Pascrell Announces Nearly $1 Million in Federal Awards to Protect North Jersey Schools

WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ-09), Co-Chair of the Congressional Law Enforcement Caucus, announced today that the Department of Justice has awarded $500,000 and $499,980 in school safety grants to Fort Lee School District and Secaucus School District, respectively. Awarded under the School Violence Prevention Program (SVPP), these federal funds will allow schools to implement state-of-the-art security measures, such as metal detectors, locks, lighting, and other proven deterrents of violence.

“We fought hard to secure this funding and I am thrilled two of North Jersey’s school districts received these awards because it will help protect our students and teachers,” said Rep. Pascrell, a former history teacher and longtime champion of school safety measures. “Students should be able to focus on history and mathematics without fearing for their safety. With these federal grants, Fort Lee and Secaucus can implement rigorous security measures to provide its students, parents, and teachers with the peace of mind they deserve. Working with President Biden, our Democratic Congress will continue to deliver needed federal grants like this for our communities. You have my word.”

“The Fort Lee School District is thrilled to have this great opportunity to secure these funds for the safety and security of our students. This gives us the ability to bring our district to the forefront of security measures in public schools,” said Robert Kravitz, Superintendent of Schools, Fort Lee.

“The Fort Lee School District appreciates the help of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. in securing this important funding,”  said Paula Colbath, President of the Fort Lee School Board.  “The safety and security of our schools is one of the District’s highest priorities.  These funds will help us keep our students and staff safe, where they can focus on learning.”

Congressman Pascrell has long championed school safety measures in Congress and is a strong proponent of gun safety measures. Last month, Pascrell and Rep. Danny Davis (D-IL-07) reintroduced the Gun Violence Prevention and Safe Communities Act, which aims to combat gun violence through increased federal taxes on guns and ammunition and by closing tax and regulatory loopholes on some of the most popular and deadly firearms. In May, Pascrell led 160 bipartisan Members of Congress in support of increased funding for the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) Office, which administers SVPP grants. He recently secured a similar school safety grant for Teaneck Schools in the amount of $500,000.