Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today announced $30.2 million in federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act­­—the bipartisan infrastructure legislation he supported and voted for in early November—will help fund critical beach replenishment for Jersey shore towns in the Fourth Congressional District that have suffered serious beach erosion.

            The long-awaited federal funding—which will replenish beaches from the Manasquan Inlet to the Barnegat Inlet—finally came through after Smith wrote a letter on January 5th to Assistant Secretary of the Army Michael Connor requesting that the bipartisan infrastructure legislation be considered as a source for the much-needed federal dollars.

            The Army Corps of Engineers told Smith in a phone call that his intervention was “perfectly timed.”

            “A significant portion of the bipartisan infrastructure bill that I voted for provides much-needed funds for coastal resilience to ensure we can continue to restore our shoreline and strengthen our beaches,” said Smith. 

            “This critical funding for beaches from the Manasquan Inlet to the Barnegat Inlet will go a long way to repair the significant erosion resulting from intense storms and address serious safety concerns,” Smith said.

            The $30.2 million in federal dollars from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act­­ provides the entire federal share—or approximately fifty percent—of the project’s total costs.

            Until now, the planned beach replenishment project was in jeopardy for lack of federal funds.

            Passed with bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act­­ provides funding to repair and rebuild dangerous roads, bridges, rail lines, tunnels and lead-contaminated water pipes in addition to other eligible critical projects.

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