Democrat,
July is recognized as Disability Pride Month and the NJDSC is celebrating the disabled community and the numerous activists within the disability rights space who do the hard work of advocating for visibility and equity.
This month should serve as a reminder to all that we must make sure the work we are doing to create a more just and fair state is always in solidarity with individuals facing various physical, mental, sensory, or cognitive challenges. It is also a call to action, urging us to advocate for equal access, inclusivity, and representation in all spaces. Here at the NJDSC, we commit to amplifying the voices of the disabled community and to continue to fight for a world that embraces diversity and ensures that every person, regardless of ability, has the opportunity to thrive, succeed, and be celebrated for being exactly who they are.
|
Governor Murphy signed a bill this week that establishes a Social Impact Investment Fund (SIIF) to make low-cost funding available to support important investments in things like affordable housing, infrastructure, and facilities for early childhood education.
“Today I’m proud to deliver on a promise I’ve been determined to realize since the outset of my Administration: the creation of a socially motivated public financial vehicle serving the state of New Jersey,” said Governor Murphy. “In far too many cases, our underserved and underinvested communities lack access to critical capital, rendering housing unaffordable, infrastructure ineffective, and opportunity unattainable. In addition to diversifying and expanding the affordable housing development ecosystem, the Social Impact Investment Fund will also enhance access to funding for the water infrastructure and early childhood education facilities upon which New Jersey’s families depend.”
Governor Murphy's move to establish a social impact investment fund in New Jersey showcases a dedication to New Jersey's most underserved communities and highlights his administration’s prioritization of the empowerment of historically marginalized communities. This fund will help to fill the gaps in state financing programs, further provide essential tools and services to those that need them, and make sure that those that have been systemically underinvested in are finally receiving the attention and support they rightfully deserve.
|
|
|
In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling on student loan debt relief, President Biden and his Administration have already taken several steps aimed at providing debt relief for as many borrowers as possible, as fast as possible, and supporting student loan borrowers:
-
The Secretary of Education initiated a rule making process aimed at opening an alternative path to debt relief for as many working and middle-class borrowers as possible, using the Secretary’s authority under the Higher Education Act.
-
The Department of Education finalized the most affordable repayment plan ever created, ensuring that borrowers will be able to take advantage of this plan this summer—before loan payments are due. Many borrowers will not have to make monthly payments under this plan. Those that do will save more than $1,000 a year.
-
The Department of Education is instituting a 12-month “on-ramp” to repayment from October 1, 2023 to September 30, 2024, so that financially vulnerable borrowers who miss monthly payments during this period are not considered delinquent, reported to credit bureaus, placed in default, or referred to debt collection agencies.
The President has shown that he remains committed to alleviating the burdens faced by low- and middle-income borrowers and recognizes the modern-day American crisis of student debt that has left millions of individuals feeling trapped and unable to plan for the future. President Biden prioritizing finding immediate relief for those most burdened by student debt offers a glimmer of hope for Americans seeking financial stability and the opportunity to shape their own futures.
— Chairman LeRoy J. Jones, Jr.
P.S. Join NJDSC and Planned Parenthood for an important and timely virtual discussion next Wednesday July 12 on New Jersey's reproductive rights and what we can do to continue the fight to expand access to and quality of reproductive health care and abortion! The event will feature special guest Jackie Cornell, Executive Director of Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey, and other speakers, and is one of two planned in a series. As we watch our federal government limit abortion access, we must continue to protect personal healthcare decisions at the state level.
Hosted by: Women's Caucus, Black Caucus, Emerging Leaders Caucus, Latino Caucus, LGBTQ+ Caucus, Jewish Caucus, Progressive Caucus, and Veterans Caucus
|
Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) non-profit organization, and the advocacy arm of the Planned Parenthood affiliates in NJ. |
| |
Paid for by the New Jersey Democratic State Committee. New Jersey Democratic State Committee
142 West State Street
Trenton, NJ 08608
United States
|
If you believe you received this message in error or wish to no longer receive email from us, please unsubscribe. |
|
|
|
