Gottheimer continuing the fight to claw more federal investment back from Washington to support Fifth District cops, firefighters, EMS

Gottheimer’s bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act will make critical investments in local police departments

Above: Gottheimer takes part in Hackensack’s National Night Out.

HACKENSACK, NJ — On August 2, 2022, Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined Fifth District families, neighbors, kids, law enforcement, and first responders at this year’s Hackensack National Night Out, hosted by the Hackensack Police Department and joined by EMTs. The annual, nationwide event gives law enforcement, families, and community leaders a chance to get to know each other better and learn more about the work first responders do each day.

In Congress, Gottheimer is the lead sponsor of the bipartisan, bicameral Invest to Protect Act, which will make critical, targeted investments in local police departments and ensure that police officers in smaller communities across the country have the resources and training they need to keep themselves and their communities safe.

“National Night Out is one of my all-time favorite community events — especially right here in Hackensack — and I was proud to join so many of our neighbors and brave law enforcement, safely, this week. The event is a great opportunity for us to better get to know and say thank you to the officers who put their lives on the line to protect our community each and every day,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), a member of the bipartisan Law Enforcement Caucus. “In Congress, I’m committed to having the backs of all of New Jersey’s first responders by clawing back federal dollars to help our local towns, making sure our police departments get the resources they need, and helping keep our families and businesses safe. That’s also why I’m leading bipartisan, bicameral legislation — the Invest to Protect Act — to make critical investments in our law enforcement, in training and tools, in recruiting and retaining the best talent, and in ensuring they have the resources they need to keep themselves and our communities safe. When it comes to law enforcement, we need to invest to protect. And to all our law enforcement officers and first responders in the Fifth District and across our country — thank you.”

Hackensack has clawed back more than $2 million worth of surplus federal equipment and resources through Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO) 1033 Grants and more than $600,000 from Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) to keep their first responders safe while protecting the community.

New Jersey’s Fifth District has clawed 112% more federal tax dollars back from Washington and the Moocher States since taking office. For the 2020 calendar year alone, the federal tax dollars clawed back amount to an average savings of $415 for each household in the Fifth District — not including the support from the COVID-19 relief packages

Gottheimer’s Return on Investment team has visited all 79 towns in the Fifth District to raise awareness of the availability of federal grant dollars, written congressional letters of support, convened at least 15 Mayor Summits to train local leaders on how to apply for grants, hosted 15 grant workshops, sent thousands of letters and scores of emails to local leaders, and held more than 600 meetings with local officials.

Below: Gottheimer with Hackensack Police Officers and EMTs.

###