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Homeland Security and the War On Terrorism
As America continues to lead the global campaign against terrorism and the states who sponsor it, Congressman Rothman has been working with his colleagues in Congress, and with government agencies at all levels—federal, state, and local—to secure our nation from terrorism.
To read about Rep. Rothman's efforts to redeploy U.S. troops out of Iraq, please visit: http://rothman.house.gov/topic_iraqwar.htm .
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Rothman-Saxton Lead Congressional Effort to Stop Swiss Investment in Iran's Energy Sector
May 28, 2008 Today, U.S. Representatives Steve Rothman (D-NJ) and Jim Saxton (R-NJ) launched a bipartisan effort backed by 25 other Members of Congress to pressure Swiss President Pascal Couchepin to cancel a $42 billion energy agreement signed between a Swiss energy company and Iran. The Islamic Republic continues to defy international law by seeking nuclear weapons technology and supporting known terrorist organizations. The Rothman-Saxton letter warns the Swiss President that a lucrative 25-year energy deal with Iran would undercut international sanctions in place to deter Iran's dangerous behavior. Read more.Homeland Security Bill Includes Chemical Plant Security Provision
June 15, 2007 The U.S. House of Representatives passed a new, sweeping Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Included in the bill’s many provisions was a stipulation fought for by Congressman Rothman that will allow New Jersey and other states to increase security requirements at chemical plants above and beyond existing minimum federal regulations. The measure was approved by a vote of 268 to 150. Read more.
Life-Saving Mobile Hospital Made Possible by Federal Funding
October 10, 2007 Rep. Rothman, along with Senators Lautenberg and Menendez, this week joined Hackensack University Medical Center leaders to unveil the first Emergency Mobile Trauma Unit for use in the event of a terrorist attack or other mass casualty incident in an urban area. It was made possible by $3.2 million in federal funding secured by Rothman and his Senate colleagues. Read more.
9/11 Remembrance Ceremony in Overpeck County Park
September 11, 2007 Rep. Rothman commemorated the sixth anniversary of the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 at the World Trade Center Memorial in Overpeck County Park in Leonia. Bergen County lost 147 residents in the attacks. Families of some of the victims, a host of local officials, and police, fire, and rescue workers joined Rothman for the solemn county-wide remembrance on Sunday. Read more.Also, read about the 9/11 Memorial Service in Fairview, NJ .
Rothman Secures $26M for Advanced U.S.-Israel Arrow Missile Defense System
July 26, 2007 The House Appropriations Committee yesterday voted to provide $26 million in federal funding to test the capacity of the Arrow Weapons System to handle more intense ballistic missile threats from Iran. Explaining his advocacy of this upgrade to the Arrow system, Rep. Rothman said: “The Arrow program is one of the most advanced missile defense systems around... In light of Iran’s open hostility toward the U.S. and Israel, I consider increasing the effectiveness of the Arrow system to be essential to our defense. This technology, along with diplomacy, can help us avert another deadly and costly war." Read more.NJ Delegation Urges DHS to Increase Anti-Terror Grants to Region
July 13, 2007 Today, New Jersey's entire House delegation jointly called on Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff to increase funding for risk-based anti-terror grants to their state. The effort, led by Reps. Steve Rothman and Albio Sires, comes as the Department of Homeland Security finalizes the amount of Urban Area Security Initiative grant funding that the region will receive. Read more.Alhurra News Director Resigns
June 11, 2007 Days after House appropriators denied funding for new programming at Alhurra, Larry Register finally resigned as news director of the controversial television network. Mr. Register's short tenure at the U.S.-taxpayer funded Arabic language TV network was marred by repeated violations of a written policy against airing terrorists and other questionable editorial decisions. Read more.Chemical Plant Security
June 5, 2007 This afternoon, Rep. Rothman successfully included a provision in the Fiscal Year 2008 Homeland Security Appropriations bill to allow New Jersey to enact and enforce chemical plant security regulations that are stricter than those approved by the federal government. Read more.No More Terrorist Tirades on the U.S. Taxpayer's Dime
June 5, 2007 Rep. Rothman announced that today the Fiscal Year 2008 Foreign Operations spending bill moved forward with tough provisions that he sought to bring better oversight and transparency to Alhurra—the U.S. taxpayer funded Arab language television network in the Middle East. Read more.You can also watch CNN's Situation Room report on the controversy surrounding Alhurra's coverage under Mr. Register or read Rep. Rothman's op-ed, "Taxpayers Should Not Pay to Air Terrorist Tirades", about the issue for details about his call for better accountability and new leadership at Alhurra.
