The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) will begin the second phase of the dredging project this week along the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers. The area to be dredged runs south along the Shrewsbury River from the Rumson-Sea Bright Bridge to the Branchport Avenue Bridge in Long Branch. It runs west along the Navesink River from Sea Bright to the Route 35 Bridge between Red Bank and the Navesink Section of Middletown Township. The dredged sand will then be used for beach replenishment and pumped onto the beach across from the Monmouth Beach Cultural Center.

Beach replenishment from offshore burrow pits is expected to begin around December 7 in two areas of Monmouth County. Sand will be pumped in Monmouth Beach south of the Monmouth Beach Bath and Tennis Club to the Monmouth Beach Bathing Pavilion. Sand will also be pumped in Long Branch from Cedar Avenue in the West End Section to Pullman Avenue in the Elberon Section of the city.  

The majority of the dredging project should be completed by the end of the year. Beach replenishment should be completed by March 2024 at the latest. I’m grateful for USACE’s commitment to this important project in our state. The dredging will make our rivers safer and more accessible, while beach replenishment will protect residents and help ensure our renowned beaches remain enjoyable for residents and tourists for years to come.

Additional Federal Funding for South Amboy’s Ferry

South Amboy will receive over $6 million to construct a floating dock system for the city’s intermodal passenger ferry terminal. The funding comes from the Passenger Ferry Grant Program through the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The ferry is already giving residents a new way to commute between Central Jersey and New York City, and the floating dock system will make the ferry more accessible to passengers and bolster the dock’s resilience against fluctuating tides and flooding events.

In October, I joined state and local leaders in South Amboy for the launch of the ferry, which will provide direct service from South Amboy to Lower and Midtown Manhattan. I advocated for $5.3 million in federal funding that was previously awarded from the FTA in support of the city’s passenger ferry. I will continue to support federal funding to bolster our state’s transportation infrastructure.

Protecting Consumers Against Surprise Medical Bills

Last Congress, I authored a bipartisan bill that is now law to protect patients from surprise medical bills and establish a fair payment resolution process between health care providers and health insurance plans. Thanks to this law, consumers are finally protected from financially devastating surprise medical bills that occur through no fault of their own. To date, the law has protected approximately one million patients per month from devastating surprise medical bills, saving patients and their families thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket costs that average up to $2,600.

Since passage of the law, however, private equity-backed corporate entities and provider organizations have filed over 20 lawsuits in an attempt to undermine the law and its important consumer protections. That’s why I wrote to the Biden Administration this week to voice my support for its fight against these efforts to undermine the law. I deeply appreciate the Administration’s ongoing work to implement this law in the face of seemingly endless legal challenges. Read more here

Reports of Oil Tar Balls off the Coast of Northern Monmouth County

I am concerned about reports of oil and tar balls off the coast of Northern Monmouth County. I’ve been in touch with the United States Coast Guard, United States Environmental Protection Agency, New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, and local officials to ensure we find out the origin of the oil and address environmental concerns.

U.S. Coast Guard conducted a fly over this week to ensure contamination is localized. The Coast Guard is leading official cleanup activities that have so far removed 250 pounds of tar balls. They are also conducting sample testing to attempt to determine the source of the contamination. I’m ready to help deliver whatever resources are necessary to make sure our coast has what it needs to clean up the contamination. While we don’t know the cause of this contamination yet, this is exactly why I fight so hard in Congress to prohibit offshore oil and gas drilling on the Jersey Shore. Our coastal communities and marine life depend on healthy ecosystems to thrive.

Cybersecurity Webinar

My office is hosting a webinar on Wednesday, December 6 at 1 PM for constituents to learn more about what we’re doing to promote internet accessibility and safe use. Too often, people fall prey to online scams and cyberattacks. This webinar is open to all constituents, business owners, non-profits, faith-based organizations, and business groups. Anyone interested in joining this webinar should contact my New Brunswick office at 732-249-8892 for more information.

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,