About Loretta
About Loretta
Throughout her career as Bergen County’s Assistant
Administrator and a member of the Teaneck Township
Council, the New Jersey General Assembly, and the
New Jersey State Senate, Loretta Weinberg has
championed issues affecting women, children,
families, health care, gun safety, and other
quality- of-life concerns. She has been dedicated
to the preservation of the family for more than
three decades of outstanding public service and was
instrumental in getting laws passed to protect new
mothers from early hospital discharge and to stop
drunk drivers and handgun violence from claiming
any more innocent victims. She has also been an
untiring supporter of Bergen County groups and New
Jersey organizations that safeguard the family,
improve the physical and mental health of children,
and advance services for children with autism,
adults with aphasia, and military veterans.
Loretta Weinberg was born February 6, 1935, in New York. She graduated from the University of California with a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science and has completed all coursework for a master of arts degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She married her late husband, Irwin Weinberg, in 1961, and they had two children: Daniel, born in 1962, and Francine, born in 1963. Loretta now has two grandchildren: Shayna Iris, born in 2003, and Jonah Benjamin, born in 2005.
A Force in Bergen County and in Trenton
From 1975 to 1985, Loretta was the Assistant Administrator to the County of Bergen, and from 1990 to 1994 was a member of the Teaneck City Council. She was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1992. As an Assemblywoman representing the 37th district, Loretta served as Majority Conference Leader, Chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee, and Vice Chairwoman of the Family, Women, and Children’s Services Committee. She is also a member of the New Jersey Historical Commission, the Legislative Services Commission, and the New Jersey Israel Commission. Loretta’s focus on health care issues led to the Speaker of the General Assembly appointing her to the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Committee in 2004. This commission reviews any bill introduced in the Legislature that would require a health insurance carrier to provide a mandated health benefit. Loretta’s other committee assignments in the General Assembly included the Community Services Committee, the Veteran’s Affairs Committee, and the Consumer Affairs and Regulated Professions Committee.
In the General Assembly, Loretta left a legacy of sponsoring laws that protect men, women, and children from a number of adversaries and work to improve their lives. These include bills that:
• Overhauled the jury selection process
• Required health insurance companies to pay for at least 48 hours of hospital care for new mothers and their babies
• Created the Governor’s Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy
• Established New Jersey’s Child Proof Handgun Bill, the first of its kind in the nation
• Shaped the landmark autism research funding bill that gives $1 from every New Jersey traffic violation to autism research. (This surcharge is projected to yield $20 million to autism research over the next five years without burdening New Jersey taxpayers.)
In 2004, after 10 years of struggle, the Governor signed Loretta’s .08 legislation into law. This law lowers the legal alcohol level to .08 in New Jersey. Loretta’s undying commitment to the passage of the .08 law is a testament to her dedication to future generations and their safety in New Jersey.
In November 2005, Loretta was elected to the New Jersey State Senate, where she is continuing her work to improve the lives of New Jersey residents. She serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate State Government and the New Jersey Israel Commission. She sponsored the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.
Dedication to Her Community
Throughout her career in public service, Loretta has devoted many hours to her community and to local, statewide, and national organizations that seek to improve the lives of men, women, and children. She has been active in the American Red Cross, Shelter Our Sisters (Founding Member), the Bergen Family Center, AARP Teaneck Chapter (Board Member), the New Jersey Network of Women Elected Officials, the National Organization of Women Legislators, and the National Council of Jewish Women (Life Member). She is a long-time member of Temple Emeth in Teaneck.
Lifetime of Honors
Loretta’s dedication to the people of New Jersey and to national issues has earned her respect and accolades from many organizations:
1995
• Hannah G. Solomon Award, National Council of Jewish Women
• Honorary Member Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps
1996
• Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA)
1998
• Jack Rubenstein Annual Recognition Awards, Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
2000
• Legislator of the Year, Jewish War Veterans
2003
• Legislative Worker of the Year (National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter)
• Friend of New Jersey’s Children Award (American Academy of Pediatrics – New Jersey Chapter)
• Legislator of the Year Award (New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community)
• Distinguished Service Award (Ceasefire – New Jersey)
• Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award (Women’s Political Caucus)
2004
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Organization of Nurse Executives)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey State Nurses Association)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Recreation and Park Association)
• Korean American Nail Association of New Jersey
• 23rd Annual New Jersey Women of Achievement (New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs and Douglass College)
• Florence Nass Award (State of New Jersey/Victims of Crime Compensation Board)
• “New Jersey Women Making History” (New Jersey Work Environment Council and National Organization for Women New Jersey)
2005
• Legislature Award (New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Work Environment Council)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society)
• Women in Government Award (Good Housekeeping magazine and the American Center for Women in Politics)
• Humanitarian Award (New Jersey Buddies)
• Asian Pacific Americans in the Judiciary Award
• Recognition for her Support of the Nursing Profession (Indian American Nurses Association)
• Thea Bry Award for the Advancement of Infant, Child, and Family Emotional Development (YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health)
• 2nd Annual Suzanne Fremon Award (New Jersey Common Cause)
• Aphasia Advocacy Award (Adler Aphasia Center)
• “Who’s Who of American Women”
• Legislator of the Year (Special Education Commission)
• Advocate of the Year (Bergen County Public Health Officers)
• Dr. Edward A. Schauer, New Jersey Academy of Family Practitioners
2006
• Special White House Project Award (Girl Scout Council of Bergen County)
• Legislator of the Year (AARP New Jersey)
• Legislator of the Year (ASAH on behalf of New Jersey Citizens with Special Needs
• Bergen County Public Health Partnership in Recognition of Advocacy for New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Home Care Association)
Loretta Weinberg was born February 6, 1935, in New York. She graduated from the University of California with a bachelor of arts degree in history and political science and has completed all coursework for a master of arts degree in public administration from Fairleigh Dickinson University. She married her late husband, Irwin Weinberg, in 1961, and they had two children: Daniel, born in 1962, and Francine, born in 1963. Loretta now has two grandchildren: Shayna Iris, born in 2003, and Jonah Benjamin, born in 2005.
