6 Words. This story may be apocryphal but I’ve always enjoyed it. May we be kind to one another even and especially amidst the awful, stress and hassle of air travel (or life in general).
Thank you @sallymcmullin for your history lessons and for teaching us the impact of Black Americans throughout our history whose stories are often untold. I am so grateful for you!
These extraordinary men are courage personified. On the first day of February in 1960 they went to Woolworth’s in Greensboro, North Carolina and staged a sit in at the segregated lunch counter. At the time their refusal to leave when asked was a radical act of civil disobedience and a further inspiration for the growing Civil Rights movement. Theirs was a triumph of creative activism and brave sacrifice. They helped further inspire millions and further energize a movement. Today may we confront the ugly parts of our history and honor those extraordinary Americans that helped us overcome giving us now a towering testimony to hope hewn from despair and freedom secured through struggle. Our great story Our great struggle Our great nation Black History Month
We cannot forget that our real power is not necessarily to change the world, but to make a world of change to the people we encounter every day. Thank you @bccoralsurgery for uplifting
Enough. “It may well be that we will have to repent in this generation, not merely for the vitriolic words and the violent actions of the bad people who would bomb a church in Birmingham, Alabama but for the appalling silence and indifference of the good people who sit around and say wait on time.” -MLK
Do our words pass 3 filters? It’s hard not to peddle in gossip or spread rumors. And yet when done to us it can feel awful. I found this 3 filter test helpful for me as I work to improve myself. I so admire those in my life who are meticulous with their speech and consistently honorable with their words. Speak thoughtfully and speak with kindness for our language resounds – echoing out and back – as do our deeds.
I remain against the death penalty in our nation. It is flawed, biased and unjust and on many occasions innocent people have been given a death sentence. This particular execution is a flagrant example of cruel and unusual punishment. It is not the carrying out of justice but the ushering in of more injustice. Again, from Bryan Stevenson: “Proximity has taught me some basic and humbling truths, including this vital lesson: Each of us is more than the worst thing we’ve ever done. My work with the poor and the incarcerated has persuaded me that the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. Finally, I’ve come to believe that the true measure of our commitment to justice, the character of our society, our commitment to the rule of law, fairness, and equality cannot be measured by how we treat the rich, the powerful, the privileged, and the respected among us. The true measure of our character is how we treat the poor, the disfavored, the accused, the incarcerated, and the condemned.”
Perhaps one of the greatest acts of defiance, despite all that might be going on, is to get up…breathe, and be yourself
This Black History Month I think of great Black musicians like Miles Davis who affected us not just with their artistry but also with their genius, their process, their ability to over come challenges and literally transform their reality and ours.
On January 21st, 2017 after President Trumps inauguration…500,000 women marched on Washington, and over 5 Million women marched nationwide. Prompted by what a Trump administration threatened to the rights of women, they showed up…and have continued showing up seven years later after their rights were indeed stripped. Today we continue to march until women’s rights are fully restored and Roe is codified.
One of my favorite questions to ask young people is ‘if you were the leader of America, and you could make ANY change you want, what would the change be?’ The answers from students from Far Brook School in New Jersey who visited me last year did not disappoint. In fact, they left me with a profound sense of hope. I know that future generations are striving to be the best stewards of this nation.
A lesson on leadership. “Poor leaders want you to see how powerful they are. But great leaders want you to see how powerful YOU are.”
Here in Black History Month I give tribute to those great black comedians who restored spirits; exposed absurdities and hypocrisy; reminded us of the depth human condition and power our common humanity; called out injustice; helped us to find healing in humor and laughter amidst the pain; who ultimately advanced our nation through their artistry.
Don’t quit. Because if you quit, you’ll go back to where you first began. And when you first began…you were desperate to get to where you are right now. Keep going.
