TENAFLY, NJ — Today, July 26, 2022, joined by Fifth District elected officials, business and community leaders, small business owners, and residents from the Asian American and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) community, Congressman Josh Gottheimer launched “AAPI for Josh” ahead of the 2022 election at the Korean Community Center in Tenafly. In Congress, Gottheimer has worked to support small businesses, combat hate, fight the rise in crimes, and ensure that AAPI voices are heard across North Jersey. He serves as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, a group of 29 Democrats and 29 Republicans who work together to find common ground on tough issues and put country before party.

Above: Congressman Josh Gottheimer in Tenafly to launch AAPI for Josh.

“I’m here today to support and endorse Congressman Josh Gottheimer in his re-election campaign. For me personally, as an American, Congressman Josh Gottheimer truly represents the model example of a hardworking congressman, as evidenced by his many initiatives to promote the interests of every demographic in New Jersey,” said Co-founder of the Asian American Youth Council, Yunji Lee.

“We’re here to support each other and that’s the key. That is the only way we can truly progress. I need to thank you for your work — tirelessly — for better Korean and American relations. We look forward to working with you again,” said Korean American Association of NJ President Chang Heon Lee.

“Here in North Jersey, a key part of our strength is our proud AAPI community, which includes so many incredible local leaders, small business owners, and residents, who all work day-in-and-day-out to make our state an even better place to live, raise our families, and create jobs. I am deeply honored to have their support”, said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “In Congress, I will continue to support North Jersey families and business owners, combat hate crimes and all forms of bigotry, and invest in local law enforcement to keep our communities safe.

Gottheimer’s work to support North Jersey and the AAPI community includes:

Supporting AAPI Legislation: Gottheimer is a member of the bipartisan American Sikh Congressional Caucus and Taiwan Caucus. Recently, bipartisan legislation Gottheimer backed was signed into law to help create the first national museum dedicated to preserving the history, culture, and accomplishment of Asian Pacific Americans. He cosponsored a bipartisan resolution expressing support for the goals and ideals of Korean American Day and honoring the 119th anniversary of the arrival of the first Korean immigrants to the United States. He also cosponsored two bipartisan amendments that passed the House to recognize the service of — and expand benefits to — Korean and Korean American Veterans that served in the Vietnam War.

Fighting Crime, Combating AAPI Hate, Supporting Law Enforcement: Gottheimer recently introduced new bipartisan, bicameral legislation — the Invest to Protect Act — to make critical, targeted investments in our local law enforcement to help ensure smaller police departments have the resources and training they need to keep themselves and their communities safe. Gottheimer helped pass Rep. Grace Meng’s resolution last Congress to condemn all forms of anti-Asian sentiment as related to COVID-19, and will support the resolution this Congress.

Supporting Small Business: Working closely with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, Gottheimer helped craft and pass the last COVID package during the last Administration, which included a second round of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Employee Retention Credit (ERC) loans to help Jersey small businesses and families through a very tough time in our country’s history. In the counties I represent, I’ve helped claw back more than a billion dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) to support small businesses.

Making Life More Affordable: Gottheimer launched a new Affordability Agenda for Jersey, to help make life more affordable and to get more money back into Jersey families’ pockets by aggressively addressing our COVID-driven supply chain crisis, combating our dependence on foreign manufacturing, working to get fuel and energy prices down, cutting day- to-day costs like prescription drug and childcare costs, helping cut through red tape and bureaucracy, and cutting taxes for hard-working families, including by reinstating State and Local Tax deduction. 

Investing in Infrastructure: Gottheimer helped craft and pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to fix our crumbling roads, bridges, build the Gateway Train Tunnel, invest in NJ Transit and to clean our drinking water, and create millions of jobs a year for the next decade — all without increasing the tax burden on North Jersey families.

Gottheimer was joined today by President at Sikh Chamber of Commerce & Commissioner on NJ’s AAPI commission Yogi Virk, Bergen County Commissioner Tom Sullivan, Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Tenafly Mayor Mark Zinna, Fort Lee Mayor Mark Sokolich, NJ Assemblywoman Ellen Park, Oradell Councilwoman Miriam Yu, Closter Councilwoman Jannie Chung, Democratic Chairman of the 37th Legislative District John Bang, Palisades Park Mayoral Candidate Paul Kim, Korean American Association of NJ President Chang Heon Lee, Asian American Youth Council Advisor Ellen Jeon, Asian American Youth Council member Yunji Lee, Fort Lee Chinese American Community Association representatives, and Korean American Grassroots Conference representatives.