Pallone Announces FEMA Grants to Reimburse the Cleaning of New Jersey Waterways

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) funding to reimburse the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) for the use of contractors to load, haul and dispose of debris from the state’s waterways as a result of Superstorm Sandy.

“Getting New Jersey back to pre-Sandy conditions remains my number one priority,” said Pallone. “The state faced so many unanticipated costs after Sandy, and it is necessary that FEMA help cover the costs after such a statewide emergency. It’s important to keep our state’s waterways free from unsafe and unsightly debris, and these grants have helped.”

FEMA has awarded two grants to DEP that will cover 75% of each debris removal project for New Jersey’s waterways. $23,160,047 will be awarded for the statewide debris removal project, and $15,994,244 will be awarded for the removal of debris in the Northern Region of the state.

Pallone Announces Funding to Expand Community Health Center Services in NJ

Washington, D. C. – Congressman Pallone Friday announced grant awards totaling $10 million to help 129 organizations across the country become community health centers. In New Jersey, the Jewish Renaissance Foundation in Perth Amboy and the Saint Peter’s Healthcare System in New Brunswick each received $80,000 to support the transition to becoming a community health center.

“Community health centers attend to the unique health needs of hard-to-reach populations and have a significant impact improving health in our communities,” said Pallone. “New Brunswick residents will benefit from better access to the low-cost, preventive and primary health care services that will be offered at a new location.”

In addition to providing important health care services, creating new community health centers will also create jobs. Since the beginning of 2009, health centers across the country have added more than 18,600 new full-time positions in many of the nation’s most economically distressed communities. In 2010, they employed more than 131,000 staff and new funds made available by the Department of Health and Human Services will help create more jobs nationwide.

Over the past year, Republicans have threatened funding for community health centers across the country which would force many of them to shutter. Pallone remains committed to making sure community health centers continue to be available for those who rely on them.

“Closing community health centers is an unacceptable option, especially when big corporations continue to receive millions in tax cuts. I will continue fighting to preserve community health centers and to expand accessibility to these vital services.”

It's Your Town - Newsletter Volume 3, Issue 17- 8/15/11

This edition of It's Your Town newsletter covers the Middletown Township Committee regular monthly business meeting that was held on Monday, August 15, 2011.

As is the norm lately, the meeting was rather short lasting about 35 minutes.

Committee members had little to say, Kevin Settembrino and Steve Massell just sat on the dais looking pretty with nothing to say, while Pam Brightbill, Gerry Scharfenberger and Tony Fiore spoke briefly.

Only 5 members of the public took the time to speak at this meeting but their questions,unfortunately, were left mostly unanswered.

Their questions ranged from why there was insufficient information in a $2.85M bond ordinance for tax appeals, that seems to have not appropriated $1M of the total, to what happened to grant money from the latest cable TV franchising contract that would have provided money to televise Township Committee meetings.

The newsletter also contains links to various proposed resolutions and ordinances.

Stay informed and read it all for yourself....Here