest gun safety laws in the country, but as we saw yet again after the Jersey City shooting, our laws are constantly undermined by states with weak gun safety laws. It’s time for Mitch McConnell and the Senate to start passing gun safety legislation, such as universal background checks for firearm purchases passed by the House a year ago. I’m honored to stand with Giffords as we fight to keep our citizens and our kids safe.”

“Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill understands the true meaning of service,” said former Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, co-founder of Giffords. She signed up for dangerous jobs and tours of duty because she wanted to keep our country safe. She realized she could put her experience to good use in the halls of Congress, where the concerns of too many Americans were being ignored.

“Once elected, Congresswoman Sherrill fearlessly pushed forward, making the fight for gun violence prevention a signature issue for the Congressional majority. Because of her efforts, Congress passed historic legislation, H.R. 8, the Bipartisan Background Checks Act. She knows the fight isn’t done. We’ve got her back so we can continue to have a gun safety majority in Congress.”

Representative Sherrill has been a leader in Congress on gun safety. The first piece of legislation she co-sponsored as a Congresswoman was H.R. 8, a bipartisan bill for universal background checks. She has joined to support additional efforts to improve gun safety, including legislation to close the Charleston loophole, close the boyfriend loophole, and limit magazine capacity. She supported the funding last year that provided the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health with $50 million to study the gun violence epidemic—the first such federal investment in gun violence research in more than 20 years. Representative Sherrill is a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force.

Prior to serving in Congress, Representative Sherrill had extensive experience with firearms and the fight to end the gun violence epidemic. In the United States Navy, she qualified as an expert shot in the M-16, Colt .45, and 9mm Beretta, and at the U.S. Attorney’s office she worked to keep guns off the streets of New Jersey.

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Posted on February 13, 2020 by Mikie Sherrill for Congress

Press Release: NEW JERSEY CONGRESSWOMAN AND U.S. NAVY VETERAN MIKIE SHERRILL ENDORSES MIKE BLOOMBERG FOR PRESIDENT

WEST CALDWELL, NEW JERSEY — Today, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) endorsed Democratic presidential candidate Mike Bloomberg for president, praising his commitment to reducing gun violence, protecting our environment, and rebuilding America’s crumbling infrastructure. She applauded his plan to support servicemembers transitioning out of active service and into civilian life by connecting them to high-quality and high-paying jobs, his commitment to protecting the country’s national security and economic interests, and his ability to restore the trust of the American people in our government once again.

“I served in the Navy with members of our military community dedicated to making our country safer and stronger, and it’s clear we need the same level of commitment from our political leaders,” said Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill. “Mike Bloomberg embodies the integrity we need from leadership and I am proud to give my support to him today. His unwavering commitment to making our schools and streets safe from gun violence, investing in our region’s infrastructure, creating opportunities for our veterans, and protecting our environment is proof that Mike Bloomberg won’t back down from the many serious challenges we face as a country. Mike is a true public servant, and I’m confident he will move this country forward into a bright future.”

The endorsement comes as Mike delivers remarks on leadership and protecting veterans and military families in Norfolk, Virginia tomorrow. Mike will also talk about his policy to address the urgent economic, health, and housing needs of America’s veterans and military families. While President Trump’s erratic approach to foreign policy shows a dangerous disregard for our military’s immediate and long term goals, Mike’s plan puts the interest of our nation and our service members first.

“Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill is a true patriot, a leader with integrity and the courage to act on her convictions, and we need more people like her in elected office,” said Mike Bloomberg. “She deserves to work with a president whose allegiance is to the country, not himself, and who is as committed as she is to rebuilding our infrastructure, reducing gun violence, and honoring our veterans—and that’s what I’ll be. I’m honored to have her support, and I look forward to working in partnership with her, building support across the aisle, and getting things done.”

Congresswoman Sherrill represents New Jersey’s 11th District. Sherrill serves as Freshman Whip for the New Democrat Coalition, and sits on the House Armed Services Committee and the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee. She is also the Chairwoman of the Environment Subcommittee for the Science, Space, and Technology Committee.

After graduating from the United States Naval Academy in 1994, Sherrill spent almost 10 years on active duty in the United States Navy. She flew missions throughout Europe and the Middle East as a Sea King helicopter pilot, worked on the Battle Watch Floor in the European Theater during the Iraq invasion, and served as a Flag Aide to the Deputy Commander in Chief of the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. Sherrill also served as a Russian policy officer, working on the implementation of our nuclear treaty obligations and overseeing the relationship between the U.S. Navy and Russian Federation Navy.

Sherrill received a Bachelor’s degree from the United States Naval Academy, a Master’s degree in Global History from the London School of Economics and Political Science, and a Law degree from Georgetown University.

