RELEASE: Ahead of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Gottheimer Announces More Than $5 Million in Federal Funds to Combat Terrorism

Resources / Press Share on RELEASE: Ahead of the 25th Anniversary of 9/11, Gottheimer Announces More Than $5 Million in Federal Funds to Combat Terrorism Releases 9/11 Review Task Force Report; Honors New Jersey's 9/11 First Responders; Ensures All Students Learn About 9/11 Sep 09, 2026 Press Above: Gottheimer unveils 9/11 legislation package. NEW MILFORD, NJ — Today, Wednesday, September 9, 2026, ahead of the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced several concrete actions including more than $5 million clawed back from Washington to Jersey for local law enforcement in North Jersey to combat terrorism. Watch Gottheimer’s remarks here. The new funding will go toward expanding and modernizing intelligence and coordination, officer training, and additional resources to protect Jersey families. The resources include: More than $5 million in counterterrorism funding clawed back for local law enforcement across Bergen, Sussex, and Passaic Counties. Every single town — all 65 in the Fifth Congressional District — in Bergen, Passaic, and Sussex Counties — will receive $50,000 to be utilized for counter-terrorism training. $1.5 million dollars for Bergen County to expand and modernize the Bergen County Real-Time Intelligence Center. Newton in Sussex County will receive $200,000 in funding to be able to purchase a real-time intelligence platform to enhance its capabilities. Bloomingdale will receive $100,000 to purchase a response drone and active-threat gear — ballistic shields, armor, breaching kits. Vernon will receive $30,000 in funding for a thermal search-and-overwatch drone for fast response at any time of day or conditions. Highlighted the bipartisan 9/11 Review Task Force Report that lays out twenty bipartisan recommendations for the Intelligence Community to protect against the new and emerging threats — including faster information sharing between agencies, adopting AI to stay ahead of our enemies, and deeper partnerships with our state, local, and private-sector partners to fight terror. Sent a letter pressing the FAA and Secretary Duffy to fully implement secondary flight deck barriers on all commercial aircraft — the only 9/11 Commission recommendation still not fully implemented 25 years later — to require the barriers on every plane, including older aircraft already flying. In 2018, I wrote the bipartisan Saracini Aviation Safety Act, requiring these barriers on all new aircraft and it was signed into law in 2018. Years later, the FAA still hasn’t finalized the rule to retrofit the existing fleet. I ntroduced a 9/11 education bill with Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (NY-21) to ensure that 9/11 is taught in every school across America. Only 15 states require 9/11 education. Introduced a resolution, cosponsored by every member of the New Jersey House congressional delegation, formally recognizing the state’s law enforcement officers, firefighters, and emergency medical personnel who responded to the World Trade Center attacks and carried out the rescue, recovery, and relief efforts in the days and months that followed. The resolution honors their service and sacrifice, remembers those who have since died — including from 9/11-related illnesses — and reaffirms the federal commitment to the World Trade Center Health Program and the September 11th Victim Compensation Fund. “We all have a responsibility, in honor of those who gave their lives, and for the sake of our democracy, to teach our children, our students, and our future leaders the history of our homeland,” said Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5). “Today, I unveiled a package of federal action that lays out a series of steps we must take to not only honor those who perished on 9/11 and in its aftermath, but to be prepared to stop any future attacks. With today’s actions, we will keep fighting to protect our state, our homeland, and ensure that a tragic day like that one in September of 2001 never happens again.” Gottheimer was joined by Bergen County Prosecutor Mark Musella, Sussex County Prosecutor Dan Perez, New Milford Mayor Michael Putrino, New Milford Councilwoman Lisa Sandhusen, New Milford Councilwoman Randi Duffie, Bloomingdale Councilman David Bronkhurst, Newton Police Chief Dan Finkle, Vernon Mayor Anthony Rossi, Vernon Police Chief Daniel Young, Sussex County Chief of Detectives Nicholas T. Elmo, Sussex County Lieutenant Kyle Phlegar, Sussex County Detective Andrew Moore, Bergen County Executive Jim Tedesco, Bergen County Commissioner Germaine Ortiz. Below: Gottheimer unveils 9/11 legislation package. Gottheimer’s remarks as prepared for delivery: Good morning, everyone. Twenty-five years ago, this week, New Milford lost one of its own. Stephen Dorf (DOOR-F) was 39 years old. He worked as a communications technician for Euro Brokers, on the 84th floor of the South Tower. Stephen was one of six kids in a close-knit family from Brooklyn, and by every account I’ve read, he was exactly