Nilsa I. Cruz Perez

Senator Nilsa I. Cruz Perez was born and raised in Bayamon, Puerto Rico. In 1981, Nilsa joined the U.S. Army and was stationed in Mainz Military Community in Germany. While serving, she furthered her education by studying at the U.S. Quartermaster School, Big Bend Community College, Temple University, and the University of Maryland (overseas division). In 1987, she was honorably discharged from the military.

In February of 1995, Senator Cruz Perez was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, serving from 1995 until 2010. Appointed to fill an unexpired term, she went on to be elected as the first Hispanic woman State Legislator in New Jersey’s history.

On December 15, 2014, Ms. Cruz Perez was sworn in as State Senator for New Jersey’s Fifth Legislative District. She serves as the Chair of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, Vice-Chair of the Senate Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee, sits on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee, and the Joint Committee on Housing Affordability.