Pallone Statement on Rep. Van Drew

Below is a statement attributable to Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr:

"Congressman Van Drew is joining a Republican Party led by President Trump that kowtows to special interests, gives the wealthy big tax breaks, and denies climate change. It’s unfortunate he has chosen to climb a career ladder that’s doomed to collapse instead of working with Democrats to pass legislation to lower health care costs, combat the climate crisis, and stand up for all Americans. In 2020, we will be working hard to elect a Democrat in NJ-2."

Additional background:

Van Drew staffers who quit to protest his switch to GOP have new jobs with N.J. Democrat

https://www.nj.com/politics/2019/12/van-drew-staffers-who-quit-to-protest-his-switch-to-gop-have-new-jobs-with-nj-democrat.html


"Pauline said Monday that he would be requesting a refund from Van Drew’s campaign..."

https://www.inquirer.com/politics/new-jersey/jeff-van-drew-aides-hired-20191217.html

Pallone Statement on Impeachment of Donald Trump

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 18, 2019



WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement on the impeachment of President Donald Trump in the U.S. House of Representatives:

“My colleagues on the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees presented a clear case to the American people that was supported by evidence and facts. It’s clear that the President used his immense power for personal gain and then obstructed a lawful Congressional investigation into his wrongdoings. The President’s actions put our democracy and national security at risk. Congress is endowed with the responsibility to act when the President has committed high crimes and misdemeanors. I support these articles of impeachment because I took a solemn oath to defend the Constitution. No one – not even the President of the United States - is above the law. I call on Leader McConnell to take every possible step to ensure an impartial, non-partisan hearing in the Senate.”

Pallone on Trump’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 12, 2018



Washington, D.C. – Energy and Commerce Committee Ranking Member Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-N.J.) issued the following statement today after President Trump released his budget proposal for fiscal year 2019:

“President Trump is once again proposing a budget that has little basis in reality and continues his ongoing assault on working families struggling to make ends meet.

“Despite repeated attempts to gut our nation’s health care system, the President is once again proposing to strip away health care from tens of millions of Americans by repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act. The President is also proposing a devastating $1.4 trillion cut to Medicaid, which will force states to ration care for seniors in nursing homes, people with disabilities, children and pregnant women. The budget also continues the Administration’s goal of restricting Medicaid coverage to the most vulnerable by adding co-payments and unnecessary paperwork requirements.

“As the opioid crisis continues to devastate families and communities around the nation, the President’s harmful ACA and Medicaid proposals would make it extremely difficult for people struggling with opioid abuse to get the treatment they need.

“The President’s proposed cuts to EPA are extreme and threaten the health and environment of all Americans. The President’s budget cuts the agency’s overall budget by 26 percent from Fiscal Year 2017, slashing funding for critical public health programs including clean air programs, chemical safety research and geographic programs.

“The budget also decimates our nation’s investment in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs, which will increase energy costs for consumers, undermine clean energy jobs and threaten our efforts to combat climate change.

“These are reckless proposals that should be opposed by Congress.”

Pallone Statement on GOP Tax Scam

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 19, 2017


Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement on the GOP tax scam being passed through the House of Representatives.

“Today, Republicans sacrificed the well-being of their constituents and the country to jam through a so-called political victory. It is our responsibility as Members of Congress to fight for all Americans, not just the wealthy, and the GOP Tax Scam leaves behind millions of working families.

“A recent Tax Policy Center study found that 86 million middle class households will see their taxes go up as a result of the bill. Meanwhile, 83% of the supposed benefits of the bill will go the top 1% of the wealthiest of Americans. And by repealing the individual mandate the bill will also spike health insurance premiums and leave 13 million more uninsured. My Republicans colleagues should be ashamed for so clearly favoring the wealthy over the middle class.

“The GOP Tax Scam is especially disastrous for New Jersey. Limiting the State and Local Tax deduction is simply unacceptable given the tax burden already facing New Jerseyans. New Jerseyans contribute more than their fair share in tax payments to the Federal government and I am outraged that my constituents will be slammed by this careless legislation.

“Republicans have already implied that they will seek cuts to programs like Medicare to make up the $1.5 trillion cost of the GOP Tax Scam. Seniors have paid into and earned their Social Security and Medicare benefits. They should not face drastic cuts because Republicans want to slash tax rates for large corporations and the wealthiest of Americans. I will continue to stand up for seniors and working people who are being abandoned in favor of giveaways to millionaires, billionaires, and multinational corporations.”

