Recap: What Senator Kim Heard During Town Hall and Tour of Flemington

FLEMINGTON, N.J. – Yesterday, Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ) was joined by hundreds of New Jerseyans in Flemington for a standing room only town hall. Senator Kim spoke on a full range of topics, including the impact Trump’s tariffs have had on the Hunterdon community, his legislative efforts to rid corruption from public service and bring universal healthcare to children, and the affordability crisis New Jersey continues to navigate. Before taking questions from attendees, the Senator also provided updates on the war in Iran and its impact at home and discussed both his recent oversight visits to Delaney Hall and his work to rid New Jersey of private detention centers. “I’m going around Hunterdon County [earlier] today – overwhelmingly everyone is saying they are feeling an anxiety right now; someone I spoke to said it feels hard to breathe sometimes, wondering what is going to happen,” said Senator Kim during his opening remarks. “In this day and age, why are we making it harder for people to be able to live with dignity and decency?” Importantly, Senator Kim explained, “I’m tired of performative politics…the question is what comes next – we have to end [the Iran] war that is costing our country billions, reverse the tariffs, and we have to reverse the Medicaid and budget cuts…we must close corruption loopholes and put forward a new vision as to where our country can go.” Throughout the evening, Senator Kim discussed topics and answered questions ranging from concerns about climate change to concerns about Trump’s dangerous foreign policy, including: The overwhelming red tape people with disabilities have to navigate to receive needed healthcare, including recertifications for Medicaid The impact that Trump’s tariffs have had on Hunterdon farmers and families Senator Kim’s oversight leadership when it comes to Delaney Hall The affordability crisis that Hunterdon families are navigating, especially when it comes to gas prices The Senators legislative work tackling government corruption The Senators role on the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee (HSGAC) and how that impacts FEMA decisions The attack on election integrity and vote-by-mail ballots At the end of his opening remarks, Senator Kim reflected on the 25th anniversary of the horrific September 11th terrorist attacks, which occurred when he was in college, and which was the catalyst for Senator Kim to dedicate his life to public service. Senator Kim said, “[September 11th] was a moment that really shook us, rightfully so, but reminded us that we are something bigger than all of us – I feel like we are losing that – we are having a crisis of empathy right now… but in the aftermath of September 11th – we, in all corners of this country, grieved. I’ll be standing with families [of 9/11 victims] this Friday at Ground Zero, and yes, it’s a moment for us never forget, but hopefully it’s a moment to never forget what it means to be a country, and to feel a commonality and a bond with one another – to remember what it means to be a democracy. We have a lot of challenges right now – but I still believe in America.” Earlier in the day, Senator Kim traveled throughout Hunterdon County meeting with students, educators, and disability community advocates. He was first joined by members of the Hunterdon County Education Services Commission in Flemington to discuss their concerns over funding gaps for workforce programs and their desire to increase adult literacy. He then met with members of Progressive Center for Independent Living in Lebanon, where he heard about the devastating impacts that Trump’s cuts to Medicaid have had on those they serve and the importance of continued access to care for adults with disabilities. Senator Kim is a member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation; the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP); the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; and the Special Committee on Aging. Before being elected to the U.S. Senate, Kim represented New Jersey’s Third Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives and was a career public servant working in national security and diplomacy at the White House, State Department, and Pentagon. ###