Pallone Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Americans’ Online Data from Foreign Adversaries

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Contact: Mary Werden 

202-225-4671 

 April 20, 2024 

Pallone Applauds House Passage of Bipartisan Legislation to Protect Americans’ Online Data from Foreign Adversaries 

 "Bill Includes Pallone’s Bipartisan “Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act,” Which He Introduced Earlier this Year"

Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today applauded House passage of the 21st Century Peace through Strength Act. The bill would create a framework to force divestment of TikTok from its Chinese Communist Party-controlled parent company ByteDance so that Americans can continue to use the platform without the risk that Chinese Communist officials would be able to use the app to undermine our national security and privacy. 

The package also includes the “Protecting Americans’ Data from Foreign Adversaries Act,” which was authored by Pallone. It would prohibit data brokers from selling or otherwise making available Americans’ sensitive information to the People’s Republic of China, North Korea, Russia, and Iran or entities controlled by them. 

 “National security experts are sounding the alarm and warning that our foreign adversaries are using every tool at their disposal, including apps like TikTok, to amass troves of sensitive data about Americans. The laws in China allow the Chinese Communist Party to compel companies, like TikTok, to share data with them on demand whether the companies want to or not. We simply cannot allow this to continue,” Pallone said. “This bill also takes decisive action to mitigate our foreign adversaries’ ability to collect Americans’ data and use it against us. Most Americans are unaware that data brokers compile dossiers about their interests, beliefs, finances, and movements. This package includes a bipartisan bill I authored that protects Americans by barring data brokers from selling sensitive information about them to our adversaries. I’m grateful to my colleagues in Congress, who worked to get this bill across the finish line.” 

Pallone serves as the top Democrat on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over consumer protection and technology policy. His floor speech in support of the bill is available here.

Board of Education Regular Meeting 1/2/18: Is The Township Committee Planning To Return BOE Elections To April?

Last night the Middletown Board of Education held it's annual Reorganization meeting, which I watched via the YouTube live stream and heard an interesting bit of information being introduced.

It appears that the Middletown Township Committee will be introducing a resolution within the next few weeks that would reinstate the April elections for the Middletown Board of Education. This would mean that in November, residents would no longer vote for BOE candidates on the ballot.

If the election were to be moved back to April there would be a significant cost to residents for holding such an election, as well as a potential issue with the school budget.

I've taken the liberty to Que the video from last night's meeting to the portion in which the resolution was discussed.

I wasn't a fan of the Christie Administration moving the Board of Education election to November in the first place due to the politics that would naturally be involved as a result of the move. But to move it back to April and have residents tax dollars spent for such and election is senseless. Chris Christie had the elections moved to save taxpayer money  to cost it.

In my opinion, this is just a ploy by the Township Committee to get a say in future Board of Education budgets, by getting the spending approved by voters who will need to approve of it first, just like the old days, if the budget isn't approved, the Township Committee can make cuts to the failed budget. It's also a way for the Township Committee to have a bigger influence over who is elected to the Board of Education. Fewer voters participating in an election means better odds for Township Committee chosen candidates.

No Show Smith

sloanesjacket
Published on Jul 24, 2017 

Rep. Chris "No Show" Smith (NJ-04) has not held a public town hall in nearly 25 years. Instead, he prefers to spend his time demonizing his constituents on talk radio and in the op-ed pages of the local paper, rubbing elbows with campaign donors, and taking it easy in his home of the last few decades in Herndon, VA. He has yet to say anything challenging the increasingly-disturbing Trump administration, probably because he's made a bargain to continue fawning over 45 in exchange for the ability to advance his misogynistic, homophobic, anti-choice agenda.

EXIT: The Last New Jersey Drive-In

Ah, I remember it well; the old Hazlet Drive-in. The times that I had, the movies that I watched and the friends that were made while hanging at the play-ground or drinking beers in the back lot.... Good times!

Here's a short documentary posted on YouTube by Sean O'Leary, "... chronicling the closing night of the Route 35 Drive-In in Hazlet, NJ. At the time of filming in 1991, it was the last operating drive-in theater in the state."

NASA Celebrates Earth Day

NASA uses the vantage point of space to increase our understanding of our home planet, improve lives and safeguard our future. The agency also develops new ways to observe and study Earth's interconnected natural systems with long-term data records, shares this unique knowledge, and works with institutions around the world to gain new insights into how our planet is changing. Here's a brief thirty second video showing some of the sights and sounds of our Earth and why it's important to us all to appreciate our unique home in the solar system.

Message From Senator Menendez Issued Via YouTube

D4CC's Powerful Video about Congressman Chris Smith's Voting Record

District 4 Coalition for Change

We have been working hard for nearly 9 months trying to raise awareness about Congressman Smith. Thanks to our members and our amazing staff, many people in District 4 NJ now know about Congressman Smith and he can no longer hide in plain sight. NOW it's time to let the entire country know what we are doing and expose Congressman Smith to those that do not know about his anti women agenda. Perhaps we can inspire people all over the country to pay closer attention to who their Representatives are and how they vote.

Please watch our Powerful Video and share it with everyone you know.




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District 4 Coalition for Change was established to raise public awareness about NJ Congressman Chris Smith's voting record. Most specifically his extreme anti-women voting record.
#stopchrissmith

♫ Ginsburg's Hobby Lobby Dissent

Justice Ginsburg wrote a blistering dissent  yesterday that tore into the Supreme Court's Hobby Lobby ruling that stated that the Obamacare birth control mandate violates the 1993 Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

Musician Jonathan Mann,  took Justice Ginsburg's dissenting words and put them into a song that very quickly went viral on the web after Mother Jones posted his video on their website.

