Rep. Bill Pascrell

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D New Jersey, 8th (1997-2013), 9th (2013-) In Office

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Biographical

Full Name: William James Pascrell Jr.
Gender: Male
Pronunciation: bill PASS-krell
Date of Birth: Jan. 25, 1937 (age: 87)
Place of Birth: Paterson, N.J.
Religion: Roman Catholic
Hometown: Paterson, N.J.
Place of Residence: Paterson, N.J.
Occupation: Educator

Wikipedia

Official biography

Family:

Married: Elsie Pascrell

3 children: William Pascrell III, Glenn Martin Pascrell, David Joseph Pascrell

Relations with people in our database:

Father of David J. Pascrell

Biography:

A native son of Paterson, N.J., Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. has built a life of public service upon the principles he learned while growing up on the south side of the Silk City.

He credits his parents and his Italian-immigrant grandparents with instilling in him the value of being a "bridge builder," one who seeks to bring together the diverse peoples and neighborhoods in the community he loves to make a better society. Bill’s tenacity and dedication as a congressman are marked by service to his constituents and his rise in leadership on issues critical to all Americans. He continues to fulfill his promises and works to improve the lives of the people.

Bill was first elected to U.S. Congress in 1996. From his first days in Cong ress, Bill has enthusiastically championed the designation of Paterson’s Great Falls as unit of the National Park System. He took the lead in drafting, introducing and shepherding through Congress the "Great Falls Historic District Study Act," until it was signed into law in November 2001. This was the first step toward the day in April 2009 when President Barack Obama joined Bill in recognizing the historic value and natural beauty of the Great Falls and signed legislation designating the Falls and the 30-acre surrounding area as the future site of the Paterson Great Falls National Historical Park. When completed, the new national park will include refurbished beautiful, historic mill buildings and better maintenance and protection for the second largest waterfall east of the Mississippi.

As founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Bill has raised the nation’s awareness of the dangers of traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI was identified as the “signature injury” among soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Bill has worked to make sure that our soldiers are properly screened and diagnosed for concussions. He continues to fight for TRICARE insurance coverage to pay for cognitive rehabilitation therapy – the most effective treatment for soldiers recovering from TBI.

After the tragic death of Montclair High School football player Ryne Dougherty in 2008, Bill’s efforts against the dangers of TBI have expanded to help protect young athletes. On Sept. 30, 2010, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed Bill’s Concussion Treatment and Care Tools (ConTACT) Act. The legislation calls for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to develop guidelines and protocols for the management and treatment of sports-related concussions for the benefit of the nation’s student-athletes.

Bill is a nationally recognized leader in Congress on the issue of fire safety, having proudly authored the F.I.R.E. (Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement) Act, which became law in 2001. The law established the only federal program that delivers grant dollars directly to fire departments. The program, now titled the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program, is administered by the Department of Homeland Security. Now, the nation’s 32,000 career, volunteer and combination fire departments can apply for federal grants to purchase the equipment, training, and vehicles needed to serve their communities. The AFG program also funds Fire Prevention and Safety Grants, for fire awareness and prevention activities, as well as fire safety-related research. Bill also conceived of the SAFER (Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response) grant program which provides federal support for staffing of local fire departments.

Bill has been named Outstanding Legislator of the Year by the Department of New Jersey Jewish War Veterans as well as the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars. As an ardent fighter on behalf of our military heroes, Bill secured a new Passaic County VA Outpatient Clinic at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. The community based facility is the first of its kind in the Eighth Congressional District and serves the more than 30,000 veterans that reside in the area. Specifically, the clinic is part of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) New Jersey Health Care System. The Congressman lobbied hard for the clinic, arguing that too often, VA hospitals and clinics such as those in Hackensack and East Orange, are overcrowded and unable to handle the volume of veterans needing care.

As a child, Bill attended St. George’s Elementary School in Paterson and graduated in 1955 from St. John the Baptist High School, where he was elected student-council president. After earning a bachelor’s degree in journalism and a master’s degree in philosophy from Fordham University in the Bronx, N.Y., Bill worked as both a high school history teacher and an adjunct professor. He also served as president of the Paterson Board of Education and as a member of Passaic County Community College’s Board of Trustees.

