LAUTENBERG AND MENENDEZ APPLAUD FEDERAL DISASTER DECLARATION IN 15 NEW JERSEY COUNTIES DAMAGED BY TORNADO AND SEVERE WEATHERNew Jersey Senators Issued Letter to U.S Department of AgricultureRequesting Designation in AugustWASHINGTON, D.C. - Sens. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) and Robert Menendez (D-NJ) today applauded the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for declaring a natural disaster in15 New Jersey counties recently damaged by severe weather, including a tornado. The affected areas include local farms, many of which suffered significant crop loss and property damage. Food and agriculture contribute $82 billion each year to New Jersey's economy."New Jersey's farms were hit hard by severe weather and are in need of this critical federal assistance," said Sen. Lautenberg. "With this designation, Garden State farmers will be able to get the help they need to recover crops and rebuild infrastructure that was compromised by dangerous weather conditions this summer." "Ensuring the prosperity of New Jersey's farmers is important to our state's agricultural families and important to our state's economy," said Sen. Menendez. "While we can't control severe weather, this emergency assistance helps New Jersey farms stay viable and stay competitive, which is particularly important in this recession."The declaration will make producers in the selected counties eligible to be considered for Farm Service Agency (FSA) emergency loans (EM) and the Supplemental Revenue Assistance Program (SURE) that was approved as part of the Food, Conservation and Energy Act of 2008. FSA will consider each emergency loan application on its merit by taking into account the extent of losses, security available, and repayment ability. Local FSA offices can provide affected farmers and ranchers with additional information.The following 15 New Jersey counties will receive federal disaster aid:· Atlantic County· Burlington County· Camden County· Cape May County· Cumberland County· Gloucester County· Hunterdon County· Mercer County· Middlesex County· Monmouth County· Ocean County· Salem County· Somerset County· Sussex County· Warren County Benefits will also be made available for the contiguous counties of Morris, Passaic and Union.A copy of the USDA designation letter issued today and the letter the Senators' sent to the USDA in August are attached. The Senators' request was supported by Governor Jon. S. Corzine and the USDA's State Emergency Board, which had unanimously recommended a USDA Secretarial Natural Disaster Designation.###
Christie vetoes 5 service contracts approved by Turnpike Authority Governor Christie on Thursday vetoed five professional services contracts that were approved by the New Jersey Turnpike Authority a month ago. The governor’s office said Christie exercised his eighth veto because the contract fees ranged from...
“She has already chosen the interests of the insurance industry over the health care needs of working people, she took millions from Wall Street as the economy went into a meltdown, and now she wants to purchase a job in Congress at a time when so many have lost their jobs because of the actions of big bankers and others." -- Monmouth County Democrats spokesman Mike Mangan, on Republican Diane Gooch, who is challenging U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone.
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