Bergen Projects Get A Piece Of $178M From Federal Bill

BERGEN COUNTY, NJ — Money for higher education, street and sewer replacements, public recreation, transit, health, and more is coming to Bergen County as part of $178 million in local project money distributed across New Jersey.

Related: What $178 Million In Federal Money Will Do In New Jersey

A number of Democratic Garden State lawmakers cheered President Joe Biden's $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill, which includes funds earmarked for projects across the U.S.

U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ-09) said he was proud to cast his vote to pass the huge spending package.

"Here in North Jersey, we’ve secured over $11 million for community projects that will benefit generations of New Jerseyans to come," Pascrell said in a news release. "I’m damn proud to have included so many New Jersey priorities in this bill."

President Joe Biden has signed that bill, which provides a substantial increase in spending for domestic and national security but also sends $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine in its defense against the Russian invasion.

Read More: $1.5 Trillion Omnibus Spending Bill (5 Things To Know)

Lawmakers could add projects requested by members for their districts, in a practice known as earmarking. As the Associated Press reports, this practice had become less common, and some conservatives criticized the earmarks as wasteful.

This year, members of Congress had tighter restrictions, but could submit community projects as part of the bill.

The spending bill passed both chambers of the Senate along party lines.

You can find an extended list here of NJ community projects from Menendez's website, though it does not seem to include everything.

Here's some of what's coming in Bergen County:

• Bergen New Bridge Medical Center (Paramus), $2 million for facilities and equipment.
• County of Bergen, $250,000 for Hackensack Transit Connector.
• Fort Lee, $250,000 for Abbott Boulevard and Columbia Avenue Streetscape Project.
• Garfield, $1.5 million for a wellness center.
• Hackensack, $1 million for Clay Street combines sewer separation project.
• Hackensack Meridan Health School of Medicine, $775,000 for equipment.
• Leonia, $250,000 for Strengthening Public Safety Communications Project.
• Paramus, $250,000 for rehabilitation of the Prospect Avenue Sewer Pump Station .
• Ramapo College (Mahwah), $455,000 for environmental sustainability programs.
• Ramapough Mountain Indians, $250,000 for Ramapough Munsee Burial Ground Restoration.
• Ridgewood, $2.8 million for drinking water treatment facilities construction.
• Saddle Brook, $1.4 million for sewage rehabilitation and improvements.
• YWCA Northern NJ, $500,000 for a workforce development program.