Pallone on Trumpcare Senate Defeat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 28, 2017



Washington, D.C. – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ) released the following statement this morning after the Senate rejected the so-called “skinny” Trumpcare amendment:

“From the very beginning, every version of Trumpcare has been heartless. The American people were justifiably concerned about losing their health care, paying significantly more money for less care, and the prospect of being discriminated against due to a pre-existing condition. Despite all of the secrecy behind these plans, the American people were never fooled by Trumpcare, and they have consistently voiced their strong opposition to these cruel plans.

“With the Senate’s action early this morning, it is my hope that Republicans will abandon any thought of repealing the Affordable Care Act so that we can work together on bipartisan solutions to reduce costs and improve access to care.”

Pallone Statement on “Morally Reprehensible” Trump Budget

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 23, 2017





Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement in response to the Trump Administration’s proposed budget.

“Donald Trump has presented himself as a champion of the “forgotten man,” but his budget wouldn’t just forget those Americans he promised to defend – it would eviscerate the programs and policies that help working families make ends meet.

“This Budget will make the richest richer and leave the vast majority of Americans worse off. In order to finance huge tax cuts for billionaires, Trump’s budget would cut more than $1 trillion in federal programs that help Americans who are struggling – including food and housing assistance, healthcare, and many other priorities. With dramatic cuts to Medicaid, New Jersey stands to lose tens of billions of dollars in funding that provides healthcare to the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, disease prevention and medical research is cut significantly, including a $6 billion cut for the National Institutes of Health.

“It also goes squarely after the middle class and those who aspire to reach it by proposing cuts to education, research and development, the earned pension benefits of federal workers, and veterans’ healthcare. It would gut coastal protection and investments in renewable energy, and it would reduce funding for Superfund and brownfields cleanup, all of which would disproportionally hurt New Jersey.

“This is a morally reprehensible proposal that would only take our country backwards. I will continue to fight against these reckless spending proposals, and will instead support priorities that will grow and support the middle class.”

Congressman Pallone Statement on Firing of FBI Director James Comey

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 9, 2017


Washington, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement on the firing of FBI Director James Comey.

“The firing of James Comey is the latest, and perhaps most clear, example of the Trump administration's actions to impede accountability and transparency.‎ We now need not only a fully independent investigation into President Trump's ties with Russia, but an inquiry into his unprecedented decision to replace the Director of the FBI. My fear is that the Trump administration is trying to prevent Director Comey from revealing it's involvement with Russia and other improprieties."

SHAME ON THE NEW JERSEY'S HOUSE REPUBLICANS THAT PUT PARTY LOYALTY BEFORE CONSTITUENTS' NEEDS

Trenton – Today, New Jersey Democratic State Committee Chair John Currie released the following statement after congressional Republicans forced a vote to take away health insurance from millions of Americans and raise premiums on the elderly:

"Trump's Republicans decided to raise premiums on older Americans and undermine coverage for people with pre-existing conditions, while exempting themselves. To say that this is disappointing would be an understatement. The legislative process is not a political game. The bill that passed the House will have a painful effect on hard-working New Jersey families if it becomes law. The consequences could, literally, be deadly. And, although Congressmen MacArthur and Frelinghuysen are particularly deserving of condemnation for putting the wishes of Donald Trump and Paul Ryan before their constituents' needs, it is not like New Jersey’s House Republicans were courageous. Voters will remember their broken promises next November.”

Background

• The new bill is, effectively, the old bill made worse, as it appears to allow states to opt-out of protecting Americans who have pre-existing conditions like diabetes, asthma, and others. Non-partisan groups like the American Medical Association and AARP announced their opposition to it.
• Today's vote violated one of the key components of Republicans’ “Pledge to America:” the Three-Day Rule -- a rule that promised that the text of legislation would be published "online for at least three days before coming up for a vote."
• The first time Republicans in Congress tried to push this bill through, the bill had a dismal approval 17 percent rating, comparable to that of New Jersey's disgraced governor, Chris Christie.

Pallone Statement on Bomb Threats at Jewish Institutions

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2017

Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement after several Jewish centers in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware – including the Katz Jewish Community Center and Jewish Federation of Southern New Jersey in Cherry Hill– were evacuated Monday amid a series of bomb threats to Jewish institutions nationwide. Last week, 158 members of Congress, including Congressman Pallone, signed a letter urging federal agencies to take “swift action” to address threats to the Jewish community in recent weeks.

“These threats against our brothers and sisters in the Jewish community are completely unacceptable,” said Pallone. “New Jersey is one of the most diverse states in the country and it is imperative that we send a strong message that we will not tolerate this bigotry. I will do everything within my power to ensure that the federal government provides local and state authorities with whatever resources are necessary to investigate and prosecute these hate crimes. There can be no ambiguity from those charged with our nation’s security about the seriousness of these crimes.”

