Mercer County’s Josephson Family Attend State Of The Union In D.C.

MERCER COUNTY, NJ — Advocates Marci and Seymour Josephson of Mercer County attended President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address on Tuesday as guests of Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4).

The Josephsons’ trip to Capitol Hill comes one month after President Biden signed Sami’s Law in honor of the couple’s daughter. The law, sponsored by Smith, is the first phase of a larger legislative effort to enhance safety for rideshare passengers and drivers. More: Biden Signs Sami's Law In Honor Of NJ Woman Killed By Fake Uber Driver

The couple's daughter Samantha Josephson was kidnapped and murdered in 2019 after she got into a car thinking it was her Uber ride.

The University of South Carolina student disappeared from Columbia’s Five Point entertainment district and was found in remote woods about 65 miles away.

Following her death, her parents began the #WHATSMYNAME foundation to educate people on the importance of rideshare safety.

“Marci and Seymour have been heroic, tenacious, and selfless over the past few years pushing for comprehensive new protection policies at Uber and Lyft notwithstanding their excruciating agony over the loss of their precious daughter,” Smith said in a statement. “I am honored to have them join me at the State of the Union address.”

Ahead of the SOTU speech, the Josephsons and Smith met with representatives from the Government Accountability Office (GAO)—the “congressional watchdog” that is required by Sami’s Law to investigate and provide an independent, comprehensive report to Congress on the incidence of assault and abuse of rideshare passengers and drivers each year. The Josephsons will also be meeting key lawmakers on Wednesday.

“The Josephsons have, and are, making a lasting change,” Smith said. “Their advocacy has saved lives and made so many more of us situationally aware of the dangers of using Uber and Lyft.”

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