D.C. Dispatch: What N.J.’s members of Congress did in Washington this week

A bipartisan group of New Jersey’s U.S. House members is urging President Donald Trump to provide federal aid to the state as it recovers from last month’s major storm.

Led by Rep. Frank Pallone Jr. (D-Long Branch),  the letter supports Gov. Mikie Sherrill’s request for a major disaster declaration following the Sept. 23 to Sept. 29 storm that the Federal Emergency Management Agency said was responsible for an estimated $27 million in damage across Atlantic, Cape May, and Monmouth counties.

 “The nor’easter brought dangerous conditions to our state causing substantial erosion,” the lawmakers wrote. “In some parts of our state, six to seven feet of tidal flooding inundated businesses and homes, municipal infrastructure such as piers and bulkheads were severely damaged, and vehicles on the street were submerged in flood water. While it appears that flood control projects, berms, and raised homes saved many areas from even worse damage, the destruction left behind from this storm is significant.”

Besides Pallone, the letter was signed by Republican Rep. Jeff Van Drew of Dennis and Democratic Reps. Donald Norcross of Camden,  Herb Conaway Jr. of Delanco, ,Josh Gottheimer  of Tenafly, Rob Menendez of Jersey City,  Nellie Pou of North Haledon, LaMonica McIver of Newark, Analilia Mejia of Glen Ridge, and Bonnie Watson Coleman of Ewing.

Sherrill requested federal assistance on Oct 26 to pay for storm cleanup and repairs to roads, bridges, utilities and other public infrastructure.

Trump previously overrode his agencies’ recommendations and refused to approve $84 million in disaster funding for New Jersey to help cover damages from a February blizzard.

Mejia led a letter signed by 17 other House Democrats asking U.S. Department of Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins about the Trump administration’s cuts in federal nutrition assistance.

Trump’s giant tax and spending bill cut food aid by $187 billion through 2034 and imposed new work requirements for those receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. The administration also has proposed eliminating the  Commodity Supplemental Food Program for low-income seniors.

“Older Americans who spent their lives working and contributing to their communities should not have to sacrifice their health, housing, or other basic needs just to put food on the table,” the lawmakers wrote to Rollins. “Your department must account for the consequences of these policies and demonstrate how it will protect older Americans from hunger. Anything less is unacceptable.”

The House members asked for data on seniors who have lost all or part of their SNAP benefits and why the administration is trying to end the supplemental food program even after Congress voted to fund it.