Parsippany, NJ — Representative Mikie Sherrill (NJ-11) today led eleven members of the New Jersey House Delegation in urging Governor Phil Murphy to provide direct stabilization funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the counties in New Jersey with less than 500,000 people: Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren.

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which was signed into law by the President on March 27, 2020, created a $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state and local governments. Approximately $3.44 billion from this fund was allocated to the state of New Jersey, with part being provided as a direct block grant to the state and part to New Jersey counties with populations greater than 500,000 people. However, 12 counties with populations under 500,000 were excluded, including Morris County, which falls just short with approximately 491,000 residents.

“Just like their more populous neighbors, these counties are bearing an incredible burden as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and work to keep their populations safe,” the lawmakers wrote. “It is imperative that the enormous costs they face in responding to this crisis are given due consideration as New Jersey deploys its allocation of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, as well as other funding from the CARES Act that flows through the state.”

The letter, led by Representative Sherrill, was also signed by: Representatives Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), Donald M. Payne, Jr. (NJ-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), Christopher H. Smith (NJ-04), Josh Gottheimer (NJ-05), Donald Norcross (NJ-01), Andy Kim (NJ-03), Tom Malinowski (NJ-07), and Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-02).

The full text of the letter is below or can be found here.

April 22, 2020

The Honorable Philip D. Murphy

Governor of the State of New Jersey

Office of the Governor

225 W. State Street

Trenton, NJ 08625

Dear Governor Murphy,

We write to thank you for all your work to protect the public’s health and fight for ever additional resource our state needs during this time of crisis. As you are aware, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act (H.R. 748), which became law on March 27. With the assistance of your advocacy, the CARES Act created a much needed $150 billion Coronavirus Relief Fund for state and local governments. Of this fund, we expect approximately $3.44 billion will be allocated to the state of New Jersey, as a combination of a direct block grant to the state and additional payments to New Jersey counties with populations greater than 500,000 people

However, we are concerned about the twelve counties in New Jersey with populations less than 500,000 people. Just like their more populous neighbors, these counties are bearing an incredible burden as they respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and work to keep their populations safe. It is imperative that the enormous costs they face in responding to this crisis are given due consideration as New Jersey deploys its allocation of the Coronavirus Relief Fund, as well as other funding from the CARES Act that flows through the state.

As such, we strongly urge you to provide direct stabilization funding from the Coronavirus Relief Fund to the counties in New Jersey with less than 500,000 people: Atlantic, Burlington, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Morris, Salem, Somerset, Sussex, and Warren. Their work is essential to keeping our constituents safe and mitigating the spread of the coronavirus as effectively as possible, and we fear that without targeted stabilization funding these less populous counties will be unable to continue providing critical services at their current rate.

Thank you very much for your hard work and attention to this matter. We look forward to working with you on this issue and pledge to continue to fight for the federal funds necessary to address this crisis.

Sincerely,

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