Bill Pascrell

Bill Pascrell is a Democratic member of the United States House of Representatives, representing the 8th district of New Jersey.

Resolution condemning socialism

Fedrary 2, 2023 House Republicans moved a Resolution condemning socialism and certain dictators.

The Resolution began:

Whereas socialist ideology necessitates a concentration of power that has time and time again collapsed into Communist regimes, totalitarian rule, and brutal dictatorships;

Whereas socialism has repeatedly led to famine and mass murders, and the killing of over 100,000,000 people worldwide;

Whereas many of the greatest crimes in history were committed by socialist ideologues, including Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, Mao Zedong, Fidel Castro, Pol Pot, Kim Jong Il, Kim Jong Un, Daniel Ortega, Hugo Chavez, and Nicolás Maduro;

Eighty six Democrats voted no. Forteen voted "present" and six didn't vote.

Representative Bill Pascrell voted "Nay".

Labor Caucus

The Labor Caucus is an official caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2021 members included Bill Pascrell .

Support for the Council on American Islamic Relations

Bill Pascrell wrote a letter of support to the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) on the occasion of their 24th anniversary in September 2018.

MPAC intern

In 2017 Maryam Sarhan was a Muslim Public Affairs Council Congressional Leadership Development Program intern in Bill Pascrell 's office.

In 2016 Jenan Abu-Hakmeh was a Muslim Public Affairs Council Congressional Leadership Development Program intern in Bill Pascrell 's office.

Voted against cutting funding for ACORN

In September 2009, following the lead of their Senate colleagues, the House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to cut off funds to ACORN. the vote was 345-75. All of the 75 were Democrats, and included Bill Pascrell.

Working Families Party endorsement

Supported Lifting the Gaza Blockade

On Jan. 27, 2010, U.S. Representatives Keith Ellison and Jim McDermott led 52 other members of Congress in signing a letter addressed to President Barack Obama, calling for him to use diplomatic pressure to resolve the blockade affecting Gaza. Bill Pascrell was one of the signatories of the letter. The entire letter together with a complete list of signatories can be read by clicking here.

PDA contact

In 2013 Progressive Democrats of America assigned activists to deliver their material to almost every US Congressman and several Senators. Mary Ellen Marino, was assigned as contact for Rep. Pascrell.

ARA PAF endorsement, 2014

The Alliance for Retired Americans Political Action Fund endorsed Bill Pascrell in 2014, also 2012.

Condemning Criticism of Islam legislation

On December 17, 2015, Rep. Don Beyer, Jr. introduced legislation condemning "violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States." The legislation is based on unsourced claims that there is a "rise of hateful and anti-Muslim speech, violence, and cultural ignorance," and a "disproportionate targeting" of "Muslim women who wear hijabs, headscarves, or other religious articles of clothing...because of their religious clothing, articles, or observances." The resolution, H.Res.569 - Condemning violence, bigotry, and hateful rhetoric towards Muslims in the United States

The legislation was cosponsored by Rep. Michael Honda, Rep. Keith Ellison, Rep. Joseph Crowley, Rep. Andre Carson, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, Rep. Betty McCollum, Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Rep. Carolyn Maloney, Rep. Dan Kildee, Rep. Loretta Sanchez, Rep. Charles Rangel, Rep. Scott Peters, Rep. Brad Ashford, Rep. Alan Grayson, Rep. Mark Takai, Rep. Brian Higgins, Rep. William Keating, Rep. Raul Grijalva, Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Rep. G.K. Butterfield, Rep. Gerry Connolly, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Rep. Cheri Bustos, Rep. John Delaney, Rep. Kathy Castor, Rep. Luis Gutierrez, Rep. Michael Quigley, Rep. Elizabeth Esty, Rep. Joseph Kennedy III, Rep. Robin Kelly, Rep. Eddie Bernice Johnson, Rep. Gregory Meeks, Rep. Grace Meng, Rep. Al Green, Rep. Katherine Clark, Rep. Adam Schiff, Rep. Alcee Hastings, Rep. Sam Farr, Rep. Frank Pallone, Rep. Jim McDermott, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Donna Edwards, Rep. Robert Brady, Rep. Frederica Wilson, Rep. Michael Doyle, Rep. Albio Sires, Rep. Suzan DelBene, Rep. Judy Chu, Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. David Loebsack, Rep. Bill Pascrell, Rep. Debbie Dingell, Rep. Jan Schakowsky, Rep. Steve Cohen, Rep. Ruben Hinojosa, Rep. John Yarmuth, Rep. Niki Tsongas, Rep. Jim Langevin, Rep. Mark Pocan, Rep. John Conyers, Jr., Rep. Mark Takano, Rep. Tim Ryan, Rep. Jose Serrano, Rep. Hank Johnson, Rep. Paul Tonko, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, Rep. Chris Van Hollen, Rep. Lois Capps, Rep. David Price, Rep. Doris Matsui, Rep. Gwen Moore, Rep. Denny Heck, Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, Rep. John Carney, Rep. Xavier Becerra, Rep. Eric Swalwell, Rep. John B. Larson, Rep. Dina Titus, Rep. Peter Welch, Rep. Lloyd Doggett, Rep. Jim Himes, Rep. Matt Cartwright.

