[INSPRATIONAL MUSIC STING] - We are joined for the first time by Assemblywoman Heather Simmons, who represents New Jersey's third legislative district.

Where is that Assemblywoman?

- We represent most of Gloucester County, all of Salem County, and the western side of Cumberland County.

- That's in South Jersey, I'm recording all the way up in North Jersey.

Assemblywoman, are we still one state?

I just wanna make sure we're all together in one state.

- We are absolutely one state.

I'm really proud to be the voice for a big chunk of Southern New Jersey in Trenton, but in my first term as I've gotten to work with my colleagues in Trenton, I can assure you we are one state.

- Talk about your top legislative priorities please.

- My top legislative priority right now is menopause.

Steve, I've been working on a package of bills focused on making sure that all perimenopause and menopause treatments and approved services are covered by all insurance carriers in New Jersey.

And to go along with that, making sure that providers have access to education, because for too many women, they are misdiagnosed, disbelieved, misunderstood in terms of the symptoms that every single woman over the age of as young as 35 will present with during the course of their lifetime.

- What are the implications of not being where we need to be as a healthcare system with women who are perimenopausal or experiencing menopause, please?

- Well, if you look at the statistics nationally, there are billions of dollars lost every year due to absenteeism by women who are unable to perform their job duties.

And when we take it from that and we look at interpersonal relationships, and mental health, and their ability to be their best selves in their community, anecdotally, the implications are much, much worse than that.

From a medical perspective, I've been working with ACOG, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists on this.

And their perspective is that, if we don't properly address the causes and the treatments for menopause, then women spend up to half of their lives without estrogen, without the hormone, this and other hormones that they need to properly function.

And the cost to the medical system on that is much higher than the cost to treat the problem.

- You know, when we talk about cost, I wanna switch gears and talk about affordability.

Obviously, affordability a major issue in this campaign for governor who will be a new governor in New Jersey, taking office in January of 2026.

Do you believe the issues of affordability in our state are any different in the southern part of the state versus where I happen to be up north?

And if so, what are they?

- Well, if we look at the issue of energy affordability as as one example- - Sure.

- I would say that the issues in the southern part of the state, as in a number of other issues, is much higher because there simply isn't the capacity here.

There isn't the capacity statewide, but the capacity issue here is much greater than it is- - Capacity for?

- For power.

- Because?

- Because there just simply isn't the capacity present right now for the industries to come in and grow here.

If there's going to be growth in New Jersey, the growth's gonna happen in the southern part of the state.

- Are you saying that because there is land there, there is space there, there's opportunity there?

- All three.

All three.

What we don't have here is investment.

Investment in education, investment in transportation, investment in healthcare, investment in workforce development.

So when you say what's the difference in affordability between the north and the south, and the difference is a difference in opportunity.

- Assemblywoman, you are implying, if not going beyond implying that the southern part of the state on some levels getting the shift?

- I would say that that's true in a lot of cases because the money just isn't there for the southern part of the state.

- Yeah, but I'm trying to understand why?

Like what would be the reason or the reasons for government officials, public policy makers to give the shaft to shortchange the southern part of the state?

- I'm not suggesting that there's a nefarious intent here at all.

I think that traditionally the southern part of the state is the site for a lot of farming and a rural environment.

And a lot of these communities want to maintain that.

And therefore there is less investment in sewer and power grid and all of the things that go along with industrial investment in a community.

Right, arge- - I'm sorry for interrupting.

In some level, aren't southern New Jersey residents pushing back on some of that 'cause they don't want it?

- Well, that's exactly what I'm getting at.

That in order to preserve the rural culture of the communities, a lot of our municipalities are fighting back.

A lot of the local leaders here fight back against investment.

But then on the other side of it, say that there is no investment and what do we do about that?

So, we have a dichotomy here.

- So what do you tell them?

What do you tell local mayors, municipal officials, Assemblywoman, who say, we wanna keep it the way it is, but the way it is, as you so effectively articulated, short changes the southern...

It doesn't add up.

So what do you say to them?

- I think there are a couple of things.

I think first of all, we really need to look at the way we do master planning on a municipal and a regional basis.

I think that there are tools, and I have a bill out there that calls for this to provide tools for regional economic development planning so that the municipalities maintain control to say, okay, we wanna limit the amount of industrial investment that takes place here because of our rural environment, but we wanna identify the right places for industrial investment.

And on the other side of it, we need to work with the educational institutions in Southern New Jersey on things like workforce development.

So when we're talking about bringing in industry, we wanna make sure that the workforce in southern New Jersey is prepared to take those jobs and that we're not importing people from Delaware and Southeastern Pennsylvania to do those jobs.

- Before I let you go, to what degree have you communicated to the democratic nominee for governor, Mikie Sherrill, Congresswoman Sherrill about these issues?

- I have left her a voicemail, I'm excited to hear back from her and I'm excited to work with her as we go through this election.

South Jersey is poised to be a part of the state and the Democrat party throughout the state and I'm excited to work with her.

- Yeah.

Before I let you go, you admitted before we get on the air that you are a Philly fan.

- Yes.

- Philadelphia Philly's baseball, and I'm a Yankee fan.

And you also said you're a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

- Both true.

- The Fly Eagle, fly thing.

Is that real?

Is people care about the "Fly Eagles Fly" song?

- Absolutely.

It is probably one of the most popular songs that you hear in my part of the state.

- When are you gonna stop gloating over winning the big one?

- Never.

(Steve and Heather laughing) - I say this as a frustrated New York giant fan.

Congratulations, I have to say begrudgingly.

- Thank you.

Philadelphia and the region is a place of underdogs.

And we fought, we're scrappy down here and we fight like heck.

And I'm thrilled for Philadelphia and the entire South Jersey region.

- But you told me we're all one state, so why are you not rooting for the team that's based in New Jersey?

No, I'm only kidding.

I'm only kidding.

- That's a much bigger discussion than we have time to address.

- Yes, Philadelphia is a lot closer.

- Assemblywoman Heather Simmons, who represents the third legislative district down in the south, they matter.

- Thanks for your time, Steve.

- No, thank you.

We appreciate it.

All the best.

- Take care.

- I'm Steve Adubato, that's Assemblywoman, Heather Simmons.

We'll see you next time.

- [Narrator] State of Affairs with Steve Adubato is a production of the Caucus Educational Corporation.

Funding has been provided by The Turrell Fund, a foundation serving children.

Holy Name.

Rutgers University Newark.

Operating Engineers, Local 825.

IBEW Local 102.

Delta Dental of New Jersey.

Eastern Atlantic States Regional Council of Carpenters.

Valley Bank.

And by The New Jersey Education Association.

Promotional support provided by CIANJ, and Commerce Magazine.

And by BestofNJ.com.

- (Narration) Healing is never just about medicine and technology.

It has to go further than that.

It has to combine science with humanity.

It has to be our best medicine, combined with large doses of empathy, kindness, dignity and respect.

It has to be delivered by people who love what they do and who they do it for.

Holy Name.

Great medicine, soul purpose.