PARAMUS BOROUGH, N.J. (Bergen County) — U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer gathered mayors and local officials from across New Jersey’s Fifth Congressional District in Paramus to discuss ways municipalities can secure more federal funding and resources from Washington.
The meeting, known as Fifth District Mayor’s Day, focused on helping towns identify federal grants and programs that can support infrastructure improvements, public safety initiatives, and emergency response efforts.
During the event, local leaders met with representatives from several federal agencies, including the Environmental Protection Agency, Department of Transportation, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and the Department of Defense’s New Jersey Law Enforcement Support Office.
Gottheimer said the goal of the gathering was to help communities recover more federal tax dollars and apply them to local priorities.
“Mayors have the toughest jobs in government. When a road after a storm floods, when a sewer backs up, when there’s a pothole on Main Street, when a tree comes down in a storm — no one calls Washington. They call you,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “My job in Washington is simple: fight like hell for you and the people we represent to make sure North Jersey gets what we need and deserve — and to claw back those federal dollars home, so that you can get the job done.”
According to Gottheimer’s office, the Fifth Congressional District historically received about 67 cents in federal funding for every tax dollar sent to Washington, while some states receive significantly more.
His office said recent research shows federal funding returned to the district has increased by more than 357%, delivering an estimated average savings of more than $750 per household through investments in schools, storm preparedness, infrastructure and public safety programs.
Officials attending the event included mayors and municipal leaders from communities across Bergen, Passaic and Sussex counties, along with municipal administrators and public safety officials.
