Cape May County Herald - LoBiondo Works on District Priorities: Vets, Beach Replenishing, Coast Guard

News Article

By Al Campbell

New Jersey's sprawling -- 40 percent of the state -- Second Congressional District is odd. It is one of "a handful" in the nation where a Republican sits in a House seat classified as a "D-Plus" district.

According to U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-2nd), that means "Someone in the war room in Washington is always looking at this district and wondering why they can't find a way to get rid of LoBiondo."

LoBiondo made that statement during an Aug. 24 meeting with the Herald and Cape Issues members. It is an annual session he has undertaken during Congress' summer recesses.

The congressman explained about the district's voter composition: "There is something else that is very important in this district, and that is that there are almost more Independents than Republicans or Democrats put together."

According to him, "This district has always shown an ability to cross over in different offices to understand what candidates stand for and vote for those particular candidates.

"I always believed that those who pay close attention will see that I always put people before politics and put the district first and that I will control my own fate; although I do get worried when I see things happening at the top of the ticket that could be out of my control. How will people react? Will people stay home? Will they not vote? Will you be punished for what someone else says?"

LoBiondo noted the district's needs are constantly changing, while some remain steadfast: veterans' services via the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), beach replenishment, and the Coast Guard Training Center.

Veterans

Veterans "were treated very badly up until six months ago," said LoBiondo. As he prodded VA leadership about the problems, many of them centered on the Wilmington VA Medical Center, which oversaw the outpatient clinics in the district, "They dismissed it as hearsay," said LoBiondo.

Then, he presented officials with "documentation, copies of emails I was able to present that opened their eyes." He added the evidence was "irrefutable." Thus, Wilmington was removed from direct oversight of local clinics.

The change in supervision of the Cape May community-out based clinic, along with similar facilities in Northfield and Vineland, took place May 9 to Veterans Integrated Service Network 4 director from the Wilmington VA Medical Center.

Hardships of many veterans, aged with cancer or other diseases, were detailed. Some spent an entire day traveling to and from Wilmington for treatments in buses without a bathroom.

LoBiondo believes veterans should be able to receive treatment locally in a hospital of their choice. He noted the VA secretary "Could order that tomorrow," but will not do so. He tried to make the district a test of that system for VA but had no success.

Instead, VA opted to handle such matters on a case-by-case basis, with veterans making an application for local treatment in anticipation of being granted a waiver.

Beach Replenishment

Restoration and maintenance of the district's beaches continue to be "critically important," said LoBiondo. More than just suntans, those beaches ensure jobs and vitality for the area's economy, he said.

"Until some smart engineer figures how to do this (beach replenishment) without pumping sand, with the exception of Wildwood and maybe one or two other communities, if we hope to have a tourism-based economy we are going to have to have sand pumped on our beaches.We'll continue to work very hard on that," LoBiondo said.

Asked about the Delaware Bay coastline and back bays, LoBiondo said they come under the state to be in the "point position."

Coast Guard

Anticipating the arrival of two new Coast Guard cutters to be homeported at Training Center Cape May, the first expected in November, the congressman believes the base's future is secure.

Asked whether the Coast Guard air station in Cape May might be used in the future, he replied no.

The reassignment of helicopters to Atlantic City was part of a service change, in line with Homeland Security needs. The station is tasked with providing patrols over Washington as well as local search and rescue missions.

"There will be no further move to Cape May," he added for the flight crews.

Poverty Level

A Cape Issues member asked what was being done at the federal level to aid the county? She said the county was "either first or second in the poverty rate in the state; children are not being fed properly, 75 percent of kids get free lunch at school, we have child abuse and drug issues."

Further, what is being done to make the county more "economically feasible" for families to remain local?

"We have a pretty challenging situation all over South Jersey with these particular areas," LoBiondo said.

"The federal government does not come into a particular town or county for a program. It provides resources to individual states with the idea that they distribute to counties where needed," he said. His job is to ensure the money is available for food assistance programs.

LoBiondo said he would not vote with his party to reduce federal aid to food stamp programs, but would vote to retain those programs that feed many in the district.

National Defense

What can be done to cut federal spending while maintaining a strong military?

LoBiondo replied there had been a "serious downgrading of our ability to protect the country and be ready for the future."

He cited the troop levels at their "lowest number since World War II" as well as a Navy with "significantly under 300 ships" compared to the Navy under President Ronald Reagan with over 600 ships.

"Less than half our units are ready to be deployed either from a training or equipment standpoint," LoBiondo said.

The next president must address that "serious problem...and set things in motion to fix this," he continued.

He admitted that meeting that challenge while balancing federal spending is a great challenge.

Capitol Hill

"I have great committees that are relevant to the country," said LoBiondo adding, "They really get stuff done."

Within the Transportation Committee, he chaired the Coast Guard Committee for a total of 12 years. Republican rules dictate that committee chairs serve six years on then rotate off for two years, he said.

He chairs the Aviation Subcommittee, which he termed "important for us" since the Federal Aviation Administration's Technical Center in Atlantic County employs some 4,000 people.

It also plays a vital role in the unmanned aerial system testing, currently being done at Cape May County Airport, and which the county hopes will spark future employment opportunities in the area.

Being a member of the Armed Services Committee gives the district a voice in military bases statewide. In particular, he cited the 177th Fighter Wing, based near the Atlantic City Airport.

That wing has the capability to simultaneously place fighters in the air over Washington and New York, should the North American Aerospace Defense Command "flip the switch," he said.

LoBiondo also chairs the CIA Subcommittee and sits on the House Intelligence Committee.

LoBiondo lauded the working relationship terming Sens. Robert Menendez and Cory Booker "strong partners" for the district.

While much is reported of Congressional gridlock, LoBiondo countered there are many bipartisan committees that work smoothly and accomplish a great deal; little of which is reported by the media.

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