Pascrell Highlights Appropriations Victories for North Jersey

Spending package includes increased support for clean energy, first responders, infrastructure, and other priorities important to New Jersey families

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) today voted in favor of the FY 2022 Seven-Bill Appropriations Minibus (H.R. 4502), a massive spending package that includes millions in federal support for programs and services vital to North Jersey.

“Democrats are moving swiftly to reinvest in America’s future. Today we’ve voted to fund so many programs, services, and priorities relied upon by American families. I was proud to secure direct funding for many priorities across our Congressional District and help pass this bill this afternoon,” said Rep. Pascrell. “Democrats were elected to lead and that is precisely what we are doing with our legislation today. We are committing millions of dollars for health services, first responders, environmental cleanup, clean energy, and so much more. As we work to beat back COVID-19, the federal government must continue to robustly invest in American communities. Working closely with my colleagues on the Appropriations Committee, I am confident we will continue to pass progressive spending legislation like this that directly benefits American families and workers.”

Today’s minibus package is one of several FY22 appropriations bills the House is expected to consider in the coming weeks. Rep. Pascrell championed several provisions of today’s package, a summary of which is provided below.

Labor-Health & Human Services-Education

• $9 million for Rep. Pascrell’s Alternatives to Opioids in the Emergency Department (ALTO) program, an increase of $3 million from FY21.

• $8.75 million for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) within the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, including a $2 million set-aside for concussion surveillance. This is an increase of $2 million from FY21.

• $15.321 million for the Administration on Community Living TBI State Grant Program which is an increase of $4 million from FY21.

• $2.65 billion for the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program overall which is an increase of $231 million from FY21.

• $2.5 million for Pascrell’s Firefighter Cancer Registry, which is the fully authorized amount. Reps. Pascrell, Steny Hoyer (D-MD-05), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA-01), and Bost (R-IL-12) led a letter requesting $2.5 million in funding for the Firefighter Cancer Registry in FY22.

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Garfield Wellness Center project at $1,500,000. This funding is designated to support robust community health resources, particularly in disenfranchised communities, and enable the creation of a tangible space where residents from all walks of life will be able to improve themselves through healthier lifestyles.

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Equipment for the Hackensack Meridian Health School of Medicine project at $775,000. The funding is designated to support Northern New Jersey as a medically underserved area with a need for more trained medical professionals

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Saint Joseph’s Health Mental Health Designated Screening Center Expansion and Renovation project at $1,000,000 to help reach more residents, including the most vulnerable.

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Passaic County Community College Northern New Jersey Post-Pandemic Employment and Skills Training Initiative project at $1,936,006. The funding is designated to help low-income and minority residents secure high-skill, high-wage employment in emerging industry sectors.

Agriculture-Food & Drug Administration

• Reps. Pascrell, Schneider, Schakowsky, and McKinley sent a letter urging inclusion of language on medical device supply chain management, which was included.

Energy-Water

• Includes language Rep. Pascrell pushed for which recognizes the importance of the Hackensack Meadowlands New Jersey Ecosystem Restoration Project within the Hudson Raritan Estuary and encourages the Army Corps of Engineers to closely collaborate with the non-federal partners to ensure the required funding match is available to advance this project.

• Supports $500,000 for the Peckman River Basin in New Jersey.

• Includes at least $60 million for offshore wind investment, which Rep. Pascrell is a leader in championing in the House.

Financial Services and General Government

• $6 million for postal banking pilot programs. Reps. Pascrell, Marcy Kaptur (D-OH-09), and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) led a letter urging inclusion of report language funding postal banking pilot programs at $6 million.

Interior-Environment

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Saddle Brook Sewage Rehabilitation and Improvements project at $1,393,682. This funding will enable the Township of Saddle Brook to provide required maintenance, repairs, and replacements for the three sewage pumping stations and a gravity sewer interceptor system owned and operated by the Township.

• $1,533,814,000 for the Hazardous Substance Superfund program, an increase of $330,497,000 from FY21. Rep. Pascrell advocated for increased funding from the FY21 level.

• $2,977,329,000 for the National Park System that will benefit the Great Falls National Historical Park, an increase of $277,469,000 from FY21.

• $1,870,680,000 for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund, an increase of $231,854,000 from FY21.

• $1,357,934,000 for the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund, an increase of  $231,846,000 from FY21.

Military Construction-Veterans Administration

• Reps. Pascrell and Pete Stauber (R-MN-08) sent a letter urging inclusion of follow-up language on long-term care for veterans with TBIs, which was included.

Transportation-Housing & Urban Development

• Includes language Rep. Pascrell’s secured to prohibit funds from being used to change weight restrictions or prior permission rules at Teterboro Airport in New Jersey.

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Wrigley Park Rehabilitation project in Paterson at $360,000. This funding will focus on improving the aesthetics and increase the functionality of this green space, as it is currently in failing condition.

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request supporting the Borough of Fort Lee Streetscape project at $250,000. This project will maximize and enhance the pedestrian experience along Abbott Boulevard corridor, which is situated parallel to and between Palisade Avenue and Anderson Avenue. These two Avenues are both main Bergen County thoroughfares connected perpendicularly by Columbia Avenue.

• Includes Rep. Pascrell’s community project funding request for Cliffside Park supporting the West Grantwood Park Rehabilitation project at $250,000. This funding will proceed with this rehabilitation project for West Grantwood Park. The Borough of Cliffside Park has already surveyed the area and has an engineer’s estimate for all expenses and construction items needed to complete this project.

• Includes an extension of the expiration date for funding to rebuild and ensure resilience in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. $15 million from the National Disaster Resilience Competition, $230 million for a project across Hoboken, Weehawken and Jersey City, and $150 million for a project in the Meadowlands area slated to expire in 2023 will now remain accessible until 2025.

• $2,700,000,000 for Amtrak through the northeast corridor grants and national network grants accounts, which is an increase of $500,000,000 from FY21.

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