Stimulate Us

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, today announced the list of New Jersey cities, towns and counties that will receive a total of $75.5 million from the economic recovery package for energy efficiency projects and programs. The money is being distributed through the Energy Efficiency Block Grants program, which Menendez created with legislation in 2007. The money will be used by the municipalities to support energy-saving initiatives and improve energy efficiency in transportation, buildings, and other sectors.

“This funding is a job-generator, a cost-saver and a renewable energy-producer, all of which are key components to an economic recovery for families in our state,” Menendez said. “New Jersey is leading the way to a new, stronger economy with our development, manufacturing and use of solar power, LED lighting and other forms of cutting-edge, green technology. This program is going to help spur those New Jersey industries, while boosting our local economies. I have worked closely with mayors like Doug Palmer, who testify to the importance of energy efficiency projects for their local economy, and we will continue to work together to make this program a big part of our energy policy.”
Off interest to our coverage area: Out of $75,5000 we will receive $14,400,700 for the New Jersey State Energy Office. Only Bloomfield will recieve $177,000 and Kearny at $158,600 are included in the deal.

Menedez to address continuing Wall St. bonuses

SEN. MENENDEZ TO DISCUSS EFFORT TO GET PRES. OBAMA'S ADMINISTRATION TO INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF REPORTS OF WALL ST. AVOIDING BAN ON EXECUTIVE BONUSES

Menendez has alerted Treasury Secretary Geithner to reports of deferred and re-named bonuses by firms receiving taxpayer money

WASHINGTON – Recent news reports have suggested that banks receiving taxpayer money from the TARP program may be circumventing the new ban on executive bonuses by announcing deferred bonuses or by calling them a different name. U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ), a member of the Senate Banking Committee, will be in the financial district of Jersey City (often referred to as “Wall Street West”) on Monday to discuss his efforts to have the Obama administration examine these reports and ensure that the ban on bonuses for TARP recipients is enforced.

WHAT: U.S. Senator Robert Menendez to discuss his efforts to ensure that banks receiving taxpayer money do not circumvent ban on executive bonuses.

WHO: Senator Robert Menendez
Congressman Albio Sires
Hudson County Executive Thomas A. DeGise
Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah T. Healy
Jacob Koetsier, Legislative Advocate, NJPIRG -
New Jersey Public Interest Research Group

WHEN: Monday, March 9, at 10:30 AM

WHERE: Harborside Financial Center Plaza area across from interior entrance to Plaza 2, Ground Floor next to C-Side Restaurant in Jersey City.

Menendez stresses legislation for gang activity

FBI report shows 57 percent of state and local law enforcement in East region reported criminal gang activity in their jurisdiction

WASHINGTON – The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released its 2009 National Gang Threat Assessment (available here: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/ngta2009.pdf). Among its findings is that gangs in the East region (an area that includes New Jersey, six other states and Washington, D.C.) “very likely will continue to expand their operations from urban communities into suburban and rural locations.” The FBI estimates that there are more than 2,900 gangs with approximately 73,650 members operating in this region. 57 percent of law enforcement in the region reported gang activity in their jurisdiction, whereas 37 percent did so in 2004.
U.S. Senator Robert Menendez, in the previous session of Congress, was the sponsor of the Fighting Gangs and Empowering Youth Act (details here: http://menendez.senate.gov/newsroom/record.cfm?id=271326), which focused on combating gangs and steering youths away from gangs. He released the following statement on the Gang Threat Assessment today:
“Gang activity is a threat to our families, not just in our cities, but in our suburbs and beyond. We need to stand up to these gangs with the types of strong initiatives on the national and state levels that combat them directly and undercut them at their roots for the future. That is why, this year, I plan to introduce a stronger and more effective version of my anti-gang legislation, designed not only to stop existing Gang activity but to also steer our children away from gangs and toward productive futures.
“In New Jersey, it is incumbent on our U.S. Attorney’s office to become a true partner in ending gang violence. I will be urging the next U.S Attorney in New Jersey to create a ‘tiger team’ of prosecutors who come together across the state to prosecute cases involving gangs swiftly and effectively. This is an all-hands-on-deck problem. We need to work together, share intelligence, and protect our communities. This is a top priority for the security of New Jersey families, and it should be a top priority for our top law enforcement.”

Menedez Chair of House & Transportation

SEN. MENENDEZ CHOSEN AS CHAIRMAN OF HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION SUBCOMITTEE IN SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE
New responsibility puts him at center of vital economic issues

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) assumed the chairmanship of the Housing, Transportation and Community Development Subcommittee in the Senate Banking Committee. In this position, the Senator will chair hearings and help direct policy on these vital issues for families in this economy.
“With this new responsibility, I will be able to more directly help effect change on some major economic issues that impact the lives of New Jersey families on a daily basis. The housing crisis is the root of our economic struggles. It continues to affect families who lose their homes as well as their neighbors who face plummeting property values and begin to worry about their own financial situation. I’m going to work closely with President Obama to deliver real economic security to families who are worried about how they can continue to afford their mortgage payments.
“This subcommittee also oversees transportation issues, especially mass transit. New Jerseyans rely heavily on mass transit to get to work and school, and they know how it useful can be to cut down on energy costs and commute times. I believe that we should be doing everything we can to support mass transit in our state and around the country to help people reduce their expenses and break our reliance on foreign oil.”
In addition to this subcommittee chairmanship and his membership in the Banking Committee, Senator Menendez is also a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee; a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and chair of the subcommittee that oversees foreign assistance; a member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; a member of the Senate Budget Committee; and the Chairman of the Senate Democratic Hispanic Task Force.