Tell Our Representatives: Grown Ups Show Up to be Part of the Solution.

There is a government shutdown looming that will affect disaster recovery funding for storm survivors across the state, and programs we depend on to feed our families. 

We know firsthand that the government isn’t always great at doing its job. From slow disaster aid rollouts to outright eff-ups, we’ve seen our system at its worst plenty of times. But even though we’re all everyday people with plenty on our plate already, we still take the time to stand up and speak out – and we do that for the chance that we can make it work better for ourselves, our families, and our communities. Now more than ever, our elected officials need to step up and do the same. Grown ups don’t take their marbles and go home, they roll up their sleeves to be part of the solution.  

If the government shuts down this Friday:

• The National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) is due for reauthorization, and without that happening, folks who need insurance won’t be able to buy new policies or close on their homes. This could push people in flood-prone areas (which we’re seeing more and more are pretty much anywhere) to opt for higher-cost private insurance, which will shut them out of certain mitigation grants, and even potentially recovery grants.  
• FEMA’s Disaster Relief Fund is also drained, delaying Hurricane Ida recovery reimbursements for our towns and schools, as well as Blue Acres buyout funding. A shutdown will mean even further delays.
• The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) provides necessary food, healthcare, and education services. Some of the nearly 7 million women and children who count on WIC would soon start being turned away at grocery store counters, with a federal contingency fund drying up after just a few days, and many states left with limited WIC funds to operate the program.

The last thing we need are more delays and setbacks in a recovery process that’s already been a hot mess – especially while we’re still in the middle of storm season. And when we have families to feed, we can’t just tell them to wait til the government sorts itself out. Join us in calling your Congressperson to tell them to get to work, not put New Jerseyans (and the rest of the country) on the back burner.