Media

Washington, D.C. --- One day after an investment firm consulting the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority recommended the state consider selling or leasing Monmouth Park to boost revenues, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) voiced strong opposition today to the proposed sale of the racetrack. The New Jersey congressman sent a letter to Governor James McGreevey voicing his opposition to a sale and stating that if the state is forced into a lease agreement, the governor should guarantee that Monmouth Park remain a venue for horseracing.

"I regret that I could not be present at tonights public meeting to express my opposition to the opening of our federal waters to striped bass fishing. Such an opening would allow fishing by all sectors -- commercial, recreational, and party boats -- in a zone that had been previously off-limits to all striped bass fishing interests.

Washington, D.C. --- The U.S. House of Representatives today gave final funding approval for the continuation of critical beach replenishment and flood control projects in Monmouth and Middlesex Counties, U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) announced. The funds were part of a conference report reconciling separate Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Energy and Water Development Appropriations bills passed in the House and Senate earlier this year.

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, voiced his opposition today to a final energy conference report that he says does nothing to cut our long-term dependence on foreign oil and does very little to encourage the development of valuable renewable resources. The New Jersey congressman issued the following statement today before the House voted 246 to 180 to approve the conference report.

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced today that an energy conference agreement does not include controversial language allowing for the inventory of oil and gas reserves off the Jersey shore and other shores around the nation. The New Jersey congressman also announced his opposition to a final energy conference report that reconciles different energy bills passed earlier this year in the House and Senate. The House is expected to vote on the final conference report later this week.

As U.S. military operations continue to Iraq with American troops using critical military equipment from Fort Monmouth, Governor James E. McGreevey and U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. and Rush Holt will tour Fort Monmouth Monday, November 10. The three lawmakers will be briefed by military personnel on the Forts mission in Iraq and will view a demonstration of military equipment similar to that now being used by soldiers in Iraq that came from the facility.

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Reps. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Rush Holt (D-NJ) today won House approval of nearly $97 million for the entire construction of a new pier at Naval Weapons Station Earle to replace a pier constructed 60 years ago.

The House authorized the funding as part of a Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Defense Authorization conference report that reconciled differences between two separate bills passed earlier this year in the House and Senate. The Senate must now approve the conference report before being sent to the presidents desk for his approval.

Washington, D.C. -- Forty-five members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent a letter to U.S. Rep. Jim Kolbe (R-AZ), Chairman of the House Foreign Operations Appropriations Subcommittee, today requesting conferees provide more funding to Armenia in aid and assistance than what the House approved earlier this year in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2004 Foreign Operations spending bill.