Issue Position: New Jersey Specific Issues

Issue Position

* Requested the National Park Service to provide a detailed update on the status of the lease agreement between Sandy Hook Partners (SHP) and Fort Hancock at the Gateway National Recreation Area's Sandy Hook Unit. The letter requested information regarding adequate proof of funds and possible termination of the lease agreement.

* Successfully acquired $400,000 in brownfields assessment grants for the City of Plainfield and $1 million to assess sites with hazardous substances and petroleum contamination.

* Successfully spearheaded efforts to provide funding for critical projects in New Jersey through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which will continue important services, create jobs and improve infrastructure including:

o $34 million to support child care services for more New Jersey families whose children require care while they are working, seeking employment or receiving job training.

o Funding to create clean energy jobs, reduce energy bills and improve energy efficiency including $4.2 million for Monmouth County, $788,300 for Somerset County and $2.48 for Union County.

o Funding for Community Health Centers in Monmouth and Union County to expand services and provide quality health care to uninsured New Jerseyans including $212,301 for the Visiting Nurse's Association of Central New Jersey CHC in Asbury Park, $100,000 for the Monmouth Family Health Center in Long Branch, $435,677 for the Neighborhood Health Services Corporation Inc. in Plainfield and $298,466 for UMDNJ in New Brunswick.

o $11 million to expand the parking lot at the Edison Rail Station Park and Ride to provide greater access for commuters, boost ridership on NJ Transit and relieve clogged streets.

o Federal capital improvement grants for housing authorities in New Brunswick, South Amboy, Edison and Highland Park, which will rebuild and repair public housing units, create jobs and improve energy efficiency. The Plainfield Housing Authority received more than $1 million and the Franklin Housing Authority received $178,771 in Recovery Act funds.

o $5.9 million to provide funding for vaccines for uninsured and underinsured children in New Jersey.

o $335,000 for the Sandy Hook Unit of Gateway National Park to install sustainable boardwalks, replace deteriorating structures, and repair walls, plazas and restroom facilities at six Sandy Hook Beach Centers.

o $2.7 million to provide nutritious meals to low-income senior citizens to help them maintain their health and independence. Currently, the Older Americans Act Nutrition Program for the Elderly delivers six million meals to 63,000 seniors each year in New Jersey. These funds will provide an additional 100,000 meals to seniors.

o Funding for Superfund sites in Marlboro and Sayreville including $10 to $25 million for the Imperial Oil site and up to $5 million for Horseshoe Road. The funds will be used to clean up environmental pollutants from these contaminated sites.

o $200,000 for the clean up of the brownfields site known as Lee Place in Plainfield.

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