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Long Branch, NJ – Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today sent a letter to Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Chairman Mark Christie urging the commission to investigate the most recent capacity auction conducted by PJM Interconnection—New Jersey’s regional power grid operator. The results of the auction will cause energy prices across the Mid-Atlantic to increase this summer. Pallone wrote in support of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s April 16^th letter expressing similar concerns regarding PJM’s role in dramatic price increases on New Jersey ratepayers set to go into effect this summer.

In the most recent auction, PJM-wide capacity prices increased by more than 800 percent, which will ultimately force ratepayers in New Jersey and throughout the region to face triple digit annual cost increases starting in June. The higher costs will be locked in for the next three years and passed directly on to consumers.

“I urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) enforcement division to investigate the recent capacity market auction and the dramatic increase in prices that occurred. As you are aware, in the 2025/26 capacity auction, PJM-wide capacity prices leapt from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92 per megawatt-day – an increase of more than 800 percent. At the end of the day, those price increases must be paid for by families across the entire PJM region.” Pallone wrote.

Pallone followed up on these concerns at an April 30 Energy and Commerce Subcommittee hearing, stating “I want to once again note that my constituents in New Jersey are facing a triple-digit annual increase in their power prices.  Just yesterday, I sent a letter to the Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, backing up a request from New Jersey Governor Murphy that FERC investigate the most recent capacity auction that is at the root of New Jersey’s price increases. The price increases facing New Jerseyans are due to the incompetence of PJM, the region’s grid operator.  PJM has simply been too slow to hook up new energy to the grid.  Once PJM has installed its new leadership, it needs to explicitly focus on getting as much power onto its grid as quickly as possible.”

On April 24, Pallone sent a letter to PJM demanding swift action to fix its broken process for connecting new renewable energy projects to the grid. Pallone warned that PJM’s delays are driving up electricity prices across the state, with ratepayers facing triple-digit annual cost increases starting in June as a result of the latest capacity auction.

The full letter to Chairman Christie can be found below:

April 29, 2025 

The Honorable Mark C. Christie

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission

888 First Street NE

Washington, DC 20426

Dear Chairman Christie: 

 I write in support of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy’s April 16 letter to express concerns about the results of PJM’s most recent capacity auction.^[1]  I urge the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) enforcement division to investigate the recent capacity market auction and the dramatic increase in prices that occurred. 

 As you are aware, in the 2025/26 capacity auction, PJM-wide capacity prices leapt from $28.92 per megawatt-day to $269.92 per megawatt-day – an increase of more than 800 percent.^[2]  At the end of the day, those price increases must be paid for by families across the entire PJM region.  While I would be concerned about such a radical price increase under any circumstances, I am particularly distressed by the conclusion of PJM’s independent market monitor that “the results of the 2025/2026 RPM Base Residual Auction were significantly affected by flawed market design decisions…”^[3]

 In the light of the warning by PJM’s independent market monitor, I want to express my thanks to FERC for working diligently on a slate of reforms to PJM’s market structure for the next capacity auction.  These include proposals to recognize the capacity contribution of certain reliability must-run units and a temporary price cap and floor mechanism negotiated by PJM state governors.^[4],[5]  The reforms, while not entirely sufficient to alleviate the higher costs, will help restructure the capacity market to adequately incentivize power generators to connect new energy projects without sticking ratepayers with even higher costs.

While changes to upcoming capacity auctions are important, it is also critical in the medium-term that PJM makes progress complying with FERC’s recent rules on interconnection reform and long-term regional transmission planning.  PJM has submitted a compliance filing for Orders 2023 and 2023-A, and, in July, FERC informed PJM that it required additional information in order to render a ruling on PJM’s compliance filing.^[6]  My understanding is that PJM purports to have satisfied FERC’s request for information but that multiple parties contend that PJM’s filing continues to be deficient.^[7],[8]  I hope that FERC can issue a ruling soon on PJM’s compliance filing – either accepting the filing if it deems it in compliance with FERC’s regulations or denying it and mandating changes in order to bring PJM into compliance.  Either way, families in the region are depending on PJM speedily complying with Orders 2023 and 2023-A.  Similarly, I hope FERC can act expediently once PJM eventually submits its compliance filing for Orders 1920, 1920-A, and 1920-B. 

Finally, thank you for your acknowledgment of Governor Murphy’s letter.^[9]  As a former state regulator, you know more than anyone how electricity costs impact the lives of families.  I certainly hope that FERC’s upcoming technical conference in June can focus not just on reliability, but on consumer costs as well.  I look forward to working with FERC and PJM’s new incoming leadership team to ensure that electricity remains reliable and affordable throughout the region.  Thank you for your attention to this matter.

