Pallone Calls for Renewed Friendship with Ireland on St. Patrick’s Day

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 16, 2018


Long Branch - Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) made the following statement celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, calling for even stronger ties between the United States and Ireland. Congressman Pallone additionally marks the approaching 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement.

Congressman Pallone at the Belmar St. Patrick’s Day Parade

“I have the great honor of representing thousands of Irish-Americans in my congressional district. I know firsthand that their traditions and culture – shared by over 35 million Americans who trace their heritage to Ireland – lend so much vibrancy to all of our communities. As so many celebrate St. Patrick and their Irish heritage, it is now clearer than ever that his holiday is truly a symbol of the success of Irish-Americans in our nation. The Irish-American experience is a reminder of the role that immigration has played in our nation’s story and it should inform our opinions as we debate our immigration policies today.


“This year is especially important for the Republic of Ireland, for Northern Ireland, and for Irish-Americans as we near the 20th Anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in April. Even twenty years later, it cannot be overstated how important this historic agreement has been in creating a steady and lasting peace in Ireland. As a member of the Congressional Friends of Ireland Group, I continue to work with my colleagues to ensure the United States upholds its commitment to this agreement. This includes sending letters to the Trump administration urging it to appoint a Northern Ireland Special Envoy and to the Appropriations Committee requesting funding for critical programs dedicated to lasting Irish peace like the International Fund for Ireland.

“Ireland continues to be a beacon of democracy and prosperity in Europe and it is essential that the United States stands with its ally as we confront the 21st century. As Brexit negotiations continue to move forward, they will undoubtedly bring about challenges for the Emerald Isle, but it should be made clear that Americans will stand with it during this uncertain time.

“It is my hope that the U.S.-Irish relationship is not one just celebrated on St. Patrick’s Day, but one that we work to expand and build upon for many years ahead.”

Chairman Currie Reacts To Governor Christie's Monmouth County Town Hall

(Trenton) -- John Currie, Chairman of the New Jersey Democratic State Committee, reacted to Governor Christie's so-called town hall meeting in Belmar, New Jersey today. The troubled governor again used the event as a platform to talk himself up and to blame others for the state's problems.

"Superstorm Sandy survivors were left out in the cold, literally. Many are carrying mortgages on homes they have had to abandon. Meanwhile, the Christie administration dodged legislative hearings, skirted monitoring laws, ignored public records requests, and concealed the termination of a multimillion dollar contract. Monologues full of excuses, quips and spin may entertain the media, but with so many lingering questions about multiple ongoing scandals, Governor Christie's credibility is completely shot."

Frustrated Biz Owners Speak Out Before Gov. Christie's Belmar Town Hall

NJ Main Street Alliance & Frustrated Small Business Owners Speak Out Before Belmar Town Hall to Respond to Christie’s Dismissive Remarks on Stronger NJ Business Grant Program Failure

Belmar – Today, NJ Main Street Alliance (NJ-MSA) and small business owners spoke out before Governor Christie’s latest Town Hall to call on Christie to investigate the problems with the Stronger NJ Grant process. They called on the governor to do his job and distribute the program’s $85 million out to businesses.

Last Thursday, at his previous Town Hall in Flemington, when questioned about the low disbursal rate of Sandy grants, Christie defended the New Jersey Economic Development Authority’s (EDA) handling of the Stronger NJ Business Grant Program. Christie claimed there was little demand for the program. This is simply not true.

In fact, from May to December of 2013, more than 3,300 small businesses requested approximately $167 million in grants. As of March 24, 2014, New Jersey has awarded a mere $15.2 million to 314 businesses – leaving thousands of businesses in limbo and out of luck.

“Governor Christie's dismissive words were an outright insult to the thousands of small business owners who applied for the Stronger NJ Business Grants months ago. These constituents are still stuck in limbo as they try to get the money they need to restore their businesses,” said Corinne Horowitz, Business Representative at NJ-MSA.

Kristen Scalia, is the owner of Kanibal Home, a retail shop in Jersey City. She’s spent so much money and time on the application in the last nine months that she says she would’ve been better off getting a part-time job. "My jaw dropped when I heard that somebody claimed there was no demand for the Stronger NJ Business Grants,” said Scalia. “I was outraged when I heard it was the governor himself. He should know better.”

The experiences described by applicants to the Stronger NJ Business Grant program are remarkably similar. The NJEDA changed their point of contact and didn't respond to their inquiries for months on end. When applicants finally did get through, their paperwork was often lost, requiring them to resubmit it over and over again.

“I have spent every Saturday working on this for months, and my case has been transferred about five times. I am tired of calling and emailing with no response…I have just about given up” said Kenny Akerman owner of Ocean Towers and Welding in Point Pleasant Beach.

Many business owners reported misinformation from official sources, including Governor Christie’s office itself. Business owners in Seaside Heights and Seaside Park affected by the recent boardwalk fire were told they’d be eligible for Sandy money, even if they weren’t hurt by the SuperStorm. These business owners later found out this was not true, but only after countless wasted hours and frustrating phone calls.

