LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR SENATOR LAUTENBERG & NEW JERSEY IN JUNE

LEGISLATIVE ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR SENATOR LAUTENBERG & NEW JERSEY IN JUNE
As Senate Recesses, A Look Back At Lautenberg Achievements In June

WASHINGTON, D.C. – As the Senate begins its July 4th recess, U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today pointed to a string of successes in Congress on his legislative agenda during the June work period, from saving health insurance for New Jersey children to increasing higher education benefits for veterans and improving passenger rail service for the country.

“Working to deliver for New Jersey is what I do each and every day in the Senate,” Sen. Lautenberg said.  “These successes will make a real impact for families and communities across the state and the country.”

Among the accomplishments:

* Delivering for Veterans: June 26 – The Senate passes legislation that Lautenberg wrote with fellow military veterans Senators Webb, Hagel & Warner that will greatly boost educational benefits for Iraq and Afghanistan vets.  In the same bill, the Senate provided $7 million for the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction for operations during Fiscal Year 2008 and 2009.  Lautenberg wrote the law to establish this office.

* Protecting Children’s Health: June 26 – The Senate Appropriations Committee passes a Lautenberg amendment to block damaging new Bush Administration rules from going into effect that would severely harm the children’s health insurance program (CHIP) in New Jersey.  Lautenberg’s amendment will save health insurance for more than 10,000 NJ kids.  The amendment was added to the FY2009 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill.

* Revitalizing Amtrak: June 11 – The House of Representatives passes Lautenberg’s Amtrak bill by a 311-104 vote.  Lautenberg’s bill, which would reauthorize and increase funding for Amtrak by more than $10 billion over the next five years, already passed the Senate in October 2007 and is on path to go to the President’s desk for signature later this year.

* Taking on High Energy Costs: June 17 – Lautenberg leads delegation of 11 Senators calling on the Bush Administration to take action in the World Trade Organization (WTO) against eight Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) nations for illegal restricting oil output and keeping the price of oil and gas high.

* Improving Port Security: June 12 – Lautenberg chairs hearing in his Commerce Subcommittee on port security.  Bush Administration witnesses Lautenberg called before Congress admit they do not intend to follow the law that all cargo containers coming into the U.S. be screened for dangerous weapons by 2012.  On June 23, Lautenberg leads New Jersey-New York Senate delegation to introduce legislation to improve security at our nation’s ports (S. 3174).  It would for the first time create minimum security standards for all shipping containers entering the U.S., as recommended by a task force led by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

* Bolstering Transportation Security: June 19 – The Senate Appropriations Committee passes a Lautenberg amendment to stop the Bush Administration from cutting security assistance to public transit agencies.  A proposed cut in federal security funding would have forced transit agencies to pay for more of their homeland security needs, which the federal government currently pays for, threatening service cutbacks on trains, subways and buses for commuters, or even fare increases.  Lautenberg’s amendment will help transit agencies save as much as $80 million next year, including $5 million for Amtrak.

* Investigating Replica Guns: June 23 – Lautenberg sends a letter to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) calling for an immediate investigation into the safety of real-looking imitation guns.  Media reports have shown the increasing popularity of real-looking replica pellet, BB and air guns and the public safety problems they cause, especially for children.

* Stopping Drunk Driving: June 6 – A Lautenberg measure requiring states to change laws so repeat drunk drivers will have ignition interlocks (which prevent a vehicle from starting if a sensor detects alcohol on a driver’s breath) installed on their cars and trucks becomes law.

* Providing Tax Relief for Cargo Shipping: June 25 – Lautenberg introduces a bipartisan tax relief bill (S.3199) for cargo shipping companies to encourage using ships or barges to carry goods between two mainland U.S. seaports.  Lautenberg’s bill would provide relief from the currently over-collected Harbor Maintenance Tax for such shipments to encourage fewer truck trips on U.S. highways and reduce the nation’s fuel use.

* Fighting Illegal Drug Smuggling: June 25 – Lautenberg introduces bipartisan legislation (S.3198) to make operation of unregistered submarines unlawful.  Lautenberg’s bill would aid the U.S. Coast Guard in preventing delivery of illegal drugs to the U.S. by unlicensed submarine ships, a trend which has been growing in popularity.

* Ensuring Scientific Accuracy: June 24 – The Senate Commerce Committee passes a Lautenberg amendment making it clear that Congress disapproves of the censoring of scientific reports by political appointees at National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and requiring a report on progress at the agency to prevent this activity in the future.

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