###

Pallone Statement on President Trump’s Budget Outline

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2017


WASHINGTON, DC — Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) issued the following statement today upon the release of President Trump’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget outline.

“President Trump continues to misrepresent our nation’s challenges to the American people and as a result his budget has the wrong priorities and the wrong solutions. His budget proposal puts the military industrial complex above the best interests of global peace and security, and above the best interests of the American people.

“The President has disparaged our military in order to justify a massive military buildup. Our nation already has the best military in the world, led by our courageous and talented men and women in uniform. Increasing military spending by more than $50 billion comes at the cost of cuts to the State Department’s peaceful diplomatic efforts and vital programs that assist working families. Not to mention, the President’s intention to pursue enhanced military operations – and his track record for acting before considering the consequences – would put more American lives in danger and make the world less secure.

“The Environmental Protection Agency – which is responsible for ensuring clean air, safe drinking water, and cleanup of polluted lands – would also face massive cuts. This should come as no surprise considering Trump’s EPA Administrator nominee, Scott Pruitt, has made a career of attacking the agency he now runs. It should, however, come at great concern to the American people, who need to have confidence that the agency responsible for protecting public health is doing its job.

“Budgets are about more than dollars and cents—they are statements of our values as a nation. Failing to invest in peaceful diplomacy, our public health, environment, infrastructure, public education and the arts will simply cost our country more in the long run. We should be working together to grow our economy, not playing politics with the budget process by misleading the American people.”

Pallone Voices Opposition to Monmouth County Reliability Project at Public Hearing

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 26, 2017




Long Branch, NJ – Last night, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) voiced his opposition to the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP) at a public hearing held at Middletown High School North in Middletown, NJ. The hearing was overseen by Office of Administrative Law Judge Gail M. Cookson, as part of the process to determine the recommendation she will be making to the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) on whether the BPU should approve the MCRP. Pallone also asked that additional public hearings be held to ensure that all those potentially impacted by the MCRP have an opportunity have their voices heard.

Congressman Pallone is opposed to the project, as he was when the project was proposed over two decades ago. Last week in a letter to James Fakult, President of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L), Congressman Pallone called on JCP&L to withdraw the proposed MCRP. The plan for JCP&;L’s new transmission line would impact Aberdeen, Hazlet and Middletown in Pallone’s district and run along New Jersey Transit’s North Jersey Coast line.

Earlier this month, the state Rate Counsel released a number of technological alternatives that could increase reliability without requiring the construction of a transmission line like MCRP. Towns and community groups share this opposition to the project, including Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE), who reached out to Congressman Pallone express their concerns. Residents in affected towns are worried that the project is harmful to the public health, environment, and economy of their communities.

Congressman Pallone's statement for the hearing can be found below:

Thank you Judge Cookson for holding this public hearing on the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP). I also want to thank the many citizens of the communities this project would affect for making their voices heard tonight.

When this project was first proposed last summer, I voiced a number of concerns about the need for and effectiveness of this project. After careful study and consultation with my constituents, I come before you today to ask that you recommend that the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJ BPU) reject the MCRP.

My opposition to this project stems from two primary issues; my skepticism that the MCRP is the best and most cost-effective way to ensure reliability in Monmouth County, and the near universal opposition from the communities that would be affected by this project.

As you know, this proposal comes from Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L), which is a subsidiary of the Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corporation. The stated objective of the MCRP is to increase electrical reliability for customers in Monmouth County. The project is very similar to a project proposed some 25 years ago that was strongly opposed by local communities and groups before being withdrawn.

The MCRP includes constructing a 10-mile, 230-kilovolt transmission line, running from Aberdeen along the New Jersey Transit corridor right-of-way through several Monmouth County communities before terminating in Red Bank. In order for the MCRP to move forward, JCP&L must receive approval from NJ Transit to construct along its right-of-way in addition to securing the approval of the NJ BPU. . NJ Transit has not yet issued a decision on the MCRP.

Ever since this project was initially proposed, I have articulated concerns about whether constructing MCRP is necessary to accomplish JCP&L’s stated reliability goals. I do not question that JCP&L has had issues with reliability in this area over the years, and ensuring the reliability of electric utility services is indeed important. In the past, building a new transmission line may have been the only way to increase reliability. However, now there are other options available to meet reliability standards. Other options, including distributed generation and various new grid technologies, can not only increase reliability, but also modernize the grid, providing more flexibility and efficiency.

Unfortunately, it is clear that instead of exploring these alternatives, JCP&L determined that it wanted to build a transmission line, and that was that.

