Federal legislators had a busy month in June as they announced the release of federal funding for a variety of projects throughout Hudson County.
The largest of the funding amounts released will got towards safety improvements on commuter tunnels. But legislators have not overlooked local health care facilities or local police.
U.S. Senators Robert Torricelli and Jon Corzine (both Democrats) unveiled in early July a $100 million spending plan to fund commuter tunnel safety and security improvements. This would cover six Amtrak-owned tunnels under the East and Hudson Rivers. These funds were security through last year’s Department of Defense Appropriations bill, and are part of the $20 billion in emergency supplemental spending for homeland security, increased defense needs and other efforts to combat terrorism.
“Through no choice of our own, New Jersey last year became a new frontline in the war on terrorism,” said Torricelli. “It is our responsibility to provide the strongest security possible for the thousands of people who use our area transit system everyday. Our rail tunnels are in dire need of repair, expansion and upgrading.”
The tunnels, according to Torricelli, suffer from many problems that include poor lighting and ventilation systems, and limited access from street level in case of rescue efforts. In the event of an accident or further terrorist attacks, these problems, he said, could prove fatal.
Of the $100 million in federal funds secured, over $54 million will be spent on safety and structural improvements to the two Amtrak-owned tunnels under the Hudson River which connect Northern New Jersey with Manhattan.
“Thousands of New Jerseyans rely on these tunnels to get to work each day,” Corzine said. “After the terrorist attacks, it is imperative that we take the necessary steps to ensure the safety of passengers commuting between New Jersey and New York.”
More 107 Amtrak trains and 212 New Jersey Transit trains a day use the Hudson River tunnels, carrying close to 100,000 people.
Rep. Robert Menendez applauded his colleagues in their efforts to get the tunnel money.
“The release of these crucial funds could not have come at a more important time,” Menendez said. “It is unfortunate that it has taken this long to release the money that was appropriated seven months ago.”
Menendez is a member of the Congressional Transportation Committee and said the federal grants would provide people with increased safety and security.
The grant funds, he said, will be used to cover the costs of fire and life safety improvement that include: structural rehabilitation, installation of modernized tunnel ventilation and communication systems, and improvements for emergency access and egress.
“When passenger safety is at stake, it is our responsibility to fund the necessary improvements,” Menendez said.
Menendez gets grant for local health centers
Menendez, vice chairman of the Congressional Democratic Caucus, said the North Hudson Community Action Corporation has been awarded a $1,170,000 federal grant from the Department of Health and Human Resources Administration.
This money will go towards the continued operation of NHCAC’s health centers for the upcoming year, with $50,000 dedicated to providing additional services. While NHCAC’s main facility is in West New York, it also has facilities in Jersey City, Union City and North Bergen, and provides services to residents in those cities as well as to residents in Guttenberg, Weehawken, Hoboken, Secaucus, Kearny, East Newark and Harrison.
NHCAC offers services in mental health, internal medicine, pediatrics, women’s health and dental care. The grant will provide health services to 25,000 new patients and dental health coverage to 5,000 new patients.
“Having access to quality healthcare is an integral part of a strong community,” Menendez said. “Community health centers … play a vital role in ensuring that access to quality healthcare is available to all members of our community.”
Rothman secures for North Bergen and Secaucus police
In keeping with his promise to provide law enforcement officials with the tools they need to effectively fight crime, Congressman Steve Rothman (D-9th Dist.) today announced that he has secured an $8,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, through a program he helped establish as a member of the Judiciary Committee, to allow the North Bergen Police Department to purchase bulletproof vests for all of their police officers and a separate $1,833 grant for the Secaucus police to protect their entire force.
“Day in and day out, the brave officers of the North Bergen and Secaucus police forces risk their lives to make our community safe for us and our families,” Rothman said. “This grant allows the North Bergen and Secaucus Police Departments to purchase new bulletproof vests that will protect and save the lives of those who protect and save our lives.”
Rothman helped secure bulletproof vest grants for 13 Bergen County police department and three Hudson County police departments through the U.S. Department of Justice’s Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program, which Rothman helped create through legislation he co-sponsored as a member of the House Judiciary Committee in 1998. This year, as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, Rothman aggressively and successfully sought funds for increased law enforcement personnel and equipment for Bergen and Hudson counties.
“We have the responsibility to ensure the safety of the members of law enforcement,” Rothman said. “These funds can mean the difference between life and death, which is why I am so pleased that we have successfully secured funds for the brave officers of the North Bergen and Secaucus Police Departments.”