Fall 2022 Newsletter

Above: Gottheimer at the Dumont Police Department to announce the Invest to Protect Act.

Gottheimer's legislation to invest in — not defund — law enforcement overwhelmingly passed with 360 to 64 votes in the House.  

The bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act, will make critical, targeted investments in small and midsize police departments with fewer than 125 sworn officers — which make up more than 96% of local U.S. police departments nationwide — for the recruitment, retention, support, and training they need to protect themselves and our families. It will give departments the flexibility to utilize resources to make meaningful investments in their officers and communities

The bipartisan Invest to Protect Act of 2022 will:

• Invest in officer safety, de-escalation, and domestic violence response training, allowing officers to receive critical training that will make them even more effective at their jobs;
• Create grants for small departments to recruit and retain new officers, to help keep their existing officers and recruit new ones;
• Allow departments to provide mental health resources for their officers; and,
• Authorize $60,000,000 a year for 5 years for local police departments.

 Above: Gottheimer at the Teaneck Fire Department to announce new federal investments clawed back for first responders.

Congressman Gottheimer joined with local first responders and local leaders to announce a new $661,000 federal investment clawed back from Washington to Teaneck first responders to protect themselves and our communities.

New federal investment clawed back from Washington to Teaneck’s first responders includes:

• $437,000 to equip the Teaneck Fire Department with 58 radios — 20 mobile radios for apparatuses and vehicles that will allow firefighters to easily maintain contact with other first responders on the ground while rushing to an emergency. The department will also receive 38 new portable radios, replacing older models and allowing our firefighters to maintain contact in extreme circumstances.
• $224,000 for the Teaneck Volunteer Ambulance Corps for new protective gear — helping keep them safe while responding to the thousands of calls they receive every single year.

“Our first responders can’t protect us without the resources they need to do their job safely and effectively. We need to do everything we can to protect our first responders and to make sure they have what they need – and to honor and protect the families of the fallen. The bottom line: you can’t cut or defund your way to safer communities and better police departments,” said Congressman Gottheimer, a member of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus and the Congressional Fire Services Caucus.

Above: Gottheimer in Newton in Sussex County, announcing new federal investment to support seniors, veterans, and local residents.

Congressman Gottheimer announced a new $500,000 federal investment clawed back from Washington to Sussex County for new buses for public transportation for seniors, veterans, disabled residents, residents looking for work, or residents trying to get to and from jobs, post-secondary education, or career and technical training.

The new federal investment will go toward five new extended cutaway buses, each of which includes space for sixteen passengers plus two wheelchairs — greatly improving and updating Sussex County’s fleet and public transportation for vulnerable populations all across Sussex.

Sussex County’s Office of Transit provides more than 65,000 rides each year to Sussex residents through both public transportation and paratransit services. Sussex County currently has a fleet of 25 buses. Unfortunately, some of the fleet’s oldest buses have more than 250,000 miles on them.

 Above: Gottheimer at the Teaneck Fire Department to announce new federal investments clawed back for first responders.

Congressman Gottheimer helped pass the bipartisan “Fairness for 9/11 Families Act” to properly compensate thousands of 9/11 victims, spouses, and their dependents who were previously excluded.

“Today’s success is a testament to how Congress can come together from both sides of the aisle to never forget those we lost on 9/11 and to provide much needed support to those who continue to live with immense pain and grief,” said Congressman Gottheimer. “While this is a critical step to ensure that those who suffered unimaginable loss receive the resources they deserve, Congress still has more work to do. We must continue to fight for legislation that ensures the World Trade Center Health Program has the necessary investment it needs to adequately provide care to thousands of first responders and survivors exposed to toxins at Ground Zero.”

On 9/11, New Jersey lost 750 lives, including 147 Bergen County residents, 30 Passaic County residents, 4 Warren County residents, and 3 Sussex County residents.

Throughout September and October, Congressman Gottheimer celebrated with North Jersey families, first responders, veterans, and seniors all across the Fifth District at local town days, which featured live music, food trucks, dog shows, and much more.

Gottheimer visited town days in Mahwah, Norwood, Demarest, Teaneck, Glen Rock, Wyckoff, Ramsey, Harrington Park, Northvale, Dumont, River Edge, Midland Park, Closter, and more!

Gottheimer’s Constituent Service Team also attended each festival to help Fifth District residents with accessing VA benefits, Social Security, Medicare, and more.

Above: Gottheimer at Closter Day

By Congressman Gottheimer

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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