ENVIRONMENT

Frank Pallone, long a champion of cleaning up New Jersey's beaches and ending ocean dumping, successfully passed his Beach Protection Act through the House this year. The legislation requires tough new beach water quality testing and public notification standards so that beachgoers are confident that the waters they are swimming or surfing in are clean. He also introduced bills to end interstate dumping of medical waste on our beaches and to create a Clean Ocean Zone off the coasts of New Jersey and New York in order to permanently prevent offshore drilling. A long time advocate for cleaning up New Jersey's Superfund sites, Frank continues to push legislation that would force polluters, not taxpayers, to foot the bill for cleaning up these toxic sites.

ECONOMY

At a time of economic uncertainty, Frank is working to ensure that much-needed assistance is provided to struggling middle-class families who have been left behind for eight years by the Bush administration. In Congress, Frank supported two economic recovery packages to help stimulate the economy and create jobs. He also supported extending unemployment benefits for New Jerseyans who are still looking for a job during these difficult times, and a housing package that will keep New Jerseyans in their homes and prevent home values from collapsing. Pallone believes in rewarding companies that keep jobs here in America, and over the years has opposed most free trade agreements that ship good-paying American jobs overseas. Last year, Frank was proud to support the first increase in the minimum wage in 10 years.

EDUCATION

Over the years, Frank Pallone has worked to ensure that a higher education is accessible and affordable to New Jerseyans. Last year, he supported the single largest increase in college aid since the GI bill. The landmark law cuts interest rates for federal student loans in half while also increasing the amount of money students can receive in Pell Grants. Frank also successfully fought last year to expand a successful summer food program for low-income children nationwide so that we can ensure all New Jersey children are receiving nutritious meals when they are out of school during the summer.

ENERGY

For years, Frank has recognized the need for a comprehensive energy plan that involves both conservation and alternative energy solutions so that we can begin to wean ourselves off foreign oil and reverse global warming. Last year, Frank helped lead efforts to raise fuel efficiency standards on American vehicles for the first time in 32 years. He also supported legislation to repeal billions of dollars in taxpayer subsidies to Big Oil companies so that we could instead invest those funds in clean, alternative fuels and renewable energy. In an effort to help bring down record high gas prices, Frank supported bills pulling oil out of the government's reserves, cracking down on price gouging, and holding OPEC accountable for price fixing.

IRAQ

In 2002, Frank opposed the legislation giving President Bush the authority to invade Iraq. Since that time, he has been a vocal critic of the administration's incompetence in running the war and its inability to prioritize the looming troubles that continue to exist along the Afghanistan and Pakistan border. Frank has opposed every war funding bill that did not include a timeline for withdrawal. He continues to criticize the administration for spending $12 billion each month in Iraq when the needs of struggling middle class families go unmet here in America.

HOMELAND SECURITY

Since the tragic 9/11 terrorist attacks, Frank has been a leading voice in the need to secure our nation's chemical facilities, including 11 here in New Jersey. In 2002, he first introduced legislation to improve security and reduce hazards at these facilities. In the following years, he has introduced additional bills that would keep chemical facilities more secure. Last year, Frank supported legislation that implements the unfulfilled recommendations of the 9/11 Commission, including improvements in border, aviation, port and infrastructure security.