Statement From Governor Murphy on Global Technology Outage Involving CrowdStrike and Microsoft

Following the news of the global technology outage on Friday morning, Governor Murphy released the statement below:

"I have been briefed on the global technology outage involving CrowdStrike software and Microsoft operating systems, which has grounded flights, disrupted banks, and slowed the work of businesses and critical services including 911 call centers.

"We activated our State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) as of 3:00 a.m. in response to these disruptions and have provided guidance to relevant executive branch agencies on how to address the situation. We are also engaging county and local governments, 911 call centers, and utilities to assess the impact and offer our assistance.

"I’ve asked my senior team, including Director of the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness Laurie Doran, New Jersey State Police Superintendent Colonel Pat Callahan, and Chief Technology Officer Chris Rein to provide additional updates during the course of the day as the situation evolves."

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Murphy Administration Releases Groundbreaking Plan to Better Protect Health and Welfare of Residents From the Effects of Extreme Heat

As New Jersey becomes progressively hotter, the Murphy Administration released a groundbreaking plan that sets specific actions to be taken by agencies across state government to protect the health and welfare of residents from the impacts of extreme heat caused by a changing climate.

The finalized Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan, developed by the New Jersey Interagency Council on Climate Resilience, with significant public input, is only the third of its kind in the nation. The plan sets 136 specific actions to be implemented by individual agencies (or across multiple agencies) to mitigate the effects of extreme heat, one of the deadliest climate-related hazards facing New Jersey residents.

“In just the last few weeks, we have seen the dangers of increasingly hotter days for longer periods of time,” said Governor Phil Murphy. “We must continue to combat climate change while best preparing our residents with the knowledge and resources to protect themselves from extreme heat. The Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan lays out a critical roadmap that will help the State take the necessary steps to safeguard New Jerseyans.”

“The facts are indisputable – New Jersey is among the fastest warming states and the impacts of extreme heat are becoming more profound, affecting the quality of life and health of our residents,” said Environmental Protection Commissioner Shawn M. LaTourette. “Through the Extreme Heat Resilience Action Plan, the Murphy Administration has established a clear set of goals and actions that will better protect New Jerseyans from the worsening impacts of climate change.”

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AG Platkin, Division of Consumer Affairs Announce Proposed Rules Requiring Healthcare Professionals to Undergo Bias Training to Improve Quality of Maternal Care in New Jersey

Advancing ongoing efforts to address pronounced racial disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes in New Jersey, Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs announced proposed rules aimed at eliminating biases that negatively impact the quality of care delivered by health care providers to women of color during pregnancy, labor, delivery, postpartum, and neonatal periods.

“For far too long, far too many expecting mothers of color have been disrespected, overlooked, and underserved during their pregnancies and birthing experiences. Our Administration has made it a priority to trust women and to root out these injustices through a number of means. Today’s rule proposal is a critical addition to that list,” said Governor Murphy. “I thank Attorney General Platkin and his office for continuing to prioritize some of our most vulnerable communities. Our Administration is committed to building on our ongoing efforts to protect the health of mothers and newborns in our State.”

“In order to achieve our goal of reducing racial disparities in birth outcomes, it’s important that each and every mother receive culturally competent care from their health care providers,” said First Lady Tammy Murphy. “Today’s rule proposal by Attorney General Platkin and the Division of Consumer Affairs is a necessary step that builds on the work of the Nurture NJ initiative. The knowledge obtained through these trainings will help ensure members of an expecting mother’s care team approach their essential work without prejudice or bias. These steps will further advance New Jersey’s mission to become the safest and most equitable state in the nation to deliver and raise a baby.”

“Despite advances in medical care, women of color from across the income spectrum and from all walks of life are dying from pregnancy-related complications at much higher rates than white women,” said Attorney General Platkin. “We’re committed to eradicating underlying biases that serve as a barrier to quality healthcare for too many women of color in our state.”

“Our healthcare professionals are on the frontline of our efforts to ensure a healthy start for every New Jersey mother and child,” said Cari Fais, Acting Director of the Division of Consumer Affairs. “Requiring them to become trained in implicit and explicit biases will raise their awareness and help them identify and prevent bias in the delivery of maternal health care.”

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Human Services and Community Affairs Commissioners Announce Developers Can Apply for $95M to Build 'Healthy Homes' for NJ FamilyCare Members

Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman and Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez announced developers can apply for funding to provide affordable housing for NJ FamilyCare members.

Under the Healthy Homes partnership, the $95 million available will be used to produce up to 200 low-rent housing units for NJ FamilyCare members who are homeless, at risk of homelessness, or living in an institution. NJ FamilyCare is New Jersey’s Medicaid program.

“Access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is a necessity that New Jerseyans deserve to see fulfilled, and it directly impacts an individual’s overall health and wellness,” Governor Phil Murphy said. “By making $95 million available through the Healthy Homes Initiative, we are building on the life-changing benefits made available to New Jersey families through NJ FamilyCare and taking decisive steps to bolster health and housing equity. I commend Commissioners Adelman and Suárez for their leadership on this issue and look forward to seeing the impact of this program.”

“Housing is one of the primary social determinants of health, and research has shown that inadequate housing is often a critical barrier to wellness that can also raise health care costs,” Human Services Commissioner Sarah Adelman said. “New Jersey’s Healthy Homes program aims to provide affordable, community-based housing to NJ FamilyCare members in need, which ensures long-term housing stability for tenants and, importantly, advances health equity. We believe investing these one-time funds in safe and affordable housing for the Medicaid population will help us serve people the best way possible.”

“New Jersey recognizes that good housing leads to improved physical and mental wellness,” Community Affairs Commissioner Jacquelyn A. Suárez said. “Therefore, the state has developed programs like New Jersey Healthy Homes to tackle rising health care costs by addressing a root cause – a lack of affordable housing. With the New Jersey Healthy Homes program now open, we urge developers and landlords to apply and join in the state’s efforts to build permanent, affordable housing for people of limited financial means, in this case NJ FamilyCare members who are experiencing or at risk of experiencing homelessness.”

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DEP Advances Liberty State Park Revitalization Program by Launching Pilot Free Shuttle Service

As part of the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program and in response to public feedback, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection on Friday will launch a free shuttle service to improve connectivity to light rail transit and access to amenities spread throughout the park. The pilot shuttle service, starting Friday, July 19, will operate on weekends and select other days through Sept. 29. The shuttle service will include stops at the Liberty Science Center and the Liberty State Park Light Rail Station.

Two shuttle buses, one with a wheelchair lift, will transport visitors along a designated route on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during specific times for special events. A shuttle will arrive at each stop approximately every 20 minutes. Previously, a pay-to-ride NJ TRANSIT shuttle service operated at the park from 2000 until 2010. Extensive stakeholder engagement through the Liberty State Park Revitalization Program revealed significant interest in resuming a shuttle service in the park to enhance access to park amenities.

“Liberty State Park is the most visited state park in New Jersey and an important recreational resource for area residents,” said Commissioner LaTourette. “Throughout DEP’s robust public engagement process, many have expressed the need for better connectivity between Liberty State Park’s amenities. This free shuttle service seeks to fulfill that need and better serve surrounding communities. Inclusivity has always been a priority of the revitalization program and we are thrilled to offer this service that will make getting around this iconic park more convenient for all.”

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