| In an email to New Jersey residents Senator Bob Menendez rececntly stated that more than 54,000 Americans have lost their lives to COVID-19. Also stating that this weekend, Governor Murphy announced that the number of New Jerseyans who have been infected by the virus has surpassed 109,000 and we’ve lost more than 5,900 of our residents to it. It’s almost impossible to fully comprehend the extraordinary scale of this public health crisis. It is unlike anything we’ve ever seen, with hundreds of thousands battling the virus, millions out of work, towns and cities reeling from lost revenue, and small businesses struggling to get relief. But we are starting to see a glimmer of hope. Social distancing measures are working. The curve is flattening. And we are learning to work together through this difficult time. We all must stay vigilant with social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus. Our Governor and I are fighting tooth and nail to make sure New Jersey gets back on her feet. Keep reading to see what I’ve been working on: |
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| ONE: Making Sure States & Towns Aren’t Bankrupted by COVID-19 |
| Every day, we hear from Governors like Phil Murphy about the devastating impact COVID-19 has had on our state and local economies as health emergency response costs skyrocket and the revenues needed to fund the services—and pay the New Jerseyans we count on to deliver them—dry up. I am going to fight in Washington to make sure that, as we continue to beat back this virus, our nurses, teachers, firefighters, police, sanitation workers, bus drivers and so many others remain on the job. Read more about my bold, bipartisan $500 billion SMART Fund that would help them. |
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| TWO: Supporting Small Businesses and Frontline Workers |
| This week, Congress secured another round of COVID-19 emergency funding that our small businesses and health care providers desperately need: nearly $500 billion to help small businesses, boost frontline hospitals, and expand COVID-19 testing. Too many of our local businesses were left out in the cold. We fought to make sure that this new funding—more than $300 billion—has new protections to ensure that the small businesses who need it most can access it. Get a break-down of the package, including additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program. |
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| THREE: Jersey Leads the Way in COVID-19 Research |
| More than 800 employees from Rutgers University are participating in the nation’s largest prospective study of health care workers exposed to COVID-19. I’m proud that New Jersey’s state university is leading the nation on coronavirus research that is so vital to helping us battle this deadly pandemic. Together, we are Jersey Strong! Find out more. |
| To follow Senator Menendez on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook to stay up to date on what’s happening in New Jersey and in the Capitol. Sincerely,  Senator Bob Menendez |
