GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS WANT TO HELP STUDENTS AVOID LOAN DEBT

Menendez Wants to Help Students Avoid Loan Debt

By Alyana Alfaro | 03/11/16 1:34pm

Menendez at Union County Community College in Cranford.

CRANFORD –Students from Union County Community College’s Cranford Campus packed the student commons on Friday as U.S. Senator Bob Menendez held a round table discussion on an issue that disproportionately impacts people in their age group: affordable college and student loan debt.
The discussion also featured state Senator Ray Lesniak (D-20), Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-22), college administrators and current and former New Jersey college students impacted by debt. Menendez is an original co-sponsor of the Senate’s In the Red Act, which aims to provide a number of college affordability solutions to help young people graduate without being saddled by debt for much of their lives.

Assemblyman Jerry Green and Senator Ray Lesniak.

“The stories I heard in New Jersey today underscore the extent of our college debt crisis in this country, and show how the burden of student loans are weighing too heavily on far too many, “ said Menendez of the testimonials heard at the round table.
According to Menendez, ensuring that future generations are increasingly educated is a top priority because it will help secure America’s economic future.
“We are being challenged globally,” Menendez said. “For us to be a continuing economic leader, for people to see their wages rise… we need to have the most highly-educated generation.”
On Friday, Menendez pushed for attendees to reach out to their congresspeople to advocate for the act.
“We must act in congress to ease this burden because an entire generation should not be stuck in the red; they should instead be innovating and contributing to our economy,” Menendez said. “Let’s support past, current and future students in America by piling on the tools they need to succeed instead of piling on mountains of debt. I ask you all to reach out to your member of congress because not everyone agrees with us, not even in our own delegation. We need to generate a lot of heat.”
The Senate’s In the Red Act includes the following solutions to help curb student debt: (1) The America’s College Promise Act creates a grant program that provides a three-to-one federal-to-state match which will waive community college tuition for eligible students and helps cut two year tuition costs for those attending institutions that tend to serve low-income students; (2) The Pell Grant Cost of Tuition Adjustment Act would set rules in place for the maximum Pell Grant award to adjust with rising tuition costs and inflation; and (3) The Band on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act would allow students to refinance loans at lower interest rates.
“That is what our in the red program is all about,” Menendez said. “It is about getting out of the red. We want it to explode with opportunity for the individual, for our communities, for the nation to be a continued economic leader.”
College affordability has been at the center of the national dialogue recently due to the ongoing presidential race. While Menendez has stayed mum on presidential politics so far, the college affordability plan he is pushing with the In the Red Act is more in line with former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s college affordability plan than Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders’ plan. Clinton’s plan, like the In the Red Plan, aims to help students graduate debt-free and prioritizes aid based on need. Sanders’ plan aims to make all public colleges and universities free.

http://politickernj.com/2016/03/menendez-wants-to-help-students-avoid-loan-debt/

HOUSING BILL ADVANCED BY ASSEMBLY PANEL

For Release		Contact
March 7, 2016		Majority Press Office 609.847.3500

*** Rebuilding NJ’s Middle-Class ***

Green and Prieto Bill to Improve Housing for Another 1,000 New Jersey Low-Income Households Advanced by Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto sponsored to improve housing for low-income individuals and households was advanced Monday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-1000) is part of the Assembly’s efforts to combat poverty and rebuild New Jersey’s middle-class.

Under the measure, $10.5 million would be added to the State Rental Assistance Program. The $10.5 million represents funding for 1,000 additional housing vouchers through the program this fiscal year.

“With housing so expensive in New Jersey, we clearly need to do more to help families struggling to make ends meet and find decent, affordable housing,” said Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset), who chairs the Assembly housing panel that recently heard testimony on ways to combat poverty in the state. “We know it’s makes fiscal sense to help those in need find homes they can afford than it is to provide costly services. This is the right thing in every way.”

“Families living in homes they can afford have better health and their children do better in school,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “If we invest in our communities, we can save money and improve the quality of life for all of our residents. Accepting the status quo is unacceptable. We need to do more and this is a fiscally responsible approach.”

