Gottheimer announces new bipartisan federal investments to help North Jersey and America

WASHINGTON D.C. — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) Friday announced how federal investments from the bipartisan Fiscal Year 2023 omnibus appropriations bill — which just passed Congress and will now be signed into law — will help North Jersey and America.

“This bipartisan federal investment includes a multitude of key priorities to help North Jersey and will help ensure our tax dollars are working for us right here,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “The bipartisan bill will help the Fifth District claw back federal investments to help fix our roads and infrastructure, protect our schools and houses of worship from threats, support our law enforcement, firefighters, and veterans, and keep our air and water clean.”

The bipartisan bill provides full investment for the federal government through September 2023, and includes the following key priorities for North Jersey:

• Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act — which Gottheimer led in the House — to reform and modernize the outdated Electoral Count Act of 1887 and ensure that the electoral votes tallied by Congress accurately reflect each state’s vote for President.
• Investment to support local law enforcement, including for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (JAG) and a 32% increase for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) hiring grants.
• A 22% increase for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, to protect Fifth District houses of worship, schools, and local community organizations. Gottheimer has already helped claw back more than $7.7 million in Nonprofit Security Grant Program investment to the Fifth District since 2016.
• Investment for the U.S. Treasury’s Office of Terrorism and Financial Intelligence for better blockchain analysis tools and training to reduce ransomware attacks, crypto-related crime, and cybercrime.
• Banning the use of TikTok — a Chinese social media company threatening our national security — on federal devices in the executive branch.
• Investments to support Israeli defense programs, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow-3. Israel’s security is essential to America’s national security, and they play a critical role in our global fight against terror.
• Federal investment clawed back from Washington to North Jersey for nursing and allied health education payments to hospitals, including Holy Name Medical Center in Teaneck.
• Investments to support the implementation of the PACT Act — bipartisan legislation to expand access to care and benefits for our brave veterans exposed to burn pits and toxic substances. The PACT Act includes a key bipartisan provision authored by Gottheimer to address the mental health impacts of toxic exposure for veterans.
• Investments in veteran mental health and suicide prevention, to help ensure we are getting the backs of the brave men and women who have served our nation.
• Investment for rural broadband expansion, to boost connectivity for families, small businesses, and health care providers.
• Increased investment to support farmers and protect food supply chains, to help make life more affordable.
• Investment to help ensure safe drinking water for families and children.
• Investment to help clean up forever chemicals like PFAS, and to establish a drinking water standard and clean-up standards.
• Key mental health provisions — including legislation Gottheimer helped pass in the House — to expand treatment for opioid-use disorders, promote behavioral health programs, and invest in programs that support mental health and substance use disorder prevention, treatment, and recovery. The legislation includes Gottheimer’s provision to ensure veterans receive care.
• Critical investment Gottheimer has fought for to boost resources for the World Trade Center Health Fund — to provide care to thousands of first responders and survivors exposed to toxins at Ground Zero.
• Compensation to 9/11 families and other U.S. victims of state-sponsored terrorism.
• Sanctions on foreign individuals or entities that are acting on behalf of the Iranian regime and involved in efforts to silence dissidents.
• Investments in comprehensive responses to combat domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence and stalking, through the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA).
• Investment for nutrition programs, including increased investment for SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program),  WIC (Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children), school meal programs, and investment for the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program (FFVP) to help kids eat more nutritious meals.
• The bipartisan Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which will require employers to provide “reasonable accommodations” such as bathroom breaks and seating options to pregnant workers while they are on the job.
• Investment in the people of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) workforce.
• Investments in port security.
• Important pay raise for active-duty service members.

Federal Investment Clawed Back for Town and County Projects for the Fifth District:

• $750,000 for the Borough of Allendale: Construction of Community Center
• $750,000 for the Borough of Bergenfield: Cooper’s Pond improvements
• $3,452,972 for the Borough of Fair Lawn: water treatment facility improvements
• $800,000 for the Borough of Norwood: Broad Street Bridge
• $3,452,972 for the Borough of Park Ridge: water remediation project
• $3,452,972 for the City of Hackensack: storm water discharge project
• $800,000 for the Township of Mahwah: water department filtration system
• $1,060,780 for the Township of Teaneck: Belle Avenue drainage improvements
• $608,860 for Ridgewood’s Valley Hospital: facility improvements and equipment
• $3,452,972 for the Vernon Township: sewer expansion project
• $2,893,000 for the West Milford Township: communications equipment
• $255,000 for Borough of Bogota Police Department: communications equipment upgrades
• $954,000 for Bergen County Sheriff’s Office: county park/road cameras and message boards
• $1,333,000 for the Town of Newton: first response communications equipment