“Governor Christie should have consulted HUD before speaking to us, as it gave many businesses false hope. He wasted a whole lot of people’s time and money,” said Joe Jerabek. “I literally emailed the Governor's office every other week for months, but have still never received a response.”

“This is just another example of how out-of-touch this administration is with every day people in New Jersey,” concluded the MSA’s Horowitz. “Governor Christie needs to hold his administrators and their private contractors accountable instead of blaming the victims.

An Important Lesson To Be Learned: Shore Area Democrats Didn't Need To Compromise Beliefs or Principles To Get Elected

It’s been a week since Election Day has come and gone, and while looking over some of the results the other day I stumbled across an interesting tidbit that was intriguing to me. After opting to endorse Governor Christie and the Republican Freeholder ticket rather than support Barbara Buono and the Monmouth County Democratic candidates, the Spring Lake Democrats took a huge beating last Tuesday at the polls.

The Spring Lake Democrats endorse the opposing party's candidates for Governor and Freeholder because they believed it was going to help their local candidates win (at least that’s what they told the Monmouth County Democrats). Interesting enough though, the 3 towns neighboring Spring Lake - Manasquan, Belmar and Spring Lake Heights all elected Democrats locally even though Governor Christie won their towns by the same margin that he won Spring Lake.

Manasquan, Belmar and Spring Lake Heights all supported the Monmouth County Democratic ticket, they chose not to compromise their beliefs or principles and were still able to win. They worked with the opposing party when they had to and didn't cut a political deals with Republicans to benefit themselves. They knew they were doing what was right for their constituents and recognized that they had more in common with their party's platform than the opposing party's.

There is an important  lesson  to be learned here; you can stick to your principles, be bipartisan, work on legislation that is important and beneficial to all without compromising your beliefs or getting in bed with the opposition by cutting deals to help your own electoral prospects.

Spring Lake took the opposite path from Manasquan, Belmar and Spring Lake Heights and voters saw through it.

Pallone Announces Contract Awarded for Asbury Park to Avon-by-the-Sea Beach Replenishment Project

Long Branch, NJ – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that the contract has been awarded and work will begin in December on an $18.3 million beach replenishment project from Asbury Park to Avon-by-the-Sea. This Army Corps of Engineers project, which is funded at full federal expense, will restore beaches in Asbury Park, Ocean Grove, Bradley Beach, and Avon-By-The-Sea, to conditions better than prior to Sandy and was made possible by the Sandy aid package passed by Congress. The contractor, Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, will use over one million cubic yards of sand for the project and is estimated to be completed in early May of 2014.

“I’m pleased that the Army Corps is moving forward with this important investment that will help to protect homes and businesses from future flooding, as well as repair the destruction caused by Sandy,” said Pallone. “Our beaches are a fundamental part of life here on the shore, both for residents to enjoy and also to drive tourism. I have fought for this and other beach replenishment projects for years because I know how important they are to protect some of our most fragile coastal infrastructure.”

The beach replenishment from Asbury Park to Avon is part of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ larger effort that covers a majority of the beaches from Sea Bright to Manasquan, which is the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Army Corps and the world’s biggest beach-fill project, in terms of sand volume. Once completed, the greater protective barrier between the coastal communities and the ocean will reduce the risk of flooding and storm related damages.

The contract awarded today is the last of four contracts to be awarded for the overall Sea Bright to Manasquan beach replenishment project. The contract for Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach was awarded in June and is nearing completion. The Long Branch contract was awarded in August with work set to begin in November. Work will begin for the Belmar to Manasquan portion of the project in late October. The Army Corps of Engineers expects to complete the entire project by mid-2014.

Pallone Fights for Post Sandy Beach Protections

During Visit to Belmar, Pallone Announces Bill Containing Stronger Safety Standards for Beaches

Long Branch, NJ—In Belmar, New Jersey, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that he has reintroduced his legislation to reauthorize the BEACH Act, which requires tough new water quality testing and public notification standards so beachgoers are better informed about the safety of their beaches.

“Stormwater runoff is one of the primary contributors of water pollution, and now more than ever improved water quality and beach protections have become increasingly important to the Jersey Shore. Both from a public health standpoint and for the vitality of New Jersey’s booming tourism industry, stricter standards and better testing methods are needed to give beachgoers the piece of mind that the beaches they visit are clean,” said Pallone. “After Sandy, many of our hard hit coastal towns are strapped for cash and facing new challenges in water safety. Ensuring clean and safe beaches in New Jersey and nationwide is a necessary and wise investment by the federal government. I worked with Senator Lautenberg on this issue for years, and I’m proud to continue fighting for our beaches and working to get the BEACH Act signed into law.”

The BEACH Act of 2013 will provide funding for water monitoring and notification programs and will require faster public notification of unhealthy conditions at America’s beaches. It will also require the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to develop methods for rapid testing of beach water.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) 2013 Testing the Waters report, beach closings totaled 20,120 in 2012, exceeding 20,000 for the 8th time in the past nine years. More than 80 percent of closings and advisories were issued because bacteria levels in beachwater exceeded public health standards, indicating the potential presence of human or animal waste in the water. NRDC’s report confirms that serious water pollution persists at many U.S. shores, and the primary known cause of this pollution is massive stormwater runoff and sewage.

