CAMDEN - A $630 million shipyard contract will bring an estimated 1,200 jobs to the South Jersey-Philadelphia area, a local congressman predicted Thursday. "This new shipbuilding contract is a major win," U.S. Rep. Donald Norcross, D-Camden, said of the deal to build "national security multi-mission vessels" at Philly Shipyard.
Norcross was in Camden — where he lives, several blocks away on the other side of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge — Monday afternoon along with his congressional colleague U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, to tout $16.2 million in federally-funded Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery (TIGER) work.
Rep. Donald Norcross (D-Camden) told the New Jersey Legislature that he opposed a bill to delay planned minimum wage increases, calling the premise of the proposal “illogical.”
“This is an irresponsible proposal that will harm both workers and businesses,” Norcross wrote. “This proposal should be rejected by the Senate Labor Committee on Thursday and I’m calling on all New Jerseyans to make their voices heard today. It’s good for the economy, it’s right for workers, people support it and you promised to do it: Raise the Wage.”
Reps. Donald Norcross and Andy Kim said the policy bill, known as the National Defense Authorization Act, is too important to fall victim to the partisan gridlock that has doomed scores of legislation over the last several years.
The BRAVE Act — Bringing Registered Apprenticeships to Veterans Education — will be introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives next week, said Norcross, a former electrician and vocal proponent of skilled trades training.
The bill, for which Norcross expects bipartisan support, would ensure that service members are provided with information on training in trades.