Praising CAIR

“I have seen firsthand how Muslim Americans contribute to the vibrant culture and heritage of ourUnited States.”-Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-N.J.) (August 2014).

Legislative Aide

Circa 2011, the 45 member Muslim Staffers Association was headed by Bill Pascrell's Pakistani-American Legislative Aide Assad Akhter.

Supporting Malachy McAllister

The Obama administration's Department of Homeland Security abruptly changed the status of Malachy McAllister in late March 2016, triggering a possible deportation as soon as April 25 of McAllister, a former member of an Irish paramilitary group who fled Ireland because of threats to his life and family.

"I am shocked and deeply saddened that, after 20 years, I am to be ripped from my family, my infant son, my business and community to a country I had to flee from nearly 30 years ago to bring my young family to safety," said McAllister in reaction to news of the change in his status.

McAllister served more than three years in prison in Northern Ireland for being a lookout when a British police officer was shot and wounded. After he served his time, the Red Hand Commandos, a pro-British group, fired 26 shots into his house while his mother-in-law and children were at home. That's when he fled with his family to the U.S. in search of political asylum.

"If there's ever a case that leaps out for compassion and exception, this is the guy," said Rep. Bill Pascrell after he and McAllister met in mid-April. "He served his time in Ireland, came here because his house was shot up and his children were in jeopardy, and he's been here 20 years, been a good citizen."

Stay of deportation

Apr 21, 2016, Reps. Joseph Crowley (D-Queens, the Bronx), Vice Chair of the Democratic Caucus and co-chair of the Congressional Ad-Hoc Committee on Irish Affairs, welcomed U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) decision to grant temporary relief from deportation to Malachy McAllister. Crowley has joined a bipartisan group of members of Congress, including Reps. Bill Pascrell, (D-NJ), Peter King (R-NY), Richard Neal (D-MA), Chris Smith (R-NJ), and Eliot Engel (D-NY), in leading efforts in support of McAllister’s case, including spearheading a bipartisan letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson and organizing multiple calls with ICE and U.S. Department of State officials. Today’s action will allow McAllister to stay in the U.S. for one year.

United front for ACA

A number of local politicians and lawmakers, including New Jersey Senators Cory Booker and Robert Menendez, U.S. Representatives Frank Pallone, Donald Payne, Jr., Bill Pascrell, Albio Sires, Josh Gottheimer, and Bonnie Watson Coleman, and Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, were present at a January 15th 2017, at 11:30 a.m. at the Robert Treat Hotel (50 Park Place) downtown Newark, rally to press for protection of the Affordable Care Act.

The law, often referred to as “Obamacare,” is currently under threat. The U.S. Senate voted at around 1:30 a.m this morning to approve a procedure that will let them potentially repeal parts of the ACA through a reconciliation bill, which enables the Congress to make changes to spending and tax legislation and, crucially, is filibuster proof. Reconciliation was used to pass the ACA in 2010.

Earlier today, Payne, Jr. delivered a speech on the floor of the U.S. Congress to highlight how Republican efforts to repeal the Affordable Care Act will affect Americans who depend on the law for their healthcare. He shared a story about how the ACA had helped a constituent who faced dire health problems, in order to humanize what is at stake if the legislation is repealed.

External links

• Pascrell's website with the House of Representatives

References

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