Rep. Mikie Sherrill Says These 10 Projects Are Crucial For NJ-11

NEW JERSEY — Suicide prevention services. Affordable housing. Water main replacement. Flood mitigation. These are some of the “crucial” projects that need federal funding in New Jersey’s 11th congressional district, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill says.

On Wednesday, Sherrill testified in front of the House Committee on Appropriations to highlight the community projects she submitted on behalf of NJ-11 during the committee’s Member Day Hearing.

According to Sherrill, the appearance was a crucial step in the efforts to ensure the projects ultimately receive funding through legislation put forward by the appropriations committee later this year.

In what she called an “extremely competitive process,” Sherrill was only able to submit 10 project requests. Those requests must have been from state or local governments, government-adjacent organizations and nonprofits.

The list of projects includes:

• $3 million for Morris Habitat for Humanity’s largest affordable housing project to date in Randolph
• Nearly $300,000 for Suicide Prevention Services through the Mental Health Association of Essex and Morris County
• $250,000 for a Park Improvements Project in West Orange, specifically designed to enhance ADA accessibility and provide exercise options for seniors
• Nearly $650,000 in funding for the installation of new lights at a recreation complex in Totowa
• $250,000 for the replacement of a water main in Stanhope
• $3.1 million for the expansion of a collaborative childcare project through United Way of Northern New Jersey
• More than $135,000 for traffic improvements in Morris Plains that provide safe access to public transportation for residents of affordable housing
• $255,000 for the replacement of lead pipes and service lines in Bloomfield
• $800,000 for a water system upgrade to improve the water system in Hopatcong
• $500,000 for the preconstruction engineering efforts for a flood mitigation project on the Peckman River

Watch Sherrill’s testimony to the committee below.

“For every community the past year has been excruciatingly difficult,” the congresswoman said. “The pandemic, the economic fallout, the loss, the isolation, the change in daily routine. Kids learning remotely and families prevented from seeing each other in the most troubling times many of us have ever faced.”

“Every part of this nation was hit hard. But for New Jersey, we were hit hardest and hit first,” Sherrill continued. “The impact hasn’t been lost on those in my district.”

She added:

“Whether it’s the trauma of loss or loneliness, the financial hardship of closed businesses or a lost job that threatens housing security, or the uncertainty of what awaits on the other side of this crisis -- reopening and getting back to normal is going to be a challenge. But we’re well on our way to making that reopening a reality, and now is the time to be making the types of investments that will make us better and stronger than before.”

The 11th district includes the following municipalities:

Morris County - Boonton Town, Boonton Township, Butler, Chatham Borough, Chatham Township, Denville, East Hanover, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Jefferson, Kinnelon, Lincoln Park, Madison, Mendham Borough, Mendham Township, Montville, Morris Plains, Morris Township, Morristown Town, Mountain Lakes, Parsippany-Troy Hills, Pequannock, Randolph, Riverdale, Rockaway Borough, Rockaway Township and Victory Gardens

Essex County - Bloomfield (split with 10th), Caldwell, Cedar Grove, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Montclair (split with 10th), North Caldwell, Nutley, Roseland, Verona, West Caldwell, West Orange (split with 10th)

Passaic County - Bloomingdale, Little Falls, North Haledon, Pompton Lakes, Totowa, Wanaque, Wayne and Woodland Park

Sussex County - Byram, Hopatcong, Ogdensburg, Sparta and Stanhope

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