Federal Omnibus Bill Funds Local Projects

WASHINGTON – The $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill funded the federal government through September 2023. It also contained several funding authorizations for local projects across the country. Cape May County was specifically designated for funds to address five local initiatives. The total earmarked for the county was $15.6 million.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-2nd) was principally responsible for three of the five funding acts. They include the Cape May County Airport, which will receive $2 million for a new general aviation hangar, an additional $1 million toward the Townsend’s Inlet to Cape May Inlet beach replenishment, and the Lower Township Municipal Utilities Authority is in line for $2 million directed at water main replacements.
Sens. Cory Booker and Robert Menendez (both D-NJ) led the effort to aid Cape May with $600,000 toward the expansion of its desalination plant.
Menendez, Booker, and Van Drew were all instrumental in gaining $10 million to expand the seawall in North Wildwood.
The special project funding is largely the result of requests made by each state’s congressional delegation. New Jersey received funding for many projects that also benefit Cape May County, including $37.7 million for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers projects in the state.
The spending bill was the last major action of the 117th Congress. The Congress now in session is the 118th.
Van Drew voted against the final legislation that contained the funding, which was largely passed along party-line voting. In the U.S. House of Representatives, nine Republicans voted for the measure.