Congressman Van Drew Celebrates Historic Federal Investments

Today, Congressman Van Drew released a list highlighting some of the federal funding he has secured for South Jersey over the past year through the federal budget, competitive grants, and targeted infrastructure investments. In total, hundreds of millions of dollars are being brought back to New Jersey’s Second Congressional District.

“South Jersey will not be forgotten,” said Congressman Van Drew. “Our communities deserve their share, and I will keep fighting to make sure we get it. What we secured this past year is real money, for real projects, delivering real results, and we are not done yet. There are even more exciting funding announcements coming in the months ahead, and people across South Jersey are going to continue to see this funding take shape and transform their communities.”

Examples of Projects Funded and Receiving Funding:

$ Tens of Millions, Beach Replenishment: Commitment from the Army Corps of Engineers to fast-track funding for beach replenishment along the Jersey Shore.

$425,000,000, U.S. Coast Guard Training Center Cape May: Provides funding for a new state-of-the-art indoor training center that consolidates seamanship training, firefighting training, physical fitness, classrooms, and graduation spaces into a single structure. Other major components include a new small-arms firing range, gallery cafeteria, and pier. The funding also provides for the total recapitalization of the barracks system.

$43,000,000, FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center Improvements: Provides funding for sustainment and infrastructure improvements at the Tech Center, including upgrades to electrical systems and resiliency projects.

$2,100,000, National Aviation Research and Technology Park (NARTP) Advanced Aviation Testing Corridor: Establishes a civilian/military drone testing corridor in collaboration with the U.S. Air Force, NASA, and the FAA to improve our ability to detect and manage drones in national airspace.

$10,508,000, Infrastructure Projects Across South Jersey: Provides funding for various projects, including Atlantic Avenue resurfacing and traffic light synchronization.

$37,800,000, Dredging and Erosion Mitigation: Provides funding for dredging and erosion mitigation across South Jersey, including dredging the Absecon Inlet, Cold Spring Inlet, New Jersey Intracoastal Waterway, and Maurice River, as well as building outfall pipes and mitigating erosion in Atlantic City.

$24,300,000, Cape May City Seawall Flood Mitigation Project: Provides funding to build a protective seawall in Cape May.

$3,000,000, Atlantic Cape Community College Capital Fund: Supports the creation of a dental hygiene school, expanding access to healthcare education and local career opportunities.

$8,298,000, Airports Across South Jersey: Provides funding to improve and expand the infrastructure at Atlantic City International Airport, Woodbine Airport, Millville Airport, Cape May Airport, and Ocean City Airport.

$13,300,000, Head Start Programs: Provides funding for Head Start early childhood education projects across the district.

$1,000,000 ($500,000 each), Maurice River and Salem River: Historic “New Start” funding to study increasing the depth of the Maurice River and Salem River.

$2,625,000, Corbin City K9 Training Facility: For the construction of a modern K9 law enforcement training facility in Corbin City.

$2,000,000, Salem Town Bank Pump Station: To support the design and construction of flood mitigation infrastructure in Salem City.

$500,000, HERO Campaign for Designated Drivers: Supports a national expansion of the South Jersey-based HERO Campaign’s designated-driver/traffic safety programming.

$1,000,000, Swedesboro Lead Pipe Abatement: Replaces lead pipes and improves drinking water safety in the Borough of Swedesboro in support of their objective to be “lead free”.

$500,000, Cape May Desalination Plant: Brings in the United States Army Corps of Engineers to support the construction of a water desalination plant which serves Coast Guard Training Center Cape May, Cape May City, Cape May Point, West Cape May, and part of Lower Township.

$600,000, Gandy’s Beach: Funds an Army Corps investigation to design shore protection features at Gandy’s Beach in Cumberland County, which suffered a disaster in early 2024.

$750,000, Long Beach Township Sewer Main Replacement: Funds replacement of aging sewer main infrastructure to reduce failures/overflows and improve service reliability.

$1,000,000, Aviation Maintenance Training Academy: Establishes an Aviation Maintenance Training Academy at the Atlantic City International Airport in conjunction with the Atlantic County Economic Alliance, the U.S. Air Force, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the National Aviation Research and Technology Park, and aviation businesses. This will create a pipeline for workers and former military personnel to gain skills and access job opportunities in lucrative private sector aircraft maintenance positions.

