Job-Saving Support Coming to New Jersey

Dear Neighbors,

I was in Perth Amboy this week to announce job-saving support for a local clothing manufacturer. Individualized Shirts is the largest maker of custom clothing made in the United States and employs more than 200 employees in the Perth Amboy factory.

I advocated for an increase in federal funding for a program at the U.S. Department of Agriculture that supports apparel manufacturers adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. It was also great to meet directly with union workers, who are the backbone of what makes our economy thrive right here in New Jersey. I’ll continue to support local businesses and good-paying union jobs.

Marking Progress to Clean Up Brownfield Sites in New Jersey

I was in Asbury Park on Thursday with Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials and local leaders to highlight the federal funding that New Jersey will receive to clean up Brownfield sites. The state will receive $6.5 million to clean up sites through the first round of funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law that Congress passed and was signed into law in November. Asbury Park will receive $500,000 to repurpose land and return it to good use.

The law injected $1.5 billion nationwide into the EPA’s Brownfields program to help communities clean up contaminated industrial sites and turn the spaces into parks, housing developments, or new businesses. These funds will allow families to rest a little easier knowing that some of the most contaminated sites in their area will soon be cleaned up, revitalized, and generating new jobs and economic opportunities.

More Federal Funding Set to Come to New Jersey

I secured funding for four projects in a federal spending bill. Each of these projects will help communities in Middlesex and Monmouth Counties continue to repair and rebuild our infrastructure.

The projects include:

$6 million for Carteret’s Ferry Terminal Building Project. Once completed, the ferry will allow New Jersey residents and tourists to easily travel between New Jersey and downtown Manhattan. This funding will deliver efficient and reliable transportation options to residents in Central New Jersey and will help reduce vehicle congestion.
$500,000 for the Boys & Girls Clubs in Coastal Monmouth. The Boys & Girls Clubs will use the funding to help support school-aged children who have experienced trauma and abuse in their homes. The Clubs work to empower young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. This money will target Asbury Park, Neptune, Long Branch, and Red Bank.
$2.25 million for South Amboy’s Waterfront Rehabilitation Project. The funding will be used to create a waterfront park by reclaiming and rehabilitating the waterfront area to create an open park concept and conservation area. The park will be a central focus of the city’s efforts to create a public space that residents and visitors can enjoy.
$1.5 million for Woodbridge Township to transition to clean public transit options. The funding will be used to purchase new electric buses and charging infrastructure to transport underserved communities within the township, simultaneously creating cleaner air and more transportation options in Woodbridge.

We Must Halt Exports of Crude Oil

I wrote to President Biden this week encouraging him to stop exports of crude oil to help reduce domestic prices at the gas pump. Stopping these exports would increase the domestic supply of oil available to U.S. refiners and would consequently help reduce prices at the pump here at home. Instead of refining that crude oil at home for domestic use, the United States is exporting near record-amounts of oil to other countries. Taking this action to restrict exports could provide real relief to Americans.

If you have questions about COVID-19 vaccines, tests, or resources available to New Jerseyans during the coronavirus pandemic, click here to visit my website or call my offices directly:

Middlesex County: 732-249-8892

Monmouth County: 732-571-1140

Sincerely,

Congressman Pallone