US Congressman. A member of the Democratic party, he served in the US House of Representatives from New Jersey's 3rd district from January 1965 until his death. During World War II he dropped out of high school to enlist in the US Navy and served in the South Pacific Theater of Operations from December 1944 until July 1946. After his discharge, he returned to New Jersey and finished high school in 1947. He then graduated in 1952 from St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, New York and taught in the Wall Township, Monmouth County, New Jersey school system from 1952 until 1964. In 1958 he earned his Master of Education Degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey. In 1964 he decided to run for Congress on the Democratic ticket and was elected to the first of his eleven consecutive terms. In May 1967 he created a public controversy after reading a letter in Congress from a Viet Nam Marine who stated the new M-16 rifles jammed in combat, claiming that nearly all the American soldiers killed in the Battle of Hill 881 died as a result. After the US military investigated, the problem was identified and resolved by the end of that year. In 1974 he introduced legislation of a 55-mile-per-hour speed limit to conserve fuel and reduce traffic deaths, which was passed by Congress. Other notable bills that he became involved with include the Motor Carrier Act (1980), the Howard-Barnes Anti-Drunk Driving (1982), the National Driver's Register (1982), the National Infrastructure Act (1983), the Child Restraint Law (1984), and the National Minimum Drinking Age Act (1984). He served as chairman of the Committee on Public Works and Transportation from 1981 until his death. He died from a heart attack while in office at the age of 60 and his seat was taken by Frank Pallone. Among his honors include the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) James J. Howard Highway Safety Trailblazer Award and the new Department of Commerce National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Marine Fisheries Service James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory.