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Wins for South Jersey

Congressman Van Drew has a record that is second to none when it comes to delivering for hard working middle class families and retirees right here in South Jersey. 

Here are just some of his recent priorities and accomplishments. 

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PROTECTING & STRENGTHENING SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, & MEDICAID

Congressman Van Drew has been crystal clear when it comes to defending Social Security, Medicare, and Medicare. He will not support any legislation that cuts benefits for those who are here legally and currently qualify for these critical programs. 

“I want to be absolutely clear: Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid must always be protected. These programs are lifelines for our seniors, individuals with disabilities, and working families, and I will never support cuts to them…President Trump has made it clear he does not support cuts to these programs, and I stand by that commitment.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (March 6, 2025 – Source: Van Drew Reaffirms His Commitment to Protecting Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid)

“First, let me be clear: I will never support cuts to Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security that are not specifically aimed at reducing waste, fraud, or abuse. These programs are vital to the people I represent and must be protected.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (May 5, 2025 – Source: Van Drew: Do Not Cut Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security To Those That are Legal and Qualify, Save Money by Stopping the Drug Companies Rip-Offs

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ELIMINATING TAXES ON SENIORS’ SOCIAL SECURITY INCOME

Congressman Van Drew is not only fully committed to protecting Social Security, but he has even sponsored legislation to ELIMINATE FEDERAL INCOME TAXES on seniors Social Security income. 

“People who rely on Social Security have already more than contributed their fair share through years of payroll taxes and hard work. They have busted their backs for decades, and now, when it is time for them to enjoy the benefits, they see portions of their hard-earned benefits reduced by even more taxes. It is just outrageous. Meanwhile, the government is throwing money at other programs like welfare for illegal immigrants and unnecessary foreign aid. It is about time we stop this nonsense…My bill would put an end to this additional and unfair tax burden. Our seniors have earned every penny of their benefits, and they should not have to see it diminished by unnecessary taxes. I am determined to protect Social Security and ensure that our older generation does not get shortchanged. I will always keep fighting to make sure they receive the financial security and respect that they have earned.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew – (August 28, 2024 – Source: Van Drew Introduces Bill to Eliminate Income Tax on Social Security Benefits)

Congressman Van Drew was also the sponsor of bi-partisan legislation, the Social Security Fairness Act, which ended the ridiculous practice of penalizing retired Police Officers, FireFighters, and certain other public employees by prohibiting them from collecting the full Social Security benefits they were entitled to. 

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MAKING THE TRUMP TAX CUTS PERMANENT

If the historic tax cuts enacted in President Trump’s first term are allowed to expire it will be the single largest tax increase in American history. The average taxpayer would see a 22% tax increase and the average family of four would see a $1,700 tax hike. 

Congressman Van Drew fully supports and recently voted to make the Trump tax cuts PERMANENT. 

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NO TAXES ON TIPS & OVERTIME

In addition to making the largest middle class tax cuts permanent and eliminating taxes on Social Security income, Congressman Van Drew has already voted to take it one step further by ELIMINATING federal income taxes on tips and overtime pay. This will be a tremendous boom to working families right here in South Jersey especially given our tourism based economy. 

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LOWERING PRESCRIPTION DRUG PRICES

Congressman Van Drew was one of the first members of Congress to come out in support of President Trump’s plan to slash prescription drug prices by ending the disparity between what American consumers pay relative to other nations. In fact, Big Pharma makes 2/3rds of profits off of American consumers despite us only having 4% of the global population. 

“We need real reform. Right now, pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) are making billions while hardworking American families pay some of the highest prices in the world. This has to stop. President Trump and I both want to find ways to protect these programs and lower costs at the same time. Linking what we pay to the prices paid in other developed countries just makes sense. I will not support cutting benefits for any eligible American or facility, but I will stand up to fight multibillion-dollar drug companies and get a better deal for our Americans. President Trump is right!” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (May 5, 2025 – Source: Van Drew: Do Not Cut Medicaid, Medicare, or Social Security To Those That are Legal and Qualify, Save Money by Stopping the Drug Companies Rip-Offs

President Trump signed an Executive Order on May 11, 2025, to ensure the United States of America would receive this same “most favored nation status” which will drive down drug prices by as much as 90% for working families and retirees. 

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SAVING THE FAA TECHNICAL CENTER

Thanks to Congressman Van Drew’s efforts the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization Act included a provision to ensure that the FAA Technical Center Center in Egg Harbor Township will remain right here in South Jersey for generations to come as the nation’s Center for Advanced Aerospace. 

