Accomplished in 2016/2017

State Police Accidental Death (S.2061 | P.L.2016, c.26.): Following the death of State Police Trooper Sean Emonn Cullen, Senate President Sweeney and Senator Allen led the effort to ensure that the death benefits for an officer killed in the line of duty are treated equally regardless of marital status. Prior to the enactment of the law, children of officers killed in the line of duty who had a spouse at the time were provided more than children of the officers killed who did not have a spouse.

Nourishing Young Minds (S.2819 | P.L.2017, c.132.): Senate President Sweeney along with Senators Ruiz and Lesniak worked to prioritize funding for awards to districts or schools with the highest number of eligible students and lowest participation in the school breakfast program. Monies in the “Nourishing Young Minds Initiative Fund” are used by the Department of Agriculture (DOA) to provide support and funding to child food and nutrition programs in New Jersey.

“Water Quality Accountability Act” (S.2834 | P.L.2017, c.133.): Senate President Sweeney along with Senators Greenstein and Bateman worked to establish a law that requires public and private water companies to modernize their systems, including timetables, water quality standards and reporting requirements.Previously, municipal water utilities were not held to the same standard as private water utilities and the result was a much higher incident of harmful elements in municipal water systems.

Transportation Trust Fund (S.3076 | P.L.2017, c.38.): Senate President Sweeney led the effort to restore the state’s bankrupt Transportation Trust Fund. The renewal of the fund is providing over $2 billion in funding for roads and mass transportation. Projects in the 3rd Legislative District that received funding include the Camden to Glassboro light rail and major improvements to freight rail lines in Gloucester and Salem County to handle increased economic activity from the ports.