September Wrap-Up

Funding for the federal government expired on September 30. However, my office will remain open to continue to help Fifth District residents with casework and federal matters.

I am working to keep critical services up and running for families in our community while lowering health care costs. Unfortunately, the far-right is refusing to negotiate with us and are continuing to push a partisan spending bill that takes health care away from hard-working families across Jersey.

To help you plan for the impacts of a federal government shutdown, my office and I have prepared answers to some frequently asked questions HERE.

You can also find my full statement on the shutdown HERE.

Above: Gottheimer joins local health care workers to demand an extension of the ACA enhanced premium tax credits.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer stood with local health care workers at Bergen New Bridge Medical Center to sound the alarm on the looming expiration of the critical Affordable Care Act (ACA) enhanced premium tax credits at the end of this year.

Gottheimer is calling on Senate and House leadership to come together in a bipartisan way, fund the government, and extend the ACA enhanced premium tax credits. Gottheimer stressed the urgency of the moment, with government funding running out at the beginning of October and the tax credits expiring at the end of the year.

“Despite what many of us demanded, the far-right refused to include an extension of the health care premium tax credits in the partisan budget they passed. As a result, these tax credits will expire at the end of the year,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That means right here in New Jersey, more than 454,000 people who rely on the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare or healthcare.gov — including 38,000 in my District alone — will see their health care premiums skyrocket beginning in January. We’re talking about 22 million families across the country.”

Gottheimer continued, “We must extend the ACA tax credits as a part of the budget. We must keep the government funded in a responsible, bipartisan way that doesn’t abandon our families. Yet, right now, the far-right in Congress are refusing to negotiate with us to get this done. These aren’t red issues or blue issues — they are about affordable health care for our families and children.”

Above: Gottheimer joins local officials and first responders to protect children against e-bike accidents.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new federal action to protect children from the alarming rise in e-bike accidents, joined by local officials and first responders at Hackensack High School.

“E-bikes are everywhere, it’s a fast-growing trend. While fun and efficient, without the right safety precautions, e-bikes can be dangerous. It’s heartbreaking, and it’s becoming increasingly common. These aren’t just statistics. They are children, friends, and family members. We must ensure families get the best possible education and resources they need to stay informed and protect themselves when using e-bikes,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the Children’s Safety Caucus. “When it comes to preventing our children from serious crashes, we need to pull out all the stops and put real safeguards in place. By further raising awareness, I’m hoping that we can prevent the next e-bike crash before it happens. The stakes are too high to let partisan politics stop us from protecting our kids.”

Gottheimer’s New E-Bike Safety Plan:

• First, Gottheimer is introducing the Safety and Funding for E-Bikes Ride Act, or S.A.F.E Ride Act, to increase federal investments to states that have, or create, an “Electric Bike Safety Plan.”
• Second, Gottheimer sent a letter to the major e-bike rental companies, like Citi Bike and Lyft, calling on them to better enforce their own safety policies.
• Third, Gottheimer is urging the U.S. Department of Transportation to put forward recommendations and guidelines on e-bike safety for states to implement in schools and through public awareness campaigns.
  
• Fourth, Gottheimer is also urging the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the New Jersey Department of Education to work together to create a comprehensive public information campaign in New Jersey.
  
• Finally, Gottheimer is also working with the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to ensure that funding for e-bike safety plans is included in the upcoming Surface Transportation Reauthorization bill.

Above: At Newark International Airport, Gottheimer fights for consumer protections to help families against airline-caused travel issues.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new federal action to strengthen consumer protections and help keep more money in the pockets of families facing delays and cancellations caused solely by an airline.

Gottheimer’s announcement follows the Trump Administration’s recent move to abandon consumer protections that would have required airlines to compensate customers for delays caused by the airlines themselves — such as mechanical issues, IT breakdowns, or fueling problems.

“When families get to the airport, they’re often concerned that they will get hit with a delay or cancellation. Yet, after your flight gets delayed, you could even face delays in getting the money the airline owes you. That’s not right. The European Union, Canada, Brazil, and Britain all already have airline delay compensation rules. We need to ensure that the United States doesn’t just stay on track with other countries, but instead, leads the way on protecting hardworking families and business travelers,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “If your flight gets canceled or significantly delayed because of the airlines, you should be compensated — not left stressed out and swinging in the wind. Families shouldn’t be left holding the bag when airlines screw up.”

