Save Long Branch’s Monmouth Medical Center!

Dear Neighbor,

RWJ Barnabas is trying to abandon the people of Long Branch and the surrounding area. The corporation wants to rip Monmouth Medical Center out of the city and build a new hospital in Tinton Falls—taking labor and delivery, surgery and acute-care beds, and the hospital license with it, and leaving behind a shell of the Long Branch facility.

Let’s be clear: this is about greed and profits, not patients. RWJ Barnabas wants to build a concierge hospital for wealthier patients while cutting off working people from care they’ve relied on for generations. It’s a slap in the face to the nurses, doctors, and patients who made Monmouth Medical Center a pillar of this community – and it comes at the same time the Trump Administration is gutting federal health care funding.

I fought for a plan that would have allowed RWJ Barnabas to build a new hospital in Tinton Falls without dismantling Long Branch’s hospital. They agreed until the Acting Health Commissioner and Governor Murphy caved and gave them the green light to close the Long Branch hospital. They can still stop this if they choose to. I’ve called on Governor Murphy and Acting Commissioner Brown to reject this disgraceful plan and stand with working people and the Long Branch community instead of corporate executives.

Next, I’ll be convening local leaders, hospital workers, and residents to fight this plan and demand accountability because the people who built this hospital aren’t going to sit quietly while its property is sold off to developers.

You can learn more in my video below.

Week Two of the Republican Shutdown

Week two of the Republican Shutdown is over, and we're now entering this shutdown's THIRD WEEK. It's on course to be one of the longest government shutdowns in American history. Make no mistake—government shutdowns are deeply harmful. They disrupt air travel, send wait times for essential services through the roof, and cause huge strains to the economy in the short and long-term. In fact, Trump’s Treasury Secretary said this week that the Republican shutdown is costing 15 billion—billion with a B—every day.

This shutdown could end today if Republicans—who control the House, Senate, and White House – would join Democrats in trying to fix the health care crisis they created with their Big, Ugly Bill. Instead, House Republicans have been missing from Washington for NEARLY A MONTH. They're hiding from the American people because their price hikes to your health care are extremely unpopular and deeply cruel.

Meanwhile, I was in Washington this week with House Democrats to shine a light on how the Republican cuts to Medicaid and insurance premium support will send costs through the roof for families in my district and across the country.

My Democratic colleagues and I are fighting to save your health care and lower your costs. What are Republicans fighting for exactly? It would appear Donald Trump alone.

Do you have questions or concerns about the shutdown?

Even though Republicans may have slinked out of Washington, my offices in both New Jersey and Washington remain open and working for you during a government shutdown. My staff are able to answer questions you may have about the shutdown, as well as assist with federal agencies. You can also read my guide on what to expect during a government shutdown HERE.

Have you already felt the impacts of the Republican Shutdown? Have you seen the impacts of closed government services in your community? I want to hear from you.

Send me a message on my website, or call my offices to tell your story.

Trump is Trying to Illegally Terminate the Gateway Project

At the beginning of the Republican Shutdown, the Trump Administration canceled funding for the Gateway Tunnel project—an announcement that was a direct slap in the face to New Jersey commuters. On Wednesday evening, Trump said that the entire project had been axed.

This is outrageously illegal. The entire region's economic future relies upon the completion of this project—and Trump's unlawful retaliation against Blue States for a shutdown HE CAUSED is straight out of a tyrannical king's playbook.

In addition, funding for this project had already been set aside and preparatory work had already started. Trump can't unilaterally cancel funding during a shutdown, and my Democratic colleagues and I are going to fight to ensure full funding is restored.

Republicans are Worsening the Health Care Crisis

Expanding teleheath care has been revolutionary for millions of Americans. Countless lives and thousands of dollars have been saved because of the convenience it affords. However, seniors across the country have reported widespread disruptions and inability to schedule routine telehealth appointments since the beginning of the month.

The Trump Administration appeared to be exploiting the problem amid the ongoing government shutdown rather than using its existing legal authorities to allow providers to continue to see patients via telehealth appointments.

In addition, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) said that it would start denying claims on Wednesday, October 15th if the program wasn't renewed. We recently received news that instead of denying claims, the program would start holding them instead—however, the fight isn't over. Trump and Republicans created this health care crisis with their Big, Ugly Bill, and now it's time for them to help us end it.

You can learn more about the telehealth and hospital at home programs in my video below.

Calling All Coders!

My office is hosting my annual coding competition this year. The winning app will be eligible to be on display in the U.S. Capitol!

Middle and high school students from New Jersey's 6th district are encouraged to register online and submit their app by October 30th.

Follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, YouTube, and Bluesky to keep up with my work in Congress.

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