Singer & Sweeney Intro Bill to Combat Anti-Semitism in Public Schools
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Senator Robert Singer today announced that they have introduced bipartisan legislation to expressly prohibit anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education statewide.
Senate President Steve Sweeney and Sen. Robert Singer have introduced bipartisan legislation to expressly prohibit anti-Semitism in public schools and institutions of higher education statewide. (Flickr)
Currently, State law broadly prohibits discriminating against a person based on a number of factors, including “creed,” which in practice, has been widely interpreted to mean one can’t discriminate against someone based on religion. To ensure this prohibition is consistently applied, the new bipartisan bill explicitly expands the categories protected under the law to clarify that discriminating against a person based on religion is prohibited.
“Hate has no home in the Garden State. A school should be a safe and nurturing place – not a haven for discrimination,” said Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean.) “It is hard to explain the trauma a young Jewish child experiences when they walk into a classroom and see a swastika on the chalkboard. Anti-Semitism is a cancer on society and it is growing in New Jersey. By passing this bill, we are taking action to stamp out this disease, before it’s too late.”
Singer Bill to Improve Maternity Care Passes Senate
A resolution sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) that aims to make pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period safer has unanimously passed the New Jersey Senate.
Sen. Robert Singer’s resolution that aims to make pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period safer has passed the Senate. (Flickr)
The passage of this legislation comes in the wake of a state and national health emergency: African American mothers are dying both during and after childbirth at disproportionately higher rates than white mothers, with some of the most staggering rates occurring right here in New Jersey.
Singer/Kean Bill to Change Code Blue to Better Protect NJ’s Homeless Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean expanding Code Blue protections to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has passed the State Senate.
Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean’s bill that would expand Code Blue to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has passed the Senate. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures drop to 32 degrees with precipitation, or 25 degrees with no precipitation. The bill advanced by the Senate, S-3422, would eliminate the 25 degree standard, so that a Code Blue would be triggered as soon as the temperature falls to 32 degrees, regardless of whether or not there is precipitation at the time.
Singer Bill to Help Battle Opioid Overdose Epidemic Passes Health Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer that would help local officials to better understand and prevent the circumstances that lead to fatal drug overdoses has been approved by the Senate Health, Human Services & Senior Citizens Committee.
The Senate Health Committee has approved Sen. Bob Singer’s legislation to help local officials better understand and prevent the circumstances that lead to fatal drug overdoses. (©iStock)
“The opioid epidemic is like nothing we’ve ever seen, and we continue to lose lives to overdose at a sickening pace,” said Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean). “We’ve learned that there is no simple fix that will stop this. We need to bring together experts from many fields to develop a comprehensive, multi-disciplinary approach to both deter and treat drug abuse before it’s too late.”
Singer Bill Protecting Civilian Jobs for NJ’s National Guard Members Passes Senate
Senator Bob Singer’s (R-30) legislation to ensure New Jersey National Guard members retain their civilian jobs throughout and after a State emergency has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Senator Bob Singer’s legislation to ensure NJ National Guard members retain their civilian jobs throughout and after a State emergency has passed the Senate. (WikiMedia)
“New Jersey’s National Guard defends our state and our country, both at home and abroad,” Singer said. “Whether they are deployed overseas, or serving their own community during a domestic disaster, these brave people should never have to worry about losing their job when they return home. As a proud veteran, I will continue to fight to ensure no employer, especially the State of New Jersey, discriminates against an employee if they are called to serve during an emergency.”
Singer/Kean Bill to Change Code Blue to Better Protect NJ’s Homeless Clears Committee
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean to expand Code Blue protections to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events has cleared the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Sens. Robert Singer and Tom Kean’s bill would expand Code Blue to help local officials better care for the homeless during winter weather events. (©iStock)
Currently, a Code Blue is triggered when temperatures drop to 32 degrees with precipitation, or 25 degrees with no precipitation. The bill advanced by the committee today, S-3422, would eliminate the 25 degree standard, so that a Code Blue would be triggered as soon as the temperature falls to 32 degrees, regardless of whether or not there is precipitation at the time.
S-3422 was introduced in January in response to concerns raised by local officials in Ocean County, who expressed that the current Code Blue standard has limited their ability to protect the homeless during dangerously cold weather.
