Reconsider Hackensack Safer Grant

Floor Speech

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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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