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"Chris Smith has been a strong Republican advocate for veterans in Washington. He put the needs of veterans before party politics, something the House Republican leadership is increasingly unwilling to accept.

"After the 2000 Presidential Election we knew we had to make changes in our elections system so American voters could be confidant that their vote would be registered and counted. The 2000 election taught us that many of our election machines were outdated, and unfortunately, some of our election officials served their political party over the voter who should have the right to vote on Election Day.

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Jerry Weller (R-IL), cochairmen of the Congressional Sri Lankan Caucus, today held a briefing on Capitol Hill today with Sri Lankan Ambassador Devinda Subasinghe to update members of Congress and congressional staff on the devastation and relief efforts in Sri Lanka following last week's earthquake and tsunami. Pallone is scheduled to travel to Sri Lanka next week with a congressional delegation to tour affected areas.

"As the 109th Congress begins, I'd like to think we could restore bipartisanship to the halls of Congress, something that, unfortunately, has been seriously lacking over the last four years. Republicans are not getting off to a good start.

Long Branch, NJ --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), ranking Democrat on the House Fisheries Conservation, Wildlife and Oceans Subcommittee, today announced plans to introduce legislation next month that would establish an Atlantic Tsunami Warning Center similar to the one that already exists for the Pacific Ocean.

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Sri Lankan Caucus, today announced plans to introduce legislation to provide humanitarian aid and relief to the victims of devastating earthquake in South Asia over the weekend. Pallone also wants to ensure that the aid package includes funding to expand the early warning system to prevent future disasters.

"I'm outraged that the National Park Service would go ahead and give Sandy Hook Partners another six-month extension on phase one of its Fort Hancock revitalization project. Sandy Hook Partners has had more than enough time to come up with phase one funding. It's also ludicrous that the National Park Service is using a lawsuit filed last week as a reason for the extension. If Sandy Hook Partners can't secure the funding in the face of a lawsuit, then it's unlikely that they'll ever be able to complete their obligation.

"While it seems like the President is leaning in the right direction with his Ocean Action Plan, I am disappointed that it is broadly written and does not contain a specific mandate of long-term conservation of our oceans and marine resources. The U.S. Commission on Ocean Policy recommended dramatic changes to our system of ocean governance, and we need to have the political will to make necessary reforms.