News Flash

Feds Allow State & Counties Flexibility in CARES Act Aid

Yesterday, the U.S. Department of the Treasury again updated its Coronavirus Relief Fund Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) web page. With this update, Treasury is again giving states and qualifying local governments greater flexibility in the use...

NLC to Host Northeast & Mid-Atlantic Issues Update

Join our federal partner the National League of Cities for timely information via a webinar focused on issues affecting the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic region.

The last few weeks have been turbulent and challenging for local leaders. From fighting a global ...

House Committee Can Increase Local Share of Transportation Funding

On Wednesday, the House Transportation Committee began consideration of their transportation reauthorization proposal - "Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation in America" (INVEST in America) Act. For further in...

150 Economists Call For State & Local Funding in Next Package

A letter urging more Congressional action in response to the economic impact of the pandemic calls for "new assistance to states and localities" as part of new legislation. "An adequate response must be large, commensurate with the...

Sen. Menendez, Mayor Passanante Join Colleagues on National Briefing

Our partners in Washington, the National League of Cities (NLC) hosted a ‘Protecting and Growing America’s Economic Recovery’ virtual Hill briefing. This is a part of NLC’s ‘Cities Are Essential’...

FCC Approves Order to Streamline Deploymnet of 5G Equipment onto Macro Towers

Earlier this week the Federal Communication Commission’s (FCC), in a 3-2 vote, adopted a Declaratory Ruling clarifying the FCC’s 2014 rules regarding the so-called “streamlined review” of deployment of 5G w...

Congress Looks to INVEST in America's Infrastructure

We have received a summary of a soon-to-be-introduced bill – the Investing in a New Vision for the Environment and Surface Transportation (INVEST) in America Act. Among other provisions, the bill would dedicate $19 billion, over five years, in L...

Surgeon General Urges Continued Precautions

The White House Office of Intergovernmental Affairs has been conducting weekly briefings on the Federal government’s COVID response and recovery efforts. League staff has been monitoring the weekly calls for state, local, and tribal leaders. Thi...

Portal Bridge Replacement Funding Coming

On Monday, New Jersey’s U.S. Senators Bob Menendez and Cory Booker, along with our state’s Members of the House Transportation Committee, Representatives Bill Pascrell Jr., Albio Sires, Donald Payne Jr., and Tom Malinowski, announced t...

Local Budgets Await Federal LIfeline

Responding to the public health crisis, and its impact on workers and businesses, Congress has passed, and President Trump has signed, four COVID-19 response bills. All of those bills addressed important priorities. But none of them prioritized the impact...

Call for Federal Lifeline

New Jersey Main Streets will not recover their vibrancy, without effective local services. Programs for Senior Citizens will suffer, without the support of municipal government. Youth recreational opportunities will shrink, without local assistance. But t...

National Guidance at Your Fingertips

Local leaders are on the front line of the COVID-19 pandemic. On their website, you will find National League of Cities generated tools and best practices, updates on federal guidance, resources from the state municipal leagues around the country and from...

Bipartisan Local & State COVID Assistance Bills Introduced in Both Houses of Congress

On Monday, Senator Bob Menendez introduced in the Upper House S.3752, the State and Municipal Aid for Recovery and Transition (SMART) bill. Yesterday, Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill introduced its companion, H.R. 6954, in the House.

We thank Senator Menendez...

Representative Sherrill to Sponsor House SMART Companion

New Jersey Representative Mikie Sherrill, along with New York’s Peter King, announced that they will introduce a bipartisan House companion to S.3752, Senator Menendez’s bipartisan State and Municipal Aid for Recovery and Transition (S...

Senator Menedez to Introduce Municipal Aid Bill

Sometime this week, New Jersey’s senior Senator Bob Menendez and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D., will formally introduce legislation that could help all New Jersey local governments. It would create a $500 billion fund to help states and a...

House Passes HEROES Bill with Local Aid Provision

On Friday night, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 6800–the HEROES Act. The vote, largely along party lines, was 203-199. Though declared ‘dead on arrival’ in the Senate by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, this ac...

HEROES Act Includes Hometown Help

On Wednesday, Jerome Powell, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, raised the specter of a devastating multiyear recession if Congress and the White House do not authorize more aid to address the COVID pandemic’s economic fallout. “Ad...

HEROES Act Would Aid All NJ Municipalities

Yesterday in Washington, The Chairs of 12 key House Committees, including New Jersey Congressman Frank Pallone, introduced legislation that would, in addition to several other items, provide substantial, flexible, and assured funding to every municipality...

Register Now: NLC Events May 12 and 13

Our Federal Partners at the National League of Cities (NLC) have scheduled three learning opportunities this week, meant to help local officials navigate the recovery. Here they are.

a. WEBINAR | Doubling Down on an Equitable and Resilient Recovery | Tuesd...

Federal OSHA COVID Resources & Information Available

Federal OSHA has asked us to share their resource page with you. It includes links to posters, flyers, and information about business reopening, general workplace Covid-19 safety, and industry-specific safety, such as transportation, healthcare, and const...

