Testa Emphasizes Importance of $100 Million EDA Emergency Loan Program
Senator Michael Testa voted to provide $100 million in funding to qualifying tourism and hospitality businesses in the Senate Budget Committee.
Sen. Michael Testa voted to provide $100 million in funding to qualifying tourism and hospitality businesses in the Senate Budget Committee. (©iStock)
“Mom-and-pop businesses across the Garden State are struggling to stay afloat,” said Testa (R-1). “Greater financial support is needed to help carefully and sustainably reopen our economy and keep vital industries alive. Directing more relief efforts towards local businesses will help keep the lights on, saving jobs and livelihoods for thousands of New Jerseyans.”
South Jersey Legislators Push to Help Garden State Farmers Amid COVID-19
Farmers across America without schools, hotels and restaurants to buy their food are being forced to dump millions of gallons of milk, mulch produce back into the soil, and smash hundreds of thousands of eggs.
As mandatory shutdowns leave farmers with few options and hundreds of thousands without jobs, lawmakers representing the farming communities from the south and northwest parts of the state are introducing legislation that would allow the state to buy Jersey Fresh produce to donate to non-profits serving the hungry.
Testa, McClellan, and Simonsen have introduced legislation to appropriate $ 1 million to purchase crops from local farmers and donate the produce to free or reduced meal programs. (Wikimedia Commons)
“The economic fallout that COVID is creating for our Garden State farmers is devastating,” said Senator Michael Testa (R-1). “With agricultural demand dropping, creating this program will bridge the gap between our farmers who have been adversely impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, and families and children experiencing food insecurity. I encourage the legislature to swiftly act to help give farmers the relief they need and put local and fresh produce on the table for our neighbors in need.”
MEDIA ADVISORY (Friday, 5/8): LD1 Team Announces Small Business Press Conference
LD1 Tells Murphy to Stop Picking Winners and Losers
Senator Michael Testa, Assemblyman Erik Simonsen, and Assemblyman Antwan McClellan (R-1) will hold a press conference to discuss the impacts of Governor Murphy’s State Shutdown on the Garden State’s small businesses and their employees on Friday, May 8th at COHO Brewery at approximately 10:30 AM.
Testa, Simonsen & McClellan will hold a press conference on Friday to discuss the impacts of Governor Murphy’s State Shutdown on the Garden State’s small businesses and their employees. (Wikipedia)
WHO: Senator Testa, Assemblyman Simonsen, and Assemblyman McClellan
WHAT: Press conference to discuss small business COVID-19 response.
WHEN: Friday, May 8th at 10:30 a.m.
WHERE: Coho Brewery 28 Indian Trail Rd #103, Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Murphy Denies Hazard Pay for First Responders While Sitting on $2.4 Billion from Federal CARES Act
LD1 Team Say Holding Federal Relief Funds Hostage in NJ Treasury Is Unacceptable While Corrections Officers and Others Suffer
Following reports that Governor Murphy has denied Law Enforcement Hazard Pay, the First Legislative District team slammed the Governor for not using $2.4 billion of federal CARES Act funds for COVID-19 related expenses, such as Hazard Pay for COVID-19 affected New Jersey Department of Corrections Officers.
Following reports that Gov. Murphy has denied Law Enforcement Hazard Pay, the 1st Legislative District team slammed the Governor for not using $2.4 billion of federal CARES Act funds for COVID-19 related expenses, such as Hazard Pay for COVID-19 affected NJ Dept. of Corrections Officers. (Pixabay)
“The management of the COVID-19 response by the New Jersey Department of Corrections has been beyond negligent and may rise to the level of recklessness,” Senator Michael Testa (R-1) stated. “Without a doubt the Department has needlessly placed the lives of our Corrections Officers at high risk while transporting COVID-19 positive North Jersey inmates to our South Jersey prisons. While hazard pay for these officers is clearly an appropriate use of the CARES Act funding, Governor Murphy has instead decided to squirrel away this money with the hope the feds will let him use it plug holes in his already outrageous 2021 budget.”
Testa Applauds Recreational Fishing Industry on Reopening Proposal with Safety in Mind
Senator Michael Testa commended the Recreational Fishing Alliance and United Boatmen of New Jersey for their plan to open their shuttered industry while taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all on-board.
