Gottheimer brings together roundtable of local labor leaders, continues fight to create jobs, support New Jersey’s workforce

PARAMUS, NJ (Bergen County) — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) brought together North Jersey labor leaders to discuss ongoing work to help create jobs and support the hardworking men and women of labor.

“The hard-working men and women of labor have helped build our great state, our country, and have helped create the most competitive workforce in the world,” Gottheimer said. “We all stand together in the fight to create better paying jobs, safer working conditions, more job opportunities, and health care. We have a common goal: the desire to make things better for our hard-working labor force, to gain dignity and respect on the job, and to create economic growth and security for the families we care so deeply about.”

Gottheimer is fighting to support Jersey’s workforce by:

• Shaping and passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill to boost construction and manufacturing jobs — which will fix our crumbling roads and bridges, build the Gateway Train Tunnel, invest in NJ Transit, clean our drinking water in our homes and schools, and create millions of jobs a year for the next decade — all without increasing the tax burden on North Jersey families. This bipartisan legislation will create hundreds of thousands of construction and manufacturing jobs.
• Passing the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act to boost domestic semiconductor manufacturing — Critical legislation to invest in American competitiveness and address major supply chain issues. This bipartisan bill will boost domestic manufacturing, accelerate U.S. production of semiconductor chips and related equipment, reduce our reliance on foreign countries like China, and help lower costs for North Jersey families and small businesses, all while creating new jobs here in the U.S. It is estimated that the CHIPS and Science Act will create tens of thousands of construction jobs and thousands of high-skilled manufacturing jobs.
• Making life more affordable for Jersey families and workers — By fighting the Congestion Tax, which could cost Jersey commuters more than $4,000 a year in new taxes. Gottheimer also helped raise the Child Tax Credit to help thousands of Jersey families afford childcare. Gottheimer also helped pass the Inflation Reduction Act that will cap the cost of insulin under Medicare at $35 per month for 5,700 residents from the Fifth District and more than 77,000 residents across New Jersey.
• Helping lower taxes for North Jersey families — By clawing back our federal tax dollars to Jersey from Washington, helping to lower our property taxes, to make life more affordable and safer, and to improve our communities. New Jersey’s Fifth District has clawed 357% more federal tax dollars back from Washington and the Moocher States since Gottheimer took office. For 2021 alone, the federal tax dollars clawed back amount to an average savings of more than $750 for each household in the Fifth District. Through Gottheimer’s work with mayors, councils, first responders, and nonprofits, the Fifth District has realized a far better Return on Investment on the tax dollars North Jersey residents send to Washington every year.
• Lowering the cost for prescription drugs and health care — The Inflation Reduction Act was recently signed into law, which will lower prescription drug prices — especially for seniors, cap annual out-of-pocket prescription costs at $2,000 under Medicare, cap the cost of insulin at $35-per-month for Medicare, and provide support for families struggling with the high cost of health insurance.

Gottheimer was joined by IBEW Local #164 President/Commissioner Tom Sullivan, IBEW Local #164 Business Manager Dan Gumble, ATU NJ State Council Chairman Orlando Riley, Sandyston Committeeman Ron Green, NJ FMBA John Hund, Park Ridge Mayor Keith Misciagna,  BCEA President Sue McBride, Bergen County Central Trades and Labor Council Mike Schneider, Sheet Metal Workers LU #25 NNJ Gregory Conte, NJEA Director of Government Relations Deborah Cornavaca, New York City District Council of Carpenters Business Agent Brian McLaughlin, IBEW Local #164 Business Agent Don Heal, Pipefitters Local 274 Business Agent Chet Rozmus, Eastern Atlantic Council of Carpenters Council Representative Sergio Verdesco, DC 21 James Kearns, Plumbers 24 Enzo Scordo, Glaziers 1009 / DC 21 Representative Albert Galvez, DC 21 Frank Alvarez,  STFA 1st Vice President Steven Kuhn, United Brothers of Carpenters / Joiners of America Council Representative Michael Pierce, NJ State FMBA Vice President Ed McKeown, DC 21 Dave Rezes, Local 32 Insulators Jeremiah Farmer, AFT New Jersey Treasurer Jennifer Higgins, NJ Fraternal Order of Police Legislative Committee Member Scott Cox, SMART Local #137 Organizer Robert Soto, NJEA Associate Director Mike Flynn, NJEA Richard Loccke, LIUNA Thomas Salerno and BLET/Teamsters Special Representative Matt Kronyak.