NEW MILFORD, NJ — Today, August 4, 2022, at the New Milford Police Department, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer received the endorsement of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association (NJSPBA).
NJSPBA Presdient Patrick Colligan praised Gottheimer’s record of commonsense leadership, and steadfast support of law enforcement and first responders as congressman of New Jersey’s Fifth District. NJSPBA have also endorsed Gottheimer’s bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act to make critical, targeted investments in local law enforcement. Gottheimer’s bill will help local departments recruit and retain only the finest officers, support training, invest in body cameras and storage, and provide mental health resources to keep our officers and communities safe. NJSPBA represents more than 33,000 law enforcement officers across New Jersey.
“Congressman Josh Gottheimer has proven to be a fierce, loyal advocate for law enforcement, firefighters, and all first responders,” said NJSPBA President Patrick Colligan. “Josh’s advocacy for first responders does not just help his district, he fights for officers throughout the country. We thank him for his tireless work in Congress to pass his bill, the Invest to Protect Act, to support local law enforcement. I proudly and wholeheartedly give the New Jersey State PBA endorsement to Congressman Josh Gottheimer for re-election.”
“Far too many don’t recognize that you wake up every morning, put on a vest, kiss your husbands, wives, and children goodbye, and head into a volatile, uncertain, and at times, a very dangerous world. I’m fully committed to funding — not defunding — the training, tools, and support our officers need to fight crime and terror, and protect themselves and our communities,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “My bipartisan Invest to Protect Act we will make critical investments in our law enforcement, in training and tools, in recruiting and retaining the best talent, and in ensuring they have the resources they need to keep themselves and our communities safe. I’m working day and night with our partners in Congress, House leadership, and law enforcement unions to get Invest to Protect to the floor for a vote asap.”
Gottheimer continued, “I can’t express enough just how honored and humbled I am to receive this formal endorsement from the New Jersey State PBA. In Congress, since day one, I’ve fought for our law enforcement officers, and all first responders who serve our communities, because, for me, it always boils down to this: we must have the backs of those who always have our backs.”
Earlier this year, Gottheimer introduced the bipartisan Invest to Protect Act, to make critical, targeted investments in local police departments and ensure officers in smaller communities in New Jersey and across the country have the resources, equipment, training, and support they need to keep themselves and their communities safe. Invest to Protect was developed through many conversations with communities, local law enforcement, and police unions across the country and in New Jersey.
Gottheimer made great progress last week in his effort to get Invest to Protect to the floor for a vote, and will continue working to get it across the finish line.
This week, Invest to Protect’s bipartisan companion bill passed unanimously in the Senate. In the House, the Invest to Protect Act currently has 84 co-sponsors, including 27 Republicans and 57 Democrats.
In Congress, Gottheimer serves as a member of the bipartisan Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus. Among other action, he has fought to claw millions of federal dollars back to the District in the form of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grants, Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) 1033 grants, Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG), and other resources to support our communities and local police law enforcement and first responders.
Gottheimer also cosponsored bipartisan legislation that passed Congress and was signed into law to reauthorize the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Grant Program. He cosponsored the Public Safety Officer Pandemic Response Act of 2020 to support first responders impacted by COVID-19, voted for the thin Blue Line Act, and fought to pass the bipartisan Never Forget the Heroes Act, which provides long-overdue support for 9/11 survivors and first responders.
Gottheimer was joined today by NJ State PBA President Patrick Colligan, Bergen County Conference PBA Chairman Vincent Rizzo, PBA Local 83 President Sam Girace, New Milford Council President Randi Duffie, and members of NJ State PBA Local 83 and Local 206.