If JCP&L was serious about improving reliability with minimal disruption to the lives of those who live in the communities along the proposed route, it would have fully explored all alternative solutions which would satisfy the standards set forth by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC). A more complete assessment of all alternatives would enable NJ BPU and the affected communities to determine the most cost-effective and least disruptive option to accomplish reliability goals.

I am not alone in expressing misgivings about the MCRP. Earlier this month, the state Rate Counsel submitted a number of comments on the MCRP to the NJ BPU. The Rate Counsel questioned the necessity of the project for meeting its proposed goal of increasing reliability of the portion of the grid serving Monmouth County. In addition to describing the use of alternative technologies such as static compensators, distributed generation, and other new grid technologies, the Rate Counsel expressed concerns about how the proposed route was chosen and potential problems associated with co-locating the lines with NJ Transit railway service.

It is not just elected and government officials expressing concerns about this project. There has been continued opposition from communities along the proposed route. Ever since this project was proposed last year, my constituents have communicated their concerns about this project. One of the issues raised by community members is the impact the MCRP could have on the value of their homes. Specifically this relates to the height of the line and the poles that this plan states are necessary, which will be up to 210 feet tall in places. In November, I joined Congressman Chris Smith, NJ Transit Board Members, state and local representatives, and concerned citizens on a tour of the proposed power line route. I was able to see firsthand the proposed height and width of these poles, and I heard directly from the people who would be most affected by the completion of this project.

As I expressed in the letter I sent to JCP&L’s President, Mr. James V. Fakult last week, when all of these concerns and issues are put together, it is clear that MCRP is not the best or most cost effective way to increase reliability in Monmouth County. I believe, the company should explore other alternatives to constructing this disruptive project.

Judge Cookson, I respectfully ask that you advise NJ BPU to deny approval of the MCRP.

Thank you again for holding this hearing and for your consideration of my views and those of my constituents in this important matter.

Pallone Statement on Fourth Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy

 

For Immediate Relsease:
Oct 28, 2016

LONG BRANCH, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. released the following statement today on the upcoming fourth anniversary of Hurricane Sandy making landfall on the New Jersey coastline.

“As we look back on the four years since Superstorm Sandy changed the lives of so many in New Jersey, I am inspired by the resiliency of my neighbors and also focused on the work left to do to achieve a full recovery. From my first moments on the ground witnessing the damage Sandy wrought in New Jersey, I have remained committed to helping our communities rebuild and better prepare for future storms like Sandy. But I know that so many New Jerseyans are still struggling to rebuild their homes, and towns continue to work to rebuild critical facilities and infrastructure. There is much work still to be done.

“I will continue to do everything within my power to both help New Jersey rebuild and to prepare for future storms, and will continue to fight for critically needed reforms to the National Flood Insurance program, and many other recovery programs.”

“Just last week, I was proud to announce the second phase of construction for the Army Corps project at Port Monmouth, an important continuation of the Sandy recovery effort that will provide much needed protection from future storms.”

Congressman Pallone was a leader in the effort to authorize $60 billion in Superstorm Sandy relief funding, which was signed into law in January 2013. The funding package included federal aid to help homeowners, businesses, and communities recover, and resources to rebuild coastal, transportation, and water infrastructure.

Earlier this month, Pallone unveiled legislation, the Flood Insurance Reimbursement Standards Transparency (FIRST) Cap Profits Act, which would require increased oversight and transparency of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and to cap the profits of private companies providing flood insurance.

Statement from Colonel Jeff Cantor, Candidate for Monmouth County Sheriff on Seaside Park explosion

For Immediate Release:
September 17th, 2016


"Today’s cowardly attack in Seaside Park, New Jersey is yet another alarming example of the dangers facing our community. As a Colonel in the United States Army, I am especially aggrieved to know that the target of this attack was the location of a charity event being held to raise money to assist wounded Marines and their families.

With my 30 years of experience in protecting civilians and my experience as a combat veteran, anti-terrorism expert, and federally certified Disaster Management professional, I know what a safe and secure community should look like. That’s why I’ve laid out a plan to help bolster the resources needed to protect against these types of attacks, including creating an anti-terrorism force that will identify and reinforce soft targets such as boardwalks, malls, and other densely populated areas. New Jersey’s residents need to know that their leaders are focused on their safety, first and foremost."

Congressman Pallone’s Statement on Withdrawal of Petition to Transfer JCP&L’s Transmission Assets

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 8, 2016



Long Branch, NJ- Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement on Jersey Central Power and Light’s (JCP&L) withdrawal of a proposal to transfer its high-voltage transmission lines to a sister company, Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT). Both companies are owned by FirstEnergy.

