Fred H. Madden

TRENTON – Senate President Richard J. Codey today selected Senator Fred H. Madden to Chair the Senate Labor Committee. 

            Senator Madden will replace Senator Paul Sarlo, D-Bergen, Essex and Passaic, who was named Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman last week.  Senator Sarlo will fill the vacancy being left by current Judiciary Committee Chair John Adler, D-Cherry Hill, when he leaves to join Congress in January.  Senator Sandra Bolden Cunningham, D-Hudson, will replace Senator Madden as the Labor panel’s Vice Chair.

            "I'd like to thank Senator Codey for selecting me to Chair the Senate Labor Committee," said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who has served in the Senate since 2004.  "The continued growth and expansion of business and labor here in New Jersey are of great importance to the State's economic climate, especially in these tough fiscal times.  I am eager to continue working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to craft policy aimed at strengthening our workforce, and making New Jersey an example to other states of positive partnerships between the State and its business and labor communities."

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden which would call upon the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide special decals for drivers with Graduated Drivers Licenses (GDL) was approved today by the full Senate by a vote of 36 to 3.

            “According to statistics, every nine minutes, a teen driver is involved in a car accident,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.  “Statistics also show that 40% of fatal crashes occur during the hours of 9 PM and 6 AM.  This legislation would reinforce New Jersey’s current laws regarding teen driving, while at the same time, making it easier for law enforcement officers to spot teen drivers.  Maintaining the safety of teen drivers, and all who use the State’s roadways must be a cooperative effort.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Barbara Buono and Fred H. Madden, which would require health care providers to cover the cost of hearing aids for children age 15 and younger was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “When left undiagnosed and untreated in children, hearing loss can impede the development of speech, language and cognitive development,” said Senator Buono, D-Middlesex.  “These developmental delays can cause a need for costly special education services later on in life. By calling upon health insurers to cover the cost of hearing aids for kids, we are renewing our commitment to the growth and educational success of New Jersey’s children.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden which would call upon the Motor Vehicle Commission (MVC) to provide special decals for drivers with Graduated Drivers Licenses (GDL) was approved today by the Senate Transportation Committee.

            “According to the Teen Driver Study Commission, teens are twice as likely to be involved in car accidents between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. as adults,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who serves as vice chair of the Senate Transportation Panel.  “When it comes to our roadways, safety must be paramount. These decals are absolutely necessary to help law enforcement officers quickly determine the age of drivers in their attempts to enforce GDL regulations.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Dana L. Redd, which would allow domestic violence victims to break leases early without penalty, was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “Though the scars of domestic abuse often seem to be just physical, victims are often plagued by the invisible scars of depression and helplessness that can prevent them from leaving their abusers and getting the help they need,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester.  “For these victims, ‘getting out’ is the first step in the right direction towards healing.  This legislation would allow them to break their leases without penalty, leave their life-threatening situations and abusers, and possibly save their own lives.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Paul Sarlo, which would require wheelchair-bound riders in passenger vehicles to be secured using a wheelchair securement device has been signed into law by Governor Corzine.

            “In an accident, an unsecured wheelchair could be thrown forward through a windshield, seriously injuring its occupant, other passengers in the car, and others nearby,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.  “By requiring these wheelchair-bound passengers to be secured while riding, we can help to prevent these types of accidents and increase safety on our roadways.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and Fred H. Madden, which designates Route 9 in Cape May County as “Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway”, has been signed into law by Governor Corzine.

            Started in 1997, the Police Unity Tour was created to increase the awareness of the National Law Enforcement Officers’ Memorial and Museum in Washington, D.C.  The tour consists of a bike ride to the site of the memorial, followed by a candlelight vigil to remember those who died in the line of duty.  The Police Unity Tour has chapters throughout the country, including two in New Jersey, which raise awareness and funding for the national memorial.

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Fred H. Madden and Bob Gordon, which would require wheelchair-bound riders in passenger vehicles be secured using a wheelchair securement device received unanimous final legislative approval today from the full Senate.

            “In the event of an accident, an unsecured wheelchair could be thrown forward through a windshield, seriously injuring its occupant, other passengers in that car, and others nearby,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester.  “Requiring that wheelchair-bound passengers be secured would help to prevent these types of accidents and increase safety for everyone who uses New Jersey’s roadways.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senators Jeff Van Drew and Fred H. Madden, which would designate Route 9 in Cape May County as “Police Unity Tour Memorial Highway,” was unanimously approved today by the Senate Transportation Committee.

            “This bill would help to increase awareness of the Police Unity Tour, and help secure funding to expand the D.C. memorial, to allow it to honor the men and women who have lost their lives protecting public safety,” said Senator Van Drew, D-Cape May, who serves on the Senate Transportation panel.  “We must do all we can to thank the law enforcement officials who have lost their lives while keeping us safe.”

TRENTON – A measure sponsored by Senator Fred H. Madden, which would work to reduce the number of secondary car accidents by allowing drivers who have been in minor collisions to move their cars out of the way of traffic, was unanimously approved today by the full Senate.

            “According to the State Department of Transportation, 20% of all accidents are ‘secondary,’ meaning they were caused as the result of another accident,” said Senator Madden, D-Camden and Gloucester, a former Acting Superintendent of the State Police, who serves as Vice Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee.  “Drivers are reluctant to move their cars because they think they might get charged with leaving the scene of an accident, and also because they think that moving their cars would hinder police officers’ ability to determine what caused the accident.  This legislation would send a clear message that as long as no one is injured, moving cars out of the way of traffic is useful because it would reduce the number of preventable secondary accidents.”