Public Safety
In the wake of 9/11, and the emerging threats our nation faces, we are asking our first responders to do more and more to protect us. Whether it is handling hazardous materials, rescuing victims of a natural disaster, or responding to a criminal or terrorist threat, the responsibilities of our public safety officers have grown to face the challenges of a changed world.
Bill has been a consistently vocal advocate for public safety and a champion of increased assistance to those who serve us. He has fought to stop the Administration's annual attempts to decimate the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) program, which helps add police officers into our schools and onto our streets. He also authored the enormously successful "Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement Act" or "FIRE Act," signed into law in 2000 by President Clinton, which was the first comprehensive national legislation dedicated to meet the needs of America's 32,000 volunteer, paid, and part-paid fire departments.
He has also lobbied to bring in more federal dollars to help pay for the increased equipment and training of New Jersey's public safety officials, and will continue to work for these first responder grants as a member of the House Homeland Security Committee. Bill has worked successfully to finally get New Jersey its fair share of security grants by insisting that risk and vulnerabilities are taken into greater consideration within the State Homeland Security Grant Program. This includes his push for additional funding for the Urban Areas Security Initiative, which specifically addresses the unique planning, operations, equipment, training, and exercise needs of high-threat, high density Urban Areas.
And with the understanding that public safety is a priority consisting of many components, Bill has authored an array of diverse legislation. Indeed, Bill focuses on the public good when doing his work in Washington-like his common sense legislation that requires that universities conduct annual fire safety reports for their students in his "Campus Fire Safety Right-to-Know Act." Bill has also strived to ensure that new federal chemical security standards will not preempt the stronger chemical security standards already in place in New Jersey.
The federal government asks a lot out of our firefighters, police, and medical personnel. Bill demands that Washington does all it can to help these men and women do their job to ensure the safety of all Americans.
More on Public Safety
WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill yesterday initially introduced by U.S. Reps. Bill Pascrell (D-NJ) and Peter King (R-NY) that would direct the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary to make surplus anthrax vaccines available to first responders. The First Responder Anthrax Preparedness Act (H.R. 1300/S.1915) was introduced in the Senate by Senators Kelly Ayotte (R-NH) and Cory Booker (D-NJ). The amended bill will now go before President Obama to be signed into law.
MOONACHIE, N.J. – Today, Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06) hosted a press conference in Moonachie, NJ calling on the State to respond to the findings of improper management, oversight, and disbursement of federal recovery dollars to Hammerman & Gainer Inc. in a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General OIG audit.
PATERSON, N.J. – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) and U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced a $2.82 million federal grant award to hire 15 new police officers in the City of Paterson. The funding, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office, is part of the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), which promotes public safety through community policing.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09 announced a $1.5 million federal grant award to hire 12 new sheriff's officers in Hudson County. The funding, from the U.S. Department of Justice’s COPS Office, is part of the COPS Hiring Program (CHP), which promotes public safety through community policing.
WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, announced $1,279,255 in Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant funding through the COPS Anti-Heroin Task Force Program for New Jersey.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ) announced a U.S Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant of $596,427 for upgrades to the runway safety area at Teterboro Airport. The grant will be administered by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the original bipartisan sponsors of the Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu National Blue Alert Act called on the Department of Justice (DOJ) to fully implement this law in the wake of continued attacks on police. The letter (click here for PDF) was signed by U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), U.S. Representative Dave Reichert (R-WA), U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-MD), and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC).
Also co-hosting a fire grant workshop next week for towns seeking funding
PATERSON, N.J. – U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded a new Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) award to the Elmwood Park Fire Department in the amount of $355,498 to purchase self-contained breathing apparatus.
PATERSON— U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, today applauded $3,287,135 in new federal funding for New Jersey to aid severe winter storm cleanup.
"In the middle of summer, it may be hard to remember the toll our roads and infrastructure paid during winter storms earlier this year, but we are still paying those bills. This grant can help alleviate a portion of those costs," said Rep. Pascrell. "As long as it’s available, I will continue to fight for federal dollars to help New Jersey."
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Chairman of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, today announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has awarded Wallington an Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program (AFG) award of $8,400 for training programs.