New Law to Protect Consumers from Dangerous Cosmetics

Dear Neighbors,

I held a press conference at Middlesex County’s cosmetology program in Piscataway on the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act - a new law I have long championed and was included in a federal spending bill that will protect consumers from dangerous cosmetics and personal care products. The law included provisions to strengthen the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to regulate cosmetic products, including establishing good manufacturing practices, requiring cosmetic manufacturers to report adverse events, and providing the FDA with the authority to recall dangerous products.

Millions of Americans who use cosmetics daily deserve to know these products are safe, but our cosmetic safety laws have not been updated for 80 years until Congress acted last year. I've long championed this law to empower the FDA with the tools and resources it needs to oversee the cosmetics industry. I’m proud we were able to secure provisions in a federal spending bill last year to finally update the law to protect consumers. Read more here

My Roundtable with the East Asian Community

I held a roundtable this week in Edison with Congressman Ted Lieu from California and Edison Mayor Sam Joshi to talk about issues important to the East Asian community. I recently visited Japan and South Korea on a Congressional delegation trip and had the privilege of discussing trade, energy, infrastructure, and regional security with government officials and policy experts. We also held a trilateral legislative exchange with members of the Japanese Diet and Korean National Assembly Members.

During the roundtable, we also discussed the significant rise in hateful actions against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in New Jersey and across the country, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This is exactly why Congressman Lieu and I worked together in Congress to support legislation like the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act. This law provides additional resources to the U.S. Department of Justice to speed up the review of hate crimes, expands public reporting and awareness campaigns, and provides grant funding for states and local governments to combat hate crimes.

I’m so proud to represent such a large and vibrant East Asian community here in Central New Jersey and one of the most diverse Congressional districts in the country. I’ll continue to support policies that promote acceptance and inclusivity. I want to thank everyone who joined us for this event to share their concerns with us.

New Jersey Getting Additional Funding for Safe Drinking Water

New Jersey will receive an additional $142,676,000 from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to New Jersey’s Drinking Water State Revolving Fund for essential drinking water infrastructure upgrades. The funding will allow the state to replace lead service lines, building on the progress we’re making to replace lead service lines across New Jersey.

I'm glad to see that the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is continuing to deliver on the promise to improve our state's water infrastructure, and I'll keep fighting to ensure that our communities have access to safe water.

Click here to visit my website or call my offices directly if you have questions or need help with a federal agency:

Middlesex County: 732-249-8892

Monmouth County: 732-571-1140

Sincerely,

Congressman Pallone