Above: Gottheimer pushes for US federal bailout investments for NJ for use to safe a brand new spherical of investments for the state’s ARP Firefighter Grant program.

NORTH JERSEY — In the present day, Might 2, 2023, US Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined NJ Governor Phil Murphy, native and state leaders, and New Jersey firefighters associations to ask the state to make use of $10 million of the US federal rescue plan to safe a brand new spherical of investments for New Jersey’s American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant (ARPFFG) program.

Final 12 months, Gottheimer and Governor Murphy introduced the creation of the American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant for New Jersey. Since then, the ARPFFG has benefited practically 300 firefighters throughout the Backyard State, with every division recouping tens of hundreds of {dollars} to put money into much-needed gear and provides.

From this grant program, the Fifth Congressional District Hearth Division recovered a complete of $1.1 million.

“In terms of defending all of our first responders, whether or not they’re firefighters, regulation enforcement or first responders, we all know we have to make investments to guard. That’s the reason we’re right here at this time, united. We have to reinvest in our American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants Program for Jersey in order that our native firefighters should buy the instruments and gear they want” mentioned Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Congressional Hearth Providers Caucus. “These are {dollars} that do not have to return from metropolis budgets. These are our tax {dollars} which can be really getting back from the federal authorities to assist our households and communities right here in Jersey — they usually’re not going to the Moocher States.”

Gottheimer was joined at this time at Paramus Hearth Home No. 3 by Governor Phil Murphy, State Senator Joe Lagana, Assemblyman Lisa Swain, Assemblyman Chris Tully, Bergen County Government James Tedesco, Bergen County Commissioner Tom Sullivan, Bergen County Commissioner Mary Amoroso, Bergen County Commissioner Tracy Zur, Bergen County Commissioner Rafael Marte, Bergen County Commissioner Germaine Ortiz, Paramus Mayor Christopher DiPiazza, Director of the Division of Native Authorities Providers Jacquelyn Suarez, President, NJ Firefighters Mutual Benevolent Affiliation (FMBA) Ed Donnelly, Treasurer, Worldwide Affiliation of Firefighters (IAFF) Matt Caliente, Vice President, Skilled Affiliation of Firefighters of New Jersey (PFANJ) Anthony Tarantino, President of the New Jersey State Hearth Affiliation Robert Ordway, Vice President of the New Jersey State Hearth Affiliation Joseph Hankins, Paramus Hearth Chief Vincent Torre and Deputy Hearth Chief of the Hackensack hearth, John Niland.

Throughout final 12 months’s funding spherical, the ARPFFG program helped native firefighters cowl the prices of wanted gear, together with:

• Protecting clothes (shift clothes units, trousers, fits, helmets, hoods, gloves, footwear, and many others.);
• Cleansing and superior cleansing gear;
• Oxygen gear;
• Private protecting gear (PPE); AND
• Hearth protecting units.

You will discover the announcement video right here.

Under: Gottheimer with Governor Phil Murphy, native and state elected officers, and New Jersey firefighters associations.

Gottheimer’s remarks ready for supply:

To begin with, I need to thank our courageous first responders right here for all you do to maintain our communities and our nation protected, not solely from fires, but in addition from floods, terror, pure disasters and different severe threats to our homeland. – to not point out what you do on the EMT entrance. In North Jersey, not too long ago, our firefighters have additionally been working additional time placing out fires not removed from right here. I could not have extra respect for the essential and harmful work you undertake: working straight into hearth and hazard when others are working low. And due to that, we at all times must have our backs, which is strictly why we’re right here at this time. To guard you and to guard our communities.

I additionally need to take a second to ship our greatest to NJ FMBA’s Bobby Allen, who Eddie tells us is present process 10-hour surgical procedure at this time in his battle with most cancers. We’re all considering of Bobby and preserve him and his family members in our prayers.