Sincerely, 

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Congressman Frank Pallone Jr., D-N.J., the top Democrat on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today sent a letter to Trump’s Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. demanding answers about the recent staffing upheaval and treatment delays at the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP), which provides medical care to more than 132,000 9/11 responders and survivors.

Pallone voiced concern that while the Trump administration has partially walked back some terminations, “the chaos you are inflicting upon the program is extremely troubling.”

The New Jersey Congressman wrote that despite the alleged reinstatement of some employees, “16 World Trade Center Health Program staff members were informed of their termination, effective by early summer,” disrupting critical operations including “enrollment, health condition certification, research oversight, and contract management.”

“These actions, coupled with the mass terminations of employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health announced in February, severely disrupt mission critical operations for the World Trade Center Health Program,” Pallone continued in his letter to Kennedy. “These actions break our nation’s vow to the 9/11 first responder and survivor community to provide the injured and their families the aid they need and deserve.”

The letter also cites alarming real-world consequences, including testimony from Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer for the New York City Fire Department and Director of its World Trade Center Health Program, who said a 9/11 responder with life-threatening pancreatic cancer was told he couldn’t start chemotherapy, while others with new cancer diagnoses were also denied care.

“There were potentially more than 1,200 condition certifications paused, including for cancer,” Pallone wrote.

Pallone called on Secretary Kennedy to “cease any additional actions to terminate staff, providers, or limit any WTCHP program operations,” and to provide “a comprehensive briefing on the recent actions you’ve taken regarding the World Trade Center Health Program and the specific actions you, as Secretary, will take to ensure the program remains fully equipped to deliver life-saving care.”

The World Trade Center Health Program provides essential treatment and monitoring to responders and survivors from Ground Zero, the Pentagon and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania, crash site. It provides care in all 50 states and nearly every congressional district.

The full letter can be found here and below:

Secretary Kennedy, 

I write to you today to strongly protest the latest staffing reductions for the World Trade Center Health Program (WTCHP).  The Department’s actions have caused chaos and confusion, leading directly to the denial of cancer treatments and the prevention of hundreds more from accessing medical treatment. 

Despite reporting of the alleged reinstatement of 15 employees of the originally terminated 16 employees, the chaos you are inflicting upon the program is extremely troubling.[1]  The most recent data by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the WTCHP provides essential medical treatment, monitoring, and research to more than 132,000 first responders and survivors from the World Trade Center and lower Manhattan, the Pentagon, and the Shanksville, Pennsylvania crash site.  The program serves individuals in all 50 states and nearly every Congressional district.[2]  These actions, coupled with the mass terminations of employees at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) announced in February, severely disrupt mission critical operations for the WTCHP.  These actions break our nation’s vow to the 9/11 first responder and survivor community to provide the injured and their families the aid they need and deserve.[3]

On May 2, 2025, 16 WTCHP staff members were informed of their termination, effective by early summer.[4]  These career civil servants perform vital functions, including enrollment, health condition certification, research oversight, and contract management for the WTCHP.  They were placed on administrative leave despite previous assurances from you that no such terminations would occur.[5]  Meanwhile, it is my understanding that until there was public outrage, Dr. John Howard’s role overseeing the program remained in limbo.  He was recently reinstated to his post, but only until June 2, 2025.  This is no way to run this critical health care program.

Your reckless decisions have devastating real-world consequences. Alarmingly, Dr. David Prezant, chief medical officer of the New York City Fire Department (FDNY) and Director of its World Trade Center Health Program, stated that a 9/11 responder with life-threatening pancreatic cancer was told that he couldn’t start chemotherapy.[6]  There are also at least three FDNY employees who have been diagnosed with cancers believed to be related to their service at Ground Zero, who have not been able to get approval for care.[7]  There has even been reports of a full halt to enrollment of any new responders and survivors.^[8]  Furthermore, there were potentially more than 1,200 condition certifications that were paused, including for cancer, preventing patients from accessing medical treatment and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund.[9]  This is a travesty. 

As a result of your chaos and confusion, the WTCHP will continue to remain severely understaffed and deeply destabilized.  By design, the program is meant to be science-driven, apolitical, and survivor-focused.  It is now being subjected to opaque internal decisions and political interference that put the health and safety of thousands of Americans in jeopardy.  To date, your department has not provided a clear or honest explanation.  The Department’s communications have denied basic facts already confirmed by internal documents and public reporting.[10]  The lack of transparency and accountability is unacceptable.

This is not a partisan issue. Members of Congress from both sides of the aisle, along with survivors, advocates, and 9/11 families, are united in their deep concern and outrage.  The World Trade Center Health Program must be preserved, fully staffed, and protected—not hollowed out under the Trump Administration’s false flag of ending waste.  

