Press Releases

New Delhi, India--- Nearly 20 years after the Union Carbide Corporation plant in Bhopal leaked 40 tons of lethal gas killing 4,000 people and injuring more than 20,000, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. today called on Dow Chemical to finally accept responsibility and address the extreme environmental and health problems that still exist. Pallone was scheduled to tour the grounds of the disaster today and meet with victims, but unfortunately had to postpone the trip. The New Jersey congressman vowed to come to Bhopal on a future trip.

Thank you very much for hosting the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce delegation and me today.

The members of the India Caucus, including myself have tried to encourage more trade with India, in part by identifying key areas where there is the most potential. The purpose of my trip to India this week under the auspices of the Asian Indian Chamber of Commerce, a New Jersey diaspora organization based in my Congressional district, is to develop economic opportunities between our two countries.

Long Branch, NJ --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.

Bombay, India--- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. gave the following speech tonight at a dinner hosted by the Indo-American Society.

I want to thank the Indo-American Society for inviting me to Mumbai to receive this award tonight. I have spent a lot of time over the last 10 years trying to improve relations between the United States and India, and I know this effort has been pushed by good people in both countries like yourselves.

Long Branch, NJ--- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), co-founder of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, begins a weeklong trip to India where he will visit Bombay, New Delhi, Ahmedabad and Bhopal. The New Jersey congressmans primary goal for his trip is to develop economic opportunities between the two nations and emphasize to both business and political leaders the importance of viewing trade as a two-way street.

"FDAs decision to ban ephedra is a major victory for both consumers and the Dietary Supplement Health Education Act (DSHEA). For years, Ive been frustrated by the FDAs unwillingness to use the powers Congress granted it through DSHEA in 1994. Finally, FDA is using its authority to keep a potentially harmful product from being sold on the market. Im now hopeful this action is a sign the agency will continue to regulate these supplements and fulfill its responsibility to the millions of Americans who rely upon safe and quality dietary supplements.

"Seniors should not be deceived into believing their prescription drug needs were ever the focus of either Republicans or President Bush when they were drafting this final bill. The Republicans plan bribes HMOs with billions of dollars in the hopes theyll provide seniors assistance, allows pharmaceutical companies to continue to charge high prices and privatizes Medicare down the line.

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today lauded both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for finally drafting a federal warning against the consumption of seafood for pregnant women, new mothers who are still breastfeeding and young children, but stated the warning must include more specifics in order to really protect at-risk populations.