“The FAA Technical Center has always been a cornerstone of South Jersey and now, it is etched into law as a permanent fixture of our region. Secretary Duffy’s visit today shows just how important this facility is on the national stage. With its expanded authority and new designation, the Technical Center is poised to lead the country into the next era of aviation. This means more resources, more innovation, and more opportunities for our local community. Whether it is advancing cutting-edge drone technology or developing the next generation of air traffic systems, the work being done here is helping ensure the United States remains a global leader in aviation.”I want to personally thank Secretary Duffy for coming to South Jersey and showing just how much this means to the administration and to the nation. I also want to thank the FAA leadership for their continued support and vision. The future of aviation is being written right here in South Jersey, and we are proud to be leading the way.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (April 11, 2025 – Source: Van Drew and Duffy Celebrate Permanent Future of FAA Technical Center in South Jersey)

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SECURING OUR BORDERS

Congressman Van Drew fully supports President Trump’s ongoing efforts to secure our border and expedite the deportation of criminal illegal aliens from our shores – a stark contrast from Governor Murphy and the Democrats who declared New Jersey a Sanctuary State and even attempted to break into an ICE Detention Center in Newark. 

While working families and retirees are struggling to make ends meet, Democrats are spending millions of our hard-earned money supporting illegal immigrants, paying for their legal defense, and refusing to allow State and local law enforcement to cooperate with ICE to deport known gang members and terrorists. 

As a member of the powerful House Judiciary Committee, and the Chairman of their new subcommittee on oversight, Congressman Van Drew will continue to work alongside President Trump to ensure our border is more secure than ever before and that we’re Making America Safe Again!

“What we saw today is beyond unacceptable,” said Congressman Van Drew. “These elected officials, who swore to uphold the laws of this country, chose to break into a federal detention center, alongside protesters. For months now, I have spoken out against Mayor Baraka’s effort to block the opening of this detention center but today, we reached a breaking point. It was a direct attack on the rule of law. People in New Jersey are paying some of the highest taxes in the country, only to see that money used to fund illegal immigration as part of the state’s sanctuary policies. We are tired of it. No one is above the law. And when elected officials act as if they are, they undermine the very foundation of our democracy.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (November 11, 2024 – Source: Van Drew Condemns Lawless Actions of Congressional Members and Newark Mayor Breaking Into NJ ICE Detention Center)

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RECORD INVESTMENTS IN THE USCG TRAINING CENTER CAPE MAY

Congressman Van Drew has already secured a record amount for Training Center Cape May and is working with the Trump Administration to more than double the federal government’s investment here in South Jersey over the next few years. A list of these critical investments is available below. 

Congressman Van Drew will continue to do everything he can, as a member of the House Transportation Committee’s Coast Guard and Maritime Subcommittee, to ensure the United States Coast Guard has the resources they need to protect the American Homeland and train the next generation of leaders right in our backyard for decades to come.

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PREPARING THE 177th FIGHTER WING OF THE NEW JERSEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF FIGHTER JETS TO DEFEND THE AMERICAN HOMELAND

The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Fighter Wing plays a critical role in defending our nation’s skies from New York City to Washington DC. Congressman Van Drew is currently working with the Department of Defense on proposals to overhaul the base’s aging infrastructure to accommodate the United States Air Force’s next generation of fighter jets and defend against any threats our nation could face well into the future. 

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DEFEATING OFFSHORE WIND

Actions speak louder than words and Congressman Van Drew’s actions speak for themselves when it comes to defeating Orsted, Atlantic Shores, and all of the others offshore wind projects that were originally planned off the coast of South Jersey. 

When others said it couldn’t be done, he was the first elected official to sound the alarm and hold Congressional field hearings to expose how offshore wind had the potential to double or triple electric bills and destroy South Jersey’s economy.

He championed the fight against offshore wind and worked with grassroots organizations up and down the coast to rally opposition forcing multiple companies to abandon their plans despite billions of dollars in Green New Deal subsidies.

He brought President Trump to Wildwood where he vowed to sign the day one executive order that Congressman Van Drew would later help to write, halting any remaining projects dead in their tracks and putting the entire industry on life support.