Posted on February 07, 2020 by Mikie Sherrill for Congress

Press Release: Business Insider: 7 Democratic lawmakers who served in the military and intelligence agencies accuse Trump of ‘flagrant disregard for the law’

Seven freshman Democrats who previously served in the US military or with intelligence agencies wrote an op-ed article in the wake of new reports about the whistleblower complaint against President Donald Trump.
The seven Democrats wrote that the recent allegations that Trump improperly tried to benefit from his political position, if proved true, crossed the line and would be considered an “impeachable offense.”
“Our lives have been defined by national service,” the Democrats said in the article. “We are not career politicians.”
“These new allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect,” they wrote. “We must preserve the checks and balances envisioned by the Founders and restore the trust of the American people in our government. And that is what we intend to do.”

Read the full article here >>

Posted on September 24, 2019 by David Choi

Press Release: Insider NJ: Sherrill Says Congress Should Address Ukrainian Allegations With ‘All Of The Tools’, Including Articles Of Impeachment

CD11 Representative Mikie Sherrill, who in the recent past has stopped short of joining other Democrats in calling for an impeachment inquiry of President Trump, released a statement regarding the allegations the President asked Ukrainian officials to investigate presidential primary candidate and former VP Joe Biden. In the statement (read below in its entirety), Sherrill says the President is “attempting to ‘fix’ the election” and that Congress should use “all of the tools” at its’ disposal, including impeachment. Sherrill added that she ‘didn’t run for Congress to impeach the President’ but said he is ‘threatening our national security’ and that Congress has constitutional oversight duties.

Sherrill’s statement:

“I began serving my country when I was 18 years old and entered the U.S. Naval Academy. Part of the mission of the Academy is to imbue Midshipmen “with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty … to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

I try to follow the lessons I learned there. Lessons of service to my country and to my fellow citizens, being willing to make sacrifices and hard choices when necessary, and knowing that it is never enough to claim that I did something because I was ordered to — I always needed to ensure that what I was doing was just and legal.

I recently spoke to students who were considering attending a military service academy. I reminded them that they were signing up to a lifetime of service, and the Vietnam Veterans that served as the Color Guard that day reminded us all that our service to our community never really ends. When I finished my military service, I went to work as a federal prosecutor for the U.S. Attorney’s Office, and now I am continuing my service in Congress.

We are now faced with accusations from numerous sources that our President attempted to pressure a foreign government to investigate one of his rivals in the next presidential election. In other words, the President of the United States is attempting to “fix” the election.

I think these accusations should be addressed with all of the tools at Congress’ disposal, including articles of impeachment. I did not run for Congress to impeach the President. I ran to make the lives of New Jerseyans better. I will continue to work hard to get rid of the SALT cap, lower healthcare costs, and get shovels in the ground for the Portal Bridge and the Gateway Tunnel. But I have long said that Congress is a co-equal branch of government and has Constitutional oversight duties as well as duties to legislate for Americans. The President of the United States is threatening our national security. I believe it is my responsibility as a Member of Congress to ensure that I protect our country from any and all threats, and that is what I intend to do.”

Read full article here >>

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Insider NJ

Press Release: Washington Post - Seven freshman Democrats: These allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect

Our lives have been defined by national service. We are not career politicians. We are veterans of the military and of the nation’s defense and intelligence agencies. Our service is rooted in the defense of our country on the front lines of national security.

We have devoted our lives to the service and security of our country, and throughout our careers, we have sworn oaths to defend the Constitution of the United States many times over. Now, we join as a unified group to uphold that oath as we enter uncharted waters and face unprecedented allegations against President Trump.

The president of the United States may have used his position to pressure a foreign country into investigating a political opponent, and he sought to use U.S. taxpayer dollars as leverage to do it. He allegedly sought to use the very security assistance dollars appropriated by Congress to create stability in the world, to help root out corruption and to protect our national security interests, for his own personal gain. These allegations are stunning, both in the national security threat they pose and the potential corruption they represent. We also know that on Sept. 9, the inspector general for the intelligence community notified Congress of a “credible” and “urgent” whistleblower complaint related to national security and potentially involving these allegations. Despite federal law requiring the disclosure of this complaint to Congress, the administration has blocked its release to Congress.

This flagrant disregard for the law cannot stand. To uphold and defend our Constitution, Congress must determine whether the president was indeed willing to use his power and withhold security assistance funds to persuade a foreign country to assist him in an upcoming election.

If these allegations are true, we believe these actions represent an impeachable offense. We do not arrive at this conclusion lightly, and we call on our colleagues in Congress to consider the use of all congressional authorities available to us, including the power of “inherent contempt” and impeachment hearings, to address these new allegations, find the truth and protect our national security.

As members of Congress, we have prioritized delivering for our constituents — remaining steadfast in our focus on health care, infrastructure, economic policy and our communities’ priorities. Yet everything we do harks back to our oaths to defend the country. These new allegations are a threat to all we have sworn to protect. We must preserve the checks and balances envisioned by the Founders and restore the trust of the American people in our government. And that is what we intend to do.

Read full article here >>

Posted on September 23, 2019 by Reps. Gil Cisneros of California, Jason Crow of Colorado, Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, Elaine Luria of Virginia, Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey, Elissa Slotkin of Michigan and Abigail Spanberger of Virginia are all freshman Democrats.

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