A Force in Bergen County and in Trenton
From 1975 to 1985, Loretta was the Assistant Administrator to the County of Bergen, and from 1990 to 1994 was a member of the Teaneck City Council. She was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1992. As an Assemblywoman representing the 37th district, Loretta served as Majority Conference Leader, Chairwoman of the Health and Human Services Committee, and Vice Chairwoman of the Family, Women, and Children’s Services Committee. She is also a member of the New Jersey Historical Commission, the Legislative Services Commission, and the New Jersey Israel Commission. Loretta’s focus on health care issues led to the Speaker of the General Assembly appointing her to the Mandated Health Benefits Advisory Committee in 2004. This commission reviews any bill introduced in the Legislature that would require a health insurance carrier to provide a mandated health benefit. Loretta’s other committee assignments in the General Assembly included the Community Services Committee, the Veteran’s Affairs Committee, and the Consumer Affairs and Regulated Professions Committee.
In the General Assembly, Loretta left a legacy of sponsoring laws that protect men, women, and children from a number of adversaries and work to improve their lives. These include bills that:
• Overhauled the jury selection process
• Required health insurance companies to pay for at least 48 hours of hospital care for new mothers and their babies
• Created the Governor’s Advisory Council on Adolescent Pregnancy
• Established New Jersey’s Child Proof Handgun Bill, the first of its kind in the nation
• Shaped the landmark autism research funding bill that gives $1 from every New Jersey traffic violation to autism research. (This surcharge is projected to yield $20 million to autism research over the next five years without burdening New Jersey taxpayers.)
In 2004, after 10 years of struggle, the Governor signed Loretta’s .08 legislation into law. This law lowers the legal alcohol level to .08 in New Jersey. Loretta’s undying commitment to the passage of the .08 law is a testament to her dedication to future generations and their safety in New Jersey.
In November 2005, Loretta was elected to the New Jersey State Senate, where she is continuing her work to improve the lives of New Jersey residents. She serves on the Senate Judiciary Committee and the Senate State Government and the New Jersey Israel Commission. She sponsored the New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act, which prohibits smoking in indoor public places and workplaces.
Dedication to Her Community
Throughout her career in public service, Loretta has devoted many hours to her community and to local, statewide, and national organizations that seek to improve the lives of men, women, and children. She has been active in the American Red Cross, Shelter Our Sisters (Founding Member), the Bergen Family Center, AARP Teaneck Chapter (Board Member), the New Jersey Network of Women Elected Officials, the National Organization of Women Legislators, and the National Council of Jewish Women (Life Member). She is a long-time member of Temple Emeth in Teaneck.
Lifetime of Honors
Loretta’s dedication to the people of New Jersey and to national issues has earned her respect and accolades from many organizations:
1995
• Hannah G. Solomon Award, National Council of Jewish Women
• Honorary Member Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps
1996
• Organization of Chinese Americans (OCA)
1998
• Jack Rubenstein Annual Recognition Awards, Ethical Culture Society of Bergen County
2000
• Legislator of the Year, Jewish War Veterans
2003
• Legislative Worker of the Year (National Association of Social Workers – New Jersey Chapter)
• Friend of New Jersey’s Children Award (American Academy of Pediatrics – New Jersey Chapter)
• Legislator of the Year Award (New Jersey Center for Outreach and Services for the Autism Community)
• Distinguished Service Award (Ceasefire – New Jersey)
• Barbara Boggs Sigmund Award (Women’s Political Caucus)
2004
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Organization of Nurse Executives)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey State Nurses Association)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Recreation and Park Association)
• Korean American Nail Association of New Jersey
• 23rd Annual New Jersey Women of Achievement (New Jersey Federation of Women’s Clubs and Douglass College)
• Florence Nass Award (State of New Jersey/Victims of Crime Compensation Board)
• “New Jersey Women Making History” (New Jersey Work Environment Council and National Organization for Women New Jersey)
2005
• Legislature Award (New Jersey Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Work Environment Council)
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Podiatric Medical Society)
• Women in Government Award (Good Housekeeping magazine and the American Center for Women in Politics)
• Humanitarian Award (New Jersey Buddies)
• Asian Pacific Americans in the Judiciary Award
• Recognition for her Support of the Nursing Profession (Indian American Nurses Association)
• Thea Bry Award for the Advancement of Infant, Child, and Family Emotional Development (YCS Institute for Infant and Preschool Mental Health)
• 2nd Annual Suzanne Fremon Award (New Jersey Common Cause)
• Aphasia Advocacy Award (Adler Aphasia Center)
• “Who’s Who of American Women”
• Legislator of the Year (Special Education Commission)
• Advocate of the Year (Bergen County Public Health Officers)
• Dr. Edward A. Schauer, New Jersey Academy of Family Practitioners
2006
• Special White House Project Award (Girl Scout Council of Bergen County)
• Legislator of the Year (AARP New Jersey)
• Legislator of the Year (ASAH on behalf of New Jersey Citizens with Special Needs
• Bergen County Public Health Partnership in Recognition of Advocacy for New Jersey Smoke-Free Air Act
• Legislator of the Year (New Jersey Home Care Association)