“A special thank you to great New Jersey Congressman Jeff Van Drew for his fight against a large-scale Windmill DISASTER off the coast of Southern New Jersey. It needed MASSIVE GOVERNMENT SUBSIDY that was impossible to justify..The project is dead and gone, as almost all unsightly and environmentally unsound Windmill project should be. Congratulations to the great people of New Jersey. You have FINALLY won your war on stupidity!!!” – President Donald Trump via Truth Social (January 23, 2025) 

Make no mistake about it, without Congressman Van Drew and his relationship with President Trump there would be thousand foot tall wind turbines, as far as the eye can see, up and down the Jersey Shore. While we’ve never been closer to achieving total victory as we are today, Governor Murphy and the proponents of offshore are still hell bent on the Green New Deal dreams. Congressman Van Drew will continue to work alongside President Trump to fight them every step of the way and work to ensure New Jersey families receive every dollar we are owed from these failed projects. 

“You cannot make this stuff up. The Murphy administration already burned through billions of your tax dollars on offshore wind projects that never worked. They pushed it on us even when towns were saying no, fishermen were saying no, and the tourism industry was saying no. They looked the other way while whales washed up on our beaches. They ignored the Pentagon when it said it was a national security risk. The NJ Ratepayer Advocate said it would raise utility bills. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) said the cons outweighed the pros. They did not listen to anyone. And now, after all that, they want to throw even more taxpayer dollars at it in court. It truly is a slap in the face to every taxpayer and every family struggling to pay their energy bill.” United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (May 6, 2025 – Source: Van Drew Slams the Murphy Administration for Lawsuit Over Offshore Wind Halt)

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TACKLING RISING ENERGY PRICES

Congressman Van Drew believes the best way to lower energy prices is to unleash the power of American energy. That’s why he’s working with President Trump and his administration to do everything we possibly can at the Federal level to undo the damage of Biden’s last four years and pushing to expand the use of safe, clean, and reliable nuclear power which can be generated right here in South Jersey! 

In the meantime, the New Jersey State Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) – whose commissioners are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the State Senate – has been rubber stamping rate increase, after rate increase, after rate increase in order to advance New Jersey Democrats’ radical green new deal energy policies. Congressman Van Drew has repeatedly called on Governor Murphy’s hand picked board members to resign and will continue to call out utility companies like Exelon for skyrocketing utility rates and their failure to address legitimate billing discrepancies. 

“Once again, the NJBPU is taking direct aim at the hardworking middle class of New Jersey. On top of the outrageous 17% rate hikes that will hit hardworking families and businesses beginning June 1st, they are now considering income-based fixed rates—a policy that will burden the very people who are already struggling to pay their bills. This is absolutely wrong…The NJBPU’s leadership is out of touch with the people they are supposed to represent, and I will not stand by while they make our state less affordable and less competitive. This has to end. We need a new direction for New Jersey, and that starts with leadership that listens to the people. Our next Governor must take immediate action to reverse and put an end to the harmful policies being pushed by the NJBPU. I will continue to fight against these sky-high rate hikes and these disastrous policies at every turn.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (March 21, 2025 – Source: Van Drew Renews Call for Immediate Resignation of NJBPU Leadership Over Destructive Policies)

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STOPPING NORTH JERSEY CASINOS

Congressman Van Drew has been standing strong against North Jersey casinos since his days in the New Jersey State Legislature and will continue to do so. He released the following statement upon learning that Democrat State Senators Vin Gopal and Paul Sarlo have introduced legislation and are pushing for a new referendum to expand casino gaming to the Monmouth Park and Meadowlands Racetracks in North Jersey.

“A decade ago, we were told that North Jersey casinos were inevitable and that those of us here in South Jersey should just lie down, play dead, and cut the best deal we can. Sound familiar? Needless to say, we did not listen,” said Congressman Van Drew. “The stakes were too high. We could not allow our local economy to lose up to half a billion dollars annually or, more importantly, 15,000 of our friends and neighbors to lose their jobs. So we fought like hell, and when the dust settled, the 2016 referendum to expand casino gaming outside Atlantic City was defeated by voters in all 21 counties. Make no mistake—we defeated North Jersey casinos once, and we stand ready to do so again, because South Jersey is always worth fighting for, and I will never back down when it comes to protecting our people.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (March 21, 2025 – Source: Van Drew Stands Ready to Fight, Slams Democrats’ Latest Push for North Jersey Casinos)

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OPENING NEW VETERANS CLINICS IN SOUTH JERSEY

Congressman Van Drew has been named the VFW’s Legislator of the Year not once, but twice for his leadership in championing the causes of our veterans and their families. 

Thanks to his advocacy, there are two brand new state of the art clinics in Atlantic and Cape May County as well as a veterans center in Vineland run by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs which means fewer South Jersey Veterans will need to travel to Wilmington, Philadelphia, or even East Orange all the way up in North Jersey to receive the care they’ve earned through their service to our country. 

