Washington - New Jersey Senators Robert Menendez and Frank R. Lautenberg, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, today announced that the Senate approved legislation to give New Jersey millions of dollars in federal funding for flood prevention, beach replenishment and other critical infrastructure projects to be conducted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

The Appropriations legislation was approved by the House on Monday but must return to that body before it is sent to the President. The measure is expected to be approved by the House and sent to the President for his signature by the end of the week.

"The rampant flooding of this past April were another stark reminder of just how susceptible homes in our state are to devastating floods," said Sen. Menendez. "At the same time, the Jersey Shore faces the ominous threat of a rising sea level and catastrophic storms that climate change can spawn. New Jersey needs to be prepared, and that's why these funds are so important. With these funds, our communities can help keep the elements at bay."

"These funds will go a long way towards preventing flooding, saving lives and protecting New Jersey's homes and businesses from severe storms. I was proud to take part in crafting this legislation," said Sen. Lautenberg.

These funds were included as part of the FY 2008 Omnibus Appropriations bill which passed the Senate.

Some of the projects funded in the measure are:

$85,191,768 for NJ/NY Harbor Deepening;
$10,001,376 for the Green Brook Sub-basin flood control project;
$2,808,336 for beach replenishment in Ocean City;
$4,920,000 for beach replenishment on Long Beach Island;
$4,779,288 for Avalon and North Wildwood beach replenishment;
$532,344 for Passaic River Flood Warning;
$2,952,000 for stabilization and ecosystem restoration at Joseph G. Minish Park in Newark;
$1,345,128 for Passaic River Preservation of Natural Flood Storage Areas;
$1,417,944 for Barnegat Inlet maintenance dredging;
$1,315,608 for Sandy Hook to Barnegat beach replenishment in Southern Long Branch portion;
$2,913,624 for dredging in the Raritan River to maintain navigability;
$3,387,912 for Newark Bay Passaic & Hackensack Rivers for dredging;
$876,744 for Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Harbor Inlet (Absecon);
$74,784 for Brigantine Inlet to Great Egg Harbor Inlet (Brigantine Island);
$4,785,192 for Lower Cape May Meadows ecosystem restoration project monitoring;
$5,684,568 for NJ/NY Harbor drift removal;
$825,576 for NJ/NY Harbor Prevention of Obstructive Deposits;
$245,016 for Cape May Inlet to Lower Township;
$414,264 for Cold Spring Inlet;
$4,920 for Delaware River at Camden;
$246,984 for a Comprehensive Study of the Delaware River Basin;
$18,507,072 for Delaware River-Philadelphia to the Sea maintenance;
$1,493,712 for Delaware River-Trenton to Philadelphia maintenance;
$371,952 for Hackensack Meadowlands;
$251,904 for Hereford to Cape May for shore protection;
$496,920 for Hudson Raritan Estuary Hackensack Meadowlands;
$492,000 for Hudson Raritan Estuary Lower Passaic River for a deepening project;
$177,120 for Lower Saddle River for flood control;
$184,992 for Manasquan River;
$988,920 for NJ Intracostal Waterway;
$107,256 for NJ Shore Alternative Long Term Nourishment;
$98,400 for Passaic River, Harrison;
$98,400 for Passaic River Main Stem;
$308,976 for Peckman River -- flood control;
$98,400 for Rahway River Basin;
$343,416 for Ramapo & Mahwah Rivers;
$98,400 for Raritan & Sandy Hook Bays -- Highlands beach renourishment;
$98,400 for Raritan & Sandy Hook Bays -- Keyport;
$98,400 for Raritan & Sandy Hook Bays -- Leonardo;
$43,296 for Raritan & Sandy Hook Bays -- Union Beach;
$109,224 for Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay;
$876,744 for Raritan Bay & Sandy Hook Bay Port Monmouth;
$23,616 for Salem River;
$162,360 for Shoal Harbor and Compton Creek;
$138,744 for Shrewsbury River;
$98,400 for Shrewsbury River Main Channel;
$161,376 for South River; and
$98,400 for Stony Brook Millstone River Basin.

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