The Week Just Past:

• Mourning the Loss of Joan Bramhall
• House Addresses the Border Crisis
• See: “Obama Does Not Accept War For What It Is” –Washington Post
• Sen. Joe Lieberman: We Must Support Our Allies
• Salute: NJ National Guard Unit Begins Deployment to Persian Gulf
• Salute: National Council of Jewish Women, Essex Chapter, “Back 2 School Store”

Mourning the Loss of Joan Bramhall

I am saddened by the tragic passing of my friend Joan Bramhall. Joan was a much beloved leader in Morris County and across the State of New Jersey.  An exceptional mother and grandmother, Joan was also second to none as a public servant.

A former chair of the Morris County Republican Party, onetime Freeholder and longtime County Clerk, Joan gave so much of herself serving others. She was also an early role model for women in politics and government, inspiring countless others by her leadership and example. My thoughts and prayers are with Joan's family at this heartbreaking time.

House Addresses the Border Crisis

Last Friday, the House of Representatives passed legislation to address the humanitarian crisis on our southern border.  The bill will allow the children who have been brought to the United States to be promptly reunited with their families in their home countries and provides resources to ensure that they are well cared for during their short stay in the United States. The bill also provides for increased efforts to secure the border.   

Details about the bill can be found here.

See: “Obama Does Not Accept War For What It Is” – Washington Post

Former State Department Counsellor, Eliot Cohen, writing in theWashington Post, draws on the lessons of history to explain President Obama’s reluctance to support our allies as they fight to protect their people and their national sovereignty. It’s a must read.

Sen. Joe Lieberman: We Must Support Our Allies

Former US Senator and Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Joe Lieberman confirms once again that the President’s conduct of United States foreign policy continues to damage America’s standing in the world and encourages extremists to carry out further acts of terror.  In his compelling piece, “Leaving US Allies Adrift as Chaos Rises,” Senator Lieberman asserts that “strong and consistent support of our allies must be a foundation of U.S. foreign policy in this unstable and unpredictable world—for America's good and the world's.”

Salute: NJ National Guard Unit Begins Deployment to Persian Gulf

I am honored to salute the New Jersey National Guard’s Alpha Company, 2-113th Infantry Battalion, which left this past Saturday for Bahrain for a one-year deployment. Some 170 troops will be providing security for a U.S. Navy facility in that Persian Gulf nation.

These citizen soldiers serve willingly, but at great sacrifice to their families and careers, as this article in the Record, reporting on their departure, makes clear. They, and their families, deserve our thanks and gratitude for their selfless service to our nation. They have my best wishes for a successful – and safe – deployment.  

Salute: National Council of Jewish Women, Essex Chapter, “Back 2 School Store”

Many thanks to the Essex Chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW/Essex)  for their annual back to school event for children in need! This remarkable effort gives girls and boys brand new clothes and school supplies, purchased or donated by NCJW/Essex and its partners. Although the start of the new school year is still several weeks away, these students are ready to start in style!   

This year’s highly successful “Back 2 School Store” was held on August 3 at Temple B'nai Shalom in West Orange. I salute the National Council of Jewish Women, Essex Chapter for this generous outreach to needy students!