Above: Gottheimer with President Biden today.

KEARNY, NJ — Today, October 25, 2021, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) joined President Joe Biden and Governor Phil Murphy at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex in Kearny, to break ground on the Gateway Program’s Portal North Bridge and highlight the importance of passing the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the Build Back Better Act, for New Jersey and for our nation.

“With the Gateway Tunnel, SALT, accessible child care, climate provisions and two million jobs a year on the line, it is great to join President Biden and Governor Murphy to highlight the importance of getting both the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and a smart reconciliation package across the finish line,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer. “We must move forward with these critical Jersey priorities this week, helping to get shovels in the ground and people to work — and to reinstate the State and Local Tax Deduction. For New Jersey and for the whole country’s sake, we simply can’t afford to wait any longer.” 

“Josh Gottheimer has been the best go-between I’ve had trying to get all this done, whether it’s the Build Back Better portion or the infrastructure portion,” said President Joe Biden during his remarks today.

The Portal North Bridge Project is a portion of the larger Gateway Project, which will improve transit options throughout the New Jersey to New York corridor, including via the construction of a new Gateway Tunnel — the full project will be made possible by investment in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and it will create thousands of good paying union jobs. 

President Biden, Governor Murphy, and Representative Josh Gottheimer were joined by Senator Menendez, Representatives Pallone, Pascrell, Payne, Sires, Watson Coleman, Norcross, Sherrill, and Malinowski, New Jersey Senate President Steve Sweeney and New Jersey Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, as well as New Jersey labor leaders, including Joseph Williams with the International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers – Transportation Division (SMART-TD) Local #800, , and other New Jersey leaders.

Below: Gottheimer at the NJ Transit Meadowlands Maintenance Complex in Kearny today, with President Biden, Governor Murphy, and members of the New Jersey congressional delegation.