“For the last four years, I have been actively involved in ensuring that this expansion of veteran health care services would come to fruition, and have fought relentlessly every step of the way. We have thousands of Veterans in South Jersey, and they deserve the highest quality of care, and now, our Veterans will have access to three state of the art clinics between Cape May, Cumberland, and Atlantic Counties. This is a huge announcement, and I am proud of the work we have accomplished to ensure our Veterans have the care they deserve.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (May 22, 2023 – Source: Van Drew Announces the Opening of New Veterans Healthcare Clinic in Atlantic County)

Congressman Van Drew has also supported legislation in Congress to assist veterans suffering from the effects of burn pits. 

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OVERHAULING THE ATLANTIC CITY HOUSING AUTHORITY

Congressman Van Drew promised to fight for the forgotten men and women of the Atlantic City Housing Authority regardless of party and that’s exactly what he’s done. In November of 2023, Congressman Van Drew became the first to call for an immediate Federal Takeover of the Atlantic City Housing Authority for their complete and utter failure to provide residents with the clean and safe living conditions despite receiving millions of dollars a year to do so. At his request the Federal Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) conducted an audit that revealed the conditions in Atlantic City were among the worst they’ve ever seen. Since then, Congressman Van Drew has visited Stanley Holmes Village and several other Housing Authority properties on a number of occasions to see first hand the inhumane and unsafe living conditions that have persisted, prompting him to call for a Criminal investigation in the Authority. 

“What has been going on with the Atlantic City Housing Authority (ACHA) is completely unacceptable. Under their watch, families have been stuck in unsafe, unclean, and poorly managed conditions. And for too long, no one has been held accountable. That is why I invited Secretary Turner to come here himself. I wanted him to hear what was going on directly from the people it has been affecting, and he showed up with his whole leadership team and they took the time to truly listen. This is the first time a U.S. Secretary has ever come to meet with public housing residents in Atlantic City which shows just how seriously they are taking this. He made it clear to me that this issue has HUD’s attention…In addition to the meeting in Atlantic City, we met with officials from Bridgeton and Weymouth Township to discuss broader housing concerns such as the growing challenges of homelessness and the need to protect our seniors from being forced into low-quality housing. This is just the beginning. I will not stop fighting until we see real results and real change for the people of Atlantic City and every community across South Jersey.” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (May 5, 2025 – Source: Van Drew Hosts HUD Secretary for a Listening Session with AC Public Housing Residents and Community Leaders)

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ENDING ANTISEMITISM ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Congressman Van Drew has stood shoulder to shoulder with Israel since the horrific events of October 7th, 2023, when more than 1,200 men, women, and children were executed and hundred more were taken hostage by Hamas Terrorists. He has made it crystal clear to the college and university Presidents here in South Jersey we will not tolerate the violent demonstrations and rampant anti-semitism that has been allowed to take place elsewhere in our region. The Congressman has even sponsored legislation to cut off federal funding from colleges and universities that allow anti-semitic events on campus fulfilling a commitment he made following anti-Veterans Day protests at Columbia University. The protests were organized by a group called Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), which released the following statement regarding Veterans Day, “We reject this holiday and refuse to celebrate it. The American war machine should not be honored for the horrors unleashed on others. Instead, we will celebrate Martyrs Day in honor of those martyred by the Israel-US war machine.”

“Just when you think Columbia University has hit rock bottom, they somehow manage to surpass their previous lows and embarrass themselves even further. We should never allow Americans’ hard-earned money to be used to disgrace our veterans by celebrating the terrorists who seek to destroy the America we know and love. You would think those attending a prestigious university in the shadow of the World Trade Center would know better, but apparently not…” – United States Congressman Jeff Van Drew (November 11, 2024 – Source: Van Drew Announces the Opening of New Veterans Healthcare Clinic in Atlantic County)

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DELIVERING RECORD INFRASTRUCTURE & FEDERAL INVESTMENTS IN SOUTH JERSEY

Congressman Van Drew has secured A RECORD AMOUNT OF FEDERAL FUNDING FOR SOUTH JERSEY totaling more than $1 BILLION for public safety, infrastructure, and economic development since 2021. 

Community Project Funding Appropriations – $130.8 million 

#1 in the New Jersey Delegation:

Federal Facility Budget Items – $159 million in Additional Funds

Bipartisan Infrastructure Law – $727.6 million

Roads and Bridges – $523.9 million

NOTE: There are further infrastructure funds including water infrastructure and broadband that have been received by the State of New Jersey but have not yet been allocated. These funds total several hundred million dollars, much of which will flow into South Jersey but has not been included in these calculations.

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