WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer said a bipartisan House funding bill passed Wednesday will keep the federal government open while delivering what he described as major investments for New Jersey families, public safety and infrastructure.
In a statement released Feb. 3, Gottheimer, a Democrat representing New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District, said the vote was focused on maintaining government operations, securing benefits for New Jersey residents and advancing negotiations on immigration enforcement reforms.
“Today’s vote was about three key things: First, to keep the government open to support our seniors, veterans, and families; second, to bring home huge wins for Jersey families and communities; and third, to start the clock on two weeks of negotiations on essential reforms to ICE,” Gottheimer said.
He said he plans to push for changes outlined in his proposed ICE Standards Act.
“I plan to be at the table advocating for the reforms in my new legislation, the ICE Standards Act, to establish professional, constitutional guardrails for federal homeland security and immigration enforcement,” he said.
Gottheimer said the legislation includes measures aimed at lowering health care costs, supporting first responders, funding transportation projects and addressing congestion pricing affecting New Jersey commuters.
“Today’s vote will also help lower health care costs for Jersey families, combat the Congestion Tax crushing Jersey commuters, support the firefighters who protect our communities, fund Jersey’s roads and bridges, boost cancer research, ensure access to childcare and early childhood education, expand the air traffic controller workforce, fund Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, fully fund 9/11 health care for responders, and provide our service members with a 3.8% pay raise,” he said.
He also said the bill includes funding for local projects in his district.
“I also secured significant new investments for towns in my District, including resources for a new firehouse, a new police station, a domestic violence survivors center, mental health services, flood mitigation, and clean drinking water,” Gottheimer said.
According to Gottheimer, the funding package includes investments in transportation, public safety, health care, education, environmental protection and national security. Those provisions include funding for air traffic controller hiring and modernization, Amtrak’s Northeast Corridor, law enforcement grants, firefighter assistance programs, cancer and Alzheimer’s research, Lyme disease research, child care programs, energy efficiency initiatives and military pay raises.
The bill also restores funding for the World Trade Center Health Program, expands Medicare telehealth access, supports early cancer detection screenings and provides additional funding for U.S.-Israel defense cooperation, Gottheimer said.
