Robert Menendez

Menendez Announces Federal Investments to Expand Access to Health Care and Hire Cops in Cumberland County

July 2, 2012

Bridgeton – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez today visited Bridgeton, Cumberland County to announce more than $5.9 million in federal investments to expand access to affordable health care and bolster local public safety efforts. Menendez was joined by Bridgeton Mayor Albert Kelly and President and CEO of CompleteCare Gil Walter for the event.

“Keeping our families healthy and safe is what it is all about, and that’s why I am so proud to partner with Mayor Kelly and CompleteCare in achieving both of these goals,” said Menendez.

Menendez announced a total of more than $5.5 million in grants made possible by the Affordable Care Act to CompleteCare Health Network which will expand access to affordable health care to more than 9,000 patients a year.  Specifically, a $4.99 million grant will go toward construction of a new health care and dental center in Vineland; a $499,894 grant will be used to upgrade and expand health care staff at the Bridgeton Women’s Center; and  a $441,667 grant will fund the construction of a new health center in Wildwood, Cape May County.

“Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, these grants are helping to making health care more affordable and accessible to thousands of local families,” said Menendez.   

Menendez also announced a $375,000 grant through the U.S. Department of Justice Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program that will allow the city to rehire three police officers. Menendez led the fight to secure funding for the popular initiative, overcoming efforts by House Republicans to defund the program.  Budget cuts led to more than 700 police layoffs throughout New Jersey in 2011.

“I believe we have an obligation – at the federal, state and local levels – to do all we can to support our police forces, especially during these tough economic times,” said Menendez.  “That’s why I’m so pleased that Bridgeton will be able to put three police officers back on the force, keeping families and neighborhoods safe.”

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