Office of the Governor | This Week In New Jersey: August 30, 2019

Governor Murphy, Legislative and Congressional Leaders Call For Federal Funding for Portal Bridge Replacement

Standing alongside state congressional and legislative leaders, Governor Phil Murphy called upon federal officials to join the Murphy Administration in full partnership to help fund the replacement of the 108-year-old moveable Portal Bridge.

“The successful and efficient operation of the Northeast Corridor has profound consequences for our region’s commuters and economy, and no bridge improvement project is more consequential to the flow of goods and services than the Portal North Bridge Project,” said Governor Murphy. “While federal officials have continued to move the goalposts, New Jersey and our partners have held up our end of the bargain, have put more skin in the game, and developed financial, construction, and engineering plans that are second-to-none. New Jersey is ready. The time to build Portal North Bridge is now.”

Governor Murphy and Colonel Patrick Callahan Honor Elmora Troopers at State Police Headquarters

New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, First Lady Tammy Murphy, and Colonel Patrick J. Callahan of the New Jersey State Police met with the Little League Elmora Troopers baseball team and their family and friends at the New Jersey State Police Museum and Log Cabin at Division Headquarters to celebrate their inspiring journey to the Little League World Series in Williamsport, P.A.

“The Elmora Troopers, New Jersey’s Boys of Summer, carried us all on their shoulders as they carried the memory of Trooper Thomas Hanratty on their sleeves,” said Governor Murphy. “With a Jersey Shake and an irrepressible spirit, they represented our state on the Little League World Series stage in the very best way possible. Their coach called their team a family – but we are even prouder to have them as part of our great and diverse New Jersey family.”

“This exceptional group of young players represented the very best of our state during their incredible run,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Their teamwork, dedication, and love of the game in honor of Trooper Thomas Hanratty made all of New Jersey proud.”

“This talented group of boys from Elizabeth, New Jersey managed to capture the hearts and minds of millions of baseball fans across the nation not just because of their grit and determination on field, but for their poise and grace off the field and for their collective belief that they were part of something bigger than themselves, which is the legacy of the Elmora Troopers Little League Team and memory of Trooper Thomas Hanratty,” said Colonel Patrick Callahan of the New Jersey State Police. “The Elmora Troopers showed the world just a glimpse of the amazing young people New Jersey has to offer—future leaders, maybe future baseball players, and hopefully future New Jersey State Troopers. On behalf of the New Jersey State Police, I would like to congratulate the team on a terrific season.”

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Governor Murphy Announces Highlands Council Nominations

Governor Phil Murphy filed three nominations to the Highland’s Council, fulfilling his promise to prioritize responsible environmental stewardship. The nominations will be subject to confirmation by the Senate.

“Ensuring clean drinking water, economic vitality, and a thriving ecosystem in the New Jersey Highlands is of existential importance to the millions of residents that rely on the health of that region,” said Governor Murphy. “The responsibility of protecting the Highlands is one our Administration does not take lightly, and the promise of a fully operational Highlands Council is one that I am proud to fulfill.”

Treasurer Muoio Announces NJ Gas Tax Rate Will Remain Stable For Coming Year

State Treasurer Elizabeth Maher Muoio announced that New Jersey’s current tax rate on gasoline and diesel fuel will remain stable for the coming year at 41.4 cents and 48.4 cents per gallon, respectively.

New Jersey’s TTF program is required to provide $16 billion over eight years to support critical infrastructure improvements to the state’s roadways and bridges. In order to ensure the state has the funds necessary to support these projects, the law dictates that the Petroleum Products Gross Receipt (PPGR) tax rate must be adjusted accordingly to generate roughly $2 billion per year.

“We’re pleased that fuel consumption levels, coupled with our realistic projections last year, have allowed us to avoid an increase in the gas tax rate for this year,” said Treasurer Muoio. “This dedicated revenue stream has enabled us to disburse billions in funding across the state to bolster our transportation infrastructure and keep New Jersey moving forward.”

Attorney General Gurbir Grewal Files Lawsuit Challenging Feeral Rule That Eliminates Critical Protections for Detain Immigrant Children

Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal joined a multistate lawsuit challenging a new federal rule that allows for indefinite detention of immigrant families despite the social and physical harm such detention poses to immigrant children.

“Indefinite detention of immigrant children and families is a profoundly cruel and harmful practice,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “The Trump Administration’s repeated punishment of immigrant children must end now. New Jersey is committed to preventing this rule from going into practice and fighting to end this shameful chapter of American history.”

“The Administration is once again treating immigrant families – and immigrant children in particular – in ways that are illegal and immoral,” said Attorney General Grewal. “For over two decades, across Administrations, the federal government followed legal protections to ensure detained immigrant children are released as quickly possible. The Department of Homeland Security’s new rule strips away those protections, allowing for the prolonged detention of children in conditions that are harmful to their mental and physical health. This new rule violates the law, and we’re going to court to stop it.”