It is fair to say that there is no greater task now facing our government than to protect and defend our cities and towns from those who would seek to do us harm.  If you have watched C-Span at all over the last two years, you will have noted a regular procession of Democrats and Republicans on both the House and Senate floors touting the urgency to… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ, 8th), a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security, today made the following statement regarding, H.R. 2555, the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill.  "Earlier today, the Democratic Homeland Security Task Force held a public forum on the state of our nation's preparedness for terror.  Testimony was not predominantly from… Read more »

Speziale, Pascrell participate in forum on Capitol Hill Much more must be done to make Passaic County as safe as it needs to be, Passaic County Sheriff Jerry Speziale told a Congressional panel in Washington today. Sheriff Speziale testified in front of the Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security at the request of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ, 8th), who sits on the Task Force… Read more »

TRENTON - Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (NJ-08) and Rep. Rob Andrews (NJ-01) today called on President Bush and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge to increase New Jersey's share of federal resources for Homeland Security.  In a press conference on the steps of the State House, the Congressman joined with New Jersey Acting Attorney General Peter C. Harvey and Director of… Read more »

Author of First-Ever Federal Grant Program for Nation's Firefighters Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8th), a member of the House Select Committee on Homeland Security and the first Member of Congress to author comprehensive legislation creating a federal grant program for the nation's 32,000 paid and volunteer fire departments, today joined House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer, other members of… Read more »

New Jersey lawmaker authored first-ever comprehensive federal fire safety legislation; served on Democratic Task Force on Homeland Security after 9-11 attacks On the eve of his leaving on a Congressional Delegation trip to Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and Kyrgystan, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8) announced that he had been chosen by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, (D-CA) to… Read more »

Congressman one of key lawmakers the President targeted U.S. Rep Bill Pascrell, Jr. joined about 15 other Members of Congress to meet with President Bush at the White House to discuss the Homeland Security proposals in the House of Representatives.  The discussion centered around the level of flexibility the future Secretary of Homeland Security will have in regard to the agency's… Read more »

U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J., 8th), Chair of the House Democratic Homeland Security Task Force's Emergency Preparedness and Response working group, issued the following statement regarding today's signing into law of H.R. 3448, the "Public Health Security and Bioterrorism Response Act of 2002" by President Bush. Pascrell, a former Mayor of New Jersey's third-largest city of… Read more »

Lawmaker had urged move, introduced H.R. 3639   Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-8), whose legislation H.R. 3639 called for the establishment of a cabinet-level Office of Homeland Security, issued the following statement today regarding the President's decision to reverse his previous position and give Homeland Security Cabinet-level status: I am pleased that the President has… Read more »

In the wake of the terror perpetrated against our nation on September 11, we have seen the very best of America on display. We have witnessed people young and old selflessly giving of themselves to assist those who are suffering, public safety and emergency personnel working literally around the clock, and elected leaders in Washington putting aside differences to support the President… Read more »