Press Releases
Westfield, N.J. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today praised Cindy Sheehan for her persistence in attempting to get answers from President Bush on his administration's war strategy in Iraq. The New Jersey congressman invited Sheehan to come to New Jersey to discuss Iraq and to share her story. Pallone and Sheehan were also joined at a news conference in Westfield by Springfield resident Fran Middleberg, whose son served in Iraq.
Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today announced plans to introduce legislation this week creating a new, independent Natural Disaster Preparedness and Response Agency that would take control of preparing for and responding to natural disasters. The new agency would not be responsible for terrorism related disasters, which would remain at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
U.S. Rep Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), in conjunction with the FoodBank of Monmouth and Ocean Counties, today called on area residents to donate urgently needed supplies for victims of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana. Donations can be made to Pallone's district office in New Brunswick through Friday or at the FoodBank in Neptune through Saturday.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thousands of families have lost loved ones, homes and, in some cases, their entire communities.
"The communities impacted in Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida will face untold challenges to rebuild. It is critical that when Congress comes back into session next week, our first priority be the passage of a disaster relief package for the affected areas.
"I'm disappointed the BRAC Commission voted to close Fort Monmouth after admitting that such action deviates from the Pentagon's own criteria. It's clear the Commission agreed with the arguments we made, and I believe that's why they included an unusual provision that would keep the Fort open if closure would lead to a disruption in the war on terror. I do not like this supposed compromise, but I think it clearly shows that our arguments resonated with the commissioners.
Union Township, N.J. --- Citing a recent report by the New Jersey Policy Perspective that 589 Wal-Mart employees in New Jersey are enrolled in the state's FamilyCare program, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) criticized the company for pushing its employees' health care costs onto the New Jersey taxpayer outside a Wal-Mart store in Union Township this afternoon.
Washington, D.C. --- In direct response to an announcement from the Turkish government earlier this month that it plans to proceed with a rail line in the South Caucasus region that bypasses Armenia, eight U.S. lawmakers sent a letter today to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice urging her to denounce the project since it intentionally excludes Armenia and undermines the United States' policy in the region.
Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Senator Jon Corzine, Reps. Rush Holt (NJ-12) and Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), along with local elected leaders and members of the Save Our Fort Committee, held a press conference today to update the public on their most recent efforts to get Ft. Monmouth off the Pentagons Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) list in the run up to the independent BRAC Commissions final series of public hearings, scheduled to begin August 24 in Crystal City, Virginia, just outside of Washington, DC.
Long Branch, N.J. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today announced plans to introduce legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives that will prohibit communities from invoking eminent domain, except under extreme circumstances.
"My legislation will help families fight for the homes that they have worked and saved for and to ensure that their homes are not unfairly seized by the government," said Pallone.
"I want to thank New Jersey Citizen Action for organizing this celebration. It's sad to think of this anniversary passing without any fanfare, but if the Bush administration had its way, tomorrow's anniversary would go unnoticed. Today, we're making sure that doesn't happen.