WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Andy Kim (NJ-03) held a telephone town hall discussing New Jersey's reopening ahead of the busy Memorial Day holiday and efforts in Congress to support our efforts to return to normal.
Congressman Kim was joined by Sandra Lazzaro, Director of Business Development and Tourism for Ocean County who talked about how Ocean County is reopening and what it means for visitors to the Shore.
"The past year has not only been a story of innovation and ingenuity, but of resilience and resolve. We are turning the page on this pandemic, and we need to do everything we can to make sure we fully recover as we reopen," said Congressman Kim. "From shopping local to spending time down the Shore, we can all help our small businesses and communities come back better than ever. I hope tonight's town hall showed that we're ready to get back to normal and get our state back on its feet."
The town hall comes one day before New Jersey will implement a complete removal of outdoor gathering limits, increase indoor gathering limits, and take other steps to return the state to a pre-pandemic normal. The town hall also comes in the wake of funds from the Paycheck Protection Program and the Restaurant Revitalization Fund – both programs championed by Congressman Kim – have helped small businesses keep employees on payroll and their doors open.
Issues raised by residents of Burlington and Ocean Counties included: plans for reopening schools in New Jersey, the difficulties of small business owners to find workers, if people who have had COVID-19 need to get the vaccine and how long the vaccine will be effective, and details on the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act passed through the House today.
Congressman Kim is a member of the House Armed Services Committee, the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Committee on Small Business. More information about Congressman Kim can be found on his website by clicking here.
Original source found here.