Celebrating The Divine Nine
51 years ago today the Supreme Court issued the landmark Roe v Wade decision, enshrining abortion rights across the nation. This 7-2 decision quickly turned into a decades-long push on the federal level and across the country to overturn Roe and criminalize and dehumanize all people who can give birth. This nearly 40-year-old effort ultimately led to the overturn of Roe v. Wade by the court’s conservative majority on June 24th, 2022. Thirteen states already had laws on the books that immediately banned abortions, anticipating such a decision, and just one year after the ruling, hundreds of pieces of legislation were introduced across the country to restrict or ban abortion — even in the case of rape, incest, or if someone’s life is endangered by continuing a pregnancy — including a nation abortion ban still being pushed by many Republicans in Congress. Let’s be clear: abortion is health care, and it’s the federal government’s mandate to protect people’s most fundamental rights. As we reflect today on the 51st anniversary of Roe v. Wade, let this be a reminder for all of us that we must redouble our efforts and put in the work so that everyone has the constitutional right to control their medical decisions, health care, and their own body.
In 2021 the IRS reported that wealthy tax cheats failed to pay $688 BILLION dollars. This is money that could have made a difference in everything from closing our deficit, to funding public schools. After this report, in 2022 the Biden Administration passed the Inflation Reduction Act that expanded funding to the IRS. In hopes that the incredibly under-resourced function of government could recoup the cheated money…and its working. To this date, the IRS has recouped $520 million. But truthfully this is still only a drop in the bucket. And now that better funding the IRS has proven to work, Republicans are doing everything in their power to stop this progress. Going as far as proposing a $20 billion budget cut to the IRS. It doesn’t take a budget expert to know that allowing the wealthiest taxpayers to get away with cheating actually increases the burden on hardworking American families who play by the rules and pay their fair share.
Clearly one of my favorite stops during my NJ state tour! Larchmont Peach farm, owned and operated by the Haines family, is a 12th generation family farm that has been in NJ since the 1680’s. With over 170 employees—they are one of the largest peach producer in the eastern seaboard (over 10M pounds of peaches a year) and I can confirm their peaches are delicious! @raphaelwarnock I think New Jersey is truly the peach state 👀🍑
Learning (and flailing at) a new car game while touring New Jersey! I’m sorry Seal! I love you so much. Any good road trip games you can share with me is appreciated??
My favorite part of the year has begun! I travel all over my state, visiting all 21 counties, meeting with thousands of New Jerseyans, at work and at play, who make our state so great. Day 1 of our road trip was filled with heartwarming and insightful experiences. From the Snyder Research Center, who is shaping a sustainable food future—to the welcoming ceremony of 36 new US citizens as they took their Oath of Citizenship—to the Somerset County 4-H Fair—and rounding it out with a stop at Olga’s, one of New Jersey’s many incredible diners.
Three years ago, I was part of a group of lawmakers who pushed for and won a historic, one-year expansion of the Child Tax Credit. President Biden signed our plan into law….and it was the largest middle class tax cut of my generation. It put up to $300 per child per month straight in the pockets of families with kids, which could be used to cover the cost of gas, groceries, childcare, and more. It worked so well, it cut the child poverty rate in half. But because Congress failed to act, it expired at the end of 2021. The tax cut we fought for went away, and the child poverty rate doubled. But the Democrats, led by Senator Ron Wyden, stood our ground and demanded concessions in exchange for tax cuts Republicans wanted, and this week a deal was struck and an expanded child tax credit is on the verge of coming back, in effect for the next 3 years. While this isn’t everything that was in place before, what we know for sure is that it will have a huge impact for families with kids and for millions of Americans, and that is progress worth fighting for.
Thank you @itskimberlyrenee for this post.
Day two of my summer tour in New Jersey was very *fruitful*! I visited the incredible Parchment Peach Farm, owned and operated by the Haines family, whose roots run deep in our state back to the 1600s and whose story is inspiring! We broke ground for a sewer system in Downe Township with the USDA..and visited the Woodbine Airport to hear how federal investments will be used to bolster their infrastructure. We rounded out the day with a visit to Lucy the Elephant! An attraction near and dear to my heart since childhood – Our nations oldest roadside attraction. It was a day full of uplifting moments highlighting what makes the communities in New Jersey special!
Great things are happening all over Jersey! This weekend, as part of my annual Jersey Summer Road Trip, I visited communities to announce critical new federal funding for first responders in Runnemede, met with congregants at Shiloh Baptist Church in Plainfield, and toured the Ritesh Shah Charitable Pharmacy in Red Bank. I even got an awesome sneak peak of the soon-to-open Edelman Fossil Park at Rowan University.