Bill served his country in the U.S. Army and the U.S. Army Reserve and received an honorable discharge in 1967.

Bill’s political life began in 1987 when he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly, where he eventually became Minority Leader Pro Tempore. In 1990, Bill was elected mayor of Paterson, New Jersey’s third largest city. Bill’s efforts, both as a Mayor and Assemblyman, were recognized in 1996 as he was named New Jersey’s "Mayor of the Year" by his fellow Mayors, and "Legislator of the Year" by the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce.

Through the years, Bill has been widely recognized for his service and leadership by organizations including the N.J. Chamber of Commerce, Department of New Jersey Jewish War Veterans, the New Jersey Veterans of Foreign Wars, the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, the New Jersey State Fireman’s Mutual Benevolent Association, the Brain Injury Association of America and Ceasefire New Jersey. He has also received honorary Doctor of Laws degrees from William Paterson University (1999) and Bloomfield College (2010).

Bill is married to the former Elsie Marie Botto. See more >>

Miscellaneous Links:

Ballotpedia

C-SPAN

GovTrack

Project VoteSmart

Campaign Links:

Website, campaign

Email, campaign: teampascrell@pascrellforcongress.com

X (Twitter), campaign

Instagram, campaign

Facebook, campaign

Open Secrets political finance profile

YouTube, campaign

Social Networking:

Facebook, official

X (Twitter), official

YouTube, official

Instagram, official

Flickr, official

TikTok, official

Official Links:

Website, official

Press Releases

Education

Fordham University - MA, philosophy (1961)
Fordham University - BA, journalism (1959)

Office History

Congressional Offices:

U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 2013-) In Office

Member, 9th Congressional District of New Jersey
U.S. House of Representatives (Jan. 3, 1997-Jan. 2, 2013) Changed District

Member, 8th Congressional District of New Jersey

State Legislature Offices:

New Jersey General Assembly (Jan. 1988-Jan. 1997)

D Assembly Member, District 35

Election Results

2021 (Nov. 3, 2020 election)

9th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 65.80%
Democrat

William Sreboe Prempeh (Billy), 31.86%
Republican

Chris Auriemma, 2.34%
Independent
2019 (Nov. 6, 2018 election)

9th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 70.00%
Democrat

Eric Fisher, 29.00%
Republican
2017 (Nov. 8, 2016 election)

9th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 69.73%
Democrat

Hector L. Castillo, 28.03%
Republican

Diego Rivera, 1.43%
Libertarian
2015 (Nov. 4, 2014 election)

9th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 68.49%
Democrat

Dierdre G Paul, 30.09%
Republican

Nestor Montilla, 1.42%
Undetermined
2013 (Nov. 6, 2012 election)

9th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 73.97%
Democrat

Shmuley Boteach, 25.03%
Republican
2011 (Nov. 2, 2010 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 62.66%
Democrat

Roland Straten, 36.13%
Republican

Raymond Giangrasso, 1.21%
Independent
2009 (Nov. 4, 2008 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 71.11%
Democrat

Roland Straten, 28.17%
Republican
2007 (Nov. 7, 2006 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 70.89%
Democrat

Jose M Sandoval, 28.37%
Republican
2005 (Nov. 2, 2004 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 69.46%
Democrat

George Ajjan, 28.68%
Republican

Joseph A Fortunato, 1.86%
Independent
2003 (Nov. 5, 2002 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 66.83%
Democrat

Jared Silverman, 30.59%
Republican

Joseph A Fortunato, 2.58%
Green
2001 (Nov. 7, 2000 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 66.99%
Democrat

Anthony Fusco Jr, 30.28%
Republican

Joseph A Fortunato, 2.23%
Independent
1999 (Nov. 3, 1998 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 62.08%
Democrat

Matthew J Kirnan, 35.45%
Republican
1997 (Nov. 5, 1996 election)

8th Congressional District of New Jersey

William James Pascrell Jr. (Bill), 51.20%
Democrat

William John Martini (Bill), 47.96%
Republican

Employment History

City of Paterson, N.J. (July 1990-Jan. 1997)

