Devendra Kumar
Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., a longtime New