The program – already funded at $18.5 million for this fiscal year – offers tenant-based rental assistance grants and project-based rental assistance.

Tenant-based rental assistance grants are awarded through a lottery-type process open only to applicants on the Department of Community Affairs’ existing Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list

Project-based rental assistance allocates payments to new or rehabilitated housing units for 15 years, and paid when qualified tenants occupy those units. Program regulations reserve 35 percent of such rental assistance to those on the SRAP waiting list.

The bill was advanced by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

REBUILDING NEW JERSEY'S MIDDLE-CLASS

For Release		Contact
March 4, 2016		Majority Press Office 609.847.3500

    * MONDAY ASSEMBLY COMMITTEES *

*** REBUILDING NJ’S MIDDLE-CLASS ***

Working Poor Tax Relief Boost, Child Care Tax Credit, Rental Assistance, Help for Needy Families, Lead Hazard Prevention, Gender Pay Equity and More Emergency Assistance Highlight Monday Assembly Committee Anti-Poverty Bills

Smoking Prevention, Tiered Health Insurer Networks, Teen Driver Safety & Public Hearing Set on North Jersey Gaming Amendment

(TRENTON) – As part of the Assembly’s efforts to combat poverty and rebuild New Jersey’s middle-class, Assembly committees on Monday will consider legislation to increase the state Earned Income Tax Credit to 40 percent of the federal credit, boost funding to the State Rental Assistance Program to add 1,000 vouchers, create a tax credit for child and dependent care, increase the amount of benefits under the Work First New Jersey TANF program over three years, boost lead hazard funding, ensure gender pay equity and increase energy and nutritional assistance to qualified families.

Also on tap are bills to combat smoking and tobacco use, study tiered health insurance networks and improve teen driver safety. A public hearing is also set on a proposed constitutional amendment to allow North Jersey gaming.

The meetings are slated to begin at 10 a.m. and will be streamed live at:

            http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/media/live_audio.asp

            HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

• A40 (Prieto) – Increases the State Earned Income Tax Credit from 30% of the federal credit to 40% of the federal credit. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A1000 (Green/Prieto) – Increases funding to the State Rental Assistance Program to add 1,000 vouchers. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A331 (Singleton/Spencer/Caputo/Taliaferro/Caride) - Allows gross income tax credit for certain child and dependent care expenses. 1 p.m. Human Services.
• A30 (Prieto/Muoio) - Increases amount of benefits under Work First New Jersey TANF program over three years. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A152 (Tucker/Caputo/Giblin/Vainieri Huttle/Wimberly) - Increases personal needs allowance to at least $50 for low-income persons residing in certain facilities. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A1378 (Spencer/Muoio/Benson) -- Makes FY 2016 supplemental Grants-in-Aid appropriation of $10 million to DCA for Lead Hazard Control Assistance Fund. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A883 (Muoio/Lampitt/Mosquera) - Requires bidder on State contract to be evaluated on report of its gender-based pay equity and job equality standards for its employees; and A2750 (Lampitt/Muoio/Vainieri Huttle/Downey/Mukherji) - Concerns equal pay for women and employment discrimination. 2 p.m. State and Local Government.
• A2048 (Gusciora/Eustace/Jasey/Quijano/Wimberly/Muoio) -- Establishes "Police Officer, Firefighter, Public School Teacher, Corrections Officer, and Sanitation Worker Home-buyer Assistance Act"; appropriates $5 million. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A2568 (Vainieri Huttle/Tucker) -- Extends eligibility for certain individuals for emergency assistance. 1 p.m. Appropriations.
• A1210 (Mosquera/Prieto/DeAngelo/Quijano) - Provides $21 minimum annual energy assistance to qualified families; qualifies families to receive additional nutritional assistance. 1 p.m. Appropriations.