$1,624,000, Emergency Shelter Water Supply for the City of Vineland: Supports the design and construction of additional sewer and water capacity to support the FEMA-designated emergency shelter at St. Augustine’s in Richland.

Acting AG Davenport: Trump Administration Must Obey Court Order and Restore Critical FEMA Program Protecting New Jersey from Natural Disasters

Acting Attorney General Jennifer Davenport and a coalition of 21 other states and the District of Columbia asked a U.S. District Court today to enforce its December 2025 order prohibiting the Trump Administration from terminating the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) program, which provides New Jersey communities with critical resources to fortify their infrastructure against natural disasters.

As today’s filing explains, the multistate coalition won a December 2025 order from the U.S. District Court barring the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from terminating the BRIC program, but the Trump Administration has not yet signaled that it has any intention of complying with the court order, and FEMA regional offices appear to be delaying implementation of the court’s order.

The motion filed today seeks immediate action from the court to ensure that the Trump Administration does not continue to deprive states of the essential funding provided through the BRIC program. For 30 years, the BRIC program has provided communities with resources that have saved lives, reduced injury, protected property, and saved money that otherwise would been spent on post-disaster costs. Every dollar FEMA spends on mitigation—primarily through the BRIC program—saves an average of six dollars in post-disaster costs. In New Jersey alone, federally funded grants for disaster mitigation have saved New Jerseyans more than $10 billion in post-disaster costs.

“New Jersey is no stranger to natural disasters that have devastated our state. Instead of working with us to prepare for the next major natural disaster and reduce the massive costs these catastrophic storms impose, the Trump Administration is doing everything in its power—now even going so far as to ignore court orders—to keep New Jerseyans from accessing critical federal resources for disaster preparedness,” said Acting Attorney General Davenport. “The Trump Administration’s actions are as unconscionable as they are unlawful, and they will dramatically increase the costs that hard-working New Jerseyans will bear when the next natural disaster strikes. Make no mistake: We will do everything in our power to protect these critical programs from unlawful attacks out of Washington.”

“By funding innovative and proactive flooding resilience projects, the BRIC program is critical to reducing the cost of post-disaster relief,” said Acting Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Ed Potosnak. “We stand firmly with our partners from across the nation in fighting to ensure the continuation of this program. I commend Acting Attorney General Davenport and her team for helping us to protect lives and property while delivering on Governor Sherrill’s promise of efficiency and affordability for the people of New Jersey.”

As outlined in today’s motion, the states have seen no signs that the Trump Administration has reversed the unlawful termination of the BRIC program. Projects that are ready to move forward remain stalled, and FEMA has been unable to provide any information or guidance. States have been unable to obtain any grant information or to move their projects from planning phases to construction phases.

Some communications from FEMA regional offices appear to indicate that the agency may have unilaterally decided it can delay its implementation of the court’s order. In one instance, regional FEMA staff said they had no information to share because of “ongoing litigation.” In another instance, an acting director told a state “that the situation is ‘wait and see’” and that there was a “litigation hold.” Today’s filing argues that these examples demonstrate that FEMA is actively delaying compliance with the court’s order.

The December 2025 order issued by the District Court affirmed the states’ position that FEMA’s decision to abruptly terminate the BRIC program contravenes Congress’s decision to fund it, and that the Executive Branch has no lawful authority to unilaterally refuse to spend funds appropriated by Congress. The order also concluded that FEMA’s actions violate the separation of powers, the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, and the Administrative Procedure Act.

The states now ask the court to enforce the December 11 order by requiring the federal government to make pre-disaster mitigation funds available as required by statute, communicate the status and next steps for current BRIC projects to the states, communicate the reversal of the BRIC termination to all relevant stakeholders, and file status reports with the court outlining any actions taken or planned to comply with the order.

The BRIC program supports often difficult-to-fund projects, such as constructing evacuation shelters and flood walls, safeguarding utility grids against wildfires, protecting wastewater and drinking water infrastructure, and fortifying bridges, roadways, and culverts. Over the past four years, FEMA has selected nearly 2,000 projects to receive roughly $4.5 billion in BRIC funding nationwide.

