Pallone Elected Chairman of Energy and Commerce Committee

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2018


Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after the House Democratic Caucus unanimously elected him Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee for the 116th Congress:

“I thank my Democratic colleagues for their support in electing me Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee. There is no better committee in Congress, and I am so fortunate to have the support of my colleagues in leading this committee in the 116th Congress.

“I look forward to working with all of my colleagues to build a stronger economy, create more good-paying jobs and protect consumers from skyrocketing costs. In the coming months, we will push an aggressive agenda to rebuild America, combat climate change, make health care and prescription drugs more affordable, and protect peoples’ privacy. We’ll also conduct robust oversight of the Trump Administration’s ongoing actions to sabotage our health care system, exacerbate climate change and weaken consumer protections.”

The Committee on Energy and Commerce is the oldest continuous standing committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was established in 1795 to regulate interstate and foreign commerce. Today, the Committee has the broadest jurisdiction of any authorizing committee in Congress. It legislates on health care; health insurance; biomedical research and development; food safety; clean air and climate change; safe drinking water; national energy policy; nuclear facilities; electronic communications and the internet; privacy, cybersecurity and data security; consumer protection and product safety; travel, tourism and sports; interstate and foreign commerce; and other areas.

Vin Gopal Announces Democratic Leadership Slate

Vin Gopal

Vin Gopal— Chairman 


Vin Gopal has spent the last six years organizing and fundraising for Democratic campaigns throughout Monmouth County. Gopal has hosted over forty fundraisers, which helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for Democratic candidates for municipal and county races. Gopal’s 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 Colts Neck, Neptune City, Little Silver, West Long Branch and other municipalities.


Vin Gopal's  list of candidates to lead the Monmouth County Democratic Party into the future reflects the diversity of the county and has the backing of over 70 locally elected officials, over 30 Municipal Chairs and hundreds more County Committee representatives. He is also endorsed by former Democratic Freeholders Amy Mallett, John D'Amico and John Villapiano. 

Mary Foster— Vice Chair 

Mary Foster

Mary has been a dedicated leader and a tireless worker for the Democratic Party. On the lo- cal level, Mary has served 12 years on the Executive Board of the Middletown Democrats as Corresponding Secretary. In 2009, Mary was appointed by Chairman Scudiery as a State Committeewoman to represent Monmouth Democrats at the state level. In recognition of her lifelong dedication to the Democratic Party, Mary was selected as a District Delegate to this year’s Democratic National Convention. She will go to Charlotte this summer to cast her vote in support of the Obama/Biden ticket.

 

Luis Pulido

Luis Pulido— RecordIng  Secretary 

Luis Pulido has served as Belmar Democratic Party Municipal Chairman since 2010. He served as campaign manager of Matt Doherty’s successful 2009 council campaign & 2010 mayoral campaign. Luis started as an Obama for America organizer, recruiting volunteers throughout the presidential campaign. As one of our rising stars in the Monmouth County Democratic Party, we expect to see much more from Luis in the future.

Gerry Tarantolo

Gerry Tarantolo— Corresponding Secretary 

Gerry served our country in the US Air Force and he has served as an elected official in Eatontown for almost 40 years. Gerry first served 10 years on the Eatontown School Board, then 14 years on the Borough Council, and then another 14 years as Eatontown Mayor. Gerry’s hard work and dedication have helped to keep Eatontown one of the most consis- tently Democratic-voting towns in Monmouth County.

David G. Brown II

David G. Brown II— Treasurer 

A lifelong resident of Long Branch, David is currently the Borough Administrator in Roselle. As the Chief Administrative Officer, David oversees a $36 million budget and hundreds of borough employees. David previously worked as the Director of Public Works and Urban Development in Plainfield and as the Director of Urban Enterprise Zone in Newark. David also serves as a Trustee for Second Baptist Church in Long Branch and Youth Council Advisor for the Greater Long Branch Chapter of the NAACP.

