Donald Norcross has worked hard for New Jersey

Registered Independents and voters in Gloucester need to see that while inflation is crushing ordinary New Jerseyans, Donald Norcross working to bring down the cost of living and expand opportunities for all New Jerseyans. Norcross led the charge in the fight to lower prescription drug costs by allowing Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Donald Norcross expanded skills training and apprenticeships programs so everyone could get a high-wage job, not just those with 4-year college degrees.

Registered unaffiliated women voters need to see that as a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, Donald Norcross is fighting to protect a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. Norcross supports passing a federal law to guarantee the right to safe and legal abortions for women.

GUSTAFSON

Seniors need to read that Claire Gustafson is a career politician who has been on the ballot 19 times in the last 25 years. She’s been repeatedly cited by the FEC for hiding her campaign donors and receiving excess campaign contributions. Gustafson even has a pending complaint against her by New Jersey election law enforcement.

Older women, Gloucester County women and registered unaffiliated voters need to see that Claire Gustafson wants to outlaw abortion, supports the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision and has said that “abortion is never an option.” Gustafson has been endorsed by South Jersey politicians who want to make abortion illegal with no exceptions, even in cases of rape, incest and when the mother’s life is in danger.

Unaffiliated voters in Gloucester County need to see Gustafson out for herself. She voted to raise taxes on property owners but didn’t pay her own at least 24 times. But as a member of Collingswood Board of Education, Gustafson voted for millions in higher taxes and spending, and she said she was “proud of her record.”

Congressman Donald Norcross, New Jersey’s only member of the House Committee on Education and Labor, is a lifelong advocate for worker’s rights, family-sustaining wages, high-quality, affordable health care and secure retirements for all Americans. Congressman Donald Norcross has a long record of standing up for South Jersey values in Washington. Below, please find an overview of his record as he’s served his constituents and fought for workers.

Donald is working to boost American manufacturing and create jobs by requiring federal contractors to buy American, meaning that goods and services will be made in America and not abroad.
Donald supports freezing government spending, holding the line on any tax hikes and returning surpluses to taxpayers.
Donald is a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus and supports passing a federal law to guarantee the right to safe and legal abortions for women across the country.
Donald recently cosponsored a bill to raise the purchasing age for buying semiautomatic weapons and to outlaw the high-capacity magazines used in mass shootings.
Donald helped secure funding to expand apprenticeship programs at Rowan College of South Jersey to help young people get good-paying jobs in the renewable energy sector.
Donald is taking on big pharma to let the government negotiate lower drug prices and stop pharmaceutical companies from price gouging.
Donald secured over fifteen million dollars in funding to provide low-income South Jersey seniors with options that allow them to live independently.
Donald sponsored the bill to raise the federal minimum wage to 15 dollars an hour so that all hard-working American families can stop living paycheck to paycheck and keep up with rising costs.

Prior to the current Congressional term, Donald worked hard for New Jersey through his work in Washington. This includes:

