NJSGC Needs Your Voice and Support!

May 25th, 2017

Dear Friends,

Please accept our sincerest appreciation for your support of Sea Grant and the New Jersey Sea Grant Consoritum. Earlier this spring, you reached out to your elected officials to tell them why Sea Grant is important to you and our state.  Your efforts resulted in Congress and the President signing off on a budget for FY 2017 that includes adequate funding for us and the entire Sea Grant Program. For the rest of this fiscal year, this funding will enable our program to work with you on important issues including stormwater management, increasing coastal resilience, supporting shore tourism, and providing STEM education for youth, all to benefit New Jersey’s coastal economy and communities.

The Administration has just released its FY 2018 budget blueprint.  It proposes the termination of the entire Sea Grant program.  Once again, we must repeat our request to you to reach out to your elected officials as soon as possible to reiterate your request that they let the House and Senate Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Subcommittees know of their strong support for Sea Grant, to reject the proposal to terminate the program in FY 2018, and instead fund the National Sea Grant College Program at $80 million.

When you write or call your elected representatives it is important to tell them why the program is important to you and our state’s environment and/or how our work has benefitted you personally.

To help you develop your message, we have included a template for possible use in composing your message.

To further assist you, this directory includes each of New Jersey’s elected officials, including email addresses for their aides. If you decide to write, please direct your letters to local offices (not DC).  If you decide to call or fax, it is best to call both the local and Washington D.C. offices.  If you decide to email, please write your message to your elected official but use the email address provided in the directory for his or her aide.

You can also locate your Senators and Representatives at https://callyourrep.co/ or text your home address to 520-200-2223 and you will receive a message containing the names and phone numbers of your representatives.

Thank you again for your ongoing support and effort.