Joe Caliendo

Joe Caliendo— Sergeant-At-Arms 

Joe has been involved in the Middletown Democratic Party for 50 years as County Commit- teeman, President of the New Monmouth Democratic Club and eventually as Middletown Democratic Party Municipal Chairman. A long-time union & building trades member, Joe is a retired electrician. In 2010, Joe ran on Chairman Scudiery’s slate as the Sergeant-at- Arms and he hopes to serve in the same capacity under the leadership of Vin Gopal. Joe brings a wealth of knowledge, history, and experience to the ticket.

Democracy For America Chairman Jim Dean To Support Gopal For Monmouth County Chairman

The race to become the next Chairman of the Monmouth County Democratic organization is starting to get interesting.

According to a post on PolitickerNJ this morning, Jim Dean, the founder and Chairman of  Democracy for America, will be coming to Asbury Park NJ on April 29th to support Vin Gopal in his effort to become the next Chairman of the Monmouth Democrats.

From PolitickerNJ:

Jim Dean, National Chairman of Democracy for America, the nation's largest grassroots political action committee, is getting involved in a New Jersey county chairman's race.

Dean will be in Asbury Park on April 29 to speak to county committee members about supporting Vin Gopal's candidacy. Dean's brother, Howard Dean, is the founder of DFA and is a former Democratic National Committee chairman and 2004 Presidential candidate.

Gopal, a Long Branch businessman, is running against Marlboro Democratic Party Municipal Chairman Frank LaRocca in the June convention. The winner will succeed 23-year incumbent Victor Scudiery, who is retiring. 

Scudiery Says GoodBye; Announces Intention To End Term As Monmouth County Democratic Chairman

Dear County Committee Member,

In looking back at nearly a quarter century in politics, you remember sweet victories and frustrating defeats. But what you remember most are the people. Once the victory night celebration has faded, the speeches have blurred and the music has quieted, the memory is of the people who worked with you, stood beside you and tried to make a positive difference.

For more than two decades, together we’ve stood side-by-side with Monmouth County and New Jersey’s working families. We’ve stood by those trying to do the right thing, those who work hard to make their children’s future brighter; those who get up every morning and go to work, who struggle to pay the mortgage and their utility bills, to put food on the table for their families; those who attend their places of worship with pride and dignity; those who coach their children’s Little League teams; those who attend the parent teacher conferences.

The wealthy and the powerful always have someone to speak for them; our party gives voice to those who would otherwise be voiceless. Together we have provided that voice and leadership.

During my tenure, New Jersey has elected a Democrat every time there’s been a state-wide federal election. We’ve won every state-wide Presidential and U.S. Senate election. We’ll do so again this year.

I take pride in the ideal that as Democrats we represent all of the people. Our candidates reflect the diversity of the most diverse state in the country. Our ticket this year will reflect that diversity. President Barrack Obama, the first African-American President and U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, our state’s first Hispanic United States Senator. We’ve come a long way in 23 years and proven that our Party is open to all. During my tenure New Jersey also elected its first Italian-American Governor and we’ve elected more women to office than any time in our history.

But as former Speaker of the House of Representatives Thomas “Tip” O’Neil said, “All politics is local.”

Here in Monmouth County we’ve provided outstanding leadership and built from the municipalities up a growing party that has made enormous strides. Our Mayors and Council members are providing innovative, open and honest government across Monmouth County. We took leadership back on the Freeholder Board and are positioned by developing an outstanding local farm team to provide Democratic leadership again.

During my time as chairman we worked together to take back the 12th Legislative District. We worked to defeat an incumbent Republican Congressman and to elect Congressman Rush Holt. U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has represented much of our county for 24 years.

I believe we’ve been successful as a party because people like you got involved for the right reasons, not because they were looking for a title, status or any other aggrandizement. We succeed when we put the people and the party first.

I urge our Democratic leaders throughout New Jersey to work to stop the infighting and the deal making that pits one group in our party against another. We need to support policies that help the many and walk away from policies that seem to enrich just a few.

Perhaps my favorite memory of politics in Monmouth County is not of a race that we won, but the one that’s most vivid – my first. John Winterstella and Gene Anthony were candidates for Freeholder in my first year; Jack Manutti and Annie Grant contested the Constitutional Offices. In that year, Surrogate Patricia Bennett was our only Democratic county-wide official. I walked with the candidates every day and night, we campaigned hard for months, and in the end came up a few hundred votes short. But we launched the party in the right direction. We gave it a start.