I demand you cease any additional actions to terminate staff, providers, or limit WTCHP program operations.  I demand transparency in the Department’s decision making on past and future administrative actions to this program.  As such, please  provide me and my staff with a comprehensive briefing no later than May 22 on the recent actions you have taken regarding the WTCHP and the specific actions you will take to ensure the program remains fully equipped to deliver life-saving care to current participants and future enrollees.

I look forward to your prompt response to this critical issue to our 9/11 heroes.

Sincerely,

###

This week Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01) led a group of his colleagues in calling on Speaker Mike Johnson to make his appointments to the bipartisan board of the Office of Congressional Conduct (OCC), formerly known as the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE). Democrats have submitted their appointees, but the work of the OCC remains stalled due to Johnson’s failure to appoint Republican members, despite at least two former GOP members of the board agreeing to return. 

In the letter, the lawmakers wrote, “This delay, which is now entering its fourth month of the 119th Congress, not only undermines the integrity of this body but threatens to erode the trust that the American people place in our capacity to hold ourselves accountable.”

They continued to highlight how Johnson’s delays are compounding repeated efforts to weaken the board, negatively impacting the ability of our institutions to hold elected officials to the highest possible ethical standards, writing, “This pattern of obstruction is not new. Since OCC’s inception, it has faced repeated attempts to weaken or dismantle it. For instance, the most recent rules package adopted at the start of the 119th Congress has made it even harder for the OCC to function by requiring the board to be fully seated before staff could be reappointed. These changes, layered atop the current delay, have made the situation exponentially more difficult.”

They closed by calling on Johnson to take immediate action: “To rectify this oversight, we urge you to move swiftly to appoint the Republican members of the OCC board when Congress returns for this work period.”

Read the full letter here. 

Yesterday in a House Veterans’ Affairs Committee markup, Congressman Chris Pappas (NH-01), Ranking Member of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, condemned House Republicans for moving forward legislation to legalize for-profit, predatory companies charging veterans exorbitant fees for assistance with their disability claims and urged them to instead support his bipartisan GUARD VA Benefits Act, which would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while assisting veterans with filing a claim for Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) disability compensation benefits. Watch his remarks here.

During the markup, Congressman Pappas said, “I, and others on this Committee, along with most of the VSO community, have repeatedly raised alarm about the rise of unaccredited claims consultants profiting from veterans’ disability claims. While only VA-accredited representatives are legally allowed to assist with claims, the VA lost its ability to enforce that law nearly two decades ago. As a result, predatory companies now exploit this loophole – charging veterans thousands of dollars while raking in millions.”

He continued saying, “Now, instead of restoring VA’s authority to penalize illegal behavior, H.R. 3132 would legalize it, granting accreditation without safeguards and allowing companies to charge up to $12,500 just for helping a veteran file their claim… Ironically, the bill includes my own language to reinstate criminal penalties – but this is nothing but a smokescreen for bad actors to hide behind, because the bill also rewrites the law to exempt the very conduct that should remain illegal from being penalized. Rather than rewriting the law to suit the interests of those who are already breaking it, we should focus on protecting veterans and their hard-earned benefits.”

“It’s simple: put veterans first, not profits. The solution isn’t to legalize predatory practices – it’s to enforce the law and to hold violators accountable. If these companies truly believe they’re helping veterans, they should have nothing to fear from the GUARD Act or the VA’s accreditation process,” he concluded.

Background: 

Unaccredited claims representatives, or claim sharks, are not subject to VA standards. They strategically advertise their services to avoid regulatory oversight and as a result, may engage in predatory and unethical practices that target veterans and rob them of their VA benefits. Federal laws and regulations prohibit anyone from assisting a veteran in the preparation, presentation, or prosecution of a VA benefit claim, or charging a fee for this assistance, without accreditation from VA. However, VA and other federal agencies are limited in their ability to enforce existing law because explicit criminal penalties were stripped from statute nearly two decades ago. This has contributed to the proliferation of unaccredited claims representatives in recent years, a troubling development especially as more veterans receive the benefits they’re owed thanks to the Honoring Our PACT Act.

Pappas’s Governing Unaccredited Representatives Defrauding (GUARD) VA Benefits Act would reinstate criminal penalties for unaccredited claim representatives who charge unauthorized fees while assisting veterans with filing a claim for VA disability compensation benefits. This legislation will discourage for-profit companies from operating outside the bounds of federal law, and will give VA and other agencies an additional tool to protect veteran claimants from predatory practices.

Pappas has been working to raise awareness of and protect veterans from the predatory practices of claims sharks since 2021, calling on VA to improve awareness, chairing an oversight hearing on the topic, and introducing the GUARD VA Act in both the 117th, 118th, and 119th Congresses.