NJ State PBA Endorses Congressman Tom MacArthur

Toms River, New Jersey – Congressman Tom MacArthur announced the endorsement of the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association today.

“Whether it was working to bring more resources to help law enforcement in the fight against drugs and guns, standing up to fight the proposed changes to the World Trade Center Health Program, or supporting harsher penalties for those who murder cops, Tom has always reached across the aisle to achieve real results. I am proud to announce our endorsement of Congressman MacArthur and will work tirelessly with our members to ensure every member of the New Jersey State PBA and their families get out to vote for him,” said New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association President Patrick Colligan.

Colligan continued, “Tom is a leader on issues that matter to us and our families. As co-chair of the Bipartisan Heroin Task Force he is in constant communication with local law enforcement officers, rolling up his sleeves to help get us the resources we need. Tom brought people together and pushed for stronger background checks and improved law enforcement resources to make our communities safer. Tom MacArthur cuts through dysfunction to get things done in Washington and we are proud to stand with him.”

Congressman Tom MacArthur added, “To earn the support of the New Jersey State PBA is truly humbling. The men and women of this union put their lives on the line daily in order to keep our community safe and we owe them our gratitude and support.”

“I have worked tirelessly to ensure that our police officers – who are on the front lines in the fight against drugs and guns – have the resources they need to work safely and efficiently. When leaders in my own party wanted to cut funding to the Office of National Drug and Control Policy, which provides direct resources to our community to fight drug addiction, I stood up and won. I did the same when leaders of my own party wanted to make changes to the World Trade Center Health Program. Our law enforcement officers have our backs and I will always have theirs.”

MacArthur for Congress Strategist Chris Russell concluded, “While Andy Kim was pushing a book by a convicted cop-killer, Congressman MacArthur was supporting our law enforcement officers by bringing more resources to fight drugs and guns in our community. When the voters in South Jersey learn more about Andy Kim’s extreme associations, they’ll join the brave members of the State PBA and stand with Tom MacArthur.”

Bipartisan results for New Jersey’s law enforcement:

1. Led a bipartisan effort to oppose the Administration’s plan to  gut the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP) and protect both the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area Program and  Drug-Free Communities Support Program.

2. Supported the Thin Blue Line Act when it passed the House on May 18, 2017. This bill would make the murder or attempted murder of a police officer, firefighter or other first responder an “aggravating” factor in death penalty determinations.

3. Introduced the 9/11 Memorial Act which passed the House on February 9, 2016. This bill would designate the National September 11 Memorial located at the World Trade Center site in New York City, New York, as a national memorial.

4. Consistently supports funding for Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) grant program. This grant program provides funding for the hiring of local police officers and serves as a supplement to local budgets.

5. Consistently supports funding for the Byrne Just Assistance Grants (Byrne JAG) grant program. This program allows States and localities to use funding to test emerging and evidence-based approaches to the public safety challenges in their jurisdictions.

6. Cosponsored and supported legislation to reauthorize and fund the World Trade Center Health Program (Zadroga).

7. Joined a bipartisan group of Representatives opposing the Administration’s proposal to make changes to the World Trade Center Health Program.

8. Cosponsored and supported the International Narcotics Trafficking Emergency Response by Detecting Incoming Contraband with Technology (INTERDICT) Act which was signed into law on January 10, 2018. This bill will ensure that U.S. Customs and Border Protections (CBP) will have additional portable chemical screening devices at ports of entry, mail and express consignment facilities, and more resources at the CBP labs.

9. Consistently supports funding for the Bulletproof Vest Partnership. This program provides grants to purchase body armor for law enforcement officers.

10. Consistently supports funding for the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS). These systems support coordination between federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies on a regional basis.

11. Worked with members of both parties to secure the HIDTA designation for Ocean County, bringing real resources in the fight against drugs and illegal guns in our community.