Short Biography

Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) has represented central New Jersey in Congress since 1988.

Throughout his career, Pallone has been a leader in protecting the integrity of the Medicare guarantee and Medicaid programs, making the nation’s food system safer, strengthening laws to keep our air and water clean, making health care more affordable and accessible, and supporting initiatives that advance and protect the public health.

Pallone is the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to energy, environment, health care, commerce, and telecommunications. 

From 2006 to 2014, Pallone served as the top Democrat on the Committee’s Subcommittee on Health. As Chairman during the 111th Congress, Pallone played a key role in authoring and passing the Affordable Care Act. The landmark law extends health care coverage to millions of Americans, while driving down health care costs and reigning in abusive tactics used by insurance companies to deny medical treatment.

Frank Pallone, Jr., was born and raised in Long Branch, New Jersey, where he still resides. He is a graduate of Middlebury College, holds a master's degree in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University and earned his law degree at Rutgers University.

Pallone began his political career in his home city of Long Branch, getting elected to the City Council in 1982 and winning re-election four years later. In 1983, he was elected to the state Senate, representing the Monmouth County coastline and was re-elected in 1987. On November 8, 1988, at the age of 37, Pallone was elected to the House of Representatives from New Jersey's former Third District and was re-elected in 1992 to the newly formed Sixth District.

Pallone and his wife Sarah have three children; daughters Rose Marie and Celeste Teresa, and a son, Frank Andrew.