[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 178 (Thursday, November 17, 2022)]
[House]
[Page H8577]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1500
                   RECONSIDER HACKENSACK SAFER GRANT

  (Mr. GOTTHEIMER asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. GOTTHEIMER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to strongly urge the 
Hackensack City Council to reconsider their decision to turn down a 
nearly $2.4 million Federal grant to hire new firefighters, which the 
Hackensack Fire Department and I worked very hard to claw back from 
Washington to New Jersey.
  This grant will hire new firefighters to better protect our first 
responders, families, and help lower property taxes by taking the 
financial burden off of Hackensack taxpayers.
  This week, I stood with the Hackensack Fire Department, the 
Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, Hackensack IAFF 
Locals 2081 and 3172, and Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco to call 
on the Hackensack City Council to accept this Federal grant.
  We know that firefighters will be retiring in the coming years, and 
the public safety report calls for the city to hire new firefighters. 
Yet, the city council plans to reject the grant and resubmit it for 
fewer firefighters.
  I will do everything I can to support any revised grant application, 
but this is a very risky decision that could result in no new 
firefighters being hired with Federal investment, and that puts 
people's lives in danger.
  Mr. Speaker, we must always look out for our families and get the 
backs of those who protect us.

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