Practically a 12 months in the past, we have been right here in Bergen County to announce the federal funding we recouped from Washington by way of the American Rescue Plan to guard Jersey firefighters and households all through North Jersey. In that point, we recovered $1.1 million {dollars} for firefighters right here within the fifth congressional district, together with $43,000 for Paramus alone.

And at this time, we returned to the state’s greatest congressional district — this time at Paramus Hearth Home No. 3 — to request extra assets — $10 million {dollars} — from the American Rescue Plan to get the backs of New Jersey’s bravest. This new funding will go to the gear firefighters have to preserve themselves and our communities protected, together with turnout clothes and equipment, for once they encounter a burning constructing, and backpacks of air they should breathe, all of that are vitally wanted to do their jobs and preserve us all protected.

We all know how essential it’s for firefighters to have correct cleansing and sanitizing gear in place even once they return from calls. These new assets will also be used to purchase the fitting washers and dryers to guard them from long-term results like most cancers.

Final 12 months, our American Rescue Plan firefighter grant program for New Jersey raised practically 300 firefighters throughout our state, tens of hundreds of {dollars} every.

That is {dollars} they did not must scrape collectively on pancake breakfast. These are {dollars} that weren’t meant to return from metropolis budgets. That is our tax cash that is really getting back from the federal authorities to assist our households and communities right here in Jersey — and it is not going to the Moocher States.

In terms of defending all of our first responders, whether or not they’re firefighters, regulation enforcement, or first responders, we all know we have to make investments to guard. That’s the reason we’re right here at this time, united. We’ve to do the fitting factor and finish it. We have to reinvest in our American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program for Jersey in order that our native firefighters should buy the instruments and gear they want.

For seven years, in Congress, I’ve fought tirelessly for laws that helps our first responders, together with the bipartisan Firefighter Most cancers Registry Act, which created the Nationwide Firefighter Registry for Most cancers that the CDC formally launched simply final month. This program will assist observe the incidence of most cancers amongst firefighters to raised perceive its causes, and primarily based on what they study, inform departments to raised shield our bravest.

Additionally, I fought for the move of Michael Lecik [LEE-SICK] Army Firefighters Safety Act, By no means Overlook the Heroes Act to increase the 9/11 Sufferer Compensation Fund, the Public Security Employer-Worker Cooperation Act, and the bipartisan Federal Firefighters Equity Act. Every of those payments will be certain that firefighters get the protections and incapacity, well being and retirement advantages they’ve earned by way of their heroic service.

Sadly, we now have already misplaced 27 firefighters throughout our nation this 12 months alone, together with sadly only in the near past a firefighter in my district in County Sussex – Tony Duivenvoorde [DO-VAN-VORD]a longtime firefighter and life member of Sussex Borough Hearth & EMS who answered a number of calls final month.

Because of this we should proceed to put money into gear and coaching to guard those that threat their lives for us each day. It is why we have additionally fought so onerous for the Help to Firefighters Grants — or AFG — program, the Staffing for Enough Hearth and Emergency Response program, often called the SAFER program, and the 1033 surplus program. They assist pay for every thing from radios to air packs to washers and dryers.

In reality, the final time I used to be with this fireplace firm was to announce a $360,000 federal funding that was recouped by way of the AFG Radio Program.

These investments will assist the a whole lot of firefighters throughout our state already working on restricted budgets and, luckily, giant numbers of volunteers and professionals.

General, since I used to be elected right here within the Fifth District, we have elevated greater than 357% in what we have recovered in Jersey from Washington and away from Moocher States, taking an enormous monetary burden off our metropolis and county budgets, and assist cut back the property tax burden on our households.

Looking for out our first responders and recouping our tax {dollars} at residence is not a Democratic or Republican difficulty — it is purely a Jersey difficulty.

Thanks to everybody who joined us at this time, in your service, for combating for Jersey Values, and for supporting our nice communities. As all of us work collectively, as we’re at this time, I do know our greatest days will at all times be forward of us.

God bless you, God bless our troops and first responders, and should God proceed to bless and watch over the US of America.

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