South Jersey Congressmen Join Civility And Respect Caucus

A Democratic Congressman and a Republican Congressman from South Jersey have joined the Congressional Civility and Respect Caucus. Representatives Tom MacArthur (R-3) and Donald Norcross (D-1) have joined the caucus, which is an informal group of Representatives dedicated to advancing the need for civil debate and respect for different opinions and beliefs, the congressmen announced this week.

The organization will encourage all Members of Congress to act with civility and respect in their discourse as they work to represent their districts and debate with their colleagues in Washington. It was created by Ohio Representatives Steve Stivers, a Republican, and Joyce Beatty, a Democrat.

“There are many tough issues facing our nation and our best chance at solving them is for members of both parties to respect each other more, trust one another, and be willing to compromise,”MacArthur said. “That is how I try to carry myself in Congress and have always worked to achieve bipartisan solutions to issues facing our community. Congressman Donald Norcross is someone I have worked with on many critical issues facing South Jersey including protecting and strengthening Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, ensuring our veterans receive quality health care, fighting the addiction crisis, and standing up for the hardworking men and women in the New Jersey Building Trades. While we certainly don’t agree on everything, we have always treated each other with respect, and it’s great for South Jersey that Donald and I will be joining the Civility and Respect Caucus together.”

MacArthur and Norcross worked together to secure the placement of the KC-46 tankers at Joint Base MacGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Additionally, MacArthur and Norcross served on the House Armed Services Committee where they fought to protect the Joint Base.

They also co-sponsored legislation called the Veterans Freedom of Healthcare Act. The Act would allow America’s heroes to use their VA benefits at the health care provider of their choice, like a doctor in their own town, instead of having to travel to a different city or state for an appointment.

MacArthur is Republican chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force in Congress, and Norcross serves as the group’s Democrat vice-chair. The Task Force has been a driving force for federal action to address the opioid epidemic.

“As a father of three and grandfather of two, I’ve always aimed to lead by example with civility and respect,” Norcross said. “Republicans and Democrats are inevitably going to have policy differences, but we can disagree without being disagreeable to one another. I believe that by working together we can advance bipartisan solutions on the issues that matters to America’s families: growing jobs and wages, improving education, and providing security for our nation and in our neighborhoods.”

Attached images are Patch file photos of Representatives Tom MacArthur and Donald Norcross