eNews 9-26-2014

• Superfund Tour Measures Cleanup Progress
• Wall Street Journal: “The Recovery That Left Out Almost Everybody”
• Destroying ISIS
• Russian Aggression: Is Latvia Next on the List?
• Bloomberg: “North Korea Inching Toward Mobile Long-Range Missile”
• The Independent VA Audit Needs to Start Now
• Salute: Bridgette Hobart Conquers the English Channel, Earns Open Water Triple Crown

Superfund Tour Measures Cleanup Progress

This past Monday I conducted my annual tour of Superfund sites in the 11^th Congressional District. I visited six sites – in Byram Township, Rockaway Township, Rockaway Borough, and Fairfield – to assess the progress being made in cleaning up these heavily polluted sites.

Judith Enck, the Region 2 Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency accompanied me for part of the tour. Together we announced that EPA has finalized a cleanup plan for the Radiation Technology site in Rockaway Township. I was surprised to hear from Administrator Enck that I am perhaps the only Member of Congress to tour Superfund sites.

Wall Street Journal: “The Recovery That Left Out Almost Everybody”

As I travel around the 11^th Congressional District and speak to my constituents and visit businesses about their concerns, the most frequently mentioned problem is the economy. America’s economy is undergoing the slowest recovery from a recession since World War II, and families are hurting. This piece by William A. Galston in the Wall Street Journal clearly explains out just how dismal things are. 

The House has passed more than 40 bills that would stimulate economic growth and opportunity. The Senate hasn’t even considered a single one of them. The Senate needs to get to work to put America back on track!

Destroying ISIS

This week has seen the critically important first steps in the effort to destroy ISIS and its threat to America and the civilized world.   We hope for the success of the mission and the safety of our military personnel as this long fight continues in the weeks and months ahead. 

I am gratified at the blows our military has already inflicted on ISIS and other terrorist groups in the region. But, as Richard Cohen writes in this must read column in the Washington Post, the President still needs to develop a comprehensive, long-range strategy for protecting our nation and our interests from terrorism. We can’t act just on promises.

Russian Aggression: Is Latvia Next on the List?

This insightful article from today’s Washington Post is a must read. It points to the spreading threat unchecked Russian aggression poses to its neighbors across Eastern Europe, from the Baltic to the Black Sea.

Bloomberg: “North Korea Inching Toward Mobile Long-Range Missile”

According to Tony Capaccio and David Lerman writing at Bloomberg.com, “North Korea’s military is taking steps to field a road-mobile intercontinental ballistic missile that could threaten the U.S., the head of American forces in the Pacific said today.”

With so much attention focused on the Middle East, we must not neglect the growing threats elsewhere in the world.

The Independent VA Audit Needs to Start Now

Last month the House passed, by a strong bipartisan majority, the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, & Transparency Act. This important bill also passed the Senate and was signed into law by the President shortly thereafter.

One of the most important provisions of that law called for an INDEPENDENT AUDIT of the VA healthcare system. Given the nature and scope of the problems, Congress expected that audit to be ordered immediately. Yet as of today, nothing has been done.

House Speaker John Boehner wrote the Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Bob McDonald, earlier this week to urge him to take action and get this audit underway. Our veterans deserve a 21^st century VA healthcare system! It’s time for the VA to get moving!

Salute: Bridgette Hobart Conquers the English Channel, Earns Open Water Triple Crown

Bridgette Hobart, a 51-year-old Lake Hopatcong resident, last week completed a swim of the English Channel. According to nj.com, this feat puts her “among a small group to capture the "Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming," a title given to those who cross the English Channel, circle 28.5 miles around Manhattan and make the 21-mile trip from Santa Catalina Island to the California mainland.”

I salute Bridgette for this remarkable achievement of strength and endurance!