“I am encouraged by the decision to withdraw the transfer application between JCP&L and MAIT,” said Pallone. “There were numerous unresolved questions about the consequences of this transfer, including how ratepayers would be affected, and whether BPU would have authority over MAIT. Given that FirstEnergy has filed an application to construct a 10-mile transmission line in my district known as the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP), approving this transfer could have had unforeseen impacts on my constituents in Monmouth County. I appreciate the work of so many of my constituents and the state Rate Counsel who stood against this transfer and its potential to hurt the quality of life in our communities.”

Congressman Pallone has consistently raised concerns over the proposal, including at a meeting before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU) in Freehold, NJ last week.
Pallone’s statement can be found below:

Statement of Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr.

Before the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities

Freehold Township Municipal Building

August 30, 2016

Thank you, Chairman Mroz and Members of the Board of Public Utilities (BPU) for holding this second public hearing on Ohio-based FirstEnergy Corporation’s proposal to transfer all the transmission assets of its Jersey Central Power and Light (JCP&L) subsidiary to a multi-state transmission-only company called Mid-Atlantic Interstate Transmission (MAIT). While, as you know, at the previous meeting in Morristown, I was able to submit and have read into the record a letter expressing some of my thoughts, I am pleased to be here in person to more fully present my views on this proposal.

To be clear, I share the concerns that the Board voiced in its objections to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) regarding FERC’s approval of this proposal earlier this year. The BPU’s stated concerns over this effort in part center on whether the newly formed entity would even be subject to New Jersey’s authority. As I have stated previously, this is particularly prescient in the face of a recent U.S. Supreme court ruling – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission v. Electric Power Supply Association — which called into question many previous assumptions about what aspects of our electricity grid were under the jurisdiction of the federal versus state government.

More importantly, perhaps, for the purpose of this hearing, I also strongly agree with the concerns raised by the state’s rate counsel regarding the potential impact to customers and the impact this restructuring would have on the company's priorities and performance. I commend the compelling argument that Director Brand and her office have put forward in opposition to this transaction generally, as well as in specific regard to the effort to have MAIT recognized as a public utility under New Jersey’s laws. Conferring upon MAIT the legal status of public utility would allow it to use eminent domain and circumvent local zoning laws and boards in building new assets.

In New Jersey, public utilities must have local customers that receive electricity over a distribution network and submit to the BPU. A transmission-only company could not meet this test, so FirstEnergy appears to be trying to gain for MAIT all the benefits of a utility by transferring five distribution customers from JCP&L to MAIT in a convoluted effort to meet the most minimal definition required for a public utility. The Division of Rate Counsel has correctly raised bright red flags around this effort. One of the Division’s expert witnesses, Gregory Booth, went so far as to label the effort a “sham transaction” because it serves no business purpose and doesn’t provide any economic benefit, stating further that “reliability and safety can only worsen, while it will cost more to provide the distribution service.” Another of the Division’s expert witnesses, Scott Hempling, noted that the customers would be transferred without their consent in service of the asset transfer signaling “that public utilities can be shells, customers can be commodities, and the…government-granted privilege of providing life-enabling service to loyal customers, free from competition— can be obtained for reasons other than merit.”

There are numerous other significant issues raised by allowing JCP&L to transfer all its transmission and some of its distribution assets and customers to MAIT. Rate Counsel expert witness David Peterson succinctly sums up one of the concerns I previously raised regarding a potential future sale by MAIT of these JCP&L asset. Mr. Peterson notes that in such a sale, the benefits would accrue to FirstEnergy stockholders, “JCP&L’s customers, who have been paying for those assets all along, would not share in the profits” despite the fact that it’s the JCP&L customers who have been paying for those assets. Similarly, another Rate Counsel witness, Matthew Kahal, is troubled by the potential that

The asset transfer to MAIT and its planned capital expansion may be a prelude to a future MAIT transaction – a sale of MAIT to a third party, a spinoff to shareholders or even the sale of hard assets. It is unclear how such a transaction (if it were to occur) would affect JCP&L customers.
Mr. Hempling echoes these concerns in his submission and goes further to raise questions about BPU’s ability in this scenario to protect New Jersey customers from unjust and unreasonable transmission costs and even BPU’s jurisdiction over the quality of transmission planning, construction and operation.

