Frank Lautenberg

June 3, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Democratic Senators Frank Lautenberg, Dick Durbin, Chris Dodd and Jack Reed joined Matt Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, at a press conference this morning to discuss the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The legislation will give the Food and Drug Administration legal authority to regulate the sale, distribution and advertising of cigarettes in order to stop tobacco companies from targeting children and misleading the public.    » read more »

June 2, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded more than $8 million in federal funds to seven New Jersey Research institutions and one provider of neighborhood-based health care to conduct health care research and expand community-based care in New Jersey. The funds will support research in variety of areas, including mental health, cancer treatment and neurological disorders, and help families get medical care close to home.    » read more »

Funding to Clean Up Leaking Underground Storage Tanks Across New Jersey; Leaking Tanks Can Contaminate Soil and Groundwater; New Funding Will Help Keep Families and Communities Safe

June 1, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced New Jersey will receive almost $5 million in new federal funding to protect families and communities by cleaning up leaking underground storage tanks that can contain hazardous chemicals, such as petroleum. The funding comes from the Economic Recovery Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in February.    » read more »

May 27, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) today announced New Jersey will receive nearly $3 million in new federal funding for improvements to Picatinny Arsenal as part of the Economic Recovery law signed into law by President Obama in February. The funding will help repair roads and other infrastructure and improve safety on the base.

“Our troops deserve facilities that are safe, secure and support them in their missions,” Sen. Lautenberg said. “These construction and renovation funds will support the critical work done at Picatinny Arsenal and modernize facilities for our armed forces.”

The specific projects being funded are as follows:

* Road Repairs: $1,125,000

* Office Renovations: $933,271    » read more »

May 26, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after President Barack Obama nominated Judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court.

“This is a historic day for the Supreme Court – and the entire nation.

"Judge Sotomayor has distinguished herself on the Court of Appeals with her knowledge, expertise and judgment.

"I look forward to reviewing her qualifications more closely as the Senate proceeds with the confirmation process.”

Source: Senator Frank R. Lautenberg

U.S. Dept. of Interior to Distribute Funds via State Wildlife Grant Program

May 22, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced New Jersey will receive more than $1.1 million from the U.S. Department of Interior’s State Wildlife Grants Program to help preserve and protect wildlife.

“Protecting our treasured natural resources and habitat is essential to the ecological and economic health of our state and the country. These funds will be used to protect New Jersey wildlife and their habitats,” Sen. Lautenberg said.    » read more »

Grants Can Help Reduce Highway Deaths, Improve Access to Mass Transit

May 20, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today announced the U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded more than $4.3 million in new federal funding to both the City of Trenton and Rutgers University for highway safety programs and new research on public transportation. The City of Trenton’s funding will support highway safety programs in Trenton and Mercer County and Rutgers’ funding will support mass transit research, including studies of rail station access shuttles, transit-supportive residential development and the impact of low-cost bus service.    » read more »

Legislation Co-Sponsored by N.J. Senator Would Protect Consumers from Unfair Credit Card Industry Practices

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today hailed the Senate’s passage of legislation to protect consumers from deceitful credit card companies by ending abusive fees and rate increases, ensuring more disclosure and strengthening oversight.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) last week applauded a decision by the Obama Administration to end slot auctions at airports in the New Jersey-New York area airports. Under the Administration’s proposal, the Department of Transportation would halt plans announced by the Bush Administration last October to withdraw slots from airlines flying in the region and auction them to the highest bidder.    » read more »

N.J. Sen. Fought for Federal Funds for Garden State; With New Formulas, N.J. would receive $109 million under Obama FY2010 Budget

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) last week announced the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee approved legislation to increase New Jersey’s share of funding for wastewater and drinking water treatment facilities.

The new formulas, coupled with increased funding under President Obama’s proposed FY2010 budget, would give New Jersey $109 million next year. That would represent an increase of $81 million in funds from last year.    » read more »

May 19, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, DC – The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week approved legislation Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and George Voinovich (R-OH) authored to authorize $1.8 billion in federal grants to help modernize antiquated sewer systems.

These sewers frequently overflow directly into rivers, lakes, streams and coastal waters during wet weather events, threatening water quality and public health and undermining local economies. Sens. Robert Menendez (D-NJ), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) and Sherrod Brown (D-OH) are also co-sponsors of the bill. The language was incorporated into the Water Infrastructure Financing Act (S.1005).    » read more »

Washington, DC — Planned Parenthood Federation of America today applauded Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA) for protecting the health of teens with the introduction of the Responsible Education About Life (REAL) Act. The REAL Act authorizes federal funding for comprehensive, medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education to give young people information about how to prevent pregnancy, protect their health and make responsible decisions.    » read more »

August 4, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Senate last week passed legislation authored by U.S. Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to allow states to regulate solid waste processing facilities along rail lines. It was included as part of larger rail safety legislation also sponsored by Lautenberg.

The rail waste legislation is based on Lautenberg’s Clean Railroads Act of 2007, which targets a loophole in federal law that prohibits states from enforcing environmental, health and safety regulations at these rail sites. This loophole has allowed railroad companies to pile trash, largely consisting of construction debris, at times two stories high that can cause serious health and environmental risks to residents who live near these sites.    » read more »

N.J. Sens Act After Bush Administration Admits It Will Miss Deadline To Screen 100 Percent Of Nation's Cargo

June 23, 2008 -- NEWARK, NJ – Today, Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) joined executives from the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey as they announced their introduction of a new bill to increase security at the nation’s 361 ports.

Their bill comes after the Bush Administration admitted to Senator Lautenberg that it will miss a deadline to screen 100 percent of the nation’s cargo for radiological and nuclear weapons. Their bill would, for the first time, create minimum security standards for all containers entering the United States.    » read more »

OPEC Operates Illegal Cartel Under International Trade Law

June 17, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC – Today, a coalition of eleven Senators led by Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D – NJ) called on the Bush Administration to take action in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against eight Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) by ordering United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Susan Schwab to file a complaint with the WTO.

These eight countries, operating as an illegal cartel, have refused to increase production, reduced the supply of oil on the market and driven up the gas prices that consumers pay at the pump.    » read more »