COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS

Maurice River Navigation Dredging

Requested Amount: $4.01 million

Intended Recipient: Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia

This project provides funds to the Army Corps of Engineers to restore the Mouth of the Maurice River channel to its authorized depth. This long-awaited project will bring tremendous economic, operational, and environmental benefits to the Delaware Bayshore the surrounding communities.

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS FY23

COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING REQUESTS FY23

ECONOMY

The Great Recession, coupled with the collapse of four casinos and the loss of 10,000 jobs, hit South Jersey harder than almost any other region in the United States. Atlantic County has the highest foreclosure rate in the Nation, and for years we have lagged behind the rest of the country in unemployment.

We must work harder to bring manufacturing jobs back to South Jersey. We must do all that we can to promote our vital tourism economy. The government needs to do more to help, not hinder, our agriculture and fishing industries. There is so much potential here in South Jersey, and Representative Van Drew will work every day to fight to bring jobs back here for our working families.

To boost our economy, we need tax reform that benefits middle-class families, not the multi-millionaires and corporate giants. It is time for a real middle-class tax cut that benefits hard-working South Jersey families and small businesses.

IMMIGRATION

America is a place of hope and opportunity where you can work hard, support your family and create a better life. That dream has become increasingly harder to reach because of our broken immigration system, and we need new approaches that are tough, practical, and fair. We need comprehensive reform that must start by strengthening border security and cracking down on employers that knowingly circumvent the law. Additionally, by requiring employers to verify workers we will reduce the hiring of unauthorized workers, increase the accessibility of visas for high-skilled workers, and allow law-abiding immigrant families to come out of the shadows, pay taxes, play by the rules, and earn their citizenship. We need realistic approaches to protect children that came here as minors and grew up identifying as American, and policies that treat them fairly.

ISRAEL

There is arguably no more important relationship in the world than that of the United States of America and Israel. Our two countries have had a unique relationship since President Truman was the first Head of State to formally recognize the State of Israel in May 1948, and that special bond continues today. It is a relationship that extends beyond the purely tactical but speaks to a commonality of shared ideals and values. The United States must never waiver from its steadfast position that the State of Israel has an undeniable right to exist and thrive with the same sense of security and economic self-determination as any other nation in the Middle East—that is why Representative Van Drew vehemently opposes the global BDS movement. Rep. Van Drew believes that we must continue this relationship and do everything we can to strengthen this bond. In Congress, he will fight to continue this relationship as it is imperative to our national security. Rep. Van Drew has advocated for peace in the region through bilateral agreements and enhanced U.S.-Israel security and economic cooperation.

NET NEUTRALITY

EDUCATION AND COLLEGE AFFORDABILITY

Education is the essence of American opportunity. A quality education levels the playing field and makes the system fair, but it has become unaffordable for so many South Jersey families. Clearer and standardize definitions of financial aid are necessary for students to make informed decisions about higher education. Representative Van Drew has introduced Understanding the True Cost of College Act to do so. The skyrocketing costs of a college education are saddling many with outrageous student loan debt, which stops young families from becoming first-time home buyers and stagnates economic growth. We must get serious about this financial crisis and reduce the existing burden so that we can grow our economy.

HEALTHCARE

As a Dentist, Representative Van Drew has a firsthand understanding of the American healthcare system and the need to make it both accessible and affordable. Together, we must focus on reforms to the Affordable Care Act that protect our families and small businesses, and work to lower the high cost of healthcare and prescription drugs.  Any attempt to strip coverage from the American people without a plan to replace it is unacceptable. That is why Rep. Van Drew supports efforts to condemn stripping healthcare away from people with pre-existing conditions.

VETERANS & MILITARY

There is no commitment more important to our country than that of defending it, as millions of brave men and women have done. Our veterans are the heroes of our nation and deserve to be treated as such for being staunch defenders of our freedom. It is shameful that returning veterans often lack job opportunities, access to education, and critical healthcare services, and it is even more shameful that some of our heroes are left homeless and unemployed. In Congress, Representative Van Drew is fighting to reverse these failures and will work tirelessly until this is no longer the sad reality for the brave men and women of our military.

Amid the 2019 government shutdown, Rep. Van Drew has vehemently fought to pay the brave men and women in uniform.

CORONAVIRUS

I believe that seniors, healthcare professionals and frontline workers should receive the vaccination first. I will be receiving my vaccination as soon as the most vulnerable have already received theirs. Let's get back to the way of life that we desire.