New Jersey’s Connection to July 4th

Dear Neighbors,

I held a press conference in Piscataway at the Metlar-Bodine House Museum this week about federal funding I secured to help preserve New Jersey’s connection to our country’s independence. I secured $500,000 in a federal spending bill signed into law last year to help complete an extensive restoration project for the museum, including construction of the Forever the 4th gallery that will feature the Ross Hall Wall.

Ross Hall served as headquarters for General George Washington and the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War and is where Washington wrote the first order for the United States Army to celebrate the 4th of July. The troops were ordered to march across the Raritan River on Landing Lane Bridge, line the banks of the river in New Brunswick, and shoot their rifles down and up the line in the first organized salute to the nation's independence.

That evening, General Washington held a party at Ross Hall for officers, including Alexander Hamilton, Marquis de Lafayette, and Baron Von Stuben. The Ross Hall Wall is the only part of the original building that exists today. It’s more critical now than ever to preserve our state’s connection to the past as we countdown to the 250th anniversary of our independence in 2026.

New Federal Funding to Expand Broadband Access in New Jersey

The Biden Administration announced this week that New Jersey will receive over $263 million to expand broadband access in the state. The funding comes from the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that I fought for as Chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee last Congress. The state will primarily use the funding to build out broadband infrastructure in locations that currently do not have it and to upgrade digital networks in areas that lack a reliable connection.

Reliable, high-speed internet is not a luxury – it’s a necessity. Americans depend on internet access to do their jobs, run their small businesses, complete schoolwork, and connect with family and friends. With these new resources, New Jersey will be able to expand broadband access to make sure everyone in our state has access to this essential service. I look forward to seeing the difference this historic funding makes for families and business across the state and will keep fighting to make sure every American, regardless of zip code, has the internet access they need.

Click here to visit my website or call my offices directly if you have questions or need help with a federal agency:

Middlesex County: 732-249-8892

Monmouth County: 732-571-1140

Sincerely,

Congressman Pallone