“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 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).
Brown Bill Providing Free Tuition to Retired Law Enforcement Passes Committee
A bipartisan bill sponsored by State Senator Chris Brown to provide tuition assistance for retired law enforcement officers who retired in good standing due to a disability passed the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee recently.
Sen. Chris Brown’s legislation provides tuition assistance for retired law enforcement officers who retired in good standing due to a disability. (SenateNJ.com)
“Men and women whose careers of keeping our families safe are cut short deserve an opportunity to get back on their feet in a new career,” Brown said.
Brown Bill Making Campuses Safer from Violence Advances
Senator Chris Brown’s bill creating the Campus Sexual Assault Commission passed the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee recently.
Sen. Chris Brown’s bill creating the Campus Sexual Assault Commission passed the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee recently. (SenateNJ.com)
“It is heartbreaking and simply unacceptable that women continue to be assaulted on campus. Our college women deserve to be free from fear and their families free from worry. Predators have no place anywhere in society, especially on our college campuses,” said Brown.
Brown Joins Young Woman’s Efforts to Combat the Opioid Epidemic in Atlantic County & Across America
As part of her ongoing efforts to raise awareness and combat the opioid epidemic, New Jersey native, Jessie Grieb, is currently walking a 2,575 mile journey down the East Coast of the United States.
Recently, State Senator Chris Brown hiked alongside Ms. Grieb and joined her efforts to shed light on this crisis.
Senator Chris Brown listens to Jessie Grieb during their walk through Atlantic County last month. (@ChrisBrownNJ)
“As a young boy, I learned we are all God’s children, and that we must do everything possible to ensure we help others along the way,” Senator Chris Brown said. “Jessie’s courage and determination to raise awareness of the dangers of addiction deserve our full support. Her journey is dedicated to ensuring other families are spared the tragedy of losing a friend or family member. A walk away from addiction is not measured by miles, but by the love and comfort we provide as we stride alongside our loved ones.”
Brown: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
“No women should be denied preventative care, and we can save 7,000 women through early detection,” Senator Chris Brown(R-Atlantic) said. “That is why I sponsored a law forcing insurance companies to cover the necessary testing for women with a high risk for breast cancer.”
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Please be sure to check with your doctor, and see if screening is right for you.
Six Years After Sandy, Homeowners Need More and Better Help
The following op-ed by Senator Chris Brown (R-Atlantic) on Superstorm Sandy relief was published by the Press of Atlantic City on Oct. 19, 2018. It reads:
“Have you ever been mistreated? Then you know just what I’m talking about,” sang Eric Clapton, as he shared his blues in his song “Five Long Years.” Well, too many New Jersey families who weathered the full brunt of Superstorm Sandy for two days have been mistreated for six long years.
Senator Chris Brown speaks with local residents on the Atlantic City Boardwalk in 2017. (ChrisBrownNJ)
Sandy relief programs were supposedly designed to help families get back in their homes and on their feet. While the storm broke houses, the bureaucracy is breaking the will, patience and budgets of middle class families. It’s well past the time to bring closure to thousands of families who just want to move back into their homes and on with their lives.
The only thing worse than Superstorm Sandy has been the recovery, so it’s no surprise a recent poll revealed a third of Sandy victims are still not in their homes. Twelve percent have lost so much faith in the system they now consider themselves “permanently displaced.” I hear families say they wish they never applied for help.
Brown Aviation Zone Opens the Door for a Brighter Future for Our Families
Senator Chris Brown’s legislation creating a Garden State Growth Zone around the Atlantic City International Airport is becoming law.
The zone would also include the Federal Aviation Administration William J. Hughes Technical Center, and the Stockton Aviation Research and Technology Park.
Senator Brown’s bill to create a Garden State Growth Zone around the Atlantic City Internation Airport. (@ChrisBrownNJ)
“By working hard in a bi-partisan manner over the last four years while continuously fighting for our Atlantic County families, we’ve created one of the most significant opportunities to create jobs for our local working families since the approval of casino gaming,” Brown said.
“While Tourism and gaming are the ‘bread and butter’ of Atlantic County’s economy, it’s clear Atlantic County must diversify its economic base beyond tourism and gaming,” Brown said, noting Atlantic County families still suffer from the highest foreclosure rate in the nation and an unemployment rate persistently above the State average.