Introduced legislation that became law-creating programs to incorporate job training into addiction recovery programs. (H.R. 5679 – Jobs Plus Recovery Act)
Voted against the Republican Health Care Bill that would have repealed Obamacare
Voted against the Trump tax scam to benefit his billionaire backers
Voted against the Republican budget deal that ignored the plight of Dreamers
Traveled the country with three other Progressive Caucus members to study the ‘Future of Work’ and develop solutions for young professionals
Authored bill signed by President Obama to honor the life and legacy of Sal Corma, a Deptford resident who died in Afghanistan saving the lives of fellow servicemembers, by renaming the local Post Office in his honor
Joined President Obama in Camden in 2015 in support of the city’s nationally recognized community policing model
Voted against penalizing states and localities that have sanctuary laws on immigration
Strongly supports Planned Parenthood in the wake of the attacks by Trump and the GOP.
Voted against banning abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy
Supported efforts to reform sexual harassment guidelines in Congress and ensure that offenders – and not the public – pay for settlements
Voted to keep the law barring internet providers from sharing data on customers’ activities
Fought for a provision in the Higher Education act that increases child-care support for community college students, which the GOP rejected
Cosponsored the America’s College Promise Act to make college affordable for all.
Called on Secretary DeVos to reinstate Student Loan Protections
Secured funding to help protect local religious centers from haram and pushed to fully fund the Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) in New Jersey
Proud member of the LGBT Equality Caucus
Introduced the Seniors Security Act to help seniors who are struggling to pay their medical bills by boosting cost-of-living increases and limiting spikes in Medicare premiums
Called on the White House to name the opioid crisis a national emergency, and advanced efforts to research opioid abuse among PTSD sufferers
Attended the 50th Anniversary of Selma March with President Obama and Rep. John Lewis
Cosponsored the Voting Rights Advancement Act to ensure voting rights for all
Participated in the “Sit-In” on the House Floor protesting gun violence and Congressional inaction and hosted a gun violence and school security town hall with a Parkland survivor
Voted against making concealed-carry firearm permits legal across states lines
Cosponsored the Automatic Gunfire Prevention Act to prevent ‘bump stock’ massacres
Authored and passed the Delaware River Basin Conservation act to study and fund preservation efforts
Joined legal efforts to oppose oil drilling off the Jersey Shore, implored Trump to retract his order, and sponsored the COAST Anti-Drilling Act
Attended Supreme Court hearings in support of worker’s rights in Freidrich’s vs. CTA, and Janus vs. AFSCME cases
Co-chair of the Jobs for America Task Force in Congress
Authored the Workplace Democracy Act along with Sen Bernie Sanders
Authored the 21st Century Energy Workforce Act to fund high-skilled job training
Authored legislation to recognize the Father of Labor Day, Peter McGuire, and make his gravesite in Pennsauken a national landmark
Cosponsored the Child Care for Working Families Act, R. Scott (D-VA)
Cosponsored the Grow American Incomes Now Act (GAIN) ACT, to increase the Earned Income Tax Creditor
Cosponsored the RAISE Family Caregivers Act
Cosponsored the Restoring Overtime Pay Act of 2017, Takano (D-CA)
Cosponsored the Voter Empowerment Act of 2017, Lewis (D-GA)
Cosponsored Censuring the President over Charlottesville, Nadler (D-NY)
Cosponsored the Equality Act, Cicilline (D-RI)
Cosponsored the LGBT Data Inclusion Act, Grijalva (D-AZ)
Cosponsored the Resolution Expressing support for the designation of June 26 as “LGBT Equality Day”

In his tenure as a member of Congress, Donald held a number of leadership positions, joined committees, and built coalitions and caucuses, including:

Education and Labor Committee
- Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee
- Higher Education and Workforce Investment Subcommittee
Armed Services Committee
- Chairman, Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
- Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee
Assistant Whip
Steering and Policy Committee
- Parliamentarian
Congressional Progressive Caucus
- Vice Chair and Liaison to Labor
New Democrat Coalition
- Infrastructure and National Security Task Forces
Building Trades Caucus
- Co-Chair and Founder
Bipartisan Addiction Task Force
- Vice-Chair
Financial Security and Life Insurance Caucus
- Co-Chair
Congressional LGBT Equality Caucus
115th Congress Initiatives
- Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans member
- Future of Work, Wages and Labor Task Force member
- Democratic Caucus Rebuilding America Task Force member

Prior to becoming a member of Congress, Donald stood up for South Jersey in Trenton for years, including:

Voted in favor of a Millionaire’s Tax of four occasions, in 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014
Led the first Living Wage campaign in Camden City
Led successful effort to raise NJ’s minimum wage in 2012, and in 2017, brought together Governor Murphy, Senate President Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Coughlin for their first joint press conference to call for action, leading to NJ passing a law that has already raised the wage to $10 and will raise it to $15
Led a community non-profit that provides services to residents in need, the Union Organization for Social Service (UOSS)
Longtime board member on the United Way of Camden County
Led SJ AFL-CIO for 17 on behalf of a diverse group of over 85,000 members
Led effort to bring the Battleship New Jersey home to the Camden Port where it is now a museum attraction on the waterfront
Led effort to end discriminatory bail practices and reform NJ criminal justice system
Led reforms that restructured New Jersey’s higher education system, leading to more resources and autonomy for Rutgers-Camden, allowing Rowan to become a Research University, and creating two world-class medical schools in South Jersey
Voted for marriage equality in New Jersey
Sponsored Caregiver’s Assistance Act in coordination with the AARP
Sponsored and passed the Cyber Harassment / Anti-Bullying law
Sponsored and passed the NJ TEAM Act for tuition equality for military and veterans
Sponsored and passed the Assistance Animal Recognition Day bill
Sponsored and passed the Anti-Gun Trafficking Act
Successfully fought for new public school construction in Camden City, Gloucester City, and across the state on the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Public Schools and served as Chairman of the Schools Construction Subcommittee
Legislative Environmental Conservation Caucus, Chairman