“I was devastated to hear that some of the most vulnerable people in our community were turned away from warming shelters in Ocean County this winter, due to limitations in a law that was designed to protect them,” Senator Singer (R-30) said. “Snow or no snow, when the temperature reaches 32 degrees, it’s time to get inside. I cannot even begin to imagine the terror someone must feel when it’s freezing and you have nowhere to go. I have no doubt that our commonsense efforts to strengthen Code Blue will save lives.”
More than a dozen people who spent the night in a Toms River warming Center on Christmas Eve were unable to access shelter the next day because the temperature had risen to 27 degrees, which given the lack of precipitation, exceeded the current Code Blue standard, according to an Asbury Park Press report.
Singer Intros Resolution Urging U.S. House to Censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib for Holocaust Remarks
Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) has introduced a resolution urging the United States House of Representatives to formally censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib, in light of her recent comments regarding the Holocaust.
In a May 2019 interview on a Yahoo News podcast, Rep. Tlaib, a lawyer and politician who currently represents Michigan’s 13th Congressional District, stated that “there’s a kind of a calming feeling” when she thinks of the Holocaust.
Sen. Robert Singer has introduced a resolution urging the House to censure Rep. Tlaib in light of her comments regarding the Holocaust, which have been widely-characterized as anti-Semitic. (Wikimedia)
Rep. Tlaib’s comments, which were made just days after the annual Day of Holocaust Remembrance, have been widely-characterized as culturally-insensitive and anti-Semitic.
“Hate has no home in the halls of government. The people of Michigan, and this country, deserve a representative who will serve everyone equally, regardless of creed or national origin. Any official who harbors religiously intolerant views has no business serving in elected office,” Senator Singer (R-30) said. “In light of Rep. Tlaib’s comments, I urge the House to immediately censure her and join the chorus of leaders who are banding together to speak out against anti-Semitism.”
Singer and Corrado Legislation to Honor Veterans and their Families Passes Senate
Legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-30) and Senator Kristin Corrado (R-40) to aid and honor deceased military members and their families has passed the New Jersey Senate.
Legislation sponsored by Sen. Robert Singer and Sen. Kristin Corrado to aid and honor deceased military members and their families has passed the Senate. (Flickr)
“All veterans and their families deserve to be laid to rest with dignity,” Singer said. “Knowing that there are unclaimed remains of deceased veterans, their spouses, and their dependents sitting in funeral homes or being buried without honor is heartbreaking. This legislation would ensure the remains of veterans’ loved ones can be claimed by a qualifying veteran’s organization, so they can receive the proper burial they deserve.”
Singer & Kean Continue Efforts to Strengthen ‘Code Blue’ & Help NJ’s Homeless Get Support After the Storm
Second Bill Added to ‘Code Blue’ Package Would Allow Healthcare Providers and Social Workers to Deliver On-Site Services to the Homeless During Cold Weather Emergencies
The New Jersey Senate has passed legislation sponsored by Senator Robert Singer (R-Monmouth, Ocean) and Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean (R-Union, Morris, Somerset) to ensure at-risk individuals who turn to a warming center for shelter during a Code Blue alert have access to lifesaving services during their stay.
Sens. Robert Singer & Tom Kean continue efforts to strengthen Code Blue by pushing for legislation that will ensure at-risk individuals who go to a shelter during a Code Blue alert have access to lifesaving services during their stay. The bill, S-3511, passed the Senate on May 30, 2019.
“Although shelters often experience a higher demand during Code Blue season, more often than not, a person in crisis will show up during a snowstorm, and leave without knowing where to go next. We may not get another chance to help that person. That’s unacceptable,” Singer said.
“People should have access to the support they need, when and where they need it. This bill will solve that problem, by ensuring the right personnel are on the ground, ready and willing to answer any questions and provide quality care to those in need, before the storm ends,” Singer added.
Singer’s Bill to Provide Job Protection for NJ’s National Guard Members Advances
Senator Bob Singer’s (R-30) legislation to ensure New Jersey National Guard members retain their civilian jobs throughout and after a State emergency has passed the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs committee.
Sen. Bob Singer’s legislation to ensure New Jersey National Guard members retain their civilian jobs throughout and after a State emergency unanimously has passed the Senate Military and Veterans’ Affairs committee. (WikiMedia)
“No employer, especially the State of New Jersey, should discriminate against an employee if they are called to serve during a State emergency,” Singer said. “Our National Guard members should never have to choose between serving their country, and maintaining their civilian career. These heroes should come home to their job, and we should be proud and thankful for their sacrifices.”
