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Federal officials announced more federal emergency dollars to help Northeast states clean up and recover from extensive damage in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Yesterday, U.S. Sens. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) announced the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) would release $10 million in quick release emergency highway funding to help the state of New Jersey repair its damaged roads, highways and bridges. In addition, USDOT announced $2 million in funds for the state of Connecticut's cleanup efforts.

Also yesterday, Lautenberg and Menendez announced the U.S. Department of Labor will provide a $16 million national emergency grant to the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development to hire about 1,000 temporary workers to assist with cleanup and recovery efforts.

So far, the USDOT has issued a total $29 million in quick-release emergency relief funds this week in response to states' requests for the funds following the storm. On Tuesday, the department announced $10 million in quick-release emergency relief funds for the New York and $3 million for Rhode Island; on Wednesday, the agency announced $4 million for North Carolina.

"President Obama has made it a national priority to provide immediate assistance to states impacted by this unprecedented storm," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood in a prepared statement. "These emergency relief funds represent only the beginning of our commitment to restoring transportation in the region."