Discusses COVID-19 Impact on First Responders & Federal Resources to Support Emergency Services

This week, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) held a video conference call with North Jersey Emergency Medical Services (EMS) teams and discussed ongoing efforts to support Fifth District first responders combating the coronavirus, as well as fighting for federal resources to keep them safe on the job.

“One of my top priorities during this pandemic is making sure you have the supplies and equipment you need to do your job safely and effectively. On the federal level, I’ve been working to make sure Congress is doing everything in its power to support our families, first responders, and frontline medical workers,” Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) said to EMS teams this week. “I want to thank you for your time and the sacrifices you have made along the way to help our North Jersey community. We will get through this because of all your hard work and dedication.” 

Gottheimer was joined on the call by the EMS Council of New Jersey (EMSCNJ), and EMS Departments from Hillsdale, Paramus, Lakeland, Harrington Park, Norwood, Demarest, Mahwah, Upper Saddle River, Mansfield, Haworth, Waldwick, and Ridgewood. 

To support North Jersey’s first responders throughout this crisis, especially EMS, Gottheimer is cosponsoring new bipartisan legislation — the Helping Emergency Responders Overcome Emergency Situations Act of 2020 — which would provide a federal income tax holiday for four months to law enforcement officers, corrections officers, firefighters, EMTs, paramedics, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, doctors, hospital and licensed medical facility support staff, and senior care facility staff during the coronavirus outbreak. This bipartisan bill is modeled after the tax holiday that members of the military receive while they are actively serving in a combat zone.

Gottheimer has also led a bipartisan group of New Jersey’s House Members urging the President to support New Jersey’s first responders as they combat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) — by fulfilling the State of New Jersey’s request for personal protective equipment (PPE) from the Strategic National Stockpile, ensuring COVID-19 testing be made available to first responders serving on the front lines, ensuring local public safety departments are adequately staffed and equipped, and supporting volunteer departments in need of supplemental personnel.

If any Fifth District resident has questions regarding federal or state support, grants, and small business loans, or COVID-19 resources, please visit gottheimer.house.gov/coronavirus or email questions to coronavirusnj5@mail.house.gov.

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