At the age of 87, Democratic congressman from New Jersey, Rep. Bill Pascrell, was a prominent and vocal voice in the House of Representatives since 1997.
A post on the congressman's X account said, "We announce with deep sadness that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, passed away this morning." "Bill battled to the very last to return to his beloved work and his loved ones as our United States Representative. Bill was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey, and he maintained a deep affection for the city throughout his life. After spending a lifetime committed to our wonderful country, America, he is now at rest.
Due to a fever, Pascrell was admitted to the hospital last month.
Republicans will hold 220 seats in the House, while Democrats will hold 211 seats, with four open seats.
Pascrell was the mayor of Paterson, New Jersey, and a member of the New Jersey General Assembly before entering the House.
Pascrell served as a representative for the 8th district in the House of New Jersey then, following redistricting, the 9th district. While in Congress, Pascrell pushed to gain financing for a number of initiatives, including roughly $17 million in federal funds for infrastructure upgrades, which included repairing lead pipes. Pascrell served on the influential Ways and Means Committee in the House.
Following Hurricane Sandy, Pascrell encouraged support for an emergency supplementary package to fund recovery efforts while making harsh accusations about Republican leadership.
On the House floor, Pascrell declared, "It's time to take the gloves off, Jersey style." "Unfortunately, the leadership on the opposing side is psychotic.
Mohamed Khairullah, the mayor of Prospect Park, challenged Pascrell in the Democratic primary earlier this year, criticizing Pascrell for his unwavering support of Israel despite a serious humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza. Last year, Khairullah, a Muslim, gained notoriety after the Secret Service denied him entry to a White House Eid celebration commemorating the conclusion of Ramadan.
The district is a hotbed of tension amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza since it is home to Little Ramallah in Paterson, which is home to one of the largest Palestinian-American populations in the nation, as well as a sizable Jewish community in Bergen County.
Ultimately, though, Pascrell still won the Democratic primary with ease.
