Senator George Helmy Leads Senate Effort to Rename Facilities at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in Honor of Late Congressman Bill Pascrell

Washington, D.C.  –  Senator George Helmy (D-N.J.), today introduced his first bill in the Senate to rename several prominent facilities at Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park in honor of late Congressman Bill Pascrell.

“It is an honor to introduce a bill recognizing the legacy of a great public servant as my first legislative act as Senator,” said Sen. Helmy. “Congressman Bill Pascrell dedicated his life to serving New Jersey, his district, and his community in Paterson. He deserves to have his legacy enshrined in the very same space he fought to designate as a National Historical Park. His commitment to the people of our great state inspires me to follow in his footsteps and advance impactful legislation that changes lives for the better. I applaud Congressman Frank Pallone for taking the reins in honoring Bill Pascrell and I am grateful for the opportunity to do the same in the Senate.”

“Adding Congressman Bill Pascrell’s name to this incredible park is not only fitting but crucial to recognizing the legacy he has built,” said Congressman Frank Pallone (D-NJ 6th District), who is leading the introduction of the companion bill in the House. Without Bill’s leadership, this park – a symbol of Paterson, NJ’s pivotal role in America’s industrial rise – might not even exist. His dedication to preserving Paterson’s history and its environment has ensured that future generations will know the significance of the Great Falls. This renaming is more than a tribute – it’s an affirmation of the decades Bill spent fighting to protect and elevate the stories that make Paterson a cornerstone of our national heritage.”

“Throughout his distinguished career, Representative Bill Pascrell was dedicated to preserving our national parks and was a tireless advocate for brain injury survivors,” said Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ). “Renaming the Scenic Overlook Trail Bridge and Overlook Park at the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park, and the grants provided through his Traumatic Brain Injury Program in his honor are fitting tributes to a man whose passion for public service and for New Jersey knew no bounds.”

Paterson Great Falls was designated as a National Historical Park in 2009, in large part due to the leadership of Congressman Pascrell, to honor Paterson as the center of America’s manufacturing boom. The first U.S. Treasury Secretary, Alexander Hamilton, laid out the plan to have Paterson be America’s first industrial city.

Senator Helmy will also take the lead in the Senate on commemorating Congressman Bill Pascrell’s work to provide federal funding for research, treatment, and prevention of traumatic brain injuries. Rep. Pallone has already announced similar efforts in the House. Congressman Pascrell founded the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in 2001, and was instrumental in reauthorizing the Traumatic Brain Injury Act.