The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ) recognizes the accomplishments of our congressional delegation at the federal level to improve the lives and working conditions of firefighters and first responders. President Matthew Caliente and the Executive Board are
proud to announce the unanimous endorsements for the following members of Congress:

● Jeff Van Drew (R), New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District
● Josh Gottheimer (D), New Jersey’s 5th Congressional District
● Tom Kean, Jr. (R), New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District
● Rob Menendez (D), New Jersey’s 8th Congressional District endorsed in primary
● Mikie Sherrill (D), New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District

President Caliente states, “Our public safety agenda is not about party affiliation. Bipartisan support from our federal lawmakers for our firefighters and first responders demonstrate a united commitment to the safety and well-being of our communities. We continue to support those who support us.”

Our endorsed candidates are directly responsible for passing the following law in the U.S. Congress to the benefit our of members and their departments:

● Fire Grants and Safety Act: provides for a 5-year reauthorization for the US Fire Administration, the
Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency
Response Grant (SAFER) Program. They are authorized for $750 million each fiscal year. Our delegation continues to work on the following bills that have been introduced in this congressional session for our members and their families:

● The Social Security Fairness Act of 2023: repeal the WEP/GPO and end the unfair penalty that hurts
thousands of retired first responders every year.

● Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act of 2023: recognizes first responders occupational cancer deaths as
line-of-duty deaths and provides death benefits to their survivors.

● Firefighter Investments to Recognize Exposure to Cancer Act (Fire Cancer Act): provide federal
investments so that all firefighters across America can access multi-cancer early detection tests and
other preventative tests at no out-of-pocket cost for firefighters.

● Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act: ensures firefighters and emergency medical
workers have the right to work with their employers to address concerns related to working conditions.

● Protecting Firefighters and Advancing State-of-the-Art Alternatives (PFAS) Act: drives the
development of next-generation protective gear.

Additional endorsements for congressional candidates will be forthcoming prior to the November elections.

The Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey (PFANJ), was established and chartered as a State Association by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) on October 29, 1929. It is a member of the AFL-CIO. The PFANJ represents nearly three thousand five hundred (3,500) Firefighters, Emergency Medical Technicians, Instructors, and Dispatchers though its over sixty (60) locals. Its local affiliates represent first responders who work in dispatch centers, academies, airports, fire districts, suburban municipalities, and the state’s largest and busiest urban fire departments.