NJDSC'S Week In Review

Congressional Corner


• Senator Lautenberg, Senator Menendez, Congressman Pallone and Congressman Holt slammed the Defense Department decision to close Ft. Monmouth commissary.

• Senator Lautenberg and Senator Menendez unveiled a new video calling on Americans to come together as a nation at 1 p.m. on September 11, 2011 to memorialize the September 11th terrorist attacks across the country, at the same time, w/ one minute of reflection marked by the ringing of bells, sounding of sirens & other actions to remember the lives lost that day.

• U.S. Senator Menendez and State Senator Whelan convened on the future site of the NextGen Aviation Research and Technology Park today to urge stable funding of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and denounce the recent deadlock in Washington, D.C. that left 4,000 FAA employees, including 640 working locally, on furlough and without pay.

• During National Health Center Week, Senators Lautenberg and Menendez announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded $816,667 to New Jersey’s Zufall Health Center. The funding, made available through the Health Care Reform Law, will be used to open a new satellite facility in Hackettstown to provide free or low-cost health care services to low-income community members.

• Courier Post: Menendez promotes sustainability in N.J.

• President Obama’s Middle East Adviser, Dennis Ross, met with Congressman Rothman and several others on Capitol Hill for a morning briefing. Ambassador Ross brought them up to date on the latest developments on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, as well as events in Iran, Syria, Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq.

• Congressman Pascrell announced that sixteen agencies that help people infected with the HIV/AIDS virus in Passaic and Bergen counties will get $3.7 million in federal funds.

• Congressman Sires opposes closing the Post Office Branch on West Side Avenue and Union Street in Jersey City.

• Congressman Andrews said President Obama has a chance to build enough public support for his jobs plan to alter the political atmosphere and win passage. The policies could be included in a larger deficit deal when the bipartisan committee established under the debt-limit law issues its report on debt reduction in November.

• Congressman Rothman inserted a speech into the Congressional Record last month noting the Prudential Center in Newark, the Izod Center in East Rutherford and the New Meadowlands Stadium are suitable venues for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

• Congressman Payne joined President Obama as he honored Muslim Americans on Wednesday night at the White House’s annual Ramadan dinner.

Under the Dome


• Senate President Sweeney urged the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission to investigate the Elizabeth Board of Education to demonstrate, in Sweeney's words, that the state will not condone any political activity that threatens the delivery or education or the integrity of teachers.

• Assembly Speaker Oliver shot back at GOP claims that they have aggressively pursued ways to create better business conditions, pointing out in a statement that Christie vetoed Democratic efforts to promote women- and minority-owned businesses, create business-education partnerships and bolster job training programs.

• Senator Norcross was interviewed by Jill Horner on Comcast Newsmakers.

• Assemblywoman Quijano Commentary at NJ Newsroom: Much is being done to battle ‘food deserts’ in New Jersey.

• More support for legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Conners and Assemblyman Moriarty to help veterans.

• Hunterdon County Democratic candidates denounce closing of Hagedorn Psychiatric Hospital.

• Assembly Environment Chairman McKeon called for renewed efforts to strengthen Highlands water protection and planning, on the seventh anniversary of the Highlands Act.

• Atlantic City Press: Dealing with minor crimes / Extend pre-trial program.

• Assemblywoman Wagner has reached out to Congressman Steve Rothman regarding the possible closing of the Hasbrouck Heights post office saying the elimination of the branch will be a disservice to the citizens of Hasbrouck Heights.

• Legislation to allocate voter-approved open space preservation funding to help local governments in acquiring and developing lands for recreation and conservation was signed into law.

• Legislation to create a council to oversee Veterans Haven, a state operated facility for homeless veterans serving veterans from all over New Jersey, was recently approved by the Assembly.

• State Senator Gordon and Assemblywoman Wagner presented borough of Hasbrouck Heights officials with a check Tuesday night in the amount of $17,271.90 for the borough’s continuous recycling efforts.

• The New Jersey Senate Democratic Majority unveiled a new website that uncovers the facts behind Assemblyman Vince Polistina's longstanding practice of milking taxpayers for millions of dollars in no-bid government engineering contracts – even while he earns a paycheck and benefits from public office.

• Assemblyman Burzichelli and Assemblywoman Riley helped open the 2011 Salem County Fair.

• Assemblyman Chivukula is helping collect backpacks and school supplies.

• Atlantic City Press: Paperless payroll / N.J. should opt in.

• The Record: Alzheimer's disease, the progressive illness that affects 5 million Americans, devastates so many families that state lawmakers adopted a law this summer creating the New Jersey Alzheimer's Disease Study Commission. The 15-member volunteer board will raise awareness, study the disease's far-reaching effects and help develop community-based services for patients and families.