Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell is an American politician serving as the U.S. Representative for New Jersey's 9th congressional district. A member of the Democratic Party, he has represented parts of North Jersey since 1997, first in the 8th district and, following redistricting, in the 9th district since 2013. A former mayor and state assemblyman from Paterson, Pascrell is a senior member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and is known as a staunch advocate for public safety, tax policy, and healthcare issues.

Early life and education

William J. Pascrell Jr. was born on January 25, 1937, in Paterson, New Jersey, a city with a rich industrial history rooted in the silk industry. He is the son of Italian immigrant parents from the Calabria region. Pascrell attended parochial schools in Paterson before pursuing higher education, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Fordham University in The Bronx, New York City, in 1959. Following his graduation, he served in the United States Army and the Army Reserve before returning to his hometown to begin a career in education and public service.

Early political career

Pascrell's political career began at the local level in Paterson. He served on the city's Board of Education and was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1987, representing the 35th legislative district. In 1990, he was elected Mayor of Paterson, succeeding Frank X. Graves Jr.. As mayor, he focused on economic development and crime reduction in the city, which was grappling with the decline of its manufacturing base. His tenure as mayor lasted until 1997, when he successfully ran for the United States Congress.

U.S. House of Representatives

Pascrell was first elected to the United States House of Representatives in 1996, defeating Republican incumbent William J. Martini to represent New Jersey's 8th congressional district. Following the 2010 Census and a contentious redistricting process, he faced a primary election in 2012 against fellow Democratic incumbent Steve Rothman, whom he defeated. Pascrell then won the general election for the newly configured 9th district, which he has held since. He holds a senior position on the House Ways and Means Committee, serving on the Subcommittee on Health and the Subcommittee on Select Revenue Measures. He also co-chairs the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force and the House Fire Services Caucus.

Political positions and legislation

A pragmatic center-left Democrat, Pascrell has been a leading voice on public safety and first responder issues. He authored the Faster Care for Veterans Act and has been a principal sponsor of legislation to repeal the state and local tax deduction (SALT) cap. He is a strong supporter of labor unions, the Affordable Care Act, and infrastructure investment, having advocated for funding for the Gateway Program tunnel under the Hudson River. On foreign policy, he is a staunch ally of Israel and has supported U.S. recognition of the Armenian Genocide. He voted to impeach President Donald Trump during both the first and second impeachment trials.

Electoral history

In his initial 1996 run for the House, Pascrell won with 52% of the vote against William J. Martini. He was re-elected consistently by wide margins in the 8th district. His most significant electoral challenge came in the 2012 Democratic primary following redistricting, where he defeated incumbent Steve Rothman with 61% of the vote. In the general election for the new 9th district, he defeated Republican Shmuley Boteach. He has since won re-election every two years, typically securing over 65% of the vote against Republican opponents such as Eric Fisher and Billy Prempeh.

Category:1937 births Category:Living people Category:Members of the United States House of Representatives from New Jersey Category:New Jersey Democrats Category:Mayors of Paterson, New Jersey Category:Fordham University alumni Category:American people of Italian descent