SNAP Employment & Training Project Would Attract Matching Funds To Put People To Work
TRENTON – Senator Raymond Lesniak on Monday urged the Governor to sign legislation on his desk that would expand a job training program by attracting funds from private contributors which would be matched by the federal government. The bill, S-2366, sponsored by Senator Lesniak and Senator Joe Vitale, that would establish the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Employment and Training Demonstration Project was sent to the Governor on February 14th and should be quickly enacted, Senator Lesniak said.
“We shouldn’t turn our backs on an opportunity to use private donations and attract matching funds from the federal government to help put people back to work,” said Senator Lesniak. “New Jersey continues to have one of the highest unemployment rates in the country and this is a smart and cost-effective way of providing job skills for those in need. I can’t understand why the Governor is taking his sweet time in helping people receive the job training they need to get off assistance and get a job.”
The project would have the state Department of Human Services partner with local agencies, non-profits and colleges and universities to provide food stamp recipients with job training funded by private foundations like the Nicholson Foundation with matching grants from the federal government.
“At this time of need there are no excuses for leaving money on the table when it can be used to move people from public assistance to the workforce,” said Senator Lesniak, noting that the number of people receiving food stamps has more than doubled since 2007 to nearly one million.
The legislation was approved 35 – 0 by the Senate on February 7, 2013 and then gained final legislative approval by the Assembly on February 14, 2013. The 45-day timetable for action on the bill has passed, Senator Lesniak noted, giving the governor until the Senate convenes to take official action.
