RELEASE: Gottheimer Claws Back Millions For Jersey in Budget

WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) applauded the U.S. House of Representatives passing key federal funding bills, set to avoid a second devastating government shutdown ahead of the January 30, 2026 deadline. The bipartisan funding measures passed following months of bipartisan work to ensure that critical programs to help children, families, seniors, and service members continue to be funded.

"I'm proud to support the bipartisan work in the House to ensure we fund the government for 2026. The dollars in these bills will go toward strengthening public safety and supporting first responders, combating the Congestion Tax, lowering health care costs, investing in our energy, ensuring access to childcare and early childhood education, and helping protect Jersey families," said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). "This shows that Democrats and Republicans can come together to deliver real results for Jersey."

Gottheimer's Key Priorities in the Appropriations Bills:

Transportation:

• Fights Back Against the Congestion Tax: Commissions an impact study to investigate the pain the Congestion Tax has imposed on hard-working commuters in New Jersey and surrounding areas.
• Air Traffic Controllers: Funds the FAA's supercharged hiring plan to expand the air traffic controller workforce by 2,500 and includes 26% increase in funding to modernize our air traffic control towers.
• Amtrak's Northeast Corridors: Restores funding for the Northeast Corridor which will protect against future "summers from hell."
• Gottheimer Helped Lead the Effort to Claw Back Additional Funding to Cover the Transit Costs for the 2026 FIFA World Cup: Provides $100 million in grants to transit agencies, including New York/New Jersey, for costs related to necessary transit upgrades to support the World Cup.

Public Safety Investments:

• Gottheimer Led the Effort to Secure Nearly $1 Billion for Byrne/JAG & COPS Funding: Ensures continued support for local law enforcement and community policing initiatives.
• Hate Crime Prevention: Includes resources to help prevent and respond to hate-motivated violence.
• Gottheimer Helped Lead the Effort to Ensure Continued Funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership Program: Sustains funding for critical protective equipment for law enforcement officers.
• Secured an Increase in Funding to Support our Firefighters: Increases funding for AFG and SAFER grants to ensure our firefighters have the resources they need.
• World Cup and Major Events: Claws back necessary funding to support the planning and interagency security coordination for the World Cup and America250 events.

Protecting Communities and Victims:

• Violence Against Women Act (VAWA): Increases funding to support survivors, strengthens protections, and prevents gender-based violence.

Energy and Environmental Priorities:

• Gottheimer Helped Lead the Effort to Ensure Continued Funding for Energy Efficiency: Increases funding for programs that boost home energy efficiency and support clean, affordable energy - lowering costs for families and businesses while reducing emissions.
• Delaware River Basin Restoration: Funds programs to reduce flooding and runoff, restore fish and wildlife habitats, improve water quality, and enhance safe recreational access for the public.
• National Park Service: Increases funding for the maintenance of all National Parks and calls for more money next year for the Appalachian Scenic Trail.

Education and Community Programs:

• Holocaust Education: Provides funding for Holocaust education and remembrance efforts, ensuring that future generations understand the lessons of history and the importance of combating hatred and intolerance.
• Higher Education: Includes robust funding for Pell Grants, TRIO programs, work study, among others.

Health Care:

• Title X: Restores critical funding the Administration tried to eliminate for family planning services for those in need.
• Cancer Research: Restores funding for innovative and impactful research into kidney, lung, ovarian, and rare cancers, among others.
• Gottheimer Led the Effort to Secure Funding for Continued Research for Lyme Disease: Funds $27 million in research for Lyme and vector-borne diseases.
• Black Maternal Health: Funds maternal health research and programs that lower mortality rates.
• Alzheimer's Research: Includes an increase of $100 million across NIH for research into Alzheimer's and other dementias.
• Telehealth: Extends the Medicare telehealth flexibilities until December 31, 2027.
• Multi-Cancer Early Detection Screen Tests: Includes these tests as a covered benefit under Medicare, saving lives.
• Lowers Health Care Costs: Makes long overdue PBM (Pharmacy Benefit Manager) reforms, lowering prescription drug costs for millions.
• World Trade Center Health Program: Fully funds 9/11 health care through the program's lifetime, ensuring care for 9/11 responders and survivors.
• Research and Development: Funds the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, which creates breakthrough advancements for diseases such as Sarcoidosis.

Childcare:

• Child Care and Development Block Grant: Continues funding to help families with the cost of childcare and supports states in improving the quality of care.
• Head Start Funding: Increases funding for Head Start, a childcare and nutrition program that serves low-income children nationwide.

National Security:

• Military Pay: Provides our troops with a 3.8% pay raise.
• Robust Funding for U.S.-Israel Defense Cooperation: Adds robust funding to support cooperative missile defense programs, including Iron Dome and Arrow 3 missile defense systems.

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