Bill Text: NJ SR105 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Honors 250th anniversary of adoption of Declaration of Independence and birth of this nation.
Sponsorship: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced) 2026-06-08 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate State Government, Wagering, Tourism & Historic Preservation Committee [SR105 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-SR105-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator CARMEN F. AMATO, JR.
District 9 (Ocean)
Senator ANDREW ZWICKER
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Tiver
SYNOPSIS
Honors 250th anniversary of adoption of Declaration of Independence and birth of this nation.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Senate Resolution honoring the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and birth of this nation.
Whereas, On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which outlined the founding principles of the United States of America and signaled a pivotal moment in the birth of this nation; and
Whereas, The Declaration of Independence proclaimed "that all men are created equal," endowed "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"; and
Whereas, New Jersey played an instrumental role in the fight for freedom during the American Revolution; and
Whereas, Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first public reading of the document outside of Philadelphia was proudly held in Trenton on July 8, 1776, as the State embraced the movement for independence; and
Whereas, Two days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Provincial Congress of New Jersey met in Burlington, New Jersey and adopted the first Constitution of the State of New Jersey, which established a framework for representative government that would guide the newly independent State; and
Whereas, The first Legislature faced the extraordinary challenge of establishing a functioning government while the State served as a principal battleground of the Revolutionary War, with legislators forced to relocate multiple times between locations such as Princeton, Burlington, and Trenton to avoid British occupation; and
Whereas, The new, democratically elected State Government, not the King, maintained all civilian authority over the State's people, thereby creating a stable base in which the Continental Army could operate; and
Whereas, After retreating and reorganizing in Pennsylvania, General Washington led the now-famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776, delivering a resounding defeat to Hessian troops camped for the winter at Trenton and shifting momentum to the patriot cause; and
Whereas, Many lesser-known New Jerseyans also contributed in significant ways to the American Revolution, including Mary Ludwig Hays who became the main inspiration for the legend of "Molly Pitcher" after she carried a wounded soldier to safety and took over her husband's cannon when he became wounded, continuing to fire at the enemy in the face of their advance at the Battle of Monmouth and enslaved people like Samuel Sutphin and Prime who both fought in the Continental Army; and
Whereas, In June 1778, New Jersey was the site of the longest single day of fighting in the war as the Continental Army deployed new training, weapons, and tactics at the Battle of Monmouth, demonstrating an ability to match the British forces in the field and marking the end of the British campaign for Philadelphia; and
Whereas, This success at the Battle of Monmouth led General Washington to call for the first federally recognized Independence Day, celebrated with canon fire and a musket salute on the banks of the Raritan River near present day New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 4, 1778; and
Whereas, As American independence enters its 250th year and people across the country and State begin to reflect on the pivotal moments and events surrounding the birth of this nation through public celebrations, educational programs, and initiatives such as Revolution New Jersey, it is fitting and proper for the Legislature to recognize the rich history of this State in advancing the cause of freedom in the face of tyranny; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:
1. This House proudly recognizes and celebrates the role of New Jersey and its people in the American Revolution and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of this nation.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Secretary of the Senate to the President and Vice President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and the Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, each member of Congress elected from this State, and the New Jersey Historical Commission.
STATEMENT
This resolution proudly recognizes and celebrates the role of New Jersey and its people in the American Revolution and celebrates the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of this nation.
On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, which outlined the founding principles of the United States of America and signaled a pivotal moment in the birth of this nation. The Declaration of Independence proclaimed "that all men are created equal," endowed "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." Following the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the first public reading of the document outside of Philadelphia was proudly held in Trenton on July 8, 1776, as the State embraced the movement for independence.
New Jersey played an instrumental role in the fight for freedom during the American Revolution. Two days prior to the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Provincial Congress of New Jersey met in Burlington, New Jersey and adopted the first Constitution of the State of New Jersey, which established a framework for representative government that would guide the newly independent State. The first Legislature faced the extraordinary challenge of establishing a functioning government while the State served as a principal battleground of the Revolutionary War, with legislators forced to relocate multiple times to avoid British occupation. The new, democratically elected State Government maintained all civilian authority over the State's people, thereby creating a stable base in which the Continental Army could operate.
After retreating and reorganizing in Pennsylvania, General Washington led the now-famous crossing of the Delaware River on Christmas Day in 1776, delivering a resounding defeat to Hessian troops camped for the winter at Trenton and shifting momentum to the patriot cause. Many lesser-known New Jerseyans also contributed in significant ways to the American Revolution, including Mary Ludwig Hays who became the main inspiration for the legend of "Molly Pitcher" and enslaved people, like Samuel Sutphin and Prime who both fought in the Continental Army.
In June 1778, New Jersey was the site of the longest single day of fighting in the war as the Continental Army deployed new training, weapons, and tactics at the Battle of Monmouth, demonstrating an ability to match the British forces in the field and marking the end of the British campaign for Philadelphia. This success at the Battle of Monmouth led General Washington to call for the first federally recognized Independence Day, celebrated with canon fire and a musket salute on the banks of the Raritan River near present day New Brunswick, New Jersey on July 4, 1778.
As American independence enters its 250th year and people across the country and State begin to reflect on the pivotal moments and events surrounding the birth of this nation through public celebrations, educational programs, and initiatives such as Revolution New Jersey, it is fitting and proper for the Legislature to recognize the rich history of this State in advancing the cause of freedom in the face of tyranny.
