EDISON, NJ — U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined the New Jersey State Troopers Fraternal Association at their annual breakfast to deliver the keynote address and highlight the importance of investing in New Jersey’s law enforcement, getting the backs of those who bravely get ours, and his new bipartisan legislation to support New Jersey police departments, the Invest to Protect Act.

Gottheimer was joined by Senate President Nicholas Scutari, Senator Linda Greenstein, Assemblywoman Carol Murphy, Council President Joe Coyle, PFANJ President Steve McConlogue, IBEW Locals 400, 456, 827, and 1158; Insulators Local 32, Carpenters Local 255, Bricklayers Local 5, Insulators Local, LiUna Local 77, State Troopers Non-Commissioned Officers Association [STNCOA], and many other state and local officials.. 

“I want to reiterate my deep and unwavering support to law enforcement and for what you do. Every morning, you wake up, put on a bulletproof vest, kiss your husbands, wives, and children goodbye, and then put your lives on the line all day to look out for us. For that reason, and so much more, we must always get your backs. I am forever grateful for your service and sacrifice,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus. “Currently, in Congress, as Co-Chair of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus, I am leading a critical piece of bipartisan legislation called the Invest to Protect Act — that will invest in training, mental health services, recruitment, and body cameras for local police departments.”

Gottheimer added, “You simply can’t cut or defund your way to safer communities and better law enforcement. Instead, we must invest to protect. It’s about supporting you, our brave officers, who put your lives on the line every day – and all of the families on our roads and in all of our communities.”

This new bipartisan legislation, the Invest to Protect Act, builds on Gottheimer’s continued support for New Jersey’s law enforcement and work he has already done to help ensure that small town police departments are eligible for critical federal investment. This past year, Gottheimer’s provision was signed into law to help identify disparities between smaller departments and larger departments in the LESO/1033 program — a federal initiative that delivers equipment sitting idly and that might otherwise be destroyed to local first responders.

Gottheimer has also been involved in bipartisan police reform discussions with Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, and with law enforcement.

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