Above: Gottheimer announcing a new $278,322 federal investment for the Hackensack Fire Department.

HACKENSACK, NJ — Today, July 17, 2024, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced a new, $278,322 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) investment clawed back from Washington to Jersey to provide state-of-the-art swift water and boat training to help Hackensack firefighters respond and rescue people during flooding emergencies. The bipartisan Fire Grants Safety Act, which Gottheimer helped lead with Representatives Bill Pascrell (NJ-9) and Tom Kean (NJ-7), was signed into law by President Biden last week, reauthorizing the AFG and SAFER programs for another five years.

Video of Gottheimer’s announcement can be found here. 

By clawing back more federal dollars to North Jersey communities, our mayors, councils, and first responders, we have lifted significant costs off of our town budgets and helped provide critical tax relief to our residents on their property tax line.

Federal Investments for Hackensack Firefighters Highlighted By Congressman Gottheimer:

• A new, $278,322 Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) investment clawed back from Washington to provide state-of-the-art swift water and boat training to help Hackensack firefighters respond and rescue people during flooding emergencies.
• $1,000,000 in Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER) to hire five additional firefighters.
• $125,000 in American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grant Program to replace ten sets of gear and personal protective equipment or PPE.

Federal Public Safety and Emergency Response Investments for North Jersey:

• Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG), which equip and train firefighters to better respond to emergencies. Congressman Gottheimer has clawed back more than $8 million through AFG for North Jersey since entering office. 
• Staffing For Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grants (SAFER), which ensures that fire departments can hire and retain a 24-hour firefighting force. Congressman Gottheimer has clawed back more than $4 million through SAFER for North Jersey since 2018. 
• American Rescue Plan Firefighter Grants (ARPFFG), which helps local fire departments cover the cost of protective clothing and critical equipment. Congressman Gottheimer clawed back more than $3.4 million through ARPFFG for North Jersey since the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Today, I’m back to share more good news: a six-figure federal investment – a new AFG grant – that we’ve clawed back from Washington to Jersey to help Hackensack Fire Department better respond and protect our residents during floods,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “It’s an honor and a privilege to give back in a small way to you, our firefighters, who do so much for our communities. Thanks for getting our backs. You’ll hear me say it over and over: we must always get the backs of those who have ours. 

“The Fire Department will utilize the funding from the AFG grant to increase the level of water rescue training and equipment for our members. Firefighters will be trained from the classroom to the fast-moving waters of the Delaware River,” said Hackensack Fire Department Chief Anthony Riehl. “In short, this training will be crucial when called for assistance to those in need, all while minimizing the financial burden to the city. We are all aware how important training for firefighters can be. With the help of the AFG grant, the support from Congressman Gottheimer along with the City of Hackensack, enhancing the skills and emergency readiness for mitigating water-related emergencies has never been closer.”

“As a nation, one thing we should always be able to agree upon is protecting our communities. This grant program has a great impact on the men and women who respond to emergencies on the fire apparatus, and ambulances you see every day and it strengthens our communities,” said Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey President Matt Caliente. “It is Congressman Gottheimer’s commitment to our public safety, our communities, our state, and our nation which sets Congressman Gottheimer apart from other lawmakers. So on behalf of the 3,500 firefighters, EMTs, instructors, dispatchers represented by the PFANJ and over the 340,000 first responders represented by the IAFF, we thank Congressman Josh Gottheimer for the work that he has done and the work he will continue to do in this great state.” 

Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Commissioner Steve Tanelli, Assemblywoman Shama Haider (LD-37), Hackensack Fire Department Chief Anthony Riehl, Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey President Matthew Caliente, IAFF Fire Officers Local-3172 President Captain John Hynes, and IAFF Firefighters Local-208 Representative Tim Carroll.

Below: Gottheimer with Hackensack Firefighters celebrating a new $278,322 federal investment.

Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

Good morning. It’s great to be back. At this point, I feel like I’m a regular at this firehouse – I think it’s time for me to suit up. Last year, I stood with Hackensack firefighters to announce my new, bipartisan legislation to address cancer screening for firefighters, and, in 2022, we announced a federal SAFER Grant investment to ensure the fire department remains fully staffed. 

Today, I’m back to share more good news: a six-figure federal investment – a new AFG grant – that we’ve clawed back from Washington to help Hackensack Fire Department better respond and protect our residents during floods.

It’s an honor and a privilege to give back in a small way to you, our firefighters, who do so much for our communities. Thanks for getting our backs. You’ll hear me say it over and over: we must always get the backs of those who have ours. 

The investments that we claw back to Jersey, like the one I’m highlighting today, are the results of hard work and close partnership with phenomenal leaders like Hackensack Fire Chief Riehl and the great labor organizations that represent our firefighters like the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey. I’m glad to be joined today by my good friend Matthew Caliente, President of the PFANJ, who has been a relentless champion for our firefighters and a partner, and our great local labor leaders, Captain John Hynes and Local 208 Representative Tim Carroll.