Gottheimer’s Clear and Simple Airline Agenda:

• First, Gottheimer announced the Enhancing Transparency from Airlines Act (ETA Act), which will require airlines to provide passengers with cash compensation for airline-caused delays of more than three hours on a domestic flight. If the delay is more than five hours, families will receive up to $500.
• Second, Gottheimer is writing a letter to the U.S. Department of Transportation outlining the importance of standing by families and businesses by ensuring travelers receive compensation for delayed flights. This includes recommendations for delay compensation rates in light of the Administration’s recent decision to abandon this proposed policy.
• Third, Gottheimer is sending a letter to the major airlines and their associations requesting that they discuss their recommendations to continue increasing consumer protections with Members of Congress.

Above: Gottheimer joins local officials and volunteers to make recreational sports affordable.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new federal action to lower the cost of and boost participation in youth sports, including bipartisan legislation to expand tax credits for families to use on sports-related expenses. 

Last year, the average U.S. family spent $1,016 on their child’s primary sport, a 46% increase since 2019. President Trump’s proposed budget will also slash $12 billion in federal funding for schools — forcing school districts to make decisions about what programs to fund and cut. After-school programs — including sports programs — could be the first to be affected. 

“Every kid in Jersey who wants to should have the opportunity to write their own success story playing sports. But here’s the challenge: youth sports have become more and more expensive, and for many families, simply unaffordable. The actions I’m announcing today are a win-win-win for kids, parents, and town rec leagues,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Youth Sports Caucus. “It may be competitive, but there is nothing partisan about rec sports. So many of us played rec sports growing up. I have no doubt that kids in New Milford, and across our state and country, will create memories that will last a lifetime.”

Gottheimer’s Youth Sports Affordability Plan:

• First, Gottheimer announced bipartisan legislation, the Promoting Lifelong Activity for Youth Act (the PLAY Act), to help lower the cost of rec sports for families.
  • The PLAY Act will allow parents to use the Child and Dependent Care Tax Credit for up to $2,000 in expenses related to youth sports and other physical activities.
  • The PLAY Act will also help parents pay for their children’s league registration fees and sports equipment using pre-tax dollars.
  • The PLAY Act will also put in place a federal grant program to invest in rec youth sports programs and nonprofit organizations, to expand opportunities, get more kids involved, and help lower costs for families.
• Gottheimer is also sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Education to sound the alarm on how the Administration’s proposed spending cuts will impact school sports.
• Gottheimer joined the bipartisan Congressional Caucus on Youth Sports to help expand access to facilities, increase funding for community programs, and put in place policies that support the development of our young athletes.

Above: Gottheimer in Demarest to commemorate the twenty-fourth anniversary of the horrific September 11th attacks.

On the twenty-fourth anniversary of the September 11th attacks, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) took part in a remembrance ceremony in Demarest to honor the members of the North Jersey community and first responders who lost their lives in the horrific attacks, to commemorate the first responders lost since, and to recommit to protecting America from all forms of extremism and terror.

Gottheimer was appointed to serve as co-chair of the bipartisan House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence review of the 9/11 Commission Report. The review will evaluate the progress made on the intelligence-related recommendations made by the 9/11 Commission Report, released in July 2004, and identify possible gaps or areas of improvement.

“It’s hard to believe that today marks twenty-four years since terror struck our homeland that morning in 2001. Twenty-four years since we lost nearly 3,000 Americans — including more than 400 firefighters, police, and other first responders who ran into the towers — true patriots, who, as ever, put others ahead of themselves and their families,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) on September 11, 2025. “Today, and all days, we honor their memory and their legacy. With great loss, and in the face of great evil, our nation rose from the ashes and came together — especially here in North Jersey, where we will always live in the shadows of those attacks. We must always remember we are all Americans — we are a resilient people.”

As always, if you’re experiencing an issue with a federal agency, Congressman Gottheimer's Constituent Service team is here to listen & help with VA benefits, Social Security, Medicare, & much more.

Call at 201-389-1100 or email [email protected].

You can also follow Congressman Gottheimer's Twitter here, Facebook here, and Instagram here.

###