Last Thursday, in my ongoing tour of businesses in central New Jersey, I visited an advanced energy business in South Brunswick and discussed with area entrepreneurs how they are taking their ideas from the lab into the marketplace.

Among the companies in attendance was Liquid Light, Inc., a local small business that just received a $149,691 federal grant to develop its technology to convert carbon dioxide – an atmospheric pollutant and greenhouse gas – into butanol, a clean, alternative fuel.  What’s more, their process is powered by sunlight:  an unlimited source of energy that we’ll never have to import from the Middle East.

Liquid Light is a small company that illustrates a big point:  even in this economy, small businesses can drive innovation and create jobs.  Unfortunately, federal support that leads to research at companies like Liquid Light is under attack.

Under the budget plan that recently passed the U.S. House (with only Republican support), R&D support would be slashed by 17 percent.  This strikes me as deeply shortsighted.  Right now, our economy is deep in the hole.  The only way we can climb out is by supporting entrepreneurs and innovators like those in central New Jersey.

EDUCATION UNDERSECRETARY VISITS MERCER COUNTY COMMUNITY COLLEGE

Last Wednesday, Undersecretary of Education Martha Kanter and I visited Mercer County Community Collegeto hear directly from students as they prepare to enter the job market.

It was encouraging to hear students express their confidence that education would provide them a leg-up, even in today’s difficult economy.  Even so, several voiced deep worries about the high cost of college.

I share their concern.  In particular, I am concerned about the future of Pell Grants, which – like R&D funding, Medicare, and early childhood education – would be cut under the budget recently passed by the House of Representatives.  If enacted into law, the changes would deny Pell Grants to approximately 30,000 New Jersey students.

Education is far and away the best economic investment we can make.  At this precarious moment, we should be helping to advance the American dream for all – not scaling back our hopes.

FREE WORKSHOP FOR FAMILIES APPLYING FOR STUDENT AID

Do you have your own concerns about affording higher education?  On Thursday, June 2, at 7 p.m., I will be organizing a free Student Aid Workshop for high school students and their parents in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education and Rutgers University.

Experts will be on hand to offer information on financial aid opportunities at the federal, state, and campus levels, including Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, and scholarship programs offered by the State of New Jersey.  They will also be glad to answer your questions and provide information about your own financial aid situation.

The workshop will be held at the Plainsboro Public Library, which is located at 9 Van Doren Street in Plainsboro.  For more information, please contact Andrew Black of my staff at (609) 750-9365 or andrew.black@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress