Timeline

Dear Friends,

Before the 2024 Lunar New Year’s coming on Feb. 10, yesterday (Jan 12), the Governor Murphy signed the Lunar New Year Bill (https://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/562024/approved/20240112h.shtml), marking the Lunar New Year as an officially recognized cultural celebration day in New Jersey. Thanks to all of you for signing to support the bill. Thanks to all who supported the bill on-site at the State House, called and wrote to the legislators, and replied to encourage us!

Special thanks to the primary sponsor in the New Jersey General Assembly, Assemblywoman Ellen Park, and the primary sponsor in the Senate, former Governor and Senator Richard J. Codey.

Also special thanks to the following legislators who responded to become proposers or supporters of the bill (in chronological order):

Assemblyman Anthony Verrelli, Assemblyman Herb Conaway, Senator Jon Bramnick, Assemblyman Brian Bergen, Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz, Senator Shirley Turner, Assemblywoman Sadaf Jaffer, Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis, Assemblywoman Shanique Speight, Assemblywoman Shama Haider, Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, Speaker Craig Coughlin, Senator Joseph Vitale.

Furthermore, special thanks to the following individuals:

Mr. Nick Xu: you gave the earliest support to the project at the Bernards Township Lunar New Year Festival and have been encouraging us throughout.

Ms. Louisa Falk: you helped us understand the entire legislative process and provided us with endless selfless help.

Mr. Jerry Li: you have been helping us spread the call for the bill from the beginning, offering suggestions, and accompanying the growth of the project.

Mr. Mike McTernan: your global history class inspired us to launch this initiative, and thank you for guiding our advocacy activities outside of class.

Mr. Brendan Hanson: you helped bring this bill to the attention of Chairman Verrelli, paving the way for the bill to progress through the legislature and gave crucial advice.

Mr. Bryan Li: you helped to gain Senate Bramnick’s support for the bill and gave important guidance for the Senate’s processes.

Dr. YZ Zhang: you helped us gain valuable support and assistance from UCA (United Chinese Americans).

President Teik Lim, as the president of the New Jersey Institute of Technology, you used your influence to prompt the governor to take positive action.

Mr. Fu Shao: you attended the Senate committee’s meeting, showing support.

Mr. Jiang Chao: you attended the Senate committee’s meeting, showing support.

Mr. Leon Liang: you wrote to Chairman Beach to ask that he put the bill on the committee agenda.

Ms. Lexi Yi: you wrote to Chairman Beach to ask that he put the bill on the committee agenda.

Thanks to Chinese News Weekly, Koo Chinese School, Lighten Academy Education, Bernards Chinese Association, Milburn Short Hills Chinese Association, Top Mixed Martial Arts, Canton Palace, Chu's Café, and other institutions for their valuable support.

Thank you to all members of the Ridge High Chinese Club--we have completed this journey together.

We plan to post all petitioners on NJLunarNewYear.org (full information will not be shown to protect privacy). We are grateful to have witnessed this historical process together. If you have any reservations, please feel free to contact me and let me know.

There are no Chinese-Americans legislators in the New Jersey legislature yet. We look forward to more people from our community participating in elections and voting in the future. Regardless of party, we are willing to help spread the message and enthusiastically support.

The Lunar New Year Bill is a milestone, but our advocacy journey is not over. If you have legislative suggestions, please contact us. Thank you!

Wishing everyone an early Happy Luanr New Year!

Together, we can make a difference! 

Dear Friends,

Exciting news! On January 8th, the New Jersey Senate passed SJR111 unanimously (35-0). This is a huge step forward for recognizing Lunar New Year in our state. We're now eagerly awaiting Governor Murphy's final approval.

I'll keep you all posted on the developments. Your support has been incredible throughout this journey – thank you! 

Together, we can make a difference!

Dear Friends,

Happy New Year!

I'm happy to share that after contacting the Senate President’s office yesterday, I learned that the Senate President has put the Lunar New Year bill on next Monday's voting list. This was officially confirmed on the website today. The bill is supported by bipartisan members, including Deputy Senate President and former Governor Richard Codey, and our 21st district Republican Senator Jon Bramnick. It has already passed unanimously in the General Assembly voting session, which suggests it should smoothly pass in the Senate vote on Monday. Following this, it will be presented to the governor for signing. If all goes as planned, New Jersey will be the fourth state to officially celebrate the Lunar New Year, following California, New York, and Colorado.

However, the bill does not fully achieve our initial goal of making the Lunar New Year day a paid holiday for government employees and public schools. Therefore, we will continue our efforts to have the Lunar New Year recognized not just culturally but in practical terms as well. We also hope that more legislators who support the Asian-American community will join the state government to help further the progress.

Thank you to all the friends who supported this bill!

Together, we can make a difference!

Dear Friends and Supporters,

I am excited to share a significant update with you all. The Senate committee, led by Chairman James Beach, has approved the Lunar New Year Bill today. I had the honor of testifying at the committee meeting. I want to express my gratitude to each of you who have signed the petition, spread the news and supported the bill and a SPECIAL thank you to those who joined us at the committee meeting. 

As we look ahead, President Nicholas P. Scutari has a very important role: setting the Senate's agenda is crucial for our next steps. The Senate agenda is tightly packed, prioritizing urgent and widely supported legislation. It's essential that the Lunar New Year Bill is included in the Senate's agenda before the current legislative session ends. If not, we face the prospect of restarting the legislative process next year.

Your support is now more critical than ever. Please contact Senator Scutari to express your strong support for the Lunar New Year Bill. Your voices can help ensure that our bill is prioritized and brought to a vote in the Senate. Here's how you can reach Senator Scutari:

Phone: (609) 847-3700

Email: senscutari@njleg.org

As the bill advances to the State Senate, it's crucial that we continue our efforts with the same passion and commitment. Please stay engaged, spread the word, and continue to show your support.

Thank you for standing with us in this journey of cultural recognition and inclusion.

Together, we can make a difference!

Dear Friends and Neighbors,

I hope you are well as we near the holiday season. As we continue our journey towards recognizing Lunar New Year in New Jersey, I am thrilled to share some exciting news and a crucial call to action.

Significant Progress on the Lunar New Year Bill (SJR111):

Our collective efforts are bearing fruit! The Lunar New Year Bill (SJR111), championed by us and many in our community, is making significant strides. The bill is now scheduled for a hearing by the Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee.

This hearing is a critical step in our quest to officially designate Lunar New Year as an annual celebration in New Jersey. Here are the details:

• Date and Time: December 18, 2023, at 10:00 AM

• Location: Committee Room 1, 1st Floor, State House Annex, Trenton, NJ

• Bill Details: SJR111 - Codey, Richard J./Burgess, Renee C. Designates annual Lunar New Year in NJ.

How You Can Help:

• Attend the Hearing: Mark your calendars and join us at the hearing. Let's fill the room with supporters!

• Spread the Word（e.g. wechat group): Share this information with friends, family, and anyone who might be interested in supporting this cause.

Your presence at this hearing can make a significant impact. It’s an opportunity to demonstrate the strength and unity of our community in support of this bill. We need to show the committee the depth of our commitment and the importance of this recognition for our culture and heritage.

Key Information for Attendees:

• ID Reminder: Please bring a valid ID to gain entry to the Senate House.

• Contact Me: For any inquiries or coordination efforts, please reach out to me via email at [rachelyuan2015@gmail.com] or add me on WeChat, [rachelyuan2015].

Your support has been invaluable throughout this journey, and now, as we approach this critical moment, your presence and voice are more important than ever.

Thank you for your continued support and dedication to making the recognition of Lunar New Year in New Jersey a reality. Together, we can make a difference. Happy Holidays and Happy New Year!

Dear Friends of our Community,

I hope you had a wonderful summer.As September comes to a close, the New Jersey State Senate Legislative Committee is gearing up for its new session. The Lunar New Year Bill is still awaiting review in the Senate State Government and Historic Preservation Committee, chaired by Senator James Beach. I have an urgent request and am seeking your assistance and support in urging Senator Beach to schedule a hearing as soon as possible.

How You Can Help:

Call Senator James Beach's Office: Take a minutes or two to call Senator James Beach's office at (856) 429-1572. Express your support for the Lunar New Year Bill (AJR201/SJR111) and politely request its placement on the committee's agenda. 

Send an Email:

Draft an email expressing your support for the Lunar New Year Bill and send it to Senator Beach at senbeach@njleg.org.

The more engagement Senator James Beach's office receives, the stronger our message becomes.

If you have any questions or need assistance with making the call or sending an email, please feel free to contact me. Your dedication to this cause is greatly appreciated.

Together, we can make a difference.

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope you all have had a wonderful Memorial Day Weekend while we remember our fallen heroes. As we transition into the summer months, I wanted to take a moment to update you on some recent developments and share important information regarding our community.

1. Legislative Updates:

There was a brief pause in our newsletter communications as the legislature was not in session in April. But now that things are moving once again, I'm pleased to inform you that the bill we have been following has been sent to the Senate Committee on State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation. We will keep a close eye on its progress and provide you with further updates as soon as they become available.

2. Bernards Township Committee Elections:

As most of you reside in Bernards Township, I wanted to draw your attention to the upcoming election season for our Township Committee. It's a crucial time for our community, and we have the opportunity to shape the future of our township through our votes. In an effort to learn more about the candidates, I had the privilege of conducting interviews with two individuals running for office.One is with Tyler Seville who is one of two Republican candidates and the other is with Lily Wong who is one of two Democratic candidates. These articles delve into their visions for our community and the key issues they aim to address. I hope you will find the articles informative and helpful.

Here are the websites on which you can find more information about the candidates:

Bernards Dems Website: https://btdems.org/

Bernards GOP Website: https://www.btrmc.com/

In the future, I will be sharing some interviews I conducted with leaders from the Chinese-American community. As always, please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, suggestions, or concerns. Your feedback is invaluable! Thank you all for your unwavering support and dedication to our community.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Yesterday, I attended the General Assembly's voting session on the Lunar New Year bill (ARJ201) in Trenton. The bill was unanimously

passed among those present! Thanks to everyone who has been helping us during the General Assembly process！

I also learned yesterday that the Senate's version of the Lunar New Year bill is identical to the General Assembly's version, which means

the Senate might skip the hearing process and proceed directly to voting.

In recent days, our website has recorded many new friends joining our petition. Thank you for your support! Also, I want to thank those who have written back to encourage our work. A special thanks to the friends who have helped spread the word about the bill in WeChat

groups! We deeply feel that our community is our greatest source of strength. Thank you!

Again, I will continue to follow the progress of the bill and report back to everyone. I hope you have a great weekend.

Dear friends and neighbors,

Thank you for your attention to the Lunar New Year Bill.

In this edition, we would like to highlight：

1. Key Progress:

• On March 19, the Assembly State and Local Government Committee held a meeting on the Lunar New Year Bill (AJR201). I testified for this bill and submitted the petition. In the end, the committee passed AJR201 with a 5:0 unanimous vote. The bill received bipartisan support from the committee members. Assemblyman Verrelli, the chairman of the committee, gave strong and critical support for the bill.

• I had the privilege of being introduced to Speaker Coughlin of the General Assembly. We spoke about the bill, our efforts in promoting it, as well as the significant importance of the Lunar New Year Bill to the Asian-American community. Speaker Coughlin expressed his support of the bill.

• We currently have 19 legislators supporting the proposal, an increase of 7 from the previous 12.

2. Next steps:

• The ARJ201 bill has been submitted to the General Assembly and is expected to be voted on at 1 PM on Thursday (March 30) next week. People who are interested definitely should come to Trenton to watch. I will also be there.

• We will actively promote the Senate Committee to hold a hearing to review the Senate version of the Lunar New Year Bill, SJR111. After receiving the information, we will announce the hearing time in the email and invite everyone to attend. The more people who attend the hearing, the greater the possibility of passing the bill.

• After both the General Assembly and the Senate pass the bill, the bill needs the Governor's approval to become the law.

We are continuing to make progress. Please invite your friends or family to the website (www.NJLunarNewYear.org) to sign the petition. Let's work together! If you have any suggestions, please contact us! Thank you for your continued support!

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope you have been having a great February. It's almost March! We have a very important announcement: We are looking for middle and high school students to participate in our project and help these two bills pass! Please email rachel@njlunarnewyear.org if you are interested!

In this edition, we would like to highlight:

1. New Sponsors and Supporters:

    - Assemblywoman Nancy Muñoz of District 21 has agreed to support bill AJR201. Her office informed us through email.

    - Senator Shirley Turner of District 15 who is in the committee in which bill SJR111 is currently being considered has agreed to support the bill and guide it through the committee. This is very significant as she is the first person in her committee (Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee) to openly support this bill.

    - Assemblyman Raj Mukherji of District 33 has become a sponsor of bill AJR201.

    - Senator Renee Burgess of District 28 has become a sponsor of bill SJR111.

    - Now we have 12 legislators to support the bills.

2. Project Updates:

- We now have 307 petitioners. We are in the process of reaching out to more communities and organizations to gain more supporters.

- The local Chinese newspaper Chinese News Weekly published an article about our project. You can read about it digitally here: http://www.new-new.com/ePaper/index.html.

    - We have also updated the website to have a Chinese version

3. Next Steps:

    - We are going to contact Chinese-American Association and Chinese schools throughout NJ to ask for their support

    - We are planning to contact Chinese culture clubs at schools to obtain more supporters

    - We will continue reaching out to newspapers, including Chinese ones, to spread awareness of these bills

We are making progress and we will achieve our goal! Please share a link to our website (www.NJLunarNewYear.org) with your friends or families to get more petitioners! If we work together, we will succeed!

If you have any suggestions for us, please reach out! Thank you for your continued support!

Dear friends and neighbors,

I hope you all are having a great lunar new year. Thank you so much for supporting the NJ Lunar New Year Project and welcome to our biweekly Newsletter! We are excited to bring you the latest updates. 

Our project is to urge the New Jersey legislature to approve bill ARJ201/SRJ111 which officially recognizes  Lunar New Year by having the Governor issue a proclamation annually and call on educational and cultural institutions to observe the holiday with appropriate events and activities. 

In this edition, we would like to highlight:

New Sponsors and Supporters:

    - On January 25th, Assemblyman Verrelli (District 15) decided to join as a co-sponsor for bill AJR201. His office kindly informed me of this through email. This is very important as Assemblyman Verrelli is the chairman of the Assembly State and Local Government Committee where AJR201 is waiting for consideration. That means the bill will move forward much faster.

    - On January 30th, Assemblyman Conaway (District 7) decided to join as a co-sponsor for bill AJR201. His office also informed me through email.

    - On February 1st, Senator Bramnick (District 21) decided to support this bill. He will also become a sponsor for bill SJR111 shortly after going through the legislative process. His support as a Republican means that there is bipartisan support for this bill in the NJ Senate.

    - On February 2nd, I had the great opportunity of speaking to Assemblyman Bergen (District 25) over the phone to conduct an interview. During the course of this interview, he kindly agreed to support bill SJR111. As a Republican, this means that there is bipartisan support for this bill in the NJ General Assembly.

Petition Updates:

    - At the Lunar New Year celebrations at Ridge High School last month, we received 53 signatures on paper!

    - After launching our website (www.NJLunarNewYear.org), we have received 255 signatures!

    - Yesterday, we launched the same campaign on Change.org. You can support the campaign at: www.change.org/NJ-Lunar-New-Year.

We are making a lot of progress and we will achieve our goal! Please share a link to our website (www.NJLunarNewYear.org) with your friends or families to get more petitioners! If we work together, we will succeed!

If you have any feedback or suggestions for us, please reach out! We would be glad for any comments and suggestions. Thank you for your continued support!

Thank you.