RELEASE: Joined by Local Firefighters, Gottheimer Receives Endorsements of NJ FMBA
Federal Grants to Fifth District Firefighters Up 700% in Gottheimer’s First Term — Helps Fight Fires and Terror
TEANECK, N.J. – Yesterday, Tuesday, September 25, 2018, at Teaneck Fire Station Four, Josh Gottheimer was joined by local firefighters and elected officials to receive the endorsement of the New Jersey State Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Association (NJ FMBA), which represents more than 6,000 active firefighters, EMTs, and dispatchers across New Jersey. NJ FMBA President Ed Donnelly praised Gottheimer’s strong record of working across the aisle and partnering with towns, mayors, fire departments, and police departments to ensure New Jersey’s firefighters have the resources they need.
Since Gottheimer took office, the Fifth District has clawed back more than $1.58 million in Assistance to Firefighters Grants, a 700% increase from previous years. These are dollars that will go to protecting our security for New Jersey instead of going to Moocher States. Gottheimer has also worked with town, county, and state officials to take steps towards ensuring New Jersey first responders have all of the information they need about hazardous and harmful materials traveling through towns’ rails.
In Congress, Gottheimer, a member of the bipartisan Congressional Fire Services Caucus and the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus, has co-sponsored the bipartisan Firefighter Cancer Registry Act; fought to delay the “Cadillac Tax,” which threatened the healthcare of firefighters and others in high-risk professions; and, introduced anti-terror legislation, including the Darren Drake Combatting 21st Century Weapons of Terror Act and the Freezing Assets of Domestic Terrorists and Enemy Recruits Act (FASTER) Act.
Also joining Gottheimer at the Teaneck Fire House was Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Teaneck Mayor Mohammed Hameeduddin, New Jersey Senator Loretta Weinberg, New Jersey Assemblyman Gordon Johnson, Teaneck Councilwoman Gervonn Romney Rice, Teaneck Fire Chief Jordan Zaretsky, Teaneck FMBA Local 242 President Brian Taylor, and local firefighters, dispatchers, and EMTs.
“Two years ago, when I first ran for Congress, I promised to fight to ensure that our firefighters and all our first responders had the training, resources, and support they needed to protect themselves and their communities. Since being sworn in, I’ve worked every day to fulfill that promise and support those who put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” said Josh Gottheimer. “I am thrilled to report that, through working with local fire departments, police departments, and towns to apply for and win federal grants, we’ve clawed back more than $1.58 million in Assistance to Firefighters Grants, a 700% increase from previous years. But the work’s not done. I am honored to have the support of the NJ FMBA as I work to continue the fight for Jersey firefighters and Jersey families.”
“When we first met Josh, over two years ago, he said, Ed, not only am I going to have your back, but I’m going to work with anyone to get stuff done for our first responders. And that means walking across the aisle and getting some friendships and some partnerships across the aisle, so we make sure that the vital grants for our firefighters and EMTs and police officers and dispatchers come back to New Jersey. So when Josh made that promise, I’m here to tell you, two years later, that he lived up to that,” said NJ FMBA President Ed Donnelly.
“Josh, on behalf of the people of Bergen County, on behalf of the people in the Fifth Congressional District, I thank you for being a man of your work, for living up to your promises, and for having the backs of our men and women first responders,” said County Executive Jim Tedesco.
Below: Josh Gottheimer receives the endorsement of the NJ FMBA at Teaneck Fire Station #4
