Pallone: Recovery Act Has Created Jobs, Stabilized N.J. Economy Over Past Year

February 17, 2010

U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. on Wednesday made the following statement on the one year anniversary of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act becoming law.

“New Jerseyans have received over 3,500 loans, grants and contracts totaling over $4.5 billion as a result of the Recovery Act. Working families across the country have also received over $99 billion in tax breaks. The Recovery Act is putting New Jerseyans to work who have lost their jobs and continued to employ those, who without it, would have lost their jobs.

“The unemployment and foreclosure rates in this state are still unacceptably high, and I will continue to advocate for those who have lost their homes and jobs.  I’m optimistic that Recovery Act money will continue to create and save jobs, and stabilize New Jersey’s economy over the next year, as it has this past year.”

In the 6th District, significant Recovery Act projects include the following:

• Over $18 million to fund Pell Grant programs for Middlesex County College and Rutgers University which will help low-income students have access to post secondary education (The Federal Pell Grant Program).
• Over $1.5 million to develop and implement programs that will lower energy use in Piscataway and Edison, NJ (Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program).
• Over $1.3 million to create and preserve law enforcement jobs which will aid in crime prevention efforts in Asbury Park, NJ (COPS Hiring Recovery Program).