Senator

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Richard J. Codey

19 Dec: REVISED MEDIA ADVISORY – Codey To Unveil New First Of-Its-Kind Organ Donor Initiative

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) will hold a press conference on Thursday, December 20, to unveil a first-of-its-kind legislative initiative that will save lives and potentially serve as a model for the rest of the nation. The legislation will center around transforming New Jersey’s organ donation process.

Joining Sen. Codey will be members of the state’s federally designated Organ Procurement Organizations, as well as individuals whose lives have and will be affected by organ donation.

By DMUAdmin Joseph Vitale News & Releases

19 Dec: Governor, Vitale Announce Universal Health Insurance For All Children

WOODBRIDGE – At a news conference at Woodbridge Center Mall today with Governor Jon Corzine and Department of Human Services Commissioner Jennifer Velez, Senator Joseph F. Vitale, the Chair of the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee and author of New Jersey’s FamilyCare program, announced a new option for families still struggling to find affordable health care for their children.

Under the new proposal, families whose income level makes them ineligible for NJ FamilyCare will now be able to purchase health insurance for their kids through NJ FamilyCare at the same rate that it costs the State.

“NJ FamilyCare is a program designed to allow working families access to health coverage for their kids at a price they can afford,” said Senator Vitale, D-Woodbridge. “Extending the savings that the State can command to all working families in NJ just makes sense. I”m happy to be here to announce that New Jersey has made affordable health care coverage a reality for every single kid in our State.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Paul A. Sarlo

19 Dec: Sarlo Anti-Gang Initiatives Moving Forward

TRENTON – Senator Paul A. Sarlo today said that he expects legislation he is sponsoring to combat gang violence and help rehabilitated gang members get jobs will come up for a vote before the Senate soon after clearing key Senate committees.

“There’s a strong sense in the Senate right now that we need to be doing more to combat street gangs in our communities,” said Senator Sarlo, D-Bergen, Hudson and Passaic. “It’s a problem that affects all areas of our state. It’s no longer just an urban problem.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Shirley K. Turner

17 Dec: Turner Statement On The Signing Of Death Penalty Ban

TRENTON – Senator Shirley K. Turner, D-Mercer and prime sponsor of Senate Bill 171, which eliminates the death penalty in New Jersey and replaces it with life without the possibility of parole, made the following statement today following the signing of the bill into law:

“The death penalty made our state weaker, not stronger, and certainly not safer. Capital punishment is rooted in a desire for revenge, rather than a sense of justice.

“When I sponsored the measure that created the Death Penalty Study Commission, I knew that the findings of that commission would one day lead to today’s action by the Governor.

By DMUAdmin Joseph Vitale News & Releases

17 Dec: Vitale-Buono Bill To Promote ‘Treatment Over Paperwork’

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would establish a Statewide health information technology plan was approved by the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee today by a vote of 6-0.

“As technology advances, we have been able to streamline nearly every facet of our everyday lives,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex, the Chair of the Senate Health Committee. “However, when it comes to medical records, we are still in the dark ages, and have to fill out a detailed medical history every time we visit a new doctor, hospital, pharmacy or other healthcare facility. By establishing a secure, Statewide network of medical information, health care professionals from High Point to Cape May will have the same medical information on a patient at their fingertips, and be able to focus on treatment, rather than paperwork.”

By DMUAdmin Joseph Vitale News & Releases

17 Dec: Vitale-Buono Bill To Modernize Environmental Penalties On Polluters Receives Final Legislative Approval

TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senators Joseph F. Vitale and Barbara Buono which would expand the State Department of Environmental Protection’s (DEP) enforcement abilities and increase environmental penalties, bringing them more into line with current environmental priorities, was approved by the Senate today by a vote of 26-11, receiving final legislative approval.

