Dear Neighbor, Safe drinking water is a basic human right, yet right now, millions of American families cannot trust the water coming out of their taps. I’ve been fighting to ensure every community has access to clean, safe drinking water, and now we’re delivering real results to protect families and improve water quality across New Jersey. This week, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced $2.6 billion in funding for drinking water infrastructure projects nationwide, including more than $44 million in federal funding to replace lead pipes in New Jersey. This comes from provisions that I secured in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to prioritize the removal of hazardous lead service lines. This new federal funding will help modernize our aging water systems and support ongoing efforts to protect the health and safety of families in schools, homes, and communities throughout our state. It’s a major win for New Jersey and a crucial step toward ensuring every community has access to clean, safe drinking water. South Plainfield Emergency Operations Center I toured the newly upgraded South Plainfield Emergency Operations Center and highlighted its recent improvements made possible by the federal funding I secured in the FY2023 federal budget. The funding helped update badly outdated communications equipment that’s been used for over 20 years and ensures the Borough’s first responders have the tools they need to handle crises effectively and protect the community. These improvements are essential to keeping South Plainfield safe and will help the Borough’s police, fire, and EMS teams coordinate effectively. Monmouth University’s Coastal Protection Initiative I secured $750,000 in federal funding for Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute. This groundbreaking initiative will bolster environmental protection efforts while addressing public concerns surrounding offshore wind development along the Jersey Shore. The project, led by Monmouth University’s Urban Coast Institute in partnership with Rutgers University and the NOAA James J. Howard Laboratory, will focus on establishing best practices for monitoring offshore wind sites to minimize conflicts with marine life and preserve critical habitats. One Year Since the October 7th Attack This week marked one year since Hamas terrorists carried out the deadliest attack on Jews since the Holocaust. On October 7, 2023, over 1,200 innocent people were brutally murdered, including more than 40 Americans, and 240 others were taken hostage. Among those still held hostage today is Edan Alexander, a New Jersey native and Tenafly High School graduate, who spent his 20th birthday as a prisoner of Hamas, thousands of miles from his family and the community that raised him. The scale of the October 7th attack was staggering – the deadliest per capita terrorist assault in modern history. In the months that followed, Hezbollah – another Iran-backed terrorist group – fired over 8,000 rockets into Israel, displacing 70,000 more people and inflicting further violence on Israeli civilians. These attacks weren’t just an assault on Israel – it shook Jewish communities worldwide, including right here in New Jersey. Synagogues, schools, and community centers were gripped by fear, and a dangerous surge in antisemitism worldwide followed. As we mark the first anniversary of the October 7 attacks, with so much still unresolved, we are reminded that when terror strikes our ally, its shockwaves are felt across the globe, touching every community – including our own communities in New Jersey. We stand united with Israel, honoring the memory of those lost and committed to bringing every hostage home, including Edan. New Report on the Dangerous Effects of Louisiana’s Restrictions I released a report on Louisiana’s new law that classifies misoprostol and mifepristone as controlled substances. The report demonstrates that Louisiana’s new law is clearly intended to create a chilling effect on both patients and doctors that will undoubtedly put women’s lives at risk. Louisiana already has one of the worst maternal mortality rates in the nation—nearly double the national average—and this law will make it worse by creating a dangerous environment for investigating women, their loved ones, and doctors in a crusade to totally eliminate all access to abortion. I’m working to put a stop to this madness and am fighting for the fundamental right of a woman to make decisions about her own body. Congress can enshrine that right by passing the Women’s Health Protection Act to restore Roe’s protections nationwide and end these draconian reproductive restrictions imposed by Republicans across the country. Contact me!  Click here to visit my website or call my offices directly if you have questions or need help with a federal agency: Middlesex County: 732-249-8892Monmouth County: 732-571-1140 Sincerely,  Congressman Pallone