Pallone & Conyers: Trump’s Opioid Announcement Is Meaningless without Additional Funding

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 26, 2017



Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) and Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers (D-MI) today released the following statement in response to President Trump’s declaration that our nation’s opioid crisis is a public health emergency:

“President Trump’s announcement today falls far short of the recommendations of his own commission, and is essentially meaningless because it does not provide any new funding to fight an epidemic that is killing 91 Americans every day. The opioid crisis continues to grow, cutting lives short, tearing families apart and leaving people in communities all around our nation with few places to turn as they struggle to find treatment.

“Despite his previous claims that the opioid crisis is a ‘national emergency,’ the President’s announcement today does not unleash the financial resources necessary to end this epidemic. Instead it simply allows the federal agencies to shift already limited resources away from other public health programs. This is not the way to fight an epidemic of this magnitude.”

Pallone Announces $1 Million to Reimburse Monmouth County for Emergency Services Provided in Wake of Superstorm Sandy

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that Monmouth County, New Jersey will be receiving more than $1 million in federal funding to reimburse the county for emergency services provided by first responders during Superstorm Sandy. The funding is being provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the Sandy aid package Pallone fought for in Congress.

“These grants help to lessen the financial hit that communities across the state still face as we continue to recover from Sandy,” said Pallone. “In the wake of Sandy, emergency services were needed and this funding will reimburse Monmouth County for those measures. I am grateful that FEMA continues to recognize the importance of these efforts in New Jersey.”

This allocation provides $1,095,332.76 in federal funding to reimburse Monmouth County for emergency protective measures that enabled first responders to perform services in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, including search and rescue operations, evacuations, and securing temporary facilities for facilities destroyed or damaged during the storm.

Pallone Announces $1.47 Million for Repairs to Keansburg Police Station

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced that Keansburg, New Jersey will be receiving more than $1.47 million in federal funding to repair or replace the city’s police station that was damaged as a result of Superstorm Sandy. The funding is being provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as part of the Sandy aid package Pallone fought for in Congress.

“These grants help to lessen the financial hit that our local governments still face as communities across the state continue to recover from Sandy,” said Congressman Pallone. “These funds will help Keansburg rebuild their police station and provide a safe work environment for the officers who protect and serve our community. I am grateful that FEMA recognizes the importance of these ongoing recovery efforts in New Jersey.”

This allocation provides $ 1,471,486.50 in federal funding to Keansburg to demolish and replace portions of the city’s police station that were damaged as a result of Superstorm Sandy. The list of damages include 5,505 square feet of paneling, 3,258 square feet of insulation, 3,993 square feet of sheet rock, 2,800 square feet of ceiling tiles, 2,239 square feet of hardwood flooring, 234.65 square yards of carpet, 5 restroom stalls and facilities, a water heater, 8 baseboard heaters, an air conditioner, an oil furnace and boiler. The work to be completed also includes cleaning and treating 2,772 square feet of bathroom floors and walls, removing 320 square feet of asbestos floor tile and mold, pressure washing 1,746 square feet of concrete block walls, painting 6,299 square feet of walls, and removing and replacing all damaged electrical feeders, switches, and lights.