Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ)

??IAFF #LegCon25???? Kean Tracks Down PFANJ in the Halls of Rayburn to Talk IAFF Legislation ??On a busy day filled with committee meetings and votes Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. , representing New Jersey's 7th Congressional District, caught up with our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) representatives to discuss our federal legislative priorities. Rep. Kean introduced and championed the Fire Grant and Safety Act through Congress to provide a five-year reauthorization for the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Grant (SAFER) Program. He was also a part of a unanimous 'YES' vote from our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Executive Board, Elizabeth Fire Officers Association, Newark Fire Officers, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Jersey City Fire Officers Association, Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of Jersey City, Burlington County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3091, Camden Fire Officers Local #2578, and Camden City Firefighters also discussed the following legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25 ??? Menendez & PFANJ Discuss PSOB Support in DC ??Congressman Rob Menendez was an early co-sponsor of the late Congressman Bill Pascrell's Honoring Our Fallen Heroes Act and has been promoting the inclusion of cancer under PSOB benefits since the bill was announced at North Hudson Regional Fire & Rescue in 2023. While representing New Jersey's 8th Congressional District, Rep. Menendez voted 'YES' along with our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Elizabeth Fire Officers Association, Jersey City Fire Officers Association, Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of Jersey City, Newark Fire Officers, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Camden Fire Officers Local #2578, Camden City Firefighters, and Cape May Firefighters had the opportunity to discuss the following legislative priorities: + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25???? PFANJ Meets With Norcross' Staff on a Busy Day on The Hill ??Ed Kaczmarski, Deputy Chief of Staff, of Rep. Donald Norcross from New Jersey's 1st Congressional District took time during the Congressman's committee meetings and votes to meet with our members. Rep. Norcross was a part of a unanimous 'YES' vote from our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Camden Fire Officers , Camden City Firefighters, and Burlington County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3091 had the opportunity to discuss the following legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25 ??? Sherrill's Staff Hosts PFANJ to Discuss Legislative Priorities ??Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill's Legislative Director, Julie Jochem, took time during our Legislative Conference to understand the goals of the PFANJ & IAFF. Rep. Sherrill represents New Jersey's 11th Congressional District and was a part of a unanimous 'YES' vote from our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Newark Fire Officers, Elizabeth Fire Officers Association, Jersey City Fire Officers Association, and Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of Jersey City had the opportunity to discuss the following legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25 ??? PFANJ Lobbies for Van Drew-IAFF Free Speech Bill ??Congressman Jeff Van Drew, representing New Jersey's 2nd Congressional District, has worked closely with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) to draft and introduce the Public Safety Officer Free Speech Act to protect first responders from retaliation for discussing job-related issues. Rep. Van Drew was also part of a unanimous 'YES' vote from our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Cape May Firefighters, Burlington County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3091, Camden City Firefighters, Camden Fire Officers, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Elizabeth Fire Officers Association, Newark Fire Officers, Jersey City Fire Officers Association, and Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of Jersey City also discussed the following legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25???? Kim Invites PFANJ to New Senate Office ??New Jersey's newest Senator, Congressman Andy Kim invited our members to sit down and discuss our priorities with he and his staff in our nation's capital. One of the growing concerns for the Senator was the rise of wildfires in his former 3rd Congressional District. During his time in the House, Senator Kim voted 'YES' along with our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Burlington County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3091, Camden City Firefighters, Camden Fire Officers, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Elizabeth Fire Officers Association, and Newark Fire Officers had the opportunity to discuss the following legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25??? Congressman Pallone Hosts PFANJ in DC ??Congressman Frank Pallone Jr is the long-time representative of New Jersey's 6th Congressional District and supporter of New Jersey's professional firefighters. Congressman Pallone was a part of a unanimous 'YES' vote from our NJ congressional delegation to repeal the WEP/GPO. Members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, Newark Fire Officers, Jersey City Fire Officers Association, and Uniformed Fire Fighters Association of Jersey City to discuss our legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

??IAFF #LegCon25 ??? PFANJ's First LegCon Meeting with Conaway ??Our first meeting of the week was with New Jersey newest congressman, Rep. Herb Conaway MD, representing our state's 3rd Congressional District. Congressman Conaway and his staff met with members of our Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) Executive Board, Burlington County Professional Firefighters IAFF Local 3091, Camden Firefighters Association, Camden Fire Officers, Woodbridge Township Professional Firefighters Association, and Jersey City Fire Officers Association to discuss our legislative priorities: + Support of survivors of fallen public safety officers by including cancer in PSOB benefits + Protecting firefighters rights to free speech + Support of next generation PPE + Increase of 9/11 World Trade Center Health Program funding + Preparation for wildland fires in all communities + National collective bargaining for firefighters and EMTs + Providing federal firefighters a fair work-life balance ??Lobbying on 'The Hill' is instrumental to advancing the interests of our members. Meeting with our congressional delegation and their DC staff as well as the other members of Congress assigned to the committees and caucuses that impact our careers is invaluable. ??We need the support of every member of Congress across the country and together the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) achieves it! #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

?? IAFF #LegCon25 ??? PFANJ Recognized During Opening Ceremonies ??Brother Richard Blohm served as Past Vice President of the Professional Firefighters Assoc. of NJ (PFANJ) and Past President of HOBOKEN FIRE OFFICERS IAFF LOCAL 1076 INC but he will forever be remembered by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) for his extraordinary commitment to FIREPAC. Understanding that not one cent of PFANJ, or IAFF, dues go to fund political candidates, Brother Blohm realized that FIREPAC was the best way to advance our legislative priorities to improve the careers of our members and all first responders. Today, he was presented a citation by GP Edward Kelly and GST Frank Lima recognizing that he has been the largest contributor to FIREPAC since its inception.?? ??New Jersey's very own, Congressman Josh Gottheimer , addressed LegCon and applauded the PFANJ for securing cancer screenings for career firefighters in our state, and discussed his efforts to bring cancer screening to every firefighter across the country through the FIRE Cancer Act.?? #PFANJleads #PFANJdelivers

?? WEP/GPO UPDATE ?? Larger Social Security Payments To Our Retirees ??Beginning Feb. 24, the SSA will issue lump-sum payments to retirees penalized by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). Your PFANJ and International Association of Fire Fighters lobbied in DC, New Jersey, and every other state to correct this penalty placed on our members and every retiree with a government pension.?? ??The Social Security Fairness Act is retroactive to January 2024 and withheld payments will be paid directly into retirees’ bank accounts on file. Any retiree impacted by the change to the WEP and GPO provisions will receive a notice in the mail from the Social Security Administration explaining the changes to their account.?? ??Follow the link to learn more about your Social Security. #PFANJleads #WEP #GPO #SocialSecurity