WASHINGTON — Newly elected Rep. Analilia Mejia wasted no time in adding her voice to efforts to pass progressive legislation in Congress.
Mejia (D-Glen Ridge) joined efforts by Democrats in both houses to raise the federal minimum wage to $25 an hour from the current $7.25, unchanged since 2009.
Granted, the bill isn’t going anywhere in a Republican-controlled Congress, but it is another effort by Democrats to highlight the affordability issue in advance of the November elections.
Mejia said the cost of housing, groceries and other essentials continue to rise, but not the minimum wage.
“If you work full time, you should be able to afford to live with dignity,” Mejia said. “We need an economy that reflects today’s reality, not one stuck nearly two decades in the past.”
Also joining the effort is U.S. Sen. Andy Kim.
“Working families are having to stretch their dollars more while billionaires get the biggest breaks because they write the biggest checks,” Kin said. “It’s time we give the American people a real chance at the American Dream; that’s only possible by providing a living wage.”
Environmental action
U.S. Sen. Cory Booker has teamed up with Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.) on legislation to expand environmental education and health and wellness practices in schools.
The legislation would expand the current ED‑Green Ribbon Schools Program, which was established in 2011 and is administered by the U.S. Department of Education. It recognizes schools and colleges that adopt practices to promote health, reduce energy costs and improve air quality. It can be boon to lower-income communities, they lawmakers said.
But President Donald Trump ended the program when he returned to office after the 2024 awards, the lawmakers said.
“Schools across the country are demonstrating that sustainability initiatives can lower costs, improve student health, and strengthen educational outcomes,” Booker said.
The bill would provide honoraria for the winners to travel to Washington and allow institutions such as museums, libraries, and zoos to also compete for the recognition.
Halt data centers, Pallone says
Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. used a recent subcommittee meeting of the House Energy and Commerce Committee to call for a moratorium on building new data centers.
He said Americans have objected to the rapid construction of these facilities until their impact is studied. He cited objections by officials in five municipalities in his district alone — Asbury Park, Red Bank, Old Bridge, Sayreville, and New Brunswick.
Pallone (D-Long Branch) said that the electricity needed to power these data centers is raising the price of energy for everyone and straining the nation’s power grid.
“This simply cannot continue,” Pallone said. “That is why I am in favor of a national AI data center moratorium until we can find a way to ensure they don’t harm our nation’s air, water, and power bills.”
