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
PATERSON, NJ – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), co-chair of the House Fire Services Caucus, announced that the Garfield Fire Department has been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for $88,000. It will be used to increase Garfield’s hiring and staffing capabilities.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), co-chair of the House Fire Services Caucus, and Sens. Bob Menendez (D-NJ) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) announced that the Passaic Fire Department has been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for $1,212,209. It will be used to add eight firefighters to the department, bolstering Passaic’s firefighting capabilities.
PATERSON, NJ – U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced the awarding of a $47,390 federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) to the Paterson Fire Department. Administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the AFG program provides direct support to eligible fire departments to help them meet the demanding and ever-evolving nature of their work. This grant will be used by the Paterson Fire Department to enhance education initiatives on fire prevention and safety measures.
PATERSON, NJ – Today, U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced the awarding of a $346,410 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grant to the Secaucus Fire Department. The funds, made available through FEMA’s Port Security Grant Program (PSGP), will provide Secaucus with a new marine vessel to combat fires along the Hackensack and Passaic Rivers.
PATERSON, NJ – Today, Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-09), the co-chair of the House Fire Services Caucus, announced that the Clifton Fire Department has been awarded a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for $455,792. It will be used to bolster Clifton’s firefighting efforts by adding four new firefighters to the department.
PATERSON, NJ – Today, Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) spoke in favor of a holding today in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit that an executive order issued by Donald Trump ordering the Justice Department withhold police grants to so-called sanctuary cities is unconstitutional.
PATERSON, NJ – U.S. Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), co-chair of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, announced today the awarding of a $117,000 federal Assistance to Firefighter Grant (AFG) to the Englewood Fire Department. Administered by the Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency, the AFG program provides direct support to eligible fire departments to help them meet the demanding and ever-evolving nature of their work. This grant will be used by the Englewood FD to help its brothers obtain training and new certifications.
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Representative Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) spoke in strong support of a decision handed down this morning which again ruled against the Trump administration and the Sessions Justice Department for withholding millions in federal grants for state and local police departments.
NEWARK, NJ – Today at Newark City Hall, Congressmen Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-NJ-10), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ-06), and Mayor Ras Baraka hammered the Trump administration for continuing to hold hostage Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG) to force New Jersey’s compliance with the Trump administration’s radical, right-wing immigration agenda.
PATERSON, NJ – U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09) and Sen. Robert Menendez, co-authors of landmark legislation to protect firefighters from cancer risks, today celebrated the signing into law of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act (H.R.