Achievements

Porzio Governmental Affairs was successful in seeing legislation enacted that expands educational opportunities for New Jersey students by clarifying eligibility for the New Jersey Stars scholarship program which enables top New Jersey students to get a head start on their higher education with free tuition at community colleges.

Representing one of the world's top technology companies, Porzio Governmental Affairs worked with Rutgers University to secure a $10,000,000 allocation for a Supercomputer to be located at the main campus in New Brunswick. As envisioned, the supercomputer (when constructed) would be the 57th most powerful system in the world, the 4th most powerful academic system in the country and the 2nd most powerful academic system on the east coast. The supercomputer funding was part of $2.1 billion in higher education funding that was made available through a General Obligation Construction Bond Fund approved by the voters in November 2012, as well as four preexisting higher education bond funds approved by New Jersey voters.

For the New Jersey State Society of Physician Assistants (NJSSPA), Porzio Governmental Affairs secured the inclusion of physician assistants among the health care providers who can perform the now mandatory pre-participation physicals for students playing intramural or interscholastic sports as part of the Student-Athlete Safety Act. Further, the NJSSPA is among the organizations authorized to display the training module for the physicals on their website.

Porzio Governmental Affairs ("PGA") has a long-standing relationship with the Council of County Colleges, an entity that represents all of New Jersey’s 19 community colleges. Over the years, PGA has worked to position this sector before the legislature and key individuals and entities within the executive branch, building strong relationships and establishing a feeling of mutual trust and good will. Formerly, if a prospective student did not have health insurance, the institution had to offer him or her a plan provided through the college. With the passage of the Affordable Care Act, the bare bones policies offered by the colleges are no longer an option. Having to buy an expensive health insurance policy would force many potential community college students to skip college enrollment. PGA was able to secure the passage of legislation that removed the mandate that all full-time students at the State's institutions of higher education have health insurance as a term of enrollment.