House approves funds for Sandy Hook lab The U.S. House of Representatives on July 17 approved $2 million for the James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, as part of the fiscal year 2002 appropriations bill-funding programs, within the commerce, justice and state departments. U.S. Representative Frank Pallone Jr. (D-6), who requested the funds for the lab earlier this year, said they would be used to operate the lab over the next year. The funds were made available to the lab in Sandy Hook through the commerce department’s National Marine Fisheries Service. "The funds approved by the House today will allow the Sandy Hook lab to continue to provide valuable information for fisherman along the Jersey shore and all around the nation," said Pallone. The James J. Howard Laboratory, named after Pallone’s predecessor, is currently researching the bluefin tuna. The lab is also preparing background data on essential fish habitat under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act for the New England and Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Regionals Councils. The legislation now heads to the U.S. Senate.