Measure urges support for legislation appropriating $60.4 billion in federal resources to states along East Coast hit hardest by storm
(TRENTON) – The General Assembly on Monday approved a measure sponsored by Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver and Assembly Republican Leader Jon Bramnick urging Congress to act on legislation that would clear $60.4 billion in federal resources to help New Jersey and other states recover from the damage and destruction inflicted by Superstorm Sandy.
“The level of devastation brought by Sandy was massive. Touring the Jersey Shore and seeing the destruction up close made it ever more clear that these towns, these neighborhoods, these families need our help and they need it now,” said Oliver (D-Essex/Passaic). “We might differ in our policies, but not in our responsibility to assist people who are suffering. Congress has appropriately rushed aid to areas afflicted by natural disasters in the past. We respectfully ask that they do the same for New Jersey and every other state still struggling to bounce back.”
“Our country always rallies to help those who are in need, regardless of where they live. We have always supported other areas in this country when they were in despair and faced the daunting challenge of overcoming a catastrophe,” said Bramnick (R-Union, Morris and Somerset). “All we are asking is that Congress act swiftly and approve the assistance requested by the President so that the recovery process can move forward and we can help rebuild the communities devastated by Hurricane Sandy.”
Superstorm Sandy caused approximately $36.9 billion in damage In New Jersey alone, according to the preliminary damage assessment released by the governor’s office last month. The resolution (AR-88) urges Congress to adopt legislation requested by President Obama to provide $60.4 billion in federal resources to help pay for the costs of responding to, recovering from and mitigating the damage sustained by New Jersey and other states along the East Coast.
The resolution notes that Congress has a “proud history” of diligently aiding areas recovering from terrible natural disasters. Congress appropriated $62 billion in emergency assistance two weeks after Hurricane Katrina made landfall in 2005, and $20 billion within a month of Hurricanes Ike and Gustav. The president made his request on December 7.
Copies of the resolution, signed by Speaker Oliver and attested by the Clerk of the General Assembly, will be transmitted to the President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives and to every member of Congress elected from New Jersey.
The resolution was approved 77-0.