PARK RIDGE—On the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11th attacks, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) took part in a remembrance ceremony at Park Ridge’s Veterans Park — to honor the members of the North Jersey community and first responders who lost their lives in the horrific attacks, to commemorate the first responders lost since, and to recommit to protecting America from ISIS-inspired and lone-wolf homegrown terror.
Park Ridge lost seven on 9/11: Paul Beatini, Joseph Keller, Ronald Magnuson, Joseph Maio, Paul Rizza, Scott Vasel, and Martin Wortley.
“With great loss, and in the face of great evil, our nation rose from the ashes and came together across any lines that divide us — party or region — especially here in North Jersey, where we will always live in the shadows of those attacks. Just as we did then, we still stand together — in unity as Americans — against those who only wish to tear us apart,” said Gottheimer, according to outreach from his office.
He added, “For many, the exposure at the site has brought about cancer and illness — many years later — as if all the tragedy just that one morning was not enough.”
He said, “Thankfully, we have taken steps in Congress, to fight for and pass legislation to provide long-overdue support to cover 9/11 survivors, first responders, and their families. We are still fighting for them — and we must — for all of our first responders, and take all critical steps necessary to protect our homeland from ISIS-inspired and lone-wolf terror, and others who threaten our democracy and our very way of life.”
Nearly 3,000 Americans lost their lives from the 9/11 attacks, including more than 400 firefighters, police, and other first responders who ran in to help. New Jersey lost nearly 750 residents. Bergen County alone lost 147 residents. Since then, more than 2,000 first responders and others who were in and around the World Trade Center have died since, as a result of toxic 9/11 exposure.
On the eve of the anniversary of the attacks, Gottheimer joined with airline pilots to call on Congress to pass bipartisan legislation — H.R. 911, the Saracini Enhanced Aviation Act of 2021 — to require the installation of secondary cockpit barriers on all commercial passenger aircraft to prevent attacks similar to 9/11.
Last Congress, Gottheimer helped pass the Never Forget the Heroes Act, a bipartisan bill endorsed by the Problem Solvers Caucus — which Gottheimer co-chairs — to fully fund the 9/11 Victims Compensation Fund and provide long-overdue support to cover 9/11 survivors, first responders, and their families — for injuries, medical expenses, and other benefits.
The bill was signed into law in July 2019.
