Congressman Kean Announces $3.8 Million for NJ-07 Projects in House Funding Bill

(January 12, 2026) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that he secured $3.8 million in federal funding for communities throughout New Jersey’s Seventh Congressional District. Six of his FY2026 Community Project requests were included in the recently passed government funding bill (H.R. 6938), which cleared the House on January 8. This delivers $3,792,607 in federal taxpayer dollars directly back to the Seventh District to support critical local projects. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration. 

“My top priority is delivering tangible results for families and communities across the Seventh District,” said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. “These projects represent meaningful, on-the-ground investments that will strengthen public safety, upgrade emergency communications, modernize critical infrastructure, and protect public health for years to come. I am pleased to bring this funding back home, and I am confident it will make a lasting difference in the lives of residents.” 

Congressman Kean's FY2026 Community Project Funding requests included in the Appropriations bill: 

Bernards Township: $835,000 for police department communications upgrade

• The existing police radios in the Bernards PD’s inventory are single-band and are approaching the end of their useful lifespan. The Police Department is seeking funding for tri-band radios to outfit officers and frontline police vehicles. Officers are the primary 24/7 first responders in the Township, and interoperable radios would streamline communication and improve the flow of information during critical incidents. In addition, the Police Department will be able to directly communicate with other law enforcement agencies throughout Somerset County and the broader region, improving cooperation and information sharing. This investment will fund 89 radios for the police department—50 tri-band portable radios and 39 tri-band mobile radios.

Greenwich Township: $97,607 for school resource officer vehicle and equipment

• The Township of Greenwich employs one school resource officer (SRO) responsible for an elementary and middle school, serving approximately 630 students. The Police Department needs a dedicated vehicle for the SRO to improve response times, increase visibility to deter potential incidents, and allow the officer to manage duties in separate locations effectively. The vehicle would also be utilized during community events.

• The Warren Township Police Department's communications equipment is over 20 years old and needs to be updated. The system​s require interoperability, as central dispatch serves as the communications hub for all police, fire, and EMS emergency calls in the Township. Some current equipment is range-limited and lacks multiple bands, hindering communication with neighboring towns and jurisdictions in emergencies. The requested funding will upgrade emergency operations to meet the growing needs of the community.

• Memorial Pond manages stormwater and acts as a regional basin before entering Lake Hopatcong. The pond receives stormwater runoff from the entire sub-watershed above it. Sedimentation and infilling resulting from the development and watershed conditions require dredging. The project includes data collection and analysis, surveying, engineering, regulatory requirements, and dredging. Mount Arlington, the Lake Hopatcong Commission, and the surrounding lake municipalities (Roxbury, Jefferson and Hopatcong) work together to improve the lake water quality and are supportive of these efforts.

• The proposed scope of work includes new pumps, controls, a generator, comminutor, and electrical service. These upgrades are necessary to ensure proper wastewater flow and eliminate risks associated with pump station failure that could harm surface and groundwater quality. These improvements will also help reduce municipal energy costs and promote the health and safety of all residents.

• The Borough is seeking funding to complete the initial phase of lead service line replacements along various roadways. The project will target high-priority communities, including low-income and minority households. In response to state law mandating a lead service line replacement program, which also requires galvanized steel waterlines to be accounted for and replaced by 2031, the Borough seeks assistance in meeting this compliance. They hope to remove the galvanized steel and lead water service lines and replace them with copper service lines. 

Background:

As part of the FY2026 Community Project Funding (CPF) process, Congressman Kean advocated for local priorities identified by community leaders and local officials. In May 2025, he submitted 15 CPF requests to the House Appropriations Committee for consideration in the FY2026 appropriations bills. Of the 15 requests Congressman Kean was allotted, six were included in the spending package passed last week. Another three projects were passed in November, when Kean announced $3.7 million for local police departments in Byram, Readington, and Holland Townships.  

The remaining CPF requests are still under consideration in additional appropriations bills pending in the House. To view the full list of Congressman Kean’s FY2026 CPF requests, please click HERE.

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