Rep. Sherrill Secures Funding for Law Enforcement, Gateway Tunnel, Flood Mitigation, Child Care, Picatinny Arsenal, and Assistance to Ukraine

Appropriations Package Passage Delivers Key Priorities for NJ-11

Washington, D.C.–– Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) secured funding for key New Jersey priorities in the bipartisan FY 2023 appropriations omnibus, including law enforcement, the Gateway Tunnel Project, flood mitigation, Picatinny Arsenal, job training, health care resources, and investments to combat the climate crisis. She also secured funding for all 14 Community Projects she championed on behalf of New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, bringing federal dollars directly back to North Jersey to address needs identified by the community.

“I am proud to have voted for this bipartisan legislative package, which delivers on key priorities that will lower the cost of living for New Jersey families, create good-paying jobs, keep our nation and communities safe, and protect our environment,” said Rep. Sherrill. “Building off last year’s success, we secured funding for key projects that will empower NJ-11 communities in their fight to increase public safety, improve water quality, mitigate the risk of flooding, expand access to health care and strengthen local infrastructure. I remain steadfast in my commitment to bringing back every federal dollar I can to make New Jersey a better and more affordable place to live.”

To meet urgent needs across the United States, the House Appropriations Committee invited Members of Congress to request funding for specific projects in their communities. Rep. Sherrill successfully championed funding for these 14 projects, which will directly benefit NJ-11 residents. They include:

1. $600,000 for security enhancements to the Boonton Reservoir as part of a larger effort to enhance and safeguard the water quality of the Reservoir, while creating recreational access with a 7.7 mile hiking trail centered in the Parsippany / Boonton area of Morris County.
2. $809,000 to improve the flow of public safety data with a new fiber optic network that will aid the Chatham Township Police Department and county authorities in the investigation, response, and prevention of crime, including auto thefts.
3. $760,000 to expand access to technology for individuals with disabilities for the Jewish Service for the Developmentally Disabled (JSDD) based in Livingston and serving communities across NJ-11.
4. $2,086,269 to support construction of a forty-four unit, multi-family affordable housing development in Madison, featuring enhanced energy initiatives that make it the first of its kind in New Jersey to meet Passive Housing/New Zero Energy Standards..
5. $2,056,000 to rehabilitate and create resiliency in Rand Well in Montclair, which has unacceptably high levels of PFOS and Perchlorates.
6. $1,000,000 for upgrades in technology and improvements in facilities in the Emergency Department at the Morristown Medical Center, which is a vital lifeline to millions of patients and families throughout the region.
7. $500,000 for reconstruction and improvements to Collinsville-Tucker Park in Morris Township.
8. $1,761,700 for the Housing is Healthcare for Economic Development pilot program to provide pathways to affordable, safe housing and preventive healthcare led by Family Promise of Morris County who will incorporate other community partners.
9. $1,200,000 to design and construct a mini-roundabout at the intersection of McBride Avenue and Browertown Road in Woodland Park to enhance traffic safety and provide new access to over 50 businesses and 3 schools in the Browertown Road area.
10. $3,452,972 for improvements to the wastewater pump system servicing the Lake Hiawatha area of Parsippany.
11. $1,000,000 for facilities and equipment at the Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston to expand and enhance their existing EMS Physician Training and Mobile Health initiative.
12. $1,000,000 for student scholarships to support college completion for William Paterson University students impacted financially by the COVID-19 pandemic.
13. $1,500,000 for the Whippany River Regional Improvement Initiative, proposed by local officials in East Hanover, Hanover Township, Parsippany, and Florham Park to take critical steps to clear obstructions and mitigate flooding in the area.
14. $300,000 for the Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a General Investigation Watershed Study to determine the most effective options to mitigate flooding from the Whippany River that has long impacted the Morristown area around historic Bethel Church, as well as towns all along the river like East Hanover, Hanover, Parsippany, and Florham Park.

The Appropriations funding package includes the following provisions that Rep. Sherrill advocated for on behalf of New Jersey:

• Funding for Picatinny Arsenal: This package includes a funding increase of more than $200 million over the President’s budget for programs at Picatinny Arsenal, including funds for signature Picatinny efforts such as novel armament systems, advanced armament fire control, and extended range artillery munitions. The Arsenal is NJ-11’s largest employer and contributes more than $1 billion to the North Jersey economy every year.

• Assistance for Ukraine: This package includes critical new resources for Ukraine’s fight against Russian aggression, including $9 billion for security assistance, $2.5 billion for humanitarian assistance, and $2.4 billion for refugee resettlement. This funding will enable our Ukrainian allies to continue their inspiring success in defending their democracy this fall into the winter and will help them rebuild when the war is over.

• Investment in our Law Enforcement: This package includes robust funding for state and local police departments in New Jersey, including for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grants and COPS programs that help agencies to hire additional officers, develop and test innovative policing strategies, expand training and mental health programs, and purchase new equipment. It also includes funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership program to help law enforcement agencies properly equip and protect officers in the field.

• Funding to Complete the Gateway Project: This package includes appropriations for the funding already authorized by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to finally complete the Gateway Tunnel Project which is crucial to the economy of north Jersey and the entire Northeast Region. This includes resources for Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, the Capital Investment Grants program, and the Federal-State Partnership for Intercity Rail program.

• Resources for Child Care: This package makes critical investments in our nation’s childcare sector to ensure that centers are able to sustain and expand their services for children and families. This legislation provides an increase in funding for the Child Care Development Block Grant, a vital resource for families to access affordable, high-quality child care, and also includes a much-needed boost to funding for Head Start, which provides early learning opportunities for more than 15,000 families in New Jersey.

• Support for Labor Rights: This package includes critical funding for the agencies tasked with enforcing our labor laws and ensuring that workers have access to their rights to collectively bargain and be paid a fair wage, including the National Labor Relations Board. It also includes funding to create thousands of Registered Apprenticeship positions, which provide a crucial pathway to the middle class for so many families.

• Investments to Protect our Environment: This package creates good-paying jobs through investments in renewable energy development, including offshore wind, and a national initiative to reclaim abandoned mines and cap orphan oil and gas wells. It also confronts the climate crisis by expanding environmental enforcement efforts and launching a renewed focus on land and water conservation.

• Flood Mitigation: This package includes critical funding for the Army Corps of Engineers to be used for investigations and construction projects to protect our communities from more frequent and severe flooding. It also invests in investigations for flood mitigation systems in Northern New Jersey, maintenance of our flood controls, including on the Passaic River, and a flood warning system along the Passaic River.

• Reform of the Electoral Count Act: This package includes an overhaul of the Electoral Count Act to ensure that the results of a lawfully conducted Presidential election cannot be easily overturned by those in power. The reform increases the threshold for Members of Congress to lodge electoral objections and prevents state legislatures from overturning the popular vote in their states.

• Support for Families: This package provides funding increases for important nutrition programs such as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to expand access for the millions of families who rely on these services for nutritious food.

• Resources for Education: This package includes increased funding in all levels of education, making strong investments in programs like Special Education to ensure students in New Jersey are receiving the best education possible. The legislation also provides important funding to student financial assistance programs for higher education and increases the maximum Pell Grant to make college affordable for all students.

• Investments in Public Health: This package invests important funds in vital public health programs, including preparation and response planning for a flu epidemic and the maternal and child health block grant. It also bolsters mental health programming, such as the Mental Health Block Grant that supports the prevention, screening, and treatment of mental health services for children, adults, and seniors. The package also provides a two-year extension to telehealth services, which has become a valuable tool in ensuring easy and timely access to healthcare providers.

###