REMEMBERING ROBIN COGAN

On 2026-09-30, Senator Cory A. Booker (D-NJ) delivered a floor speech titled "REMEMBERING ROBIN COGAN" in the Senate.

REMEMBERING ROBIN COGAN

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 155 (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S5245] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] ADDITIONAL STATEMENTS ______ REMEMBERING ROBIN COGAN Mr. BOOKER. Mr. President, today, we honor the selfless life of Robin Cogan, a New Jersey resident who passed away on June 11, 2026, at the age of 65. Robin was a beloved nurse, grandmother, friend, and outstanding member of her community in Cherry Hill, NJ. She will be remembered as a ``relentless'' advocate for nurses, our community's children, and for working tirelessly to prevent gun violence in our schools. Robin was the New Jersey director for the National Association of School Nurses and a teacher in the school nurse certification program at Rutgers University in Camden, NJ. As a voice of her profession, Robin authored the ``Relentless School Nurse'' blog, as well as a monthly column in ``My American Nurse,'' the official journal of the American Nurses Association. Her service to the profession was recognized through multiple major professional awards, including the 2019 and 2020 National Association of School Nurses President's Award, the 2018 NCSN School Nurse of the Year, the 2017 Johnson & Johnson School Nurse of the Year, and the New Jersey Department of Health 2017 Population Health Hero Award. One of Robin's guiding principles was that ``voice is our most renewable resource,'' a principle she not only espoused but which she lived out every day. Through programs like her ``No More Empty Desks'' art campaign at Charles Brimm Medical Arts High School in Camden, Robin's life is proof that ripples make waves if we are relentlessly brave in standing up for our communities. My staff and I had the great pleasure of meeting Robin during the ``Hill Days'' she coordinated while serving as the legislative cochair for the New Jersey State School Nurses Association. We were left humbled by her story, inspired by her message, and proud to honor all she has done for the great State of New Jersey. Amidst the pandemic of gun violence that has gripped our American communities, Robin's legacy is one of hope. I encourage members of this Chamber to reflect on Robin's life as testament to what we can accomplish if we are relentless in our compassion for others and for the well-being of our communities. ____________________