Media

Republican Draft Bill would Weaken Environmental and Consumer Protections in Wake of Volkswagen Cheating Allegations

WASHINGTON, DC – Today at a Congressional hearing, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, expressed disappointment in a draft Republican bill aimed at increasing auto safety because it weakens current environmental and consumer protections, and due to of the lack of a bipartisan approach in drafting the legislation.

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, applauded today’s announcement by President Obama in West Virginia that the federal government and private sector will take significant steps to combat the prescription drug abuse epidemic. The President issued a memorandum mandating all federal doctors get training on how to correctly prescribe opioids, and requiring federal agencies that oversee health benefits to review their health plans to increase access to treatment.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced $982,372 in federally funded Planning Grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to the state of New Jersey for Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics. The grant will help in efforts to improve the behavioral health of New Jersey citizens by providing community-based mental and substance use disorder treatment.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement regarding a new study that found that women have higher levels of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), a potentially harmful chemical used in a number of popular nail polish brands, in their bodies just 10 to 14 hours after painting their nails.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, sent a letter to Governor Christie urging him to veto the ill-advised proposal to build an offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) port 24 miles off the coast of Long Branch, New Jersey.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) made the following statement on the Nevada Gaming Commission’s decision that daily fantasy sports is gambling and that its websites must stop operating in the state until companies and their employees acquire state gambling licenses. Pallone is the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over professional sports and gambling.

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr. (D NJ-06) and Frank LoBiondo (R NJ-02) made the following statement on the Third Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia decision to reconsider its ruling that denied New Jersey from implementing its sports betting law. The citizens of New Jersey passed a constitutional amendment 2:1 by referendum to allow sports betting at casinos and racetracks, and the state legislature acted to give it effect.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – Today, at a press conference outside MetLife Stadium, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) discussed Congressional efforts to ensure fairness and a level playing field for fantasy sports enthusiasts participating in online daily games, and called attention to the hypocrisy of professional sports leagues in opposing sports betting while supporting daily fantasy sports. The lawmakers were joined by East Rutherford Mayor James Cassella.