Joining Acting Attorney General Davenport in filing this motion are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Washington, and the governors of the Commonwealths of Kentucky and Pennsylvania.

Assemblywoman Katz to Hold Press Conference on Youth Mental Health and Social Media Safety Legislation

Assemblywoman Andrea Katz will hold a press conference to discuss her legislative package aimed at addressing the youth mental health crisis by strengthening online protections for children. The package includes a bill to enact a New Jersey Kids Code Act (A4015), which would require online service providers to implement measures to protect minors’ online privacy; legislation that would require mental health warning labels on certain social media platforms (A4013); and a measure that would establish a social media research center (A4014). These bills will be heard in the Assembly Science, Innovation, and Technology Committee immediately following the press conference.

When: Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 1:30 p.m.

Where: Room L-109, New Jersey State House, 125 West State Street, Trenton, NJ

Invited Guests:

Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin
Assemblyman Christopher Tully, Chair of the Assembly Science, Innovation and Technology Committee
Assemblywoman Andrea Katz
Erin Popolo – Parent advocate, whose daughter Emily died by suicide in 2021 after intense cyberbullying on Snapchat and Instagram.
Julie Scelfo – Founder and Executive Director of Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA).
Laura Miranda-Browne – Co-founder of Roots To Results, a women-owned business in New Jersey, mother of three children, school board member, and member of Mothers Against Media Addiction (MAMA).
Sebastian Mahal – Co-Chair of Design It For Us

Bill to Protect Health Coverage for Adults with Disabilities Clears Committee

Legislation sponsored by Assemblywomen Rosy Bagolie, Shanique Speight, and Carmen Morales would allow continuation of health benefits coverage for young adults with physical or intellectual disabilities who are chiefly dependent on a parent or guardian for support and maintenance. The bill, A2550, cleared the Assembly Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee last week.

Under current New Jersey law, coverage may continue for a dependent adult child after age 26 while the parent remains with the same employer; however, if the parent changes employers, the new employer is not required to offer continued coverage for that dependent adult child over age 26. Bill A2550 would require health insurers and group health plans that provide dependent coverage to continue to make that coverage available.

“Turning 26 should not mean losing access to critical care for individuals who cannot live or work independently,” said Assemblywoman Bagolie (D-Essex, Passaic). “This bill is about protecting residents. It would close a dangerous gap in our law and would give families the stability and peace-of-mind they deserve.”

Currently, many adults with disabilities rely on NJ FamilyCare, the State’s Medicaid program, for health coverage. Yet not all physicians and specialists who accept private insurance accept Medicaid, leaving many individuals without access to care.

Recent federal Medicaid funding reductions enacted under the federal 2025 Budget Reconciliation Act have placed additional financial strain on states, putting hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents at risk of losing coverage.

“Families with individuals with disabilities are already navigating complex medical and financial realities,” said Assemblywoman Speight (D-Essex, Hudson). “With uncertainty surrounding federal Medicaid funding, we must ensure there is a reliable safety net in place so individuals with disabilities are not left without care.”

“This legislation is about protecting access to care and preserving dignity,” said Assemblywoman Morales (D-Essex). “New Jersey has long been committed to supporting residents with disabilities, and this bill would reinforce that commitment by ensuring coverage does not disappear because of a job change or shifting federal policies.”

Statement from Commissioner Director Louis Cappelli Jr. and Commissioner Jonathan Young

“In trying to find the best fit for a regional justice complex we are respecting Mayor Maria Lawrence and the local elected body’s formal request that it not go at the state facility located in the southern end of Winslow Township. We are paying deference to the integrity of the municipality and its local elected officials in their decision. Moving forward, we will work to find a new location where a majority of the local governing body agrees that this facility and additional development would be a benefit to their town. That said, we do believe in the concept of a new regional justice complex that focuses on the needs of the occupants, so regionally and as a community, we can cut down on recidivism and center our attention on rehabilitative practices that make our society safer.