“New Jersey’s environmental enforcers are currently hamstrung by the outdated and ineffective penalties they can impose for even the most serious environmental violations,” said Senator Vitale, D-Middlesex. “Many of these penalties haven’t been updated in decades, and polluters take advantage of this fact to flaunt the law, viewing the meager fines as simply the cost of doing business in New Jersey. We need to give the DEP greater ability to impose serious penalties to clean up our communities in the Garden State.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Ronald L. Rice

17 Dec: Rice Measure To Increase Rental Assistance Advances

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senator Ronald L. Rice to lower the qualifying age for the State’s rental assistance grant program from 65 to 62 received final legislative approval today when the full Senate approved the measure.

“It’s costly to love in this State and for many seniors the quality of life is suffering because affordable housing is limited,” said Senator Rice, D-Essex. “We need to keep our seniors close to their families and loved ones, and by lowering the qualifying age for the State’s rental assistance grant program we will be able to help many more needy seniors. As the citizens of New Jersey age, we need to provide them with the assistance they need.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Nicholas J. Sacco

17 Dec: Sacco/ Girgenti Bill To Honor Transportation Expert Receives Final Legislative Approval

TRENTON – Legislation sponsored by Senators John A. Girgenti and Nicholas J. Sacco to honor prominent transportation expert, former Congressman Robert A. Roe, by designating Route No. 23 in his name, was approved by the full Senate today.

“Congressman Roe played a leading role in promoting the growth and development of New Jersey’s transportation infrastructure system,” said Senator Girgenti, D-Bergen and Passaic. “As the Chairman of the House Public Works and Transportation Committee and primary author of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) of 1991, Congressman Roe’s crowning achievement was delivering billions of transportation dollars to New Jersey. Congressman Roe had a long and distinguished career in public service and for his many contributions to the State it’s absolutely appropriate to designate Route 23 in his name.”

By DMUAdmin Fred H. Madden Jr News & Releases Steve Sweeney

17 Dec: Sweeney/Madden Bill Would Allow Taxpayers To Contribute To New Jersey Veterans Haven Fund

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Steve Sweeney and Fred H. Madden which would allow taxpayers to use their gross income tax return to help fund the cost of housing and vocational training for displaced veterans at the New Jersey Veterans Haven received unanimous final legislative approval today from the full Senate.

Veterans Haven is a State operated transitional housing facility designed to provide psychological, social and vocational rehabilitation to displaced veterans. Located in Winslow, the 54- bed facility has helped over 625 homeless veterans since its inception in 1996. The program is divided into three phases: treatment, self-reclamation and community reintegration. Each phase lasts from three to six months and is tailored to meet the individual needs of each patient, the Senators said.

“This legislation would help provide a way for residents to thank the men and women who risk their lives trying to protect us and others around the world,” said Senator Sweeney, D-Gloucester, Cumberland and Salem. “It’s sad when veterans return home, and because of injuries sustained in combat and other unfortunate circumstances, they have no where to live and are unable to find employment. The contributions to the Veterans Haven program help pay for training to help veterans become self-sufficient – we owe them that chance.”

“This bill is about helping to treat some of the illnesses and side effects of combat, that so often go unaddressed in our service men and women,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester. “It is about helping to provide a chance for these veterans to live self-sufficiently and to provide for their families. The Veterans Haven program helps these men and women to overcome some of the side effects brought about by the trauma of combat so that they can live and prosper here at home.”

By DMUAdmin News & Releases Richard J. Codey

17 Dec: Senate Sends Calling Card Companies A Message: Expose Your Fees And Stop Milking Consumers

Codey Bill Would Crack Down on Unscrupulous Calling Card Practices

TRENTON — The full Senate today unanimously approved a bill sponsored by Senate President Richard J. Codey (D-Essex) to crack down on calling card companies that cheat consumers out of the advertised minutes by imposing hidden fees and restrictions. Bill S2887 would prohibit certain types of charges and fees and require that all charges and restrictions be clearly disclosed on the cards or packaging and advertising.

“There are a lot of smaller phone card companies out there that try to stay competitive by advertising what appears to be a great deal,” said Sen. Codey. “Then the consumer gets hit with all these hidden fees and they only end up getting 50 or 60 minutes when they thought they were purchasing 100. This has to stop. If I went to a gas station and said fill it up, I wouldn’t expect to drive away with half a tank of gas.”

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