• A888 (Muoio/Gusciora) - Establishes "New Jersey Task Force on Tiered Health Insurance Networks.” 2 p.m. Regulatory Oversight and Reform and Federal Relations.
• A1815 (Conaway) - Increases tobacco products wholesale sales and use tax rates to be on par with tax rate imposed on cigarettes under cigarette tax; dedicates revenue for smoking and tobacco use cessation programs; A2219  (Benson) - Supplemental appropriation to DOH for $7,560,000 for anti-tobacco programs; and A3338  (Eustace/Lagana) - Dedicates five percent of cigarette tax revenue to anti-smoking initiatives.10 a.m. Health and Senior Services.
• A2374 (McKeon/Prieto/Wimberly) - Requires Attorney General to establish Statewide gun buyback program. 10 a.m. Judiciary.
• A-3406 (Wisniewski/Lampitt) – Adds new education requirements for applicants and holders of special learner’s permits; and A-3407 (Wisniewski/Lampitt) – Requires holders of examination permits and special learner’s permits under the age of 21 to complete a minimum number of hours of practice driving. 10 a.m. Transportation.
• The Assembly Judiciary Committee at 10 a.m. will hold a constitutionally required public hearing on ACR-1, which would ask voters to authorize North Jersey gaming.
• A889 (Muoio/Spencer) - Removes restrictions on convicted drug offenders receiving general assistance benefits under Work First New Jersey program. 1 p.m. Human Services.
• A1875 (Wimberly/Lagana/Danielsen/Oliver) - "HOPE Initiative Act;" requires establishment of public awareness campaign to educate citizens about dangers and causes of, and appropriate responses to, heroin and opioid addiction. 1 p.m. Human Services.
• A373 (Vainieri Huttle/Jimenez) - Requires life imprisonment without parole for persons convicted of the murder of a minor under the age of 18 in the course of the commission of a sex crime. 10 a.m. Judiciary.
• A603 (Lagana/Singleton) - Authorizes special motion to dismiss a "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation" ("SLAPP"). 10 a.m. Judiciary.
• A1199 (Mosquera/Moriarty/Lagana) - Permits a witness who is under the age of 16 or a victim of any age to testify by closed circuit television in prosecutions for crimes or offenses involving domestic violence. 10 a.m. Judiciary.
• A1761 (Eustace) - Creates fencing crime involving stolen domestic companion animals. 10 a.m. Judiciary.
• A1881 (Wimberly) - Establishes pilot program in Paterson authorizing non-disclosure of records of certain expungements. 10 a.m. Judiciary.
• A2844  (McKeon) - Amends Fiscal Year 2016 budget to provide one-half of certain environmental damage amounts recovered are appropriated for costs of remediation, restoration, and clean up. 10 a.m. Judiciary.

"HAZARDOUS DRUG SAFE HANDLING ACT" MOVES FORWARD ON MONDAY

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March 7, 2016		Majority Press Office 609.847.3500

Jimenez, Green, Mukherji, and Sumter Bill to Establish Rules for Handling of Hazardous Drugs, Protect Health Care Personnel that Administer them Advanced by Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation sponsored by Assembly Democrats Angelica Jimenez (D-Bergen/Hudson), Jerry Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union), Raj Mukherji (D-Hudson) and Shavonda Sumter (D-Bergen/Passaic) to adopt regulations concerning the handling of hazardous drugs that could be harmful to health care personnel was released Monday by an Assembly panel.

“These hazardous drugs pose a real risk to health care personnel who may be exposed to them in the air, and through contact with work surfaces, clothing, medical equipment and patients,” said Jimenez (D-Bergen/Hudson). “This bill would help ensure that all necessary precautions are taken so that health care professionals who must work with these drugs are well protected.”

The bill (A-837) would establish the “Hazardous Drug Safe Handling Act,” which would require the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development to promulgate rules and regulations concerning the handling of hazardous drugs by health care personnel. Hazardous drugs, including antineoplastic drugs used in chemotherapy, have been associated with a number of adverse acute, short-term, and chronic effects, including skin rashes, infertility, miscarriage, birth defects, various cancers, and damage to the liver, kidneys, bone marrow, heart, and lungs.

“The risks associated with these drugs could very likely keep people from pursuing this work,” said Green (D-Middlesex/Somerset/Union). “This would help reduce the potential for harmful exposure and ensure patients get the care they need from well-trained health care professionals.”

