Assembly Passes 9th District Delegation Bill to Designate U.S. Constitution Week
The State General Assembly passed legislation sponsored and supported by the 9th District Legislative Delegation that would designate the week of September 17 through September 23 of each year as “Constitution Week” in order to remember and honor the signing of the Constitution of the United States of America on September 17, 1787. This would correlate with the national week as established by Congress in 1956.
The General Assembly passed a 9th District bill to establish ‘Constitution Week.’ (National Archives)
The joint resolution (AJR-72) supported by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove passed the Senate in November of last year. Having passed both Houses of the Legislature, the measure heads to the Governor’s desk.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Sign Onto Superstorm Sandy ‘Clawback’ Bill to Assist Victims
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have all signed onto legislation intended to address circumstances in which Superstorm Sandy victims are required to repay overpayments in Sandy assistance aid.
Sen. Jennifer Beck’s legislation created foreclosure protections for victims of Superstorm Sandy. Applications are now being accepted by DCA. (FEMA)
Specifically, the companion legislation, S-3149 and A-4784, concerns adversely impacted homeowners impacted by the “clawback” of Community Disaster Block Grant-Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds awarded through the Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, Elevation and Mitigation Program (RREM) and the Low-to-Moderate Income Homeowner Rebuilding Program (LMI).
The 9th District Delegation issued the following statement regarding its sponsorship of the legislation:
Connors, Rumpf & Gove: New Open Space Law Includes Areas Throughout 9th Legislative District
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove praised the signing of legislation (S-2997) that appropriates nearly $60 million for open space projects.
The 9th District delegation praised new funding for open space. (SenateNJ.com)
Funding for the projects will come from constitutionally dedicated corporation business tax (CBT) revenues for the State acquisition of lands for recreation and conservation purposes, including Blue Acres projects, and capital and park development projects.
The 9th District delegation, which supported and voted for the open space law, offered the following remarks:
A Vet Is a Vet: Those Who Served Are Deserving of Benefits
When meeting with community groups, our delegation is often asked about the issue of veterans’ benefits. Justifiably, frustration is expressed by veterans who honorably served their country but didn’t serve during wartime and, thus, aren’t eligible for certain state veterans’ benefits.
Ending the disparate treatment shown to veterans living in New Jersey who honorably served their nation and are deserving of our gratitude and respect is an issue that needs to be addressed. (©iStock)
Members of our legislative delegation serve on both the Senate and Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs committees to more effectively serve our constituency which is comprised of a considerable number of veterans. Thankfully, the work by these committees in conducted in a nonpartisan manner, as playing politics with veterans’ issues is beyond the pale, even for Trenton.
Ending the disparate treatment shown to veterans living in New Jersey who honorably served their nation and are deserving of our gratitude and respect is an issue that needs to be addressed. To that end, we sponsored companion legislation, S-258 and A-143, commonly referred to as the “vet is a vet” legislation.
Video: Connors Appears on WOBM’s “Ask the Senator”
Senator Connors recently was interviewed by Tom Mongelli from 92.7 WOBM on the station’s “Ask the Senator” show. They covered a number of important issues, including combating the drug epidemic, veterans’ services, and improving treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
Rumpf Named to State Beach Erosion Commission
9th Legislative District Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf has been named to the New Jersey State Beach Erosion Commission by the Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly.
Asm. Brian E. Rumpf has been named to the New Jersey State Beach Erosion Commission. (FEMA)
“As a representative of a legislative district that experienced widespread damage by Superstorm Sandy, I feel serving on the State Beach Erosion Commission will enable me to better represent the interests of my constituents for whom this is a significant issue.
“When assessing the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy, it was unmistakable that those municipalities where beach replenishment projects were more recently completed were more resilient against the Superstorm than those municipalities in need of beach replenishment. Effectively, this is a testament to the overall success of the state’s beach replenishment program.
Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission Report Now Available
We sponsored the legislation signed by Governor Christie in 2011 that created the New Jersey Alzheimer’s Disease Study Commission. Senator Connors and Assemblywoman Gove were honored with appointments to serve on the 15-member Commission.
Staggering statistics from the Alzheimer’s Association demonstrate how New Jersey is experiencing a rapid increase in the number of individuals that have been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s
April 9th – 15th Is New Jersey POW-MIA Week of Rememberance
In support of veterans across of the state, Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove want to raise awareness that April 9th through 15th of each year is New Jersey POW-MIA Week of Remembrance.
Connors, Rumpf and Gove to recognize beginning of New Jersey P.O.W.-M.I.A. Week of Remembrance. (Flickr)
The State Week of Remembrance was established through bipartisan legislation authored by the 9th District Legislative Delegation signed into law in June of 2005. The Delegation’s intent was to pay public tribute to the thousands of men and women who have suffered as prisoners of war or who remain missing in action.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove Call for Hearing on Their Domestic Violence Assessment Bill
Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf, and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove have formally requested committee consideration of their legislation that would require the court to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving a final restraining order when the defendant has two or more restraining orders against him.
Connors, Rumpf & Gove sponsor legislation requiring courts to consider the results of a domestic violence assessment before dissolving a final restraining order when the defendant has two or more restraining orders. (©iStock)
The 9th District delegation’s legislation, S-257/A-1149, would establish a “domestic violence assessment” as an assessment performed by a psychiatrist, licensed psychologist, licensed clinical social worker, or licensed professional counselor with the goal of determining the likelihood that the offender will commit future acts of violence, abuse, or other unacceptable behavior that could pose a threat to the victim, the victim’s family, the victim’s property, or other person identified as being at risk. The defendant would be responsible for the cost of the assessment, which would be considered confidential.
The delegation made the follow remarks on having their legislation posted for a public hearing:
“Despite the considerable efforts of law enforcement and social programs staffed by dedicated personnel, the sad reality is, as statistics clearly show, domestic violence is still pervasive in our society.
Connors-Rumpf-Gove Veterans’ Housing Initiative Signed Into Law
Veterans’ legislation sponsored by Senator Christopher J. Connors, Assemblyman Brian E. Rumpf and Assemblywoman DiAnne C. Gove that will expand housing opportunities for veterans has been signed into law by Governor Chris Christie.
The 9th District Delegation’s veterans’ initiative, S-260/A-452/A-984, will require that a portion of the tenant-based rental assistance vouchers under the State rental assistance program (SRAP) for grants be reserved for veterans. The provisions of the new law will take effect immediately.
Legislation sponsored by the 9th District delegation to expand housing opportunities for veterans was signed into law. (©iStock)
Following the signing of their legislation, Connors, Rumpf and Gove issued the following joint statement:
“For those veterans falling on hard times and in need of housing that they can afford, we are elated that the State’s rental assistance program will now prioritize their needs. From the outset, we sought to build upon the state’s existing veterans’ housing programs, such as ‘Veterans Haven,’ to provide additional housing opportunities for those who have served our nation.