Ever since I was elected to Congress, I’ve been laser focused on clawing our federal tax dollars back from Washington to help strengthen our communities. Here in the City of Hackensack, we’ve worked together to claw back more than $27 million from Washington to the city since 2017, including $2,000,000 for firefighters. It’s a monumental achievement, and I know those investments are paying dividends when it comes to emergency response and public safety.

My dad has always said to me, “If you don’t ask, you don’t get.” And, for too long, North Jersey, specifically the Fifth District, didn’t fight for federal grants, whether that was hoses to help our firefighters fight a five-alarm fire or radios to help our EMTs stay connected in times of emergency. We left money on the table by not applying, which was swept up by Red States that I lovingly call the “Moocher States.” 

Clawing back investments for our communities is a win-win-win – for our families, for our first responders, for our communities. By clawing back major grants, we’re making sure that Jersey gets what it deserves. Jersey historically has received about 67 cents for every dollar we send to Washington, that’s about four times less than Moocher States like Mississippi and West Virginia. 

The more federal tax dollars we claw back to Jersey, the less our towns have to charge in local property taxes. And, as you know well, our taxes are far too high. Jersey has the highest property taxes in the nation, including a median tax bill of more than $15,000 here in Bergen County. I’m all about lowering taxes and doing everything we can to make life more affordable. To me, it’s all about making sure you can afford to work, live, and stay in Jersey with your families. 

I am very proud that, since 2016, working together, we are up 357 percent in the federal tax dollars that we’ve clawed back to North Jersey from Washington, helping to keep the Fifth District Safe. Federal grant programs like LESO, COPS, and NPSG, have ensured our law enforcement, EMS, and religious institutions have what they need to stay safe and keep our communities safe. But today, I want to focus on AFG, SAFER, and ARPFFG, three exceptional programs, which have been a major help to our firefighters in Hackensack and across North Jersey. 

Since 2017, Hackensack has clawed back nearly $900,000 in Assistance to Firefighters Grants or AFG grants program. That helps our firefighters and EMS access critical equipment, including protective gear, emergency vehicles, and training they need to protect our communities. The reason why we’re celebrating today is that, hot off the presses, Hackensack has just clawed back $278,000 in AFG funds for swift water and boat training to help firefighters respond and rescue people during flooding emergencies.

Living so close to the Riverfront is a double-edged sword. And while we enjoy the River breeze, it can also be a flooding hazard after heavy rainfall. I’ve heard directly from firefighters how challenging rescues can be in the midst of flooding. This federal investment will fully train and equip them to navigate a flood and better serve our community, all without raising the local tax burden. It’s a major victory for public safety and for our hardworking families. We must do everything we can to prevent a tragic loss of life in a flood. 

Across our region, we’ve clawed back more than $8 million in AFG dollars for more than forty municipalities across Bergen, Sussex, and Passaic Counties. These investments are helping our first responders buy ladder trucks, air filters, and masks, so they’re ready to respond to any emergency. 

Also, following the pandemic, I proudly helped pass the American Rescue Plan, which included dollars for new protective uniforms, oxygen tanks, and cleaning equipment for our firefighters, all while lowering the local property tax burden. 

All in all, the Fifth District has clawed back more than $3.5 million in ARPFFG dollars, including $125,000 right here in Hackensack that they’ve used to help freshen up and replace ten sets of gear and personal protective equipment or PPE.

Finally, it’s essential that we have firefighters round-the-clock ready to respond. After all, fires don’t just pop up from 9 to 5. Hackensack is lucky to have a full-time career fire squad, but many of our communities rely on volunteers, which are harder and harder to come by. That’s why we rely on the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response grant — or “SAFER” grants — to help pay local professional and volunteer firefighters. 

In 2022, you may recall we fought to make sure Hackensack Fire Department received the funding that was awarded to them. Ultimately, Hackensack clawed back $1,000,000 in SAFER funds to hire five additional firefighters, an absolute game-changer for this community. And they’re not alone: since 2018, we’ve clawed back more than $4 million for eleven towns across North Jersey: Park Ridge, Harrington Park, Washington, and more.

Just last week, President Biden signed the Fire Grants Safety Act into law, a critical piece of bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the AFG and SAFER programs for another five years. I was incredibly proud to work with Bill Pascrell and Tom Kean to get this bill over the finish line. And fingers crossed, we’ll win even more of these grants over the next five years! 

We must always have the backs of our firefighters and other first responders, just as you always have our backs. On Monday, I recognized Dillon Rinaldo, a firefighter originally from Fair Lawn who tragically died in the line of duty, as a Hometown Hero. When Dillon charged into that burning building, he didn’t think about who he was saving and who they might be voting for. He was focused on saving lives because he, like all of you, is a true hero. At the end of the day, there’s nothing partisan about protecting our communities and equipping our first responders. 

And, I promise you, this is just the beginning. I hope to join you back here next year to celebrate even more investments to protect our communities. I look forward to continuing our partnership and delivering even more investment to our firefighters from Washington. I will always stand with our firefighters because they stand for us.

By working together to stand up for safety, here in the greatest country in the world, our best days will always be ahead of us.

Thank you. God bless you, and may God continue to bless the United States of America.

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