Sen. Michael Testa commended the Recreational Fishing Alliance and United Boatmen of NJ for their plan to open while taking proactive measures to ensure the safety and security of all on-board. (SenateNJ.com)
“I applaud James Donofrio of the Recreational Fishing Alliance and Captain Bob Rush of the United Boatmen of New Jersey for proposing calculated, cautious, and sensible steps towards opening this essential industry in the Jersey Shore region,” said Testa (R-1). “Owners and operators of for-hire vessels, and their crew, are willing and eager to get back to work. While we cannot make up for the thousands of jobs and the millions in revenue lost, an opening – with concrete criteria and contingencies – of our recreational fishing industry will strengthen our South Jersey economy and help us better prepare for the upcoming Memorial Day Weekend.”
Testa Encouraged that Independent Workers May Soon Receive Unemployment Assistance After Long Delays
Says Other COVID-19 Extension and Backlog Cases Must Be Addressed As Well
Senator Michael Testa said he is “hesitantly optimistic” after Governor Phil Murphy announced federal money available to contractors and gig-workers may finally reach the unemployed people who need it.
Federal pandemic stimulus money may soon be on its way to gig workers and independent contractors, but Sen. Testa said the Governor must deliver on his promise. (Pixabay)
“The process has taken far too long for people who desperately need help,” said Testa (R-1). “On the surface, this is good news, but we’re going to have to remain vigilant to ensure the reality lives up to the promise and money starts arriving next week.”
Shore Senators Call for Detailed Plan to Reopen Jersey Shore
Senators representing communities from Sandy Hook to Cape May sent the following letter to Governor Phil Murphy yesterday asking for a detailed plan to reopen the Jersey Shore.
Senators representing communities from Sandy Hook to Cape May sent a letter to Gov. Phil Murphy asking for a detailed plan to reopen the Jersey Shore. (Bing Maps)
Click here to view a PDF of the letter from Sen. Robert Singer, Sen. Chris Brown, Sen. Michael Testa, and Sen. Declan O’Scanlon.
Testa: Demonstrating Fiscal Discipline in State Spending Would Send Important Signal to Washington
Senator Michael Testa (R-1) said it is imperative that the Murphy Administration demonstrate that New Jersey is taking responsible budgetary measures to account for plunging revenues as it looks to Washington for additional financial relief.
Sen. Michael Testa said the Murphy Administration should demonstrate New Jersey is taking responsible budgetary measures to account for plunging revenues as it looks to Washington for additional financial relief. (©iStock)
“The economic shutdown due to COVID-19 has caused unimaginable harm to New Jersey workers, families, and small businesses,” said Testa, a member of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee. “I’m concerned, however, that Governor Murphy’s pleas for extra federal aid will fall on deaf ears in Washington if he isn’t able to demonstrate concrete steps taken in Trenton to adjust State spending in response to steep revenue declines.”
Testa Calls Gag Order on Released Prisoners Unjustifiable
Says NJDOC Has Failed to Protect Both Corrections Officers and Inmates from Life Threatening Virus
Senator Michael Testa today said the New Jersey Department of Correction’s attempt to prevent temporarily furloughed prisoners from speaking to the press is part of an unsettling trend.
Sen. Testa criticized the New Jersey Department of Corrections and Commissioner Hicks for failing to take adequate precautions to protect corrections officers and prison inmates during the COVID-19 crisis. (©iStock)
“DOC and commissioner Marcus Hicks have a track record of failing both their correction officers and inmates,” said Senator Testa (R-1). “Slapping gag orders on prisoners as a condition of release is unnecessary, and it blocks the true story of what is happening behind bars during the COVID-19 pandemic. One may wonder, why the administration is afraid to allow inmates speak freely to the press?”
Testa Calls for Investigation of NJDOC’s Mishandling of COVID-19 Response
Senator Michael Testa (LD-1) renewed his call for the New Jersey Department of Corrections to implement extensive COVID-19 management plans. The Senator is seeking an immediate investigation of the NJDOC’s overall handling of virus infections within the system.
Sen. Testa said the New Jersey Department of Correction must take immediate steps to protect inmates and correction officers from the coronavirus with a comprehensive COVID-19 management plan. (Flickr)
“The Department of Corrections has failed to protect its inmates, correction officers and the communities where the officers live with their families,” said Senator Testa. “It is indefensible. Due to close confines and the extremely viral nature of COVID-19, the health of all who work or are incarcerated in NJDOC’s facilities must be the highest priority. This is a potentially fatal illness that must be contained effectively.”
On March 31, Senator Testa demanded that the NJDOC do a better job protecting corrections officers and their families amid the COVID-19 pandemic. He has called on the department to enact a variety of measures to help slow the spread in state prisons. Continue Reading…
