Fall Wrap-Up

A bipartisan group of 35 total House Members, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), announced a new bipartisan health insurance framework, CommonGround 2025, in early December. The bipartisan framework includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families, including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.

Gottheimer then helped lead the introduction of bipartisan legislation, the “CommonGround for Affordable Health Care Act,” based on the health care framework they unveiled — along with a bipartisan coalition of 38 total House Members.

“With higher costs on nearly everything, from groceries to childcare to energy bills, we must do everything we can to fight higher health insurance costs. Premiums are out of control as it is—we can’t afford for it to get worse,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “We are running out of time to get this done. In less than three weeks, these tax credits will expire, and health care will become unaffordable for millions of Americans. This bipartisan bill builds on the framework Congresswoman Kiggans and I unveiled last week. It’s a commonsense proposal that will keep costs down and prevent families’ premiums from skyrocketing. We must get this done now. We must find common ground. Time is running out; we simply cannot delay.”

Above: Gottheimer joined Eva’s Village and volunteers to serve Thanksgiving meals to local families.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined with non-profit Eva’s Village to help serve Thanksgiving meals to local families.

“Everyone should have the food they need each day — especially at Thanksgiving. This season reminds us to be grateful and to support neighbors who may be struggling with rising costs,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “That’s what today was about. Thank you to Eva’s Village, the amazing volunteers, and everyone who helps ensure New Jersey families have the holiday they deserve.”

Above: Gottheimer joined local leaders, advocates, and lung cancer researchers to announce new bipartisan legislation during Lung Cancer Awareness Month.

During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) introduced new legislation to combat lung cancer, cut through red tape, streamline health care access, and increase funding for research into lung cancer.

“There is a vicious killer that is tearing apart families, and too many do not even know that they’re at risk because they don’t think they ‘fit the profile.’ Lung cancer is the deadliest cancer in America and across the globe — one in five cancer deaths are from lung cancer. With this month being Lung Cancer Awareness Month, I’m proud to announce new bipartisan action in our fight against lung cancer,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the Congressional Lung Cancer Caucus and the House Cancer Caucus. “This is not a partisan issue. Lung cancer doesn’t just affect Democrats or Republicans. It affects all families here in Jersey and across the country. No more cutting funding and kicking the can down the road. The cure is in front of us — but only if we increase investment.” 

Gottheimer’s New Legislation to Combat Lung Cancer:

• The Benay Taub Lung Cancer Research Act: This legislation will create a specialized federal task force made up of members from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institute of Health (NIH), and CDC’s National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program to address gaps in access to lung cancer screenings,  recommend best practices for early detection, and ensure sufficient funding. The bill is named after local lung cancer research advocate and board member of the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, Benay Taub of Demarest, NJ. This bill is co-led by Rep. Mike Lawler (NY-17).
• The IMPACT Act: Improving Medicaid Precision and Cancer Testing Act: This bipartisan bill extends Medicaid coverage for medically necessary biomarker testing for lung cancer, which helps fast-track the best possible treatment for patients specific to their type of lung cancer. The bill also fixes the nationwide patchwork where coverage varies by state, limiting access for many patients. This bill is co-led by Rep. John Rutherford (FL-5).
• The Lung Cancer MAP Act: Lung Cancer Medicare Access to Precise Testing Act: This bipartisan bill cuts red tape, allows a streamline diagnosis for lung cancer patients to ensure they receive the fastest specialized treatment, and breaks down barriers that restrict testing only to later-staged cancer. This will help ensure that families on Medicare receive the proper treatments they need. This bill is co-led by Rep. Jen Kiggans (VA-2).
• All three pieces of Gottheimer’s legislation are endorsed by the Lung Cancer Research Foundation, LiveLung, GO2 for Lung Cancer, LungCAN, and LUNGevity. 

Above: Gottheimer announcing new federal investments clawed back to the Englewood Fire Department.

Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced a new $662,784 federal investment clawed back to the Englewood Fire Department to support live fire training and to hire two additional firefighters. These new federal dollars — secured through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program and Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program — will strengthen emergency response, improve firefighter training and safety, and help lower the local property tax burden for residents.

Overall, during his time in Congress, Gottheimer has clawed back more than $20 million for fire departments across New Jersey’s Fifth District. 

“These investments make our communities and families safer and protect local taxpayers’ wallets. That’s because the more federal tax dollars we claw back to Jersey, the less our towns have to charge in local property taxes — which are already way too high. I’m all about lowering taxes and doing everything we can to make life more affordable. To me, it’s all about making sure you can afford to work, live, and stay in Jersey with your families. Clawing back investments for our communities is a win-win-win — for our families, for our first responders, for our communities. By clawing back major grants, we’re making sure that Jersey gets what it deserves,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “As ready as our fire departments are for every challenge, even on a good day, they are often left fighting for resources to protect our communities. It’s impossible to protect us without the basic resources to train and do your job safely and effectively. I’m proud to announce today that we are clawing back a new monumental federal investment from Washington to North Jersey — more than $660,000 to Englewood this year alone.”

Above: At Newton’s American Legion Post 86, Gottheimer announced new action to honor and support local veterans.

To help mark Veterans Day, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new bipartisan legislation backed by the entire New Jersey delegation in the U.S. House of Representatives to rename the Sussex County Veterans Affairs clinic after Anthony ‘Tony’ Gallopo — a U.S. Navy veteran and local advocate for veterans’ health care who was instrumental in getting the clinic opened in 2017.

Tony Gallopo, who sadly passed away in 2020, was Vice Commander of the New Jersey Department of the American Legion and Commander at American Legion Post 86 in Newton. 

“I’ve been honored to stand alongside so many incredible leaders, like Tony Gallopo, to ensure that our commitment to our service members doesn’t just end when their civilian life begins. Tony’s memory reminds us that it is our duty as Americans not only to honor all soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and women, and guardians, but to do everything we can to fight for them when they return. This is especially important right now, as veterans face new challenges: rising costs, health care struggles, and transitions into civilian life,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “By renaming this clinic, together with legislation I announced today, we enshrine Tony’s legacy and reaffirm our enduring promise: to fight for our veterans the same way he did. In doing so, we not only honor the legacy of Tony Gallopo, but also take action to continue it.”

Gottheimer’s New Legislation to Honor and Support Veterans:

• Renaming the Sussex VA Clinic in Honor of Tony Gallopo: Gottheimer introduced new bipartisan legislation to rename the Sussex County VA Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Newton as the “Anthony J. ‘Tony’ Gallopo Veterans Affairs Clinic.” The bill is co-led by Air Force veteran Rep. Herb Conaway (NJ-3), cosponsored by the entire New Jersey House delegation, and endorsed by the American Legion, Disabled American Veterans, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.
• Improving Childcare Access for Veterans and their Families: Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. Ashley Hinson (IA-2) to require the U.S. Dept. of Education and the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs to study the childcare services available to veterans and their families, identify gaps, and recommend solutions to address workforce shortages at child development centers and high childcare costs.
• Protecting Veterans’ Benefits from Rising Costs: Gottheimer introduced bipartisan legislation with Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2) to permanently tie veterans’ benefits to cost-of-living increases, ensuring that veterans and their families never see their hard-earned benefits impacted by rising costs.

Above: Gottheimer honoring Veterans Day in Fort Lee.

Congressman Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined Fort Lee’s Veterans Day ceremony at VFW Cairola-Barber Post 2342, honored all those who have served and sacrificed for our nation, and advocated for better care for North Jersey’s veterans.

“For me, there is nothing more important in this job than my responsibility to always have the backs of those who have had ours,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “To all our service members and veterans, thank you for putting your lives on the line to defend our freedom, our families, and the greatest democracy the world has ever known. And we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice and bless their families. Our country wouldn’t be here today without those who have served, allowing us to salute and honor our flag.”

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.

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