[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 205 (Wednesday, December 13, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H6870]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





            WHAT WE DELIVERED IN THE EIGHTH DISTRICT IN 2023

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
Jersey (Mr. Menendez) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. MENENDEZ. Mr. Speaker, as we close out 2023, I want to talk about 
the results my team and I have delivered for New Jersey's Eighth 
Congressional District during my first year in office.
  Our team has solved over 1,100 constituent cases, which have ranged 
from getting evacuees out of Afghanistan, to resolving passport issues 
so constituents can visit their loved ones, to returning over $270,000 
to our constituents. We have sent over 26,000 letters communicating 
directly with our residents about the issues they care about.
  We have also secured over $11 billion in Federal grants for projects 
in our district. That includes over $6.9 billion for the Gateway 
Program, the largest critical infrastructure project in the country. We 
also secured over $4 billion to overhaul the Northeast Corridor, 
drastically improving the commuter experience on the busiest passenger 
rail line in the country.
  We secured millions for additional priorities such as community 
policing, environmental justice, and tackling climate change, all in 
less than a year.
  I have also introduced six bills and cosponsored over 100 bills that 
address affordability, improve the quality of life for residents in our 
district, and fight for our Democratic values and priorities.
  The first bill I introduced was the Working Families Task Force Act, 
which would establish a whole-of-government approach to improve the 
standard of living for working families in our district and across the 
country, including access to childcare and healthcare and creating 
good-paying jobs.
  I made quality-of-life issues a priority, introducing legislation to 
battle helicopter noise in our communities. I am proud to have 
cosponsored legislation to protect reproductive rights, support our 
LGBTQ community, and fight gun violence.
  As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, 
I have worked hard every day to improve critical infrastructure across 
our district. This includes strongly advocating for commuting 
alternatives for you and your family, such as extending New York City's 
7 line to New Jersey.
  Serving on the House Committee on Homeland Security, I have 
prioritized our work to keep our country safe while following our 
American and Democratic values.

  I have tackled the work of reforming our broken immigration system 
head-on as co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration 
Task Force. I have fought to close the privately run Elizabeth 
Detention Center, which has had a decades-long record of abuse and 
neglect of migrant detainees.
  I have stood alongside my colleagues to call for relief for cities 
that are handling an influx of asylum-seekers. I have led efforts to 
oppose harmful Republican targeting of migrants.
  This year, alongside House Democrats, my team and I have delivered 
significant and meaningful results for every single resident of New 
Jersey's Eighth Congressional District despite the House Republicans' 
dysfunction and division. We are just getting started.
  My top priority is and has always been serving you. I love this 
district and every community I have the honor of representing. 
Delivering real, tangible results is what motivates me every day.
  I look forward to working for you in Washington and in the district. 
My team and I are available to help you and your family with any issues 
you may be having with the Federal Government. We are here to serve 
you. I thank you for this incredible opportunity, and I look forward to 
continuing to deliver for all of you in 2024.

                          ____________________