“The effects of these drugs on an individual range from birth defects to heart damage,” Said Mukherji (D-Hudson). “Given the severity of the health risks, it is imperative that guidelines be set up to ensure the proper handling of these drugs and reduce the risk of exposure.”

 “These health care professionals are providing an important service to patients battling cancer,” said Sumter (D-Bergen/Passaic). “It is critical not just for these professionals, but the patients they care for, that we make their working environment as safe and risk-free as possible.”

Under the bill, no later than 12 months after the effective date, the commissioner, in consultation with the Commissioner of Health, the Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs in the Department of Law and Public Safety, and a stakeholder group comprised of certain members as set forth in the bill, would have to adopt consensus-driven standards and regulations concerning the handling of hazardous drugs by health care personnel in a health care setting or an animal or veterinary facility. The standards and regulations would describe the hazardous drugs for which handling must be regulated, the methods and procedures for handling such drugs, an implementation plan, and such other requirements needed to protect the health and safety of health care personnel.

The standards and regulations may include, but are not limited to: (1) written, site-specific hazardous drug control programs to avoid occupational exposure through transporting, compounding, administering, disposing, or other handling of hazardous drugs; (2) hazard assessments to determine precautions necessary to protect health care personnel from exposure; (3) engineering controls to eliminate or minimize exposure; (4) personal protective equipment and the circumstances under which personal protective equipment must be used by health care personnel; (5) safe handling practices, including handling, receiving, storage, preparing, administering, waste handling, cleaning, housekeeping, labeling and signage, and maintenance practices; (6) spill control and response procedures; (7) training standards and practices; (8) requirements for recordkeeping, including records related to training sessions, qualifications, incident reports, and other pertinent information; and (9) medical surveillance, including, at a minimum, a free medical evaluation for health care personnel who directly handle hazardous drugs, , at the time of hiring, upon exposure to hazardous drugs, and upon request when the request is related to reproductive concerns.

Employers of health care personnel would have to provide hazardous drugs training to all employees who have or are likely to be exposed to hazardous drugs. The training would take place at the time of the employee’s initial job assignment, and on an annual basis thereafter.

Lastly, the commissioner would enforce the provisions of the bill, and would have right-of-entry to all pertinent premises and records for the purposes of inspection and information. 

The bill was released by the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee.

HOUSING BILL TO HELP 1000 NEW JERSEY LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS ADVANCES

For Release		Contact
March 7, 2016		Majority Press Office 609.847.3500

*** Rebuilding NJ’s Middle-Class ***

Green and Prieto Bill to Improve Housing for Another 1,000 New Jersey Low-Income Households Advanced by Assembly Panel

(TRENTON) – Legislation Assembly Speaker Pro Tempore Jerry Green and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto sponsored to improve housing for low-income individuals and households was advanced Monday by an Assembly panel.

The bill (A-1000) is part of the Assembly’s efforts to combat poverty and rebuild New Jersey’s middle-class.

Under the measure, $10.5 million would be added to the State Rental Assistance Program. The $10.5 million represents funding for 1,000 additional housing vouchers through the program this fiscal year.

“With housing so expensive in New Jersey, we clearly need to do more to help families struggling to make ends meet and find decent, affordable housing,” said Green (D-Union/Middlesex/Somerset), who chairs the Assembly housing panel that recently heard testimony on ways to combat poverty in the state. “We know it’s makes fiscal sense to help those in need find homes they can afford than it is to provide costly services. This is the right thing in every way.”

“Families living in homes they can afford have better health and their children do better in school,” said Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen). “If we invest in our communities, we can save money and improve the quality of life for all of our residents. Accepting the status quo is unacceptable. We need to do more and this is a fiscally responsible approach.”

The program – already funded at $18.5 million for this fiscal year – offers tenant-based rental assistance grants and project-based rental assistance.

Tenant-based rental assistance grants are awarded through a lottery-type process open only to applicants on the Department of Community Affairs’ existing Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program waiting list

Project-based rental assistance allocates payments to new or rehabilitated housing units for 15 years, and paid when qualified tenants occupy those units. Program regulations reserve 35 percent of such rental assistance to those on the SRAP waiting list.

The bill was advanced by the Assembly Appropriations Committee.