PATERSON, NJ - Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) released the following statement regarding the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's (HUD) announcement that the New Meadowlands project located in Little Ferry, Moonachie, Carlstadt and Teterboro has been selected as a winner of HUD's Rebuild by Design competition. Rebuild by Design was created in the summer of 2013 by President Obama’s Hurricane Sandy Rebuilding Task Force as a way to develop ideas capable of dramatically improving the physical, ecological, and economic resilience of coastal areas.

“Hurricane Sandy devastated Meadowlands communities such as Moonachie and Little Ferry. Although recovery and rebuilding are vital needs, we also need to focus on building our resiliency for future storms and floods. With the effects of climate change and global sea level rise taking hold, these devastating events will only grow more frequent. It is past time that residents of the Meadowlands and the surrounding region had a comprehensive solution for repetitive flooding problems.

"The New Meadowlands project will bring fresh new ideas to the table, and I am glad that HUD has deemed this project worthy for funding. I expect that the $150 million being announced today can go a long way toward making our communities more resistant to the next storm. I look forward to working with the communities that call the Meadowlands home in order to quickly implement this project in a way which brings not only flood protection, but economic, environmental and cultural benefits as well.”

###