After 23 years, I’ve decided to end my term as Chairman of the Monmouth County Democrats. But I know that because all of the work of dedicated, loyal Democrats like you, I will leave it in good hands.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you for the honor and privilege of serving the Monmouth County Democrats and all of the people of Monmouth County.

To our friends in organized labor; everyone who’s ever stuffed an envelope, made a phone call or talked to your neighbors to help elect a Council member or President; everyone who’s given of their time and their money to support our candidates; all of those who have put themselves before the voters and stood up for our party and its principles; all of those who have been selfless in their dedication to a cause that’s right, I thank you.



Godspeed,


Victor V. Scudiery, Chairman
Monmouth County Democrats, Inc.

New DSCC Chairman Bob Menendez Speaks to Us

I received the following message in my inbox this morning. It is a message from the newly appointed Chairman of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Bob Menendez:

"Senator Schumer has told me repeatedly how important the DSCC's grassroots were to our stunning victories over the last two election cycles.

So I was honored to have recorded a special video for the online community as one of my first actions as the DSCC chair.

I am so excited to work with you and with great Democrats across the country to hold our majority and win even more Senate seats in 2010. The challenges we face are steep, but I am confident that with your continued dedication, we will succeed.

Thank you so much for everything you have done and will do again for the DSCC."

 

PALLONE ONCE AGAIN CHOSEN TO CHAIR POWERFUL ENERGY AND COMMERCE SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Washington, D.C. --- U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) was once again chosen by his Democratic colleagues on the House Energy and Commerce Committee to chair the committee's powerful Subcommittee on Health. The New Jersey congressman served in the same position for the last two years during the 110th Congress.

The subcommittee has sole jurisdiction over Medicaid, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and shares jurisdiction of Medicare with the House Ways and Means Committee. The subcommittee oversees public health, biomedical programs, food, drug and device safety, mental health and research, hospital construction and all health care homeland security-related concerns.

Pallone issued the following statement after being chosen again as chairman.

"It is indeed an honor to once again receive the support of my colleagues on the Energy and Commerce Committee to serve as Chairman of the Subcommittee on Health.

"As the 111th Congress convenes, our nation faces enormous economic challenges that will impact a health care system that is already in crisis and getting worse every day. I am committed to working with President-elect Obama, the Committee and the Congress to develop an agenda that will improve our nation's health care system for all Americans.

"Last Congress, my top priority was strengthening the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) so that 10 million children would have access to quality health care coverage. Twice, Congress passed legislation that I helped develop accomplishing this goal, but both times President Bush vetoed the bills. Next week, the House will once again vote on this very important legislation. I am confident it will pass with strong bipartisan support, and will then be signed into law by Barack Obama after he becomes president.

"I will also continue to work with my colleagues in crafting the health care provisions that will be included in the economic recovery package.

"As the original author of legislation that would temporarily increase each state's Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) during this economic downturn, I will continue to push for its inclusion in the recovery package so that states can continue to provide critical health care services to those hurt most by this economic recession.

"After moving Health Information Technology (HIT) legislation through the Subcommittee last year, I am also anxious to work with my colleagues in crafting HIT provisions for the overall recovery package that will modernize our health care system, strengthen the quality of care and lower overall costs.

"In the coming weeks, I also expect to begin holding hearings on the need to overhaul our nation's health care system. Our current health care system is not sustainable without significant reform, and I look forward to working with the Obama administration to develop comprehensive legislation that ensures every American has access to quality and affordable health coverage.

"The Subcommittee will also focus on the FDA, and the need to pass food safety legislation that includes a more thorough system to prevent contaminated food products from reaching store shelves. In order to accomplish this goal, I will once again introduce comprehensive legislation that includes the players at every stage of food production.

"I will continue to work with my colleagues on the Subcommittee to arrive at a consensus on a generic biologics bill that will provide patients with better access to life-saving and lower cost biologic drugs.

"As chairman, I will also continue to be a strong advocate for the expansion of NIH medical research and will raise awareness about the need to improve minority health and eliminate racial and ethnic health disparities that currently exist in our country."