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Rosie Pino Calls Out Pou’s “Victory Lap” After Voting AGAINST Local Safety Funds

Pou rejected the final $14M funding bill for NJ-09 before claiming credit in local press tour

CLIFTON, NJ — Rosie Pino, four-term local elected official and Republican candidate for Congress in New Jersey’s 9th District, today called out Rep. Nellie Pou’s political hypocrisy amid reports surfacing that Pou is touting over $14.4 million in local funding that she actually voted to kill in Washington.

“Nellie Pou is trying to have it both ways, but the voters are smarter than she thinks,” said Pino. “She stood on the House floor and voted to kill funding for our district’s pipes, police, and community centers just because she wanted to make a political statement against ICE. Now, she’s back home acting like she’s the one who wrote the check. She rejected the bill in D.C., but she’s posing for cameras in New Jersey,”

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Congressman Van Drew Hosts Assistant Secretary of the Army to Discuss Beach Replenishment

Together, they announced a major investment coming to the Jersey Shore.

Washington, DC – Today, Congressman Van Drew hosted Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Adam Telle, along with federal, state, and local officials, to evaluate the erosion along the Jersey Shore following a year of damaging hurricanes and nor’easters. The visit focused on beach replenishment, long-term storm protection, and ensuring South Jersey receives the federal attention it deserves.

“This was an important visit for South Jersey,” said Congressman Van Drew. “What matters is this: they are here, they are listening, and they understand what is at stake. The Assistant Secretary saw firsthand the damage our shore communities are dealing with, and he understands how important the Jersey Shore is to our economy and to the families who live here. They announced a significant investment into our shoreline of tens of millions of dollars, and it is only beginning of the process to bring more major funding our way. I want to thank Assistant Secretary Telle for coming down and taking the time to walk the beaches with us, meet with our mayors, and talk with the Army Corps about this. We are looking forward to continuing to work closely with him, the Army Corps, and all our local partners to make sure this gets done the right way.

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The SAVE America Act

American citizens — and only American citizens — should decide American elections. The Save America Act is a common sense, bipartisan bill that would simply require —

A Valid ID Before Registering to Vote in a Federal Election
Proof of Citizenship
No Mail-in Ballots (Except for Illness, Disability, Military or Travel)

The President is calling on Republicans and Democrats to pass the SAVE America Act. Requirement for Voter I.D. to vote should be something that NO American should oppose. If you want to register to vote in the United States, you have to be a citizen in the United States.

The SAVE America ACT will direct states to remove non-citizens from the voter rolls. AMERICA lags behind other nations in enforcing basic and necessary election protections —

India and Brazil tie voter I.D. to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.
Germany and Canada require paper ballots when tabulating votes, while the U.S. lacks basic chain-of-custody protections.
Denmark and Sweden sensibly limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person.
Late arrivals do not count—while American elections now feature mass voting by mail, even after Election Day.

read the act

Urge Your senator to pass the save america act

Congressman Van Drew Announces Authorization of Cape May Seawall Project

Today, Congressman Van Drew announced that the Cape May City Seawall Flood Mitigation Project has officially been authorized to move forward, securing more than $24.3 million to protect one of the most vulnerable areas along the Jersey Shore.

“I just heard directly from the Secretary of Homeland Security’s office that this project has officially been authorized,” said Congressman Van Drew. “This is a major breakthrough for Cape May and for our entire shoreline. This section of Cape May was identified after Hurricane Sandy as a serious weak point, and that vulnerability has not gone away. The next major storm is not a matter of if, but a matter of when. This seawall project is making sure we are not caught unprepared. Thank you to the administration for making our coastline a priority. This has been a big week for our shore. I am proud to keep delivering real results and making sure South Jersey gets the attention it deserves.”

Historic First CD-12 Candidate Forum Draws Nearly 200 Attendees in West Windsor

In a historic first for New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, a broad coalition of Muslim civic and advocacy organizations hosted a CD-12 Candidate Forum on Super Bowl Sunday at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton, drawing nearly 200 attendees from both the Muslim community and the broader public.

The forum was organized by CAIR Action NJ, Emgage Action, and the NJ Muslim Civic Coalition Activate, in partnership with American Muslims for Democracy (AMD), New Jersey Muslim Lawyers Association (NJMLA), CAIR-NJ, ICNA Social Council for Justice, NJ Muslim League of Voters, and NJ Muslim Voters for Progress.

SEE: Recording of the candidate forum.