Letter to President Obama

Letter

In an effort to ensure that New Jersey receives all the funds needed to properly rebuild in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, Congressmen Bill Pascrell and Jon Runyan led the entire Congressional Delegation in sending a letter to President Obama requesting a meeting to discuss Governor Christie's request and other recovery activities. Just about one month ago Hurricane Sandy ravaged New Jersey, causing billions of dollars of damages and forcing thousands of people from their homes. Recently Governor Chris Christie requested that the state would need approximately $37 Billion to fully recover.

The full text of the letter to President Obama from the New Jersey lawmakers is as follows:

Dear President Obama:

We would like to first thank you for your support and leadership in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, which caused unprecedented devastation to the entire east coast. As you are well aware from your visit, the damage was particularly bad across New Jersey. We appreciate the bipartisan leadership you have shown and your commitment to ensuring our communities can rebuild. Our delegation remains united and ready to work with you in a bipartisan manner to ensure that New Jersey recovers.

Recently, Governor Christie sent you his request for funding to help rebuild the areas impacted by the storm. The Governor has indicated that there has been $37 billion in damages across New Jersey, and we all agree that a swift official request and appropriation of this funding is critical to our state's recovery.

The New Jersey Congressional delegation would like to meet with you to discuss the Governor's request, the submission of an official emergency appropriations request, and how we can continue our productive relationship to ensure that New Jersey receives the resources it needs to rebuild. We are all prepared to work with you to do whatever it takes to ensure New Jersey has these resources and is made whole without delay.

Your staff may contact Joe Heaton with Rep. Runyan (225-4765) or Arthur Mandel with Rep. Pascrell (225-5751) to coordinate the meeting or with additional questions. Again, thank you for your continued leadership as we recover and rebuild.

Sincerely,

Signatories of this letter were Senators Frank Lautenberg and Robert Menendez and Congressmen Robert Andrews (01), Frank LoBiondo (02), Jon Runyan (03), Chris Smith (04), Scott Garrett (05), Frank Pallone (06), Leonard Lance (07), Bill Pascrell (08), Steve Rothman (09), Donald Payne Jr (10), Rodney Frelinghuysen (11), Rush Holt (12), and Albio Sires (13).