Washington - Today, the New Jersey congressional delegation met with Governor Chris Christie in Washington to discuss federal issues affecting the state. Issues raised by Menendez and other members of the delegation included New Jersey's continuing use of federal Recovery Act investments and other major federal investments delivered to the state, such as the hundreds of millions of dollars for the new mass transit tunnel across the Hudson. In addition, the governor committed to the delegation that he would approve the health care high-risk pool for New Jersey, created through the new health insurance reform law. After the meeting, Menendez released the following statement:

"There are a number of key economic issues affecting New Jersey families that are best addressed when our state's representation in Congress and the state government share a common focus. It was important to discuss as a group how we have been and will continue to help create jobs in New Jersey by affecting policy on the federal level. We discussed how the state continues to utilize key Recovery Act investments and programs, which create jobs and help alleviate the state's budget crunch. We also had a chance to discuss some of the other major federal investments that we've been working hard to deliver. Included on that list is the new mass transit tunnel, which is expected to support tens of thousands of jobs, as well as federal support for state Medicaid payments. I was pleased that the governor committed to us that he will approve the health care high-risk pool for the most vulnerable patients in New Jersey, which we created in the new health insurance reform law."