Bill Text: NJ ACR153 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges federal government not to divert funds from Hurricane Sandy relief.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 4-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-15 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly State and Local Government Committee [ACR153 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-ACR153-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 153
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
216th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED MAY 15, 2014
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman GREGORY P. MCGUCKIN
District 10 (Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Urges federal government not to divert funds from Hurricane Sandy relief.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution urging the federal government not to divert funds from Hurricane Sandy relief to other purposes.
Whereas, Hurricane Sandy caused significant damage to New Jersey and caused over 159 deaths in New Jersey when it came ashore in October 2012; and
Whereas, Over two million households in the State lost power as a result of Hurricane Sandy, and approximately 346,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, and there was over $1 billion in damage to uninsured homes in New Jersey; and
Whereas, In a study conducted by Rutgers University, the travel and tourism industry in New Jersey sustained losses of approximately $950 million by the third quarter of 2013 due to Hurricane Sandy; and
Whereas, The gaming industry in Atlantic City lost an estimated $5 million per day in revenue in the time around and following the storm because of closures from the hurricane, and the industry continued to suffer due to inaccurate media reports of the Atlantic City boardwalk being destroyed and, therefore, inaccessible to tourists; and
Whereas, Atlantic City lost at least nine conventions because of Hurricane Sandy, including two of its biggest annual conventions; and
Whereas, The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration conducted a 60-day assessment of the impact of Hurricane Sandy and found that the fishing communities in New Jersey suffered considerable losses, including almost $14 million in losses in the commercial fishing sector and $105 million in losses in recreational fishing; and
Whereas, Nearly 19,000 small businesses in New Jersey sustained damage of $250,000 or more, with total business losses of approximately $8.3 billion due to Hurricane Sandy; and
Whereas, The estimated cost of completely repairing all of the damage sustained by New Jersey is approximately $37 billion; and
Whereas, A poll of New Jersey residents conducted by Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press released on April 16, 2014, found that public satisfaction with recovery efforts related to Hurricane Sandy has dropped below 50 percent; and
Whereas, Seventy-five percent of the 6,600 homeowners that applied for State grants to elevate their homes were rejected; and
Whereas, Many New Jersey residents continue to suffer the effects of the storm and are in desperate need of aid to further their recovery, and Governor Christie has estimated the State is facing a tremendous shortfall of funds, even with the federal aid provided; and
Whereas, In 2013, Congress passed a law commonly referred to as the "Hurricane Sandy relief bill," that was enacted to provide relief to areas affected by Hurricane Sandy; and
Whereas, The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is considering spending $1 billion or more of rebuilding aid nationwide on disasters other than Hurricane Sandy, despite funds for Hurricane Sandy relief already being inadequate; and
Whereas, The residents of the State cannot afford for funds intended for Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts to be diverted for other purposes; and
Whereas, It is therefore fitting and proper, and in the interest of the residents of New Jersey, for the Legislature of the State of New Jersey to urge the federal government not to divert funds allocated for Hurricane Sandy relief to other purposes; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the federal government not to divert funds allocated to Hurricane Sandy relief to other purposes.
2. Copies of this resolution, as filed with the Secretary of State, shall be transmitted by the Clerk of the General Assembly or the Secretary of the Senate to the President of the United States and the Secretary of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.
STATEMENT
This resolution urges the federal government not to divert funds allocated to Hurricane Sandy relief to other purposes. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently indicated that it was considering spending $1 billion or more of funds HUD has to distribute for Hurricane Sandy related projects on other disaster relief projects.
This change would require New Jersey to compete with other states that experienced disasters in 2011, 2012 or 2013 to receive the remaining funds. Unfortunately, New Jersey is far from fully recovering from the devastation of Hurricane Sandy. Moreover, with an estimated $37 billion in damages sustained by the State, there is already a significant shortfall between the available aid and needs of the State's residents.
Many residents are dissatisfied with the recovery progress of the State post-Sandy, and funds being diverted from Sandy relief will likely only exacerbate that dissatisfaction, as countless residents remain in need of assistance.
As a result of Hurricane Sandy, approximately 346,000 New Jersey homes were damaged or destroyed. Additionally, nearly 19,000 small businesses in the State sustained damage of at least $250,000. Moreover, the travel and tourism industry in New Jersey lost approximately $950 million in revenue by the third quarter of 2013. This estimate excludes damage not plainly visible immediately following the storm. For example, the fire on the boardwalk in Seaside Heights that destroyed more than 50 businesses was attributed to electrical wiring having been corroded by water and sand from Hurricane Sandy. There may very well be other extensive damage that has not yet been discovered.
Due to the extraordinary need of the residents of the State of New Jersey, and due to the fact that the legislation passed by Congress was intended, at least in part, to provide relief for Hurricane Sandy, funds from that legislation should not be diverted for other purposes.
The Legislature of the State of New Jersey urges the federal government to devote the remaining HUD funds to Hurricane Sandy relief.