In addition to protecting the environment, the BEACH Act makes sure beachgoers continue to come to the Shore. According to state officials, tourism directly supports 318,500 jobs and generated $34.7 billion in total economic activity last year, proving there’s a lot at stake for New Jersey’s beaches.

Pallone partnered with Senator Frank Lautenberg in writing the original BEACH Act in 2000 to fight for cleaner, healthier beaches, a cause the two worked on together for years. The original law required every coastal state to adopt water quality standards and established monitoring and notification programs to keep beachgoers safe. President Obama’s budget proposal for 2014 eliminates BEACH Act grants.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the President’s proposal to eliminate these important grants for water quality monitoring. It is critical that we invest in testing our waters to ensure swimmers are safe, and it is wrong to burden state budgets,” added Pallone.

Pallone was joined in Belmar today by Mayor Matt Doherty and representatives from Clean Ocean Action, NY/NJ Baykeeper and the Surfrider Foundation.

APP names Vin Gopal And Matt Doherty as "Rising Star" Up-And-Comers To Keep An Eye On

The Asbury Park Press yesterday published a list of 15 up-and-coming political figures in the state to keep an eye on in the upcoming months and years. Chief among them were Monmouth County Democratic Party ChairmanVin Gopal and Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty.

This honor is well deserved, each of these guys are hard working individuals that do an outstanding job. They are each dedicated to those that they serve and have a very bright future ahead of them. People around the state should definitely keep an eye on them.

Here's what the APP had to say about them:

Monmouth County Chairman Vin Gopal

Vin Gopal, Democrat, 27, of Long Branch, was elected Monmouth County Democratic Party chairman in June 2012, making him the youngest county chairman in the state. “He’s a go-getter, he will enliven the party,” one observer noted. His aggressive fundraising efforts have helped the Democrats win elections in key municipalities and his grass-roots organizing has led to the formation of new Democratic clubs in Allentown, Upper Freehold, Neptune City, Little Silver, West Long Branch and other municipalities. He is a small-business owner.

Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty

Matt Doherty, Democrat, 39, is a first-term mayor in Belmar. He already was on the radar of some New Jersey political observers as a bright, well-connected potential fast-riser from the municipal ranks before superstorm Sandy hit. But amid the Shore devastation, Doherty, who is a financial adviser, has made a bigger name for himself as one of the prominent local voices vowing to restore their communities. There will be plenty of praise to go around for the Shore towns that have recovered enough to keep the tourism dollars flowing as the weather warms. If Belmar delivers, Doherty could ride a congratulatory wave a long way.

Congressman Pallone and Senator Menendez Vow to Protect Medicare for New Jersey Seniors

For Immediate Release:
4/20/12

BELMAR, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) met with seniors at Matisse in Belmar, NJ to discuss the future of Medicare, Social Security and the benefits of the Affordable Care Act (ACA).  The lawmakers also talked about Republican efforts to end the Medicare guarantee and reopen the Medicare Part D “donut hole” by repealing the ACA.  Pallone and Menendez were hosted by Belmar Mayor Matt Doherty.

 “Republicans in Congress have launched an all-out assault on seniors,” said Pallone.  “Whether it’s through their budget, which ends Medicare as we know it and turns it into a voucher program, or their attempts to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which has done so much to make health care more affordable for seniors, Republican policies are hurting seniors.  Senator Menendez and I will continue to fight to maintain the programs that are so critical for New Jersey’s seniors.

” The Republican House Majority recently passed a budget that slashes $1 trillion from Medicare over the next decade and ends the Medicare guarantee, shifting costs to seniors by privatizing the program and creating a voucher system. Based on estimates, this would increase seniors’ health costs by over $6,000 each year.

The Affordable Care Act, which was eliminated in the Republican House budget, has already resulted in real benefits for New Jersey’s seniors. Almost a million New Jersey seniors have taken advantage of free preventative health services now covered under Medicare, such as colonoscopies and mammograms. New Jersey seniors also saved more than $95 million on prescription drugs in 2011 because of discounts provided for in the health care law.

 “Respecting seniors in this country means protecting Medicare and Social Security, not cutting them so we can give tax breaks to Big Oil Companies and tax cuts to billionaires who don’t need them. I can tell you that I will continue to do all I can in Washington and here at home to keep our promise to seniors,” said Senator Menendez.

Shore Democratic Clubs Support Freeholder Amy Mallet on June 2nd

Join the:

Belmar, Lake Como, Manasquan,

Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights and Wall

Democrats

As they support

Freeholder Amy Mallet

With a Pre-primary celebration

June 2, 2011

7-9PM

Bar A

16th Avenue

Lake Como, NJ

Tickets: $60

Please make checks payable to "Friends of Freeholder Amy Mallet"

Please contact Councilwoman Janice Venables for more information at

janicevenables@hotmail.com or

(732) 996-8767