These are all matters with which I’m particularly concerned given that FirstEnergy has filed an application to construct a new 10-mile transmission line in my district known as the Monmouth County Reliability Project (MCRP) as part of the company’s multi-state “Energizing Our Future” effort. JCP&L has stated that the reason for the MCRP is “to enhance service and modernize the electric system.” The fact that FirstEnergy is using “Energizing Our Future” in comments as part of its justification for the MAIT transaction raises warnings in my mind about its true purpose. Certainly, JCP&L has had major issues with reliability and service for more than a decade. However, the addition of a new transmission line isn’t the only way to achieve resilience: technological advances have spurred new ways to guarantee reliability in the electric system including using cleaner, less expensive distributed technologies. Yet, a transmission-only company would have no real incentive to look at such an option since building a new line would make money for MAIT, while substituting alternatives would not appear to provide such benefit to MAIT shareholders.

Moreover, a number of the Division of Rate Counsel’s experts who filed testimony in opposition to the transfer of the transmission assets to MAIT assert that JCP&L’s reliability issues have more to do with management issues that won’t be solved by building more infrastructure. Mr. Booth, who I cited earlier, is very pointed in his criticism regarding the poor reliability of the JCP&L system and notes that “[t]echnology alone will not solve the reliability deficiencies.” He specifically points to the role that non-infrastructure issues play in the excessive duration of outages on JCP&L’s system, stating that the company is “deficient” in areas such as the quantity of personnel available to respond to an outage and the adequacy of the personnel dispatched for outage restoration, travel time to the affected location, and the communication processes to establish the location of the outage. He notes further that “JCP&L has downsized staff and closed and consolidated operating centers in hopes that technology can overcome some of these deficiencies.”

In closing, I hope BPU will give serious attention to the concerns that I, the Division of Rate Counsel, and many others have raised about FirstEnergy’s efforts to transfer JCP&L’s transmission assets to MAIT and to have MAIT recognized as a public utility. Furthermore, I believe that the final disposition of this matter is a critical factor for consideration in any decision regarding the approval or disapproval of FirstEnergy’s proposed Monmouth County Reliability Project. At a minimum, I urge the Board to refrain from taking any further action to consider the MCRP until all the issues surrounding MAIT and JCP&L’s assets have been completely resolved. Setting aside the numerous concerns I cited in my statement, the questions over jurisdiction alone raised, not only by the Rate Counsel, but also the BPU itself in its FERC filings, should be reason enough to justify that linkage.

Thank you again for holding this hearing and for your attention to this matter.

Pallone Voices Opposition to Sandy Hook Fee Increase at National Park Service Open House

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 1, 2016


Long Branch, NJ – Last night, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) attended an open house held by the National Park Service (NPS) and voiced opposition to a proposal to increase camping and parking fees at Sandy Hook. The open house was announced after Pallone wrote NPS Director Jonathan B. Jarvis requesting that NPS hold a public hearing on the fee increases and provide information on the fee differences between Sandy Hook and other parks. Public engagement events were also held on August 12 and August 20.

“I am opposed to the proposed fee increase, which would dramatically increase the fees from 2011 levels, at which time it cost $10 to park a car at Sandy Hook,” said Pallone. “The currently proposed increase would be an additional financial burden to the individuals and families who enjoy visiting Sandy Hook, and could potentially damage the local economy, which relies in part on tourism. We should be looking at ways to encourage more visitors to the parks, in turn helping the surrounding economies. This proposal to yet again increase park fees moves us in the opposite direction, and should be withdrawn.”

In his letter to Director Jarvis, Congressman Pallone also requested a meeting with NPS to learn how the revenues from the increased fees will be used, and if these new revenues would be used exclusively to maintain and improve facilities at Sandy Hook. For most vehicles, beach parking is currently $15 per day or $75 per season. For oversized vehicles (more than 20 feet), the charge is $30 per day or $150 per season. The new proposal would place fees at $20 per day and $100 per season, with $50 per day and $200 a season for oversized cars. This would mark the second fee increase at the park in five years.

In 2012, Pallone successfully fought efforts to increase parking fees per vehicle from $10 to $20, and a season pass increase from $50 to $100. NPS compromised and cut the proposed fees by half, which is what the parking fees are today.

Text of Congressman Pallone’s Statement at the open house can be found below:

Statement of Representative Frank Pallone (NJ-06)

on the Proposed Fee Increases at Sandy Hook

August 31, 2016

I want to thank the National Parks Service (NPS) for holding this public hearing on the proposed rate increases at Sandy Hook. It is extremely important that New Jersey residents and others who enjoy visiting Sandy Hook have the opportunity to offer their views on this proposed increase. Allowing interested individuals and families to voice their concerns here, and at the other two public engagement sessions held earlier this summer, are important steps towards ensuring public input is considered.

I am opposed to the proposed fee increase, which would dramatically increase the fees from 2011 levels, at which time it cost $10 to park a car at Sandy Hook. The currently proposed increase would be an additional financial burden to the individuals and families who enjoy visiting Sandy Hook, and could potentially damage the local economy, which relies in part on tourism. We should be looking at ways to encourage more visitors to the parks, in turn helping the surrounding economies. This proposal to yet again increase park fees moves us in the opposite direction, and should be withdrawn.

In addition to requesting that NPS engage with the public on the fee proposal, I have also requested that NPS provide me with statistical data related to Sandy Hook, specifically visitor counts and revenue data, and that NPS explain how the revenues from the fee increases would be used, and if those revenues would be used in Sandy Hook. I look forward to NPS providing me that information soon and to meeting with NPS leadership next month.

Again, I thank NPS for holding these sessions, and I hope that we can all work together to ensure that Sandy Hook remains an affordable and accessible to working families.

Pallone Statement on 81st Anniversary of Social Security

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 12, 2016


Washington, DC - Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today made the following statement to mark the 81st anniversary of the Social Security Act being signed into law, which will take place this Sunday.

“Since 1935, Social Security has provided seniors the opportunity to retire with dignity, and disabled workers and families who lost a loved one to meet their expenses. This week we celebrate this crucial program and its promise between generations that now lifts 21 million Americans, including 1.6 million New Jerseyans out of poverty. However, in the face of repeated threats from Congressional Republicans to privatize Social Security, we must reaffirm our commitment. I will continue to work tirelessly to protect and strengthen Social Security for future generations.

“We must also make sure that Social Security meets the demands of seniors in the 21st century. I was deeply disappointed that Social Security recipients did not receive a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) in 2016. Not accounting for increases in the cost of living is, in effect, a cut to the earned benefit of Social Security that threatens seniors’ independence and quality of life. Critical expenses for many seniors, like prescription drugs, continue to outpace inflation and failing to increase the Social Security COLA is devastating for many families throughout New Jersey, especially with our state’s high cost of living. I have called on the Social Security Administration to reevaluate the formula it uses to determine yearly cost of living increases to ensure seniors can continue to live in dignity and receive the benefits they have earned.”

Pallone Statement on Dallas Shootings

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 8, 2016



WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) made the following statement on the shooting that killed five police officers and wounded several others and a civilian in Dallas.

“I am shocked and appalled at the violence that took place in Dallas last night. Police officers in Dallas and throughout the country put their lives on line for us every day and as President Obama said, they too deserve to be able to go home to their families.

“I know that we as a country are feeling a great deal of pain about incidents that have taken place in recent days. But we cannot allow these tragic deaths to drive us further apart. We must work to come together to prevent the killing of innocent people – regardless of their skin color, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, or job. In the words of the Reverend Martin Luther King, ‘Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.’

"I hope that we will now take the example of both the protesters in Dallas and around the country who expressed their frustrations peacefully, and the law enforcement in Dallas, who showed extraordinary bravery and courage, to move our country forward towards justice."

Committee Approves Pallone’s SANDy Act that Will Improve Communications During Disasters

Approval Comes After Pallone & Wireless Providers Agree on Wireless Resiliency Provisions in Bill

The Energy and Commerce Committee today approved the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters Act – or the SANDy Act, which was introduced in November by Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Senior Democrat on the committee.

Committee approval came one day after Pallone and CTIA, together with wireless providers AT&T, Sprint, T-Mobile, U.S. Cellular and Verizon announced an agreement that wireless providers will share information and advance wireless network resiliency before, during and after disasters and emergencies. With yesterday’s agreement, Pallone offered an amendment at today’s committee markup to remove the wireless provisions in the bill.

Pallone offered the following statement about yesterday’s agreement and the importance of the SANDy Act.

As I’ve said numerous times, Superstorm Sandy had a devastating impact on my district back in New Jersey. So I introduced the Securing Access to Networks in Disasters – or SANDy – Act to address the lessons we learned in the aftermath of that terrible storm.

The legislation incorporated feedback that I heard from local officials and industry leaders at a forum on Sandy where we took a critical look at the lessons learned and the progress made with public safety telecommunications since the hurricane.

At that same time, I was working with FCC Chairman Wheeler and the wireless industry to make sure we are better prepared. And now I am proud to say that we reached an agreement to ensure that consumers have greater access to communications the next time disaster strikes.

Yesterday, with CTIA, we announced The Wireless Network Resiliency Framework under which the largest wireless providers will voluntarily comply with the wireless provisions set forth in the SANDy Act. Most important, the framework makes sure that if one network goes down, its customers can access another network that is still operational. Everyone should be able to call for help as long as any signal is available.

The agreement also takes action on other issues raised by the SANDy Act, such as making sure public safety officials and wireless personnel know how to reach each other at a moment’s notice during an emergency. This agreement will save lives during major emergencies in the future, and I would like to thank the wireless carriers and the FCC for working with me to craft this comprehensive agreement.

In light of this agreement, I’m offering an amendment today to the bill that will remove the wireless provisions from the SANDy Act. And since this framework is voluntary, I look forward to continuous updates from the industry on the progress they are making to meet everything included in this agreement.

This agreement is a major step, but more needs to be done. We must learn all the lessons from disasters like Sandy. For instance, in New Jersey, broadcasters and cable providers saved thousands of lives even before the storm hit. They provided the critical information that let people know how to get out of harm’s way. Public Safety officials have told me that without this information, the death toll would have been much, much worse.

But to keep this information flowing when the power goes out, the networks need backup generators. And these generators need fuel. Unfortunately, broadcasters, cable operators, and telecommunications providers have struggled in emergencies to find this fuel. And oftentimes when they finally find it, they are sent to the back of the line. Worse, once they get the fuel they need, it can be confiscated in favor of other services considered more essential under the law.

But fuel is not the only issue. In the chaos that follows a major disaster, just getting access to secure areas can be trying. During Sandy, communications providers were turned away at bridges because—once again—they were not considered essential. These are the providers that make sure we can call 9-1-1 or can contact loved ones. It took days to get some networks back on line simply because we could not get the right people to the right places.

My bill would fix these problems and more. It would recognize the lifesaving role played by wireline and mobile telephone, Internet, radio and television broadcasting, and cable and satellite services by adding them to the list of essential service providers. Having these networks operational can mean the difference between life and death during an event like Super Storm Sandy.

I would like to thank Chairman Upton and Chairman Walden for considering my bill at today’s markup. And I would like to also thank them both for their essential input on the amendment I’m offering today. This amendment would refocus the SANDy Act on the critical work that still remains to be done.

I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Pallone Statement on President’s Executive Order on Common-Sense Gun Safety

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 5, 2016



WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) made the following statement on President Obama’s Executive Order to require small-scale gun sellers to get federal licenses, among other provisions:

“President Obama’s bold action today is a welcome, overdue, and necessary move to make our nation safer. For too long, Republicans in Congress have blocked any and all meaningful action on gun safety – and lives have been lost. I applaud the President for acting in the interest of the vast majority of the country. While we shouldn’t need additional motivation to put an end to gun violence, the President’s executive order is a meaningful and encouraging step forward and it fuels my commitment to continue the fight for common-sense, lifesaving gun control legislation.”

Pallone Statement on Third Anniversary of Superstorm Sandy

“Three years ago, when Superstorm Sandy hit our coast, people lost their lives, homes and businesses were destroyed, and local infrastructure was devastated. I will never forget my first moments on the ground touring the damage Sandy wrought in New Jersey – like the homes that were battered to the ground in Union Beach and the whole business section on Bay Avenue in Highlands that was under water.

“I knew then that I needed to begin the hard work to bring the necessary support and resources to our state to help New Jersey rebuild, and that is why I fought hard in Congress to pass the Sandy relief package and to secure the aid needed to help victims put their businesses, homes and lives back together.

“I promised that I would keep fighting with you until we achieved a full recovery. The strides we have made over the course of the last three years are inspiring. It has not been easy, but I am encouraged to see residents returning to their homes, businesses reopening their doors, and construction under way throughout our communities.

“Yet, three years later the work is not nearly done, and the recovery has not happened as quickly or efficiently as it should. We still have homes to repair and businesses to bring back. We must not allow these challenges to bring despair, but rather they should fill us with hope and refocus our resolve and efforts on the work left to be done.

“While we continue to recover from Sandy, we must also look ahead to ensure we are better prepared for future storms. With resources made available by the federal Sandy Aid Package, buyouts of homes in Sayreville and Woodbridge have brought relief to homeowners who have repeatedly suffered and struggled to put the pieces back together after each flood. With the aid package, the Army Corps of Engineers has made great progress on improving our coastal infrastructure. Beaches from Sea Bright to Asbury Park have been replenished, while critical flood control projects in the Bayshore have moved forward. These, and other successful coastal infrastructure projects, have made our state more resilient and will help protect our communities from future storms. As we look ahead to the next three years, and the years and decades beyond, we have an opportunity before us – an opportunity to continue bringing our communities and our state closer to full recovery, and making it a better, stronger and more resilient place.

“As I visit towns throughout the district, I am always inspired by the resilience of the people of New Jersey. Their toughness and spirit is not only the motivational force behind my efforts to fight for Sandy aid in Congress, but helps guide all of the work I do in Washington on behalf of our state’s residents and communities.”