Week of May 4 COVID-19 Update

Yesterday, the Governor announced an additional 1,827 confirmed positive test results for COVID-19, bringing the statewide total to 133,635. He also announced another 254 deaths, bringing the statewide total to 8,801.There were 325 new hospitalizations an...

Call to Action: NLC Cities Are Essential Campaign

Please act on this important communication and call to action from the NJLM national affiliate, the National League of Cities.  Help amplify the message that cities are essential and require direct federal economic relief.

Cities Are Essential. Jo...

U.S. Treasury Guidance Allows CARES Flexibility

Yesterday, the U.S. Treasury updated its Frequently Asked Questions CARES Act guidance. This revision will provide CARES Act recipient States (including New Jersey), and recipient units of local government (including New Jersey’s nine most popul...

NLC "Cities are Essential" Campaign Calls for Direct Municipal Aid

Today, the National League of Cities, our federal level partner and the voice of the over 19,000 cities, towns and villages in the United States, launched a campaign to secure economic relief for all communities on the frontline of America’s res...

Possible Help for Seasonal Businesses

If your municipality hosts seasonal businesses, you might want to share this information with them.

 The U. S. Department of the Treasury has issued final interim rules, effective immediately, designed to allow seasonal businesses to apply for for...

Additional Federal Resources for Local Citizens & Businesses

Please share this as you see fit.Any individuals or families waiting for their Economic Impact Payments–the stimulus checks that most are entitled to–should visit the IRS “getmypayment” site. They may need to file a...

New Federal Help for Local Businesses

On April 24, 2020, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act of 2020 was signed into law. The new law expands and modifies the significant new resources for businesses from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) that were estab...

Local Governments Seek Support, Flexibility in Next Federal COVID-19 Bill

When Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act - $2.2 Trillion CARES Act - it included a $150 Billion State and Local Stabilization Fund. Minus funding for U.S. Territories, and autonomous Tribal Governments, about $139 Billio...

IRS issues notice on Scams & Homeland Security Warns on Disinformation

The individual and family ‘economic impact payments’ that come as a part of the CARES Act are going out to Federal Income Taxpayers and others, all around the country. Inevitably, scammers see this as a once in a lifetime opportunity.

T...

FCC Boradband Funding, Webinar Move Ahead

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is moving ahead with its Rural Digital Opportunity Fund (RDOF) and Rural 5G Fund proceedings. The purpose of these programs is to encourage the development of infrastructure necessary within rural areas...

Washington Needs to Recognize Municipal Efforts

At this time–and it could change in a heartbeat–it seems that aid to New Jersey municipalities will not be included in the compromise legislation being negotiated in Washington. There appears to be strong opposition coming from Senate ...

Congress Considers Local Aid Bills

Legislation has been introduced in both Houses of Congress to provide COVID-19 impact assistance to all New Jersey municipalities. League Officers have sent letters and e-mails to all the Members of our New Jersey Congressional Delegation, urging them to ...

CARES Act Information Update

Posted on our Town Crier blog is a Federal CARES Act Update. It provides information on the $150 billion State and Local Stabilization Aid component of the massive $2.2 Trillion CARES Act. These funds can only be used to fund extraordinary costs, caused b...

CARES Bill Follow-up

The $2 Trillion aid package passed last week in Washington will do a lot of good. But for the State of New Jersey and for New Jersey municipalities preparing their budget, at a time when all face almost certain revenue losses, more will need to be done. P...

Federal CARES Act Analysis Continues

On Wednesday, we posted a preliminary analysis of S.3548, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) on our Towne Crier blog. The bill passed the Senate, late Wednesday night. The House just passed the bill as well. As our analysis...

NJ Received Major Disaster Declaration

President Donald J. Trump has issued a Major Disaster Declaration for the State of New Jersey. The declaration will provide federal assistance to supplement statewide recovery efforts affected by the COVID-19 pandemic beginning on January 20, 2020. Govern...

Contact Your Washington Representatives: COVID-19 Emergency Bill

Late last night, we received word that a final deal has been reached on the 3rd emergency supplemental measure in response to COVID-19. If late night reports are accurate, the deal completely eliminates direct stabilization aid to municipal governments, w...

White House COVID-19 Briefing Scheduled

On Wednesday, March 25, at 1:00 PM ET, U.S. Surgeon General Jerome Adams and Senior Administration Officials will conduct a briefing call on COVID-19 (coronavirus). The purpose of this call is to provide State and local elected officials with up-to-date i...

NJLM Advocates for Public Employers Representation in Families First Coronavirus Response Act

We have contacted our Congressional delegation to seek, for public employers, the same consideration that has been extended to private employers, concerning paid family and sick leave requirements.The Families First Coronavirus Response Act (HR 6201) crea...

Federal Update on COVID-19 Response by the National League of Cities

From our colleagues at the National League of Cities we are providing the following brief update on Federal legislative action in response to COVID-19.The White House released new guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of the COVID-19 virus. The changing...

Delays on Gateway Continue

On Wednesday in Washington, U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Secretary Elaine Chao said that three hurdles remain to be cleared before a Gateway Tunnel start. 

A decision on the project’s eligibility for Capital Investment Grant...

Congress Sends Coronavirus Response Funding Bill to White House

Congress has sent President Trump an $8.3 billion emergency funding bill to combat the coronavirus.

The bill, H.R. 6074 (116) includes almost $6.5 billion to the Department of Health and Human Services, nearly $1.3 billion to the State Department, and $20 ...

EPA Proposing Revisions to Federal Lead & Copper Rule

As you may be aware, late last year the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) released proposed revisions to the Lead and Copper Rule to reduce lead exposure in drinking water. This action represents the first major ove...

U.S. House Advances Infrastructure Framework

The National League of Cities (NLC) reports that, on Wednesday, leadership in the House of Representatives, led by the Chairmen of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Rep. Peter DeFazio (OR), Energy and Commerce Committee Rep. Frank Pallone (N...

NLC Spotlights Local Needs for Federal Office Seekers

Our partners at the National League of Cities (NLC), the umbrella association which represents all of the states’ municipal leagues in Washington, has launched its effort to bring municipal concerns to the attention of candidates seeking electio...

Federal Budget Increases Delaware River Basin Funding

Among other items included in the Federal FY 2020 Budget, adopted just before Christmas, Congress appropriated $9.7 million for the Delaware River Basin Restoration Program. This funding will be available to nonprofits and other groups, to support project...

Federal Food Stamps Rule Change Raises Pressure on Recipients and Providers

Some 12,000 New Jersey residents stand to lose federal food assistance next year due to a Trump administration program change. Saying he is returning the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) to its intended purpose as temporary help in tough t...

Representative Sherrill Urges Congress to Act on SALT Cap Relief

In an effort to educate her colleagues in Congress on the unfairness of the $10,000 cap on federal income tax deductions for amounts paid in State and Local Taxes (SALT), New Jersey Representative Mikie Sherrill is taking the House Floor on twelve consecu...

FCC Seeks Local Elected Officials for Advisory Committee

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is soliciting nominations for membership on the Intergovernmental  Advisory Committee (IAC) and has announced that it is extending the deadline to submit nominations until January 13, 2020.

The mission o...

NJ Senators Booker & Menendez Seek Reasons for Gateway Delays

In a Wednesday letter to U.S. Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao, Senators Booker and Menendez reiterated the need for timely federal action to advance the vital Gateway Project, and, again, offered their assistance. The letter highlights the crucial na...

FEMA to Delay New Flood Insurance Rates

On Thursday, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced that it would delay the implementation of new National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) rates, which had been scheduled to become effective October 1, 2020 - just before next year&rsq...

New Law Will Help Fund Drinking Water Remediation

On Friday, October 4, the President signed into law S.1689, a bill co-sponsored by New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Bob Menendez. The new law provides New Jersey, and other States, with the funding flexibility needed to respond to lead from antiquated ...

NJ Transit Submits New Portal Bridge Proposal to Feds

In another effort to end Federal inertia on the Portal Bridge project, New Jersey Transit (NJT) has forwarded a new funding plan to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The plan to finance the construction of a new crossing was approved by the NJT Bo...

Congress Returns to Work as Fiscal Year Nears End

The Federal Government’s Fiscal Year ends at the end of this month. Both Houses of Congress will reconvene for legislative action this week. We expect to see timely action on appropriations, which will prevent, or at least postpone, yet another ...

Urging Federal Action on Gateway Portal Bridge

Yesterday Governor Murphy was joined by New Jersey Legislative Leaders and members of New Jersey Congressional Delegation in calling upon federal officials to join the State in funding the replacement of the 108-year-old moveable Portal Bridge. In his&...

Federal Cybersecurity Agency Releases Strategic Intent Document

On Thursday, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a Strategic Intent document. Agency Director Christopher Krebs notes, in the document, “In no arena is this framing of the CISA m...

NJ Sues Federal Administration over IRS’ SALT Workaround Regulations

This week, Governor Murphy and State Attorney General Gurbir Grewal announced that New Jersey has joined with New York and Connecticut to sue the federal government, challenging IRS rules related to certain workarounds to the $10,000 cap on state and loca...

U.S. Senate Introduce Companion Bill to Overturn FCC Small Cell Preemption Order

Recently, Senator Dianne Feinstein of California introduced S.2012 also known as the Restoring Local Control of Public Infrastructure Act of 2019. S.2012 is a companion bill to H.R. 530 or the Accelerating Broadband Development by Empowering Local Communi...

Experts See Local, State, Federal Cooperation Key to Election Security

On Oct. 3, 2018, in Washington, federal election watchdogs conducted an election security briefing with state officials and members of Congress. William Evanina, director of the National Counterintelligence and Security Center, and Christopher Krebs, the ...