Mayor

Associated Organizations

Board membership:

Passaic County Community College (Paterson, N.J.)
Member, Board of Trustees

Board membership:

Paterson (N.J.) Board of Education
Former President

Own leadership PAC:

Silk PAC

Election campaign:

Pascrell for Congress (New Jersey)

Awards

Spirit of Enterprise Award (U.S. Chamber of Commerce) (June 2020)
Legislator of the Year Award (Major County Sheriffs of America Inc.) (Feb. 2019)
Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award (National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.) (2017)

Military History

U.S. Army Reserve (1962-1967)
U.S. Army (1961-1962)

Official Signature

Contact Information

Email, member official contact form

Office Addresses:

Main Office:

Address:	2409 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-3009
Phone:	202-225-5751
Fax:	202-225-5782

View Larger Map

» District Offices

Privately Financed Travel

8 trips taken between 2005 - 2018 costing $72,208

See map of trips

Trip Destinations:

Trip Sponsors:

» see more

Personal Financial Disclosures

Disclosures as a member:

Annual: 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2016 (Amendment), 2015, 2014, 2013, 2013 (Amendment), 2012, 2011, 2011 (Amendment), 2010, 2010 (Amendment), 2009, 2008, 2007, 2007 (Amendment), 2006, 2005, 2005 (Amendment), 2004, 2004 (Amendment), 2003
Extension Letter: 2022, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2017
Stock transaction: 01/18/2022, 07/31/2020, 10/17/2012
» see more

Foreign Gifts

2/17/2009: six neckties, E. Marinella silk from Italy ($420.00)

» See more

Congressional Staff

Staff Turnover:

Turnover Index: 0.25
(House Average: 0.25)
» See more

Staff Salary Rate:

Office Median Annual Salary: $75,857.33
» See more

Staff Salaries Paid:

» See full staffer list

» view all salaries

Committees

House Ways and Means Committee

House Ways and Means Committee Oversight Subcommittee, Ranking Member

House Ways and Means Committee Social Security Subcommittee

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Caucuses

Caught Our Eye

Rep. Gabe Amo hires chief from office of Rep. Pascrell

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Nov. 16, 2023
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) has lost one of his longest-serving staffers to Congress's newest member. read more
Now more than ever, House Democrats are outspending Republicans on security

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Sept. 12, 2022
Democrats are outspending Republicans on security at the highest rate since at least 2016, according to a LegiStorm analysis of House expense data. read more
Democratic staffer heads back to government relations

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on April 28, 2022
A veteran lobbyist-turned-Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) staffer has returned to the government-affairs world. read more
House members spend more of their funds on security

Posted by Christian Stafford on April 6, 2022
House members, particularly Democrats, are spending more of their official budgets on security since the Jan. 6 insurrection, according to a LegiStorm review of spending data. read more
UPenn Health System hires Sen. Kaine health aide

Posted by Keturah Hetrick on Oct. 16, 2018
The University of Pennsylvania Health System has added Sen. Tim Kaine's (D-Va.) top health-care aide to its federal affairs team. read more
Revolving door opens for Becerra's new LD

Posted by J. Todd Foster on April 26, 2016
A former AARP lobbyist and regulatory manager for three health insurers has returned to Capitol Hill to become legislative director for Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.). read more
Staffers and members crisscross globe during August recess

Posted by Jenna Ebersole on Sept. 22, 2014
Trips by members of Congress and their staffs during the August recess cost $766,000, a dramatic increase from two years ago.Although the figure is much lower than last August's $2 million figure, it represents a nearly 50 percent increase in spending over the more comparable election-year August of 2012, when $515,000 was spent. Typically, election year travel is reduced, as members focus their attention on reelection and away from potentially politically unpopular junkets. The latest numbers support an overall increase in travel in recent years. read more
Members take private funds to witness Israeli military operaiton

Posted by Nate Hoffman on Aug. 28, 2014
August might be the perfect time to visit Aspen or Paris, but a handful of members instead chose to visit a battle zone: Israel. read more

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