LoBiondo Accepts Spirit of Enterprise Award, Updates on Issues

STONE HARBOR — For being a “strong, consistent pro-business” advocate, U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo received the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Spirit of Enterprise Award Aug. 15 at the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce’s 26th Annual Legislative Reporting Day.
Making the presentation was Geoffrey O’Hara, executive director,U.S. Chamber of Commerce Eastern Region, congressional and public affairs at The Reeds at Shelter Haven Resort.
Legislators are annually rated by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on their voting record on business-related issues. A score of 70 or higher is award worthy. LoBiondo scored a 75 in the second session of the 112th Congress, according to the chamber.
LoBiondo briefed the county chamber on issues relating to post-Sandy funding issues, which included flood maps which are still in review stages and which many in Cape May County have yet to review. LoBiondo said FEMA officials have agreed to allow changes to those draft maps, if communities can show that corrections are needed. One of the issues with the original draft maps was placement of V-zones (velocity zones) during storms. However, many towns disputed those zones since they were in areas that could not have intense velocity to cause that type of damage.
He also spoke on concerns with the Affordable Care Act as it impacts businesses and individuals. He further spoke briefly on immigration bills and noted “There is a serious divide on this issue in the country and in Congress.” The J-1 student visa issue, of concern to some Cape May County businesses which use summer employees from foreign nations, “Is trapped in this whole mess,” LoBiondo said.
He has met with stakeholders on the issue to learn, “What, if anything” we can do to move this issue forward.”
Stone Harbor Mayor Suzanne Walters told the crowd, concerning the recently-completed beach restoration project, that a reporter from a Philadelphia television station attempted to get a negative story on the project, but could not find any beach goers who spoke against the project. She told LoBiondo that everyone understands the importance of beaches and dunes, especially after Hurricane Sandy wrought widespread damage along the New Jersey coastline.
LoBiondo reminded the chamber that such a beach restoration project could not simply start with a request “written on a napkin and two weeks later the Army Corps of Engineers shows up.” He said much “hard work had to be done by the partnership” to make the projects happen. “There is a huge criteria done in cooperation with DEP and Army Corps of Engineers, which takes the lead.”