Frank Lautenberg

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 »

Rep. Pascrell Joined the Senators in Discussing the Effort in Congress to Bring Down Artificially-High Prices, End Dependence on Oil

June 16, 2008 -- PATERSON, N.J. – Today, New Jersey’s U.S. Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg and Robert Menendez and Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ-08) spoke out about the need to implement the plan currently before the U.S. Senate that would address out-of-control gas prices. Both Senators are co-sponsors of the Consumer-First Energy Act, a bill to address the root causes of artificially-high gas prices, protect consumers from price gouging and force oil companies to change their ways.    » read more »

May 27, 2008 -- WASHINGTON, DC — Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) today issued the following statement in response to the Department of Defense (DOD) Inspector General’s announcement of an investigation into reports of Pentagon manipulation of independent military analysts:

“We welcome the DOD Inspector General’s decision to investigate whether the Pentagon unduly influenced the commentary of independent television military analysts. We called for this investigation last month because the American people need information they can trust to make their own informed judgments. It is critical to find out if the Pentagon was manipulating independent analysts, especially if the Pentagon used government contracts as a means of influence.”    » read more »

May 21, 2008 -- Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Russ Feingold is letting Senate leaders know today of his intent to offer an amendment to the Iraq supplemental spending bill to safely redeploy U.S. troops from Iraq, after which funding for the war would end.

Army National Guard soldier locked in an emotional embrace at homecoming: 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry of the 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division of the Army National Guard in Anoka, MN. After having their tour extended by the troop surge, the "Red Bulls" were the longest serving guard unit, having been in Iraq since late 2005. Photo by Poppyseed Bandits (CC)    » read more »

Senators Bond and McCaskill Vote on Historic GI Bill Tomorrow; Education Funding Would Help Thousands of Missouri Iraq Veterans

May 19, 2008 -- NEW YORK - Tomorrow, May 20th, the Senate is expected to vote on a World War II-style GI Bill for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan.

This bipartisan legislation, originally introduced by Senators Jim Webb (D-VA), Chuck Hagel (R-NE), Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ), and John Warner (R-VA), is whole heartedly endorsed by Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), the nation's first and largest non-partisan Iraq veterans' organization, and all the leading Veterans Service Organizations.    » read more »