Awards and Recognition:

“A” grade from NEA
“A” rating from NAACP
100% rating from Communications Workers of America
100% rating from Planned Parenthood
100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America
100% rating from AFL-CIO
100% rating from Human Rights Campaign
100% rating from the American Association of University Women
100% rating from National Farmers Union
100% rating from Defenders of Wildlife
100% rating from Food Policy Action’s 115th Congress scorecard
93% rating from Humane Society (missed related votes to attend son’s graduation)
92% Lifetime Rating from League of Conservation Voters
0% rating from the anti-immigration group NumbersUSA
NJ Regional Coalition Strategic Partner of the Year (Nov 2011)
Boy Scouts of America SJ Chapter Distinguished Citizen Award (Oct 2010)
United Way’s Alexis du Toqueville Award Recipient (2011)
Camden Children’s Garden Champion of Children Award (2012)
Walter Rand South Jerseyan of the Year ~ Public Sector (2013)
South Jersey AFL-CIO George E. Norcross, Jr. Humanitarian Award recipient (2013)
NJ Conference of Mayors Legislator of the Year (2013)
Nursing Ambassador, Rutgers School of Nursing (2013)
GI Go Fund, Legislator of the Year (2013)
Gloucester County NAACP Game Changer Award Recipient (2014)
Chabad of Gloucester County Man of the Year (2015)
New Jersey NAACP Outstanding Legislator Award (2015)
United Way John C. Haas Regional Champion Medal (2015)
Congregation Sons of Israel Community Service Award (2015)
NJ AFL-CIO Legislator of the Year (2016)
Planned Parenthood of South Jersey’s Congressional Advocacy Award (2016)
NJ Working Families Alliance, People’s Gala Progressive Champion Honoree (2017)
Other honorees that evening included Gov Phil Murphy and the CWA
Camden County Community College Presidential Impact Award (2018)
Jewish National Fund Tree of Life™ Humanitarian Award (2018)
The African American Caucus (AAC) of the Laborers’ International Union of North America (LiUNA) Exemplary Leadership in Labor Award (2018)
New Jersey Alliance for Action Walter Rand Eagle Award (2018)
Alice Paul Institute Equality Award (2019)

Standing Up for Workers

Throughout his career, standing up for workers has been a central focus of Congressman Donald Norcross’ work. Below please find an overview of how Donald has fought for workers as a member of Congress.

Progressive Caucus Leadership

Donald serves as the Vice-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus and Liaison to Labor
At the 2018 Progressive Caucus Summit in Baltimore, Donald introduced the keynote speaker, CWA President Chris Shelton

Future of Work

Throughout 2017 and 2018, Donald joined with Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02), Debbie Dingell (MI-12), and Mark DeSaulnier (CA-11) to research the current state and future of American workers.
The Members traveled more than 4,700 miles and held 9 public meetings. They hosted town halls with over 250 local workers, consulted over 100 experts and academics, and ultimately developed over 30 policy recommendations.
Their work was documented in the Future of Work report that called for aggressive action to grow unionization and re-energize collective action efforts in the workplace and was applauded by AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka.

H.R. 582 Raise the Wage Act

In Congress, Donald has been the leading voice calling for a $15 per hour Federal minimum wage.
He is a lead sponsor the Raise the Wage Act, along with Senator Bernie Sanders and Rep Bobby Scott, which passed the House on July 18, 2019 with bipartisan support and all 12 NJ delegation members voting Yes.

H.R 2474 Protecting the Right to Organize Act

Donald is an original sponsor and has been whipping members to cosponsor and support.
At a Committee Hearing on July 25, 2019, Donald specifically called out Uber for their record on employee misclassification.

H.R 3219 United States Call Center Worker and Consumer Protection Act

Donald cosponsored this legislation last session and will sponsor this session.
Following a meeting with national CWA representatives, Donald is advocating for other unions and members to join the CWA in this effort.

