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Paterson, N.J – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8), an original member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today announced a major influx of federal disaster funding for the Garden State in the wake of Superstorm Sandy.
"Hurricane Sandy has devastated communities throughout New Jersey, leaving residents without access to their homes or their businesses, truly their entire lives," said Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. "The water is receding, the power if off, and the debris still clutters our streets, leaving us with a reminder of how far we still have to go to rebuild. But these two grants are an important beginning step that the Federal, State and local governments will take together to rebuild our great state. We thank Secretary Solis and LaHood for their attention to the needs of the Garden State."
The federal Department of Labor announced that New Jersey will receive $15,591,400, with $5,197,133 released initially, in National Emergency Grant (NEG) funding to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to create about 1,000 temporary jobs for eligible dislocated workers to assist with clean-up and recovery efforts as a result of the effects of Hurricane Sandy. As of November 1, 2012, a number of counties are eligible for public assistance by the Federal Emergency Management Agency due to the impact of Hurricane Sandy. These counties include Bergen, Hudson and Essex counties. The grant can be used to provide temporary employment for individuals working on projects for the cleanup, demolition, repair, renovation and reconstruction of damaged public structures, facilities and lands. Temporary jobs can also be created form projects that provide food, clothing, shelter and other humanitarian assistance for disaster victims.
The federal Department of Transportation also announced $10,000,000 in quick release grant money to the State of New Jersey. These emergency relief funds will be immediately available for the repair of roads, bridges, and other critical transportation infrastructure damaged by the storm. As assessments of the damage continue throughout New Jersey, these initial grant funds show the commitment of the Obama administration toward acting quickly and decisively to assist in the recovery efforts from Hurricane Sandy.
"I couldn't agree more with President Obama and Governor Christie: we must work together to rebuild our homes, our roads, our communities and the entire state. Right now, we are seeing seeing our efforts, from Federal, State and Local levels, come together. The aftermath of this tragic storm has left us with trying times, but we’ve made it through disasters before. With assistance, I know that we can start the process of rebuilding so we are even stronger than they were before.”
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