Assembly Homeland Security and State Preparedness Chair Annette Quijano is calling on Congress to provide New Jersey with much-needed disaster relief funding to cope with the ongoing aftermath of Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee. “Families and municipalities all over New Jersey are struggling to cope with the tremendous loss of life, property, infrastructure, and electricity that occurred as a result of the extreme weather this month,” stated Quijano (D-Union). “New Jersey desperately needs help with the continuing cleanup, and restoring a normal way of life for the families affected most strongly by these storms.”

The $3.7 billion relief bill failed to pass the House of Representatives on Wednesday because members of each political party found certain provisions of the bill unacceptable. The 230-195 vote came as a surprise to House leadership, who predicted the passage of the legislation.

“Now is not the time for us to debate political philosophy,” continued Quijano. “It is time to help people who lost their homes and all of their possessions. It is time to help people who went without power for a week or more to buy food. It is time to restore the roads, bridges, and vital infrastructure that we rely on so heavily in this densely-populated part of the country. Political posturing cannot take precedence over struggling Americans.” TLS.