WASHINGTON - After more than 90 days since Hurricane Sandy made landfall in New Jersey, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-09) today praised the allocation of $1,829,520,000 in Federal funding to the State of New Jersey to recover from the devastating storm. The funding, provided through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Program, will support long-term disaster recovery efforts in local communities devastated by Sandy. The $50.5 billion Sandy aid bill (H.R. 152), which President Obama signed into law on January 29, provides $16 billion in new CDBG funding—the largest ever appropriation for this program.

"This has been a long time coming, but after 96 days, Sandy victims in New Jersey can breathe a sigh of relief," said Rep. Pascrell. "Residents in Moonachie and Little Ferry shouldn't have to live in fear of the next storm wiping out their homes. That’s why it was a top priority of mine to include long term mitigation funding for New Jersey, like CDBG, in this supplemental appropriations bill. This funding will allow us to rebuild a stronger, smarter Garden State that will be better prepared for the next storm, and I am pleased to see HUD move swiftly in getting these funds to residents when they need it most. While this is a good first step, I will continue to fight to ensure that New Jersey residents get every dollar they deserve to rebuild their lives."

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