H.R.1711 – No Tax Breaks for Outsourcing Act

Donald is an original sponsor along with Rep Lloyd Doggett.

H.R 1 For the People Act

Donald was an original cosponsor and voted in favor of the bill on the House floor on March 8, 2019.

Advocacy and Organizing Efforts

On April 25, 2016, Donald joined CWA-NJ Director Hetty Rosenstein and others to walk a picket line in solidarity with striking Verizon employees.
On April 28, 2016, Donald wrote to Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam, urging the corporation to reach a fair agreement with CWA and IBEW workers.
On August 2, 2017, Donald wrote to AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson, urging the corporation to reach an agreement that allows workers to share in their enormous profits.
On February 28, 2019, Donald joined Members of Congress to petition the FCC and Department of Justice to oppose the proposed merger of T-Mobile and Sprint.
In April 2019, Donald strongly questioned Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding her anti-union, anti-organizing efforts in Michigan.
Donald is a leading voice against wage theft; and has spoken out against the “Save Local Business Act” (HR3441), aka the Joint Employer bill, on the floor and in the Education and Labor Committee.
Donald is a member of Rep. Rosa DeLauro’s trade working group that actively recruits Members of Congress to stand with workers on issues of trade, notably to vote against the TPP and to oppose the USMCA if significant improvements to labor conditions, enforcement, and environmental provisions are not made.
Donald voted to advance the impeachment proceedings of President Trump on three occasions, as early as 2017 and most recently on July 18, 2019.

Donald in the News

For the latest press on how Donald is fighting for NJ01, please visit our ‘In the News’ section. Below, please find a few of our favorite stories on Donald and his work in Washington.

More Fast Facts about Donald’s Record

Donald was born and raised in New Jersey.
- He grew up in Pennsauken in a middle-class home with his parents and three brothers.
- His grandparents settled in Williamstown and owned Freitag’s Bakery on Kaighn Avenue in Camden.
- Donald played soccer at Pennsauken High and graduated from Camden County College – at the same time that his mother was earning her degree (but only she had a 4.0 GPA).
- Donald was a single dad to his first son before meeting his wife Andrea, a cardiac technician at Virtua Hospital.
- They are now the proud parents of three and grandparents of two. They reside in the Victor Building in Camden – the former home of RCA/Victor and the building where Donald’s father had his first job.
- Donald enjoys spending time down the Jersey Shore, biking, scuba diving, going to concerts at the BB&T Bank Center, spoiling his grandkids, and watching just about anything on the Discovery Channel.

Donald is an electrician by trade.
- He worked for years installing power lines in refineries and on the tops of bridges and later served as a business agent for the local electrician’s union – IBEW Local 351.
- When he started work as an electrician in 1980, he made $4.15 an hour.
- At times, he needed to rely on unemployment and disability insurance to provide for his family.
- Donald also led the Southern NJ AFL-CIO, representing the interests of over 85,000 local working men and women.
- During his tenure, the organization presented over $400,000 in college scholarships to local students.
- Under his leadership, the union expanded hiring and apprenticeship programs for women and minorities.

Donald has led multiple civic efforts to improve the quality of life in South Jersey.
- He is a longtime member and past chairman of the Camden County United Way charity.
- He ran UOSS, a non-profit organization that connects local families with community resources, builds wheelchair ramps for seniors and disabled vets, and offers job training for at-risk young people.
- He led the successful grassroots effort to bring the Battleship New Jersey home to the Camden Waterfront.

Donald has a record of effective, bipartisan action.
- As a labor leader, he forged alliances with business groups like the Chamber of Commerce to grow jobs and development using high-wage labor, and he led the first Living Wage campaign in Camden City.
- In the state Legislature, he worked across party lines to modernize New Jersey’s higher education system, business recruitment and retention programs, criminal justice system, and alcohol laws, and he helped lead the effort to raise the state’s minimum wage through a constitutional amendment.
- In Congress, he is continuing his lifelong advocacy for good jobs, affordable education, and security for our nation and our neighborhoods.

Fighting for Us

In Congress, Donald is focused on jobs, education, and security for our nation and in our neighborhoods, and he is leading the fight to raise wages for working families.

