“As a candidate, state Sen. Chris Brown said he would form a panel of Atlantic County stakeholders to develop legislative goals to help revitalize the local economy. In February he appointed the Economic Revitalization Advisory Committee (whose dozen or so members include the publisher of The Press), and this summer they delivered their consensus on what priorities he should pursue, which he has released.” 
Brown to Sponsor Bipartisan Ethics Reform Package
Senator Chris Brown will sponsor a bipartisan package of ethics proposals to strengthen restrictions on lobbying, enhance financial disclosure requirements, and increase transparency in the legislative process.
Sen. Chris Brown will sponsor a bipartisan package of ethics proposals to strengthen restrictions on lobbying, enhance financial disclosure requirements, and increase transparency in the legislative process. (SenateNJ.com)
“What’s the difference between the Jersey Devil and ethics reform in New Jersey? Up until now, you had a better chance of spotting the Jersey Devil,” said Brown. “Hopefully, working in a bipartisan manner with Governor Phil Murphy and my legislative colleagues Senator and former Governor Dick Codey and Assemblyman Ryan Peters, we will change that. Cleaning up greed and corruption in Trenton is something we – Democrats, Republicans, and Independents – can all agree on. We need to loosen the grip special interests have on state government by increasing transparency and making government more accountable to our working families and retirees.”
Brown Bill Creates Grant Program to Support Vet-Friendly College Campuses
The Senate Higher Education Committee recently released a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Chris Brown that would establish an annual grant program to recognize public colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of veteran programs and services.
Sen. Chris Brown’s legislation establishes an annual grant program to recognize public colleges and universities that offer a comprehensive array of veteran programs and services. (SenateNJ.com)
“Every time I hear about another veteran committing suicide or losing their home, I feel we should and can do more to help our veterans find stability and purpose in civilian life,” said Brown. “Earning a college degree can play a large role in helping a veteran transition into civilian life, but while on campus, veterans should have access to other support services.”
Brown Bill Increasing Funding to Promote Regional Tourism Advances
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Brown to help boost regional tourism advertising and promotion across the state cleared the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown to help boost regional tourism advertising and promotion across the state has advanced. (SenateNJ.com)
“Everyone knows the competition for tourism dollars is intense, which is why we need to continue to fight to ensure Atlantic County gets its fair share of marketing dollars to protect the 70,000 families whose jobs depend on tourism,” said Brown.
Brown noted though the State raises over $100 million from the hotel-motel occupancy fee, it only spends $9 million of that revenue for tourism advertising, the same amount for the last 15 years. The hotel-motel occupancy fee is supposed to support tourism, the arts, culture, and history, yet most of the revenue is diverted for other purposes. Further, while Atlantic County generated $5.4 million in State hotel and motel occupancy fees in 2018, it only received $158,000 in State grants to help promote local tourism.
Deployed Service Members Get More Options on College Courses under Brown’s Bipartisan Bill
Service members who are enrolled in a course at a public college or university but are unable to complete a course due to deployment, reassignment, or other military obligation will have more flexibility in making a decision that works for them under a bipartisan bill sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown.
Sen. Chris Brown’s legislation would provide service members enrolled at a public college or university with more options when they are unable to complete a course due to deployment, reassignment, or other military obligation. (SenateNJ.com)
“Your life can turn around quickly when the military calls you into action,” said Brown, who was in law school and had already paid for his tuition and books when he was deployed to serve in the Persian Gulf War. “Men and women in uniform should not be penalized when our country sends them overseas to fight our enemies, so this bill gives those college students a menu of options to get their academic affairs in order when they are deployed while also making it easier for them to resume their education when they return.”
Brown Legislation Helping Families in Recovery Now Law
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Senator Chris Brown that will give families recovering from addiction a second chance by making them eligible to work in casinos is now law.
Bipartisan legislation sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown that will give families recovering from addiction a second chance by making them eligible to work in casinos is now law. (SenateNJ.com)
“Having attended interventions for those close to me fighting with substance abuse, I know first hand how addiction attacks families throughout Atlantic County no matter their race, age, or where they live. To help our families win their battles against substance abuse, so we don’t lose an entire generation of young people to addiction, we have to assure them recovery won’t be easy, but it will be worth it by providing real hope for their future with a second chance to live productive lives by opening doors to get jobs in our casino industry,” Brown said.
Help on the Way for Victims of Sandy to Recover from Contractor Fraud
Families who are still waiting to get into their homes after Superstorm Sandy can expect additional help after a bipartisan bill sponsored by Senator Chris Brown has become law.
Families who are still waiting to get into their homes after Superstorm Sandy can expect additional help after a bipartisan bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown has become law. (SenateNJ.com)
“Families who lost their homes to Sandy should not be victimized twice by contractor fraud, which is taking a further toll on them by wasting limited public dollars and draining their personal savings. Too many of our families had the grants to rebuild their homes essentially stolen by unscrupulous contractors, and yet the bureaucracy was making it difficult for them to find relief. Now, it will be possible for our local families to move back home and on with their lives,” said Brown.
Brown cited the example of Angel Eguaras, who chose one of the State-approved contractors to rebuild his home, but that contractor failed to complete the work according to the architect and engineer’s specifications.
Senate Passes Brown Bill to Help College Grads Prepare Students for the Modern Economy
“We are giving our children a chance to succeed,” State Senator Chris Brown said as the Senate passed his bill which would create a loan redemption program for teachers who teach STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) in “low performing schools.”
Sen. Chris Brown’s bill to create a loan redemption program for teach who teach STEM in “low performing schools” has been approved by the New Jersey Senate.
“We have a generation of children who need the skills to thrive in our modern economy and we have a generation of college graduates struggling to pay off student loans, so we have an opportunity to help our families by giving our children a chance to succeed while lifting our graduates out of crushing student loan debt,” said Brown, who noted the U.S. Department of Labor projects that STEM-related jobs will grow by nearly ten percent over the next decade with a median salary of $84,880.
Brown Bill to Assist Middle-Class Families with Student Loan Debt Now Law
A bipartisan bill (S-1149) sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown to help middle-class families with student loan debt is now law.
“The core of the American dream is every parent’s hope to see their children do better than they did, and college is the path to making that dream a reality,” Brown said. “However, the cost of college and the fear of being straddled with debt has led many middle-class families to see college as a mirage, not a dream.”
Brown Bill to Help Lower the Cost of College Now Law
Governor Phil Murphy signed a bill sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown to achieve savings for middle-class families by requiring New Jersey’s colleges and universities to offer open license and freely available textbooks to students.
Sen. Chris Brown’s legislation to make college more affordable for middle-class families through the use of open source and freely available textbooks has been signed into law. (SenateNJ.com)
“Paying for college is a never ending experience in sticker shock for middle class families,” Brown said. “While the conversation to make college more affordable starts with tuition, we have to include the outrageous cost of textbooks.”
Brown: Atlantic City Needs to Be Leader in E-Sports
The following editorial by Senator Chris Brown (R-Atlantic) on turning Atlantic City into an e-sports destination was published by the Press of Atlantic City:
John Madden, the Hall of Fame football coach, once said, “If the quarterback throws the ball in the end zone and the receiver catches it, it’s a touchdown.” It’s a simple bit of advice to guide Atlantic City in becoming an e-sports destination. If we call the right play and execute it, we will have professional and amateur e-sports tournaments, trade shows and conventions, and retail outlets, creating year-round attractions to keep local families working.
Sen. Chris Brown’s editorial on the benefits of turning Atlantic City into an e-sports destination. (SenateNJ.com)
Just as New Jersey took the lead in expanding casino gaming outside of Las Vegas, we now need to be a leader in e-sports.
Becoming an e-sports destination is worth the investment — just ask any parent about Fortnite, an interactive video game that has become the Beatlemania of our time. E-sports is the fastest growing pastime among teenagers and 20-somethings. At any given moment, 3 million gamers are playing Fortnite alone. Madden NFL is one of a handful of game franchises that have sold more than 100 million units. No wonder Fortune 500 companies are looking to sponsor e-sports leagues, teams and athletes (yes, they’re called athletes).
