“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.” 
Senate Approves Brown Bill Allowing Families to Display Flags with Pride
Families will be allowed to continue expressing their patriotism under a bill sponsored by Senator Chris Brown that was approved by the New Jersey Senate.
Families will be allowed to continue expressing their patriotism under a bill sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown that was approved by the New Jersey Senate. (Wikimedia Commons)
“Flying the American flag is an expression of love of country and our fellow citizens. The flag is a unifying symbol, which we rallied around after 9/11,” Brown said. “I think keeping these flags in place recaptures the unity we all felt at the time and need more than ever now.”
Senate Clears Pennacchio/Brown Bill to Ensure State-Purchased POW-MIA Flags are Manufactured in the USA
All POW-MIA flags purchased with state funds must be manufactured in the United States under legislation sponsored by Senator Joe Pennacchio and Senator Chris Brown and advanced today by the Senate.
Senator Pennacchio and Senator Brown sponsor legislation that would require all POW-MIA flags purchased with state funds to be manufactured in the United States. (Pixabay)
“Out of respect for the military members who never came home, these POW-MIA flags are flown, often at state offices and buildings,” said Pennacchio. “When we are remembering these heroes, we should do it with flags manufactured here in the nation they so proudly defended. There’s no reason for the state to buy cheap, imported flags to memorialize our brave soldiers.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
No women should be denied preventative life-saving care, and we can save 7,000 women through early detection.
Vote “YES” on Ballot Question #2 to Expand Property Tax Relief Benefits for Veterans
Honorably discharged military veterans who did not serve during time of war would be eligible for the $250 property tax deduction and the property tax exemption granted by law to veterans with a service-connected disability thanks to a bipartisan ballot question sponsored by Senator Chris Brown.
Sen. Chris Brown urged voters to vote “YES” on Ballot Question #2 to expand property tax relief for veterans. (SenateNJ.com)
“We are taking one more step to help all of the men and women who served our country to afford to stay in their homes,” Brown said. “Expanding property tax relief to all veterans is part of our effort making it easier for them to transition into civilian life.”
Under Sen. Brown’s Law, More Help for College Families Now Available
Middle-class families dealing with student loans will now have an advocate to assist student loan borrowers and help resolve disputes with student loan services.
Middle-class families dealing with student loans will now have an advocate to assist student loan borrowers and help resolve disputes with student loan services under a bipartisan law sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown. (SenateNJ.com)
Under a bipartisan law sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown to help middle-class families with student loan debt, the New Jersey Department of Banking and Insurance (DOBI) designated a Student Loan Ombudsman within the department.
“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 Backs Expanding Tax Relief to 60,000 More Families
Under a new law supported by State Senator Chris Brown, 60,000 more working families will be eligible for the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit.
Under a new law supported by State Senator Chris Brown, 60,000 more working families will be eligible for the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit. (SenateNJ.com)
“This tax break is very timely because the pandemic is making it very hard for many young families entering the full-time job market to make ends meet,” said Brown, a longtime advocate for the New Jersey Earned Income Tax Credit. “We are building upon a successful tax relief program that keeps families working and protects them from falling into poverty.”
Brown Measure Helping Families of Service Men and Women in Combat Now Law
“We got their back,” said Senator Chris Brown of men and women serving in combat zones, as Governor Murphy signed into law his bipartisan bill (S-2050/2090) to help military families during deployment by exempting combat pay from New Jersey’s income tax.
Service men and women serving in combat zones will no longer have to pay New Jersey income tax on their combat pay under a newly enacted law sponsored by Sen. Chris Brown. (SenateNJ.com)
Uniformed military personnel deployed to designated combat zones, where tensions and danger are escalated, receive weekly “combat pay” stipends of an additional $225.
Up until Brown’s law, New Jersey was the only state that taxed combat pay.
Brown Bill to Help Ease MVC Lines Now law
Saying, “It’s a start,” State Senator Chris Brown announced a new law to reduce long lines at Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agencies and make it more convenient for Atlantic County families to renew their driver’s licenses.
State Senator Chris Brown announced a new law to reduce long lines at Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) agencies and make it more convenient for Atlantic County families to renew their driver’s licenses. (SenateNJ.com)
“When the MVC agencies were shut down in the spring, Trenton had four months to figure out a way to make the system customer friendly by the time they re-opened in July. Instead, Trenton created another debacle by forcing families to get up at the crack of dawn and wait in line all day just to renew a driver’s license ,” Brown said. “Our hardworking families and retirees deserve better.”
Brown Bill Helping Local Bars & Restaurants Survive Passes Senate
Atlantic County bars and restaurants hit hard by the pandemic and government ordered closures will get a lifeline under a bipartisan bill sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown.
Atlantic County bars and restaurants hit hard by the pandemic and government ordered closures will get a lifeline under a bipartisan bill sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown. (SenateNJ.com)
“With many of Atlantic County’s middle-class families relying on hospitality jobs to make their living and pay their bills, this measure provides the much needed relief to keep our restaurants and bars afloat until they can begin hiring back more of our families,” Brown said. “After listening and meeting with our local families, I know, now more than ever, we need to put people back to work to ensure Atlantic County recovers fully from the damage caused by the pandemic.”
Veterans Posts Eligible for Assistance under Brown Bill
A bipartisan bill to help veterans organizations like the American Legion, AMVETS, the Jewish War Veterans, and the VFW to maintain their buildings and programs won approval by the Senate Military & Veterans Affairs Committee, announced the bill’s sponsor State Senator Chris Brown.
A bipartisan bill to help veterans organizations to maintain their buildings and programs won approval by the Senate Military & Veterans Affairs Committee, announced the bill’s sponsor State Senator Chris Brown. (SenateNJ.com)
“Veterans organizations support many great causes like helping service men and women and their families and sponsoring patriotic and sports programs for our children, all while trying keep their organizations and buildings operating during the pandemic,” Brown said. “As centers of patriotic activities, veterans’ posts are vital to our local communities, so it’s a small price to pay to help our veterans keep their doors open. ”