Jobs

Raise Wages
- Lead the fight for a national $15 per hour minimum wage.
Rebuild Infrastructure
- Invest $1 trillion+ in roads, bridges, rail, ports, energy, water, broadband, and cyber security.
Restore Voices
- Defend rights to quality health care, secure retirements, equal pay, paid leave, and affordable child care.

Education

Great Public Schools
- Elevate teachers and update aging public school infrastructure.
Affordable Higher Education
- Promote affordable college alternatives and apprenticeships to train our workforce.
High Tech Innovation
- Invest in high-tech health care and medical sciences industries to unleash innovation.

Security

Protect America
- Defend our nation, equip our military, and combat the threats of terrorism and cyber terror.
Honor Veterans
- Honor our veterans and their families with top-quality health care when and where they need it.
Strengthen Communities
- Promote public safety and tackle the disease of addiction afflicting towns throughout our nation.

Getting Results

In his short time in Congress, Donald has made a positive impact on South Jersey’s families.
- Founded the bipartisan Building Trades caucus to highlight issues critical to America’s workers.
- Helped secure over $100 million in federal resources for public safety departments, job training programs, environmental cleanups, housing for veterans, and education and health care resources throughout NJ.
- Coordinated with the New Jersey delegation to protect our Joint Base and secure a new KC-46 mission.
- Supported a $22 million increase in the Superfund account and secured $1M for local cleanups.
- Successfully advocated to fund security projects at local non-profits and fought to reform the UASI grant.
- Sponsored the Senior Security Act to raise COLAs and cap Medicare premium increases.
- Passed a bill to rename the Deptford Post Office in honor of local hero Lieutenant Sal Corma.
- Passed an amendment to the national energy bill to guard against cybersecurity risks from residential smart meters.
- Inserted language into the Career and Technical Education act to help connect high school students to skilled career training programs.
- Appointed as an Assistant Whip by his fellow Democrats.
- Member of the Bipartisan Task Force to Combat the Heroin Epidemic in Congress.
- Serving South Jersey by assisting residents with federal issues, nominating outstanding students to our military service academies, and advocating for federal resources for local governments and non-profit service providers.

Donald served in the NJ legislature from 2010-14 and distinguished himself as an effective bipartisan reformer.
- He helped shape the largest reorganization of higher education in New Jersey history, the Medical and Health Sciences Restructuring Act of 2012, which spurred the development of a research hub in the state.
- He authored the historic, bipartisan NJ bail reform law that helps keep violent, dangerous individuals behind bars and allows non-violent offenders to avoid discriminatory and unaffordable bail practices.
- On the Veterans Committee, Donald created a program that helps businesses that are owned by or employ veterans to earn public contracts, and he authored a law to offer in-state tuition for all veterans attending New Jersey colleges.
- As a member of the Transportation Committee, he pushed the Department of Transportation to finally begin reconstruction of the I-295/Route 42/Route 76 interchange, which is employing thousands of workers and will significantly improve regional traffic flow.
- As part of the Public Schools Committee, he fought for more classroom funding, school construction and repairs, and his advocacy directly led to the construction of public schools like the new Gloucester City Middle School.
- As chairman of the Law and Public Safety Committee, Donald made updates to New Jersey’s liquor laws that have directly led to new small businesses like craft breweries and brew pubs opening across the state.
- Equipped police vehicles with dashboard cameras and empowered public safety officials to impound vehicles used in gun, drug, and human trafficking.
- Sped the process to rehire laid-off police officers and expanded the use of Special Law Enforcement Officers in county governments.
- Authored an AARP-supported caregiver’s tax credit to assist those caring for a senior loved one with their expenses.
- Authored the Common Sense Shared Services Act to responsibly share local employees across towns.
- Increased local election participation and cut costs by moving school board votes to November and saved the state $12M by eliminating the separate 2012 Presidential primary election.

Donald Norcross is proudly endorsed by:

Planned Parenthood
Human Rights Campaign
New Jersey State American Federation of Labor & Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
Service Employees International Union, Local 32BJ (SEIU 32BJ)
New Jersey Education Association (NJEA)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Governor Phil Murphy
Senator Cory Booker
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi

Additional Resources:

Learn more about Donald’s record of standing up to Trump here.

Take a look at what progressive leaders had to say about Donald’s work here.