Take a look, it's epic!

March 17, 2014 Township Of Middletown Sewerage Authority Meeting

For those that may be interested here is the latest video available from the meeting of the Middletown Sewerage Authority (TOMSA). I haven't had time to watch but I intend to over the next few day.

A Middletown 350 Halloween Treat: The Mystery of the Spy House

Here's a blast from the past that I originally posted in 2011. Seeing as Middletown has started to celebrate its 350 anniversary this year, a little local lore is in order for the day.

While looking for an interesting ghost story to post in honor of Halloween, I came across a real treat. I found a 2003 documentary posted on Youtube (posted in three parts and recently updated in 2010 ) that featured arguably one of the oldest, if not the oldest home in Monmouth County, the Whitlock/Seabrook House a.k.a The Spy House located in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown NJ. It is said that as many as 23 ghosts call the Spy House home.

The documentary features Psychic Consult Jane Doherty, who years ago use to give ghost tours of the Spy House during this time of year. I remember taking a tour of the old house years ago when Doherty was acting as our psychic tour guide. It was a fun night and enjoyable experience even though we didn't meet any ghosts first hand that night.

I also remember meeting Gertrude Neidlinger on a few other visits to the house, she really was a special person she always made you feel at home, and boy could she tell a story! Neidlinger pasted away in 1998.

The 4th video below is a more recent, updated story of the Spy House. It was posted online this past August 17th and contains a brief summary of the house's history (containing some clips from the original documentary) along with the results of a paranormal investigation that was performed at the site.

These video's were posted on Youtube by The Paranormal Rangers, I hope you enjoy them.

Allison Friedman LD 13 NJ State Assembly Candidate on Business

Allison Friedman, Candidate for State Assembly, District 13, Monmouth County, gives solid ideas for growing business in her area as well as New Jersey.

Letter: Chaos at the Middletown Township Committee Meeting

Apparently the all-Republican Middletown Township Committee is no longer satisfied with completely controlling the agenda of their meetings, but they now also want to control the comments from the public.

At the workshop meeting on Tuesday night, committee members were talking two or three at the same time during the first of the public comments, eating into the five minute maximum allotted to the speaker. When one of the committee members, Mr. Fiore, was responding to questions from the speaker, the Deputy Mayor was making comments such as, "This is ridiculous," at the same time. When I appealed for order during the public comments, Mr. Fiore responded that comments should be limited to township business. This is clearly not a requirement and a gross violation of the constitutional rights of the public.

I appeal to the mayor to restore order to these meetings and enforce Robert's Rules of Order, as required by Township Resolution 13-47 adopted on 01-06-2013.

The video of the meeting of September 3, 2013 is on YouTube at: http://youtu.be/EuuJHHW2O8Y
Public Comments are at the end of the meeting.

John Schwebel

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Note: I'll post the actual video of the meeting with comments later, however the exchange that Mr. Schwebel is referring to in his letter is rather astonishing. You'll see what I mean if you watch the video and fast forward to the Public Comments portion of the meeting @ the 24:20 mark -  MM 

Friday Funny - The G-String Fish Salesman

Here's a funny little video to start your weekend. Enjoy!

Day 3 of the 12 Days of Christmas: Who Spiked The Eggnog?

This little Christmas gem title "Who Spiked the Eggnog" is from the a Capella group Straight No Chaser. Originally a student group that formed back in 1996 at Indiana University which rose to fame in 2006 when a video of their 1998 performance of "The 12 Days of Christmas" was posted on Youtube and received over 15 millions views.


sncmusic

Is Dick Cody About To Step Into The Ring And Go Toe To Toe Booker & Christie?

It certainly seems that way....


Richard J. Cody

In this video, Cody failed to mention his college in the State Senate, Senator Barbara Buono, who declared her candidacy on Tuesday. He better not take her lightly or underestimate her, she's a scrapper that will but up a hella'va fight.

Why Obama Now

In a charmingly animated video, Lucas Gray, one of the artists behind the Simpsons and Family Guy illustrates why, with words from President Obama, trickle down economics is a failed experiment. - Addicting Info

Comedian Steve Martin Endorses Nebraska's Bob Kerry For Senate

A very funny and a truly classic endorsement of a political candidate from a celebrity.

Comedian and "home crafts expert" Steve Martin, endorses Bob Kerrey (D) for U.S. Senate in his race to once again become Nebraska's Senator.

(hat tip - Political Wire)


Steve Martin has some great reasons for endorsing Bob Kerrey in Nebraska's U.S. Senate race, but you'll have to watch to find out -- and you might just learn something. About home crafts. Stand with Bob at www.bobkerrey.com/stevemartin

With Friends Like These....

"I think you're only allowed a certain number of flips before people begin to doubt your character and I think Romney exhausted his quota sometime back..." Brit Hume- Fox News

They're Not Real Government Workers, They're... They're... Deficitbots!

With American workers siphoning jobs away from American workers, it's time to get tough on those workers and send them home! See what's in store for the legions of shiftless firemen, teachers and policemen in the government's employ.



by markfiore

Amazing Slow-Mo Slinky Drop

This video is just too cool not to share.

If  you video record in super slow motion a slinky being dropped to the ground appears to defy gravity.The bottom of the slinky stays suspended in air while the top of the slinky accelerates toward the center, at which point the slinky then drops to the ground.

Amazing! You have to watch.