More Lawmakers Join the Call for New Leadership at Alhurra
May 9, 2007 A bipartisan group of lawmakers has joined Rep. Rothman in calling on Secretary of State Rice to replace Mr. Larry Register as the News Director of the U.S. taxpayer-funded Alhurra television network. Alhurra is supposed to broadcast the positive message of the United States to viewers in the Middle East, but its news director, Larry Register, recently violated U.S. written policy by allowing terrorists to spout-off live and unedited. Read moreRothman Calls for Firing of Alhurra News Director, Larry Register
May 1, 2007 "The oppressed people of the Arab world are not tuning into Alhurra to hear the same hate-mongers that they can hear on Al Jazeera or any other station in the Middle East. They tune into Alhurra to learn about the United States and hear our perspectives. Mr. Register is beyond help if he thinks his job is to turn Alhurra into another Al Jazeera. It's time for him to go." Read more.Ensuring Accountability at Alhurra
April 20, 2007 This week, Rep. Rothman announced his proposal to make the U.S. taxpayer-funded Alhurra television network more accountable so that terrorists never again take over our broadcasts. Rothman began developing the plan after news reports broke that Alhurra – a U.S.-funded Arabic language television network for the Middle East – had broadcast live, hour-long interviews with terrorist leaders in December 2006. Read more.Statement: Homeland Security's Chemical Plant Security Regulations
April 2, 2007 “This is another outrageous example of the Bush Administration siding with special interests over the interests of the people even when the lives and safety of literally millions of Americans is being threatened! The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) asserts 'conflict preemption' in its new regulations. By the department’s own admission, this means that if a state or local measure to regulate security at a high-risk facility conflicts with, interferes with, hinders or frustrates the purpose of the DHS regulations, that measure would be preempted. That is 100% unacceptable." Read the full statement.Protecting New Jersey's Tough Chemical Security Regulations
March 20, 2007 As the Iraq War enters its fifth year, Rep. Rothman says that the Iraq spending bill passed by the House Appropriations Committee last Thursday sets long-overdue changes in course for the Administration’s failing policy. It also includes a provision written by Rothman that prevents the federal government from weakening New Jersey’s tough security regulations for chemical plants, which are known terrorist targets. Read more.
Is U.S. Foreign Aid Supporting Those Who Endorse Terrorism?
March 14, 2007 During a meeting with his constituents from Teaneck, New Jersey, Rep. Rothman expressed his concerns about recent news reports published in the Washington Times and Wall Street Journal highlighting instances of U.S. foreign aid being allocated to universities and media outlets that have endorsed or glorified terrorism. Read more.Vote to Implement 9/11 Commission's Recommendations
January 9, 2007 Congressman Rothman voted to implement the reforms recommended by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, including improving homeland security, preventing terrorists from acquiring weapons of mass destruction, and developing strategies for preventing the spread of Islamic terrorism. Notably, the legislation also goes beyond the 9/11 Commission's recommendations by requiring 100% scanning of U.S.-bound shipping containers over the next 5 years and mandates that the vast majority of state homeland security grants be provided on the basis of risk. Read more.Rothman Will Oversee Defense Spending in New Role
January 4, 2007 Rothman secured a key role as one of 15 members on the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Defense. In this position, Rothman will play a major part in overseeing federal spending on the Iraq War and all aspects of America's military preparedness. Read more.Rothman Speaks to PoliticsTV about the New Congress
January 4, 2007 On the opening day of the 110th Congress, Rep. Rothman spoke to PoliticsTV about his new role on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. Watch
HUMC to Develop First-Ever Mobile Hospital for Urban Areas
November 28, 2006 This money will fund the first-ever mobile hospital for use in responding to bioterror attacks and other mass casualty incidents in urban areas. Current technology primarily supports rapid medical responses in wide open areas, which are not likely terrorist targets. Read more.Jersey City to Build New Public Safety Communications Center
November 14, 2006 On Monday, November 6, Congressman Rothman joined Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy and others to break ground on a new Public Safety Communications Center for the city. With first responders all together under one roof, they will be able to better coordinate their efforts during an emergency and keep residents safe. Read more.Preventing U.S. Dollars from Supporting Terrorists
September 28, 2006 On Wednesday, September 27, Reps. Rothman and Kirk sent a strongly-worded letter to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, which outlined the need for stricter oversight of more than $100 million in U.S. foreign aid provided to United Nations humanitarian programs each year. The money, which is the primary source of funding for the United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA), is possibly being used to employ members of the terrorist organization Hamas and distributed to Palestinian refugees with terrorist connections—in direct violation of U.S. law. Read more.
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