As one of only two member of Congress with a perfect lifetime voting record from the League of Conservation Voters, I have long sought to protect our nation’s environment and strengthen our clean water standards. That is why I am very concerned about the findings of recent investigations into a natural gas extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.”

A recent congressional investigation of fracking uncovered that oil and gas companies injected more than 32 million gallons of diesel fuel into the ground in 19 states to extract natural gas. Meanwhile, the New York Times exposed a high incidence of radioactive materials in the waste material that fracking produces.

Extracting natural gas should not threaten public health or pollute our water. As the Ranking Democrat on the Natural Resource Committee’s Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee I support legislation to close loopholes that shield fracking from basic environmental protection regulations. Additionally, I have urged the Delaware River Basin Commission and two federal agencies to better understand the science of fracking and ensure it is performed in a safe and environmentally sound manner.

Solving Your Problems

A Monmouth County family contacted me because their insurance company was denying medical coverage for their 6-year-old autistic son. Despite the fact they had paid their premiums, the family was shocked to learn that the insurance company was denying medically necessary care. I made a number of inquiries to the insurance company and, ultimately, company officials admitted to handling the situation poorly and agreed to reimburse the family to cover all remaining treatments, totaling about $11,000.

I have helped more than 21,000 constituents cut through bureaucratic red tape to resolve their everyday problems. If I can help you – whether by expediting your application for VA benefits, solving problems with the IRS, or helping to obtain Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits – please give me a call at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT or go to my website.

Congratulations to the Victorious Mighty Monkey Wrenches

Congratulations to the students from Ewing High School and the New Jersey School for the Deaf in Trenton who joined forces to become Regional Champions at the FIRST Robotics Competition. Competing as Team 2016, the Mighty Monkey Wrenches, they beat 50 teams from the area at a weekend competition in Trenton. The competition pairs high school students with adult mentors to design and build robots that compete against one another. In addition to winning the Regional Championship, the team was awarded the Chairman’s Award, which honors the team that best embodies the goals and purpose of FIRST. The team will travel to Saint Louis for the National Competition April 27-30.

To remain competitive, the United States must do a better job of ensuring opportunities for all students interested in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields and in pursuing STEM careers. The students from Ewing and Trenton have found an enjoyable way to learn about STEM. I wish them success in Saint Louis.