To the Editor:
We live in a beautiful part of the world. Some of us were born here, but most of us, myself included, migrated here from other parts. We stayed for various reasons, but near the top of the list must be the beauty of the area.
South Jersey, Cape May County in particular, has long been an attractive place for senior citizens and military veterans. According to census records, almost one-third of Cape May County residents are 65 or older. In addition, the census records show that there are more than 4,200 military veterans living here. More than 9% of our neighbors live below the poverty line. Many more neighbors struggle to live from check to check. Hunger is a reality in many homes.
Our federal government has evolved over the past 236 years, since George Washington first took office. As the needs of the citizens changed, the government, and the services it provided, changed. This was how it was supposed to work with a dynamic, living Constitution.
The social safety net that was the Social Security Act, which became the law of the land in August 1935, provided a degree of financial security never known before. This safety net was expanded to protect more of our citizens in July 1965 with the signing of the Social Security amendments, establishing Medicare and Medicaid.
Today, these programs are used in red states, blue states and by citizens of all political stripes who need the care and services they offer. There are no 160-year-old people getting checks or receiving benefits. The Social Security Administration carefully monitors benefits. Those claiming otherwise are engaging in gaslighting. These programs do much good, across the board; who would want to touch them?
Well, in South Jersey there is one who swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States” as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, as well as telling the roughly 700,000 residents of N.J. Congressional District 2, of which we are a part, that he would take care of them, their issues, seniors, veterans, the poor, those needing a hand up…
That particular member voted with his Republican colleagues to pass HR 1968, the Full-Year Continuing Appropriations and Extensions Act 2025. Among other things, New Jersey will lose more than $200 million in federal funding, from lead pipe replacement, chemical cleanup and stormwater management projects to money for fire engines, road construction, libraries and police departments. All this while spending for the Pentagon goes up by $6 billion.
This legislation supports the slash-and-burn, chaotic day-to-day government operation that we are witnessing. The residents of Cape May County, seniors, veterans, underprivileged, those that struggle from check to check, those on Medicare and Medicaid, all will suffer.
