Robert Menendez

Menendez, Lautenberg Announce More Than $775,000 For Community Health Centers in Newark, Bridgeton

June 26, 2012

NEWARK, NJ — Today, U.S. Senators Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) announced more than $770,000 for community health centers in Newark and Bridgeton.  The grants, made possible through the health care reform legislation also known as the Affordable Care Act, will provide access to health care for thousands of New Jerseyans in underserved communities.

"This federal funding for community health centers in Newark and Bridgeton is more evidence of the Affordable Care Act delivering for New Jersey families,"said Senator Lautenberg, who received the 2012 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers and the New Jersey Primary Care Association. "Community health centers are valuable resources in our communities and this federal investment will enhance quality care for thousands of families." 

“I am pleased to once again announce more resources to continue improving New Jersey’s health care centers, made possible thanks to the Affordable Care Act,” said Senator Menendez, who received the 2012 Distinguished Community Health Champion Award. “This important funding will help expand access to a quality health care in the communities that need it the most. The fact is, health care reform is working, and with this funding we will be one step closer to reaching our objective: to ensure every family in New Jersey and the rest of America has access to the health care and the preventive services they need.”  

The Newark Department of Child and Family and Well-being will be awarded $335,000 and Community Healthcare Inc. in Bridgeton will be awarded $441,667.

Expanding access to community health centers like these is an integral part of the health care reform law, designed to provide comprehensive, primary health care services in high-need communities. These two New Jersey health centers are among 219 facilities nationwide receiving funds from HHS to expand access to care for more than 1.25 million Americans and create more than 5,600 jobs in the health care industry.

As a member of the Senate Appropriations committee, Senator Lautenberg has worked to increase funding for community health centers in New Jersey and across the country.

In August 2010, Senator Menendez inaugurated Community Health Care Inc. in Bridgeton, financed with American Reinvestment Recovery Act (ARRA) funding.  Earlier this year, Menendez visited two of New Jersey’s health centers to announce an investment of more than $18 to expand and improve services at seven New Jersey health centers including Community Health Care and Newark City Health and Human Services, made possible by the ARRA.  

To learn more about HRSA’s Health Center Program, visit http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about/index.html.

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