ELIZABETH, N.J. – U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker (both D-N.J.) were joined today by Governor Phil Murphy, local mayors and first responders on the steps of Elizabeth City Hall to discuss how $10.2 billion in direct, flexible, federal assistance they delivered for New Jersey will help the state and local communities combat COVID-19, keep firefighters, police officers, teachers and other essential workers on the job, and spur economic recovery.

 

Democrats in Congress passed the American Rescue Plan without a single Republican vote, despite the $1.9 trillion COVID relief package and many of its components garnering broad bipartisan support among the American people.  In addition to the $10.2 billion in state and local aid for New Jersey, the state will receive billions more to get vaccines into people’s arms, help struggling individuals and families, support restaurants and small businesses, safely reopen schools, and keep buses and trains rolling.

 

The $360 billion in direct, flexible assistance for state and local governments, contained in the American Rescue Plan, is modeled after Sen. Menendez’s bipartisan SMART Act, which was cosponsored by Sen. Booker and targets federal resources to areas with the greatest need, while ensuring every community, regardless of its size, is eligible for funding.  The final formula, which Sen. Menendez was instrumental in securing, netted New Jersey about $1 billion more than had the money been distributed solely by population.

 

“We are here today to say that help is on the way!” Sen. Menendez said.  “The American Rescue Plan will put us on a path to end the worst pandemic in 100 years and the most devastating economic crisis of our lifetimes.  It will accelerate vaccination efforts nationwide, because that’s our greatest hope for crushing COVID-19 and getting back to our lives.  And it is built to help the families, workers, businesses, and communities hit hardest by this pandemic.”

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. MENENDEZ

 

“As we face economic and public crises unlike anything we have seen in our lifetimes, the American Rescue Plan is an urgently needed and historic investment that will help New Jerseyans and millions of people across the country.  I was proud to fight alongside Senator Menendez and our colleagues to ensure that New Jersey’s residents and communities receive the help they desperately need,” said Sen. Booker.  “New Jersey’s teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other essential workers have been leading the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, and this federal support will help state and local governments to continue to provide these critical services.  I look forward to continue working with our federal, state, and municipal leaders to help see New Jersey communities through these challenging times.”

 

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH SEN. BOOKER

 

The State of New Jersey will receive approximately $6.434 billion plus another $189 million to expand broadband internet across the state.  An additional $1.823 billion will be split among the 21 county governments and $1.741 billion divided among all 565 cities and municipalities.  The flexible funding can be used by state and local governments to pay COVID-related expenses; cover lost revenues due to the pandemic to maintain critical services and avoid layoffs of essential workers; provide additional assistance to residents and small businesses; and invest in water, sewer and broadband infrastructure.

 

“The American Rescue Plan is not only a lifeline for the families who have been trying to stay afloat for the past year as the pandemic upended their lives and careers.  It is also a plan that ensures the vital services those families rely upon – police and fire, public health and emergency medical services, our public schools, and more – will remain viable and fully staffed,” said Gov. Murphy.  “I’d like to thank Senators Menendez and Booker for all they did to not only get the American Rescue Plan across the finish line, but to ensure that the needs of our state were not left out of it. I’d also like to thank Representatives Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Donald Payne Jr., Albio Sires, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Donald Norcross, Josh Gottheimer, Mikie Sherrill, Andy Kim, and Tom Malinowski for their leadership and support in the House, and for voting to move New Jersey forward.”

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH GOV. MURPHY

 

Under Mayor J. Christian Bollwage’s leadership, Elizabeth expended city resources to set up vaccination and testing sites, provide meals to homebound residents and needy families, purchase personal protective equipment (PPE), train and hire contact tracers, and provide support for struggling local businesses.  While the city managed to avoid layoffs, open positions have gone unfilled.  Elizabeth will receive nearly $40 million in direct, flexible assistance to help cover COVID-related expenses and lost revenues due to the pandemic.

 

“The resources provided by the American Rescue Plan Act will allow the City of Elizabeth to continue the operation of COVID vaccines to our residents,” said Mayor Bollwage, who helped secure support for Sen. Menendez’s SMART Act from the U.S. Conference of Mayors, which pressed members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to include federal assistance for state and local governments in any COVID stimulus package.  “With the loss of revenue for The Mills at Jersey Gardens, our hotels and parking tax, this helps to stabilize the budget as well.”

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MAYOR BOLLWAGE

 

In all, Union County will receive over $221.4 million in direct, flexible assistance from the American Rescue Plan, including $129.23 million for the county government and $92.4 million split among its 21 municipalities.

 

“I would like to thank Senators Menendez and Booker, Congressmen Payne and Malinowski, Governor Murphy, and Senators Scutari and Cryan for their tireless efforts in securing vital funding that will keep NJ families from despair,” said Union Twp. Mayor Michelle Delisfort, whose community will receive $16 million in direct federal assistance. “The Township of Union is beyond grateful to receive this direct, flexible, federal assistance, which will help Union families get through this difficult time as we shift our focus on recovery and end to this pandemic.”

 

CLICK HERE TO WATCH MAYOR DELISFORT

 

Earlier this week, Sens. Menendez and Booker released a full, county-by-county and town-by-town breakdown of the $10.2 billion in state and local funding for New Jersey in the American Rescue Plan.