Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ11), who has represented Verona in Congress since a redistricting in 2012, is up for re-election in 2018, and this past week, he got another challenger. According to a story in the Record, Jack Gebbia, a 26-year-old Boonton resident who served in the U.S. Army National Guard and has a master’s degree in international policy, intends to run as a Democrat. Two weeks ago, Mikie Sherrill, a Montclair resident who has been a Navy veteran and federal prosecutor, also said she is running against Frelinghuysen as a Democrat.
In his weekly newsletter, Frelinghuysen talked about the work that he will be doing on the fiscal 2018 budget proposed by the Trump administration. While lauding the budget’s increases in defense spending, Frelinghuysen wrote, “I, for one, do not agree with all of the steep reductions and program eliminations it contains. (For example, I do not believe many of the Administration’s cuts in the “social safety net” and job training programs will survive in the House.)” Frelinghuysen is the chairman of the powerful House Appropriations Committee.
In other news, Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) issued a statement on the Congressional Budget Office’s report on the GOP health care bill, saying it “confirmed Americans’ worst fears about Congressional Republicans’ latest attempt to give the wealthiest a huge tax cut by taking healthcare away from millions.” Booker joined New Jersey’s senior senator, Sen. Bob Menendez, in introducing legislation to ban to seismic testing in Atlantic Ocean, saying that the surveying technique for offshore fossil fuels poses a threat to our economy and environment.
“Verona In Washington” is a weekly column summing up the activity of Verona’s representatives in Congress. Here are the legislative actions by Verona’s federal representatives, both major and procedural, during the week of May 22-26:
May 22, 2017 — Introduced
S. 1193: A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to provide a credit for employer-provided job training, and for other purposes.
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Finance which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
May 22, 2017 5:33 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN52: Terry Branstad, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China
Nomination Confirmed 82/13
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
May 22, 2017 6:57 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 1862: Global Child Protection Act of 2017
Passed 372/30
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 22, 2017 7:04 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 1842: Strengthening Children’s Safety Act of 2017
Passed 371/30
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 23, 2017 11:01 a.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of John. J. Sullivan to be Deputy Secretary of State: John J. Sullivan, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of State
Cloture Motion Agreed to 93/6
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
May 23, 2017 1:33 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 348: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 953) to amend the Federal Insecticide, …
Passed 229/191
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 23, 2017 1:42 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 348: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 953) to amend the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to clarify Congressional intent regarding the regulation of the use of pesticides
Passed 232/189
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
May 23, 2017 — Introduced
S. 1208: A bill to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide for an option under the Secure Mail Initiative under which a person to whom a document is sent under that initiative may elect to have the United States Postal Service use the Hold ….>
Sponsor: Sen. Robert “Bob” Menéndez [D-NJ]
This bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs which will consider it before sending it to the Senate floor for consideration.
May 23, 2017 5:10 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 2288: Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2017
Passed 418/0
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 24, 2017 1:31 p.m. — Vote
Table Appeal of the Ruling of the Chair
Passed 225/187
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 24, 2017 1:39 p.m. — Vote
On Ordering the Previous Question: H.Res. 352: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1973) to prevent the sexual abuse …
Passed 231/188
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 24, 2017 1:46 p.m. — Vote
H.Res. 352: Providing for consideration of the bill (H.R. 1973) to prevent the sexual abuse of minors and amateur athletes by requiring the prompt reporting of sexual abuse to law enforcement authorities, and for other purposes; providing for …
Passed 239/179
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 24, 2017 1:53 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 2052: PRIVATE Act
Passed 418/0
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 24, 2017 2 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 467: VA Scheduling Accountability Act
Passed 419/0
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
May 24, 2017 3:01 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN350: John J. Sullivan, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of State
Nomination Confirmed 94/6
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Yea
May 24, 2017 3:32 p.m. — Vote
Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Nomination of Amul R. Thapar to be U.S. Circuit Judge: Amul R. Thapar, of Kentucky, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit
Cloture Motion Agreed to 52/48
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
May 24, 2017 4:37 p.m. — Vote
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 1 to H R 953
Failed 191/229
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
May 24, 2017 4:45 p.m. — Vote
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 2 to H R 953
Failed 189/230
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
May 24, 2017 5:03 p.m. — Vote
On Motion to Recommit with Instructions: H.R. 953: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017
Failed 183/230
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: No
May 24, 2017 5:10 p.m. — Vote
H.R. 953: Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act of 2017
Passed 256/165
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
H.R. 953 amends the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) and the Federal Water Pollution Control Act (also known as the Clean Water Act of CWA) to clarify that it is the intent of Congress that pesticides registered and properly used under FIFRA do not require an additional CWA permit for their use in or around navigable waters.
FIFRA governs the sale and use of pesticides in the U.S. through registration and labeling, in order to “protect human health and the environment from unreasonable adverse effects of pesticides.” FIFRA requires all pesticides be labeled indicating approved uses and restrictions. The objective of the CWA is to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the …
May 25, 2017 11:32 a.m. — Vote
On Agreeing to the Amendment: Amendment 1 to H R 1761
Failed 180/238
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Nay
May 25, 2017 11:40 a.m. — Vote
H.R. 1761: Protecting Against Child Exploitation Act of 2017
Passed 368/51
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Aye
H.R. 1761 amends a Federal statute against sexual exploitation of a minor to protect child pornography victims by closing a loophole that requires the Defendant to have specific intent to produce child pornography prior to abusing a child.
May 25, 2017 11:47 a.m. — Vote
H.R. 1973: Protecting Young Victims from Sexual Abuse Act of 2017
Passed 415/3
Rep. Frelinghuysen [R-NJ11]: Yea
H.R. 1973 extends the mandatory reporting requirements of child abuse to national governing bodies, like USA gymnastics, to ensure that reports are immediately made to local or federal law enforcement authorities. The bill also allows civil suits by minors against sex abuse perpetrators to be brought by clarifying that once a victim has established a harm occurred, the court will presume $150,000 in monetary damages. The bill also extends the civil statute of limitations for these cases.
May 25, 2017 1:27 p.m. — Vote
On the Nomination PN105: Amul R. Thapar, of Kentucky, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Sixth Circuit
Nomination Confirmed 52/44
Sen. Booker [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Menéndez [D-NJ]: Nay
Sen. Robert “Bob” Menendez is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey in the United States Senate since 2006. You can read more about Menendez’ record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
Sen. Cory Booker is a Democrat who has represented New Jersey in the United States Senate since 2013. You can read more about Booker’s record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a Republican, represents New Jersey’s 11th Congressional district. Verona has been part of this district since a gerrymandering in 2012. You can read more about Frelinghuysen’s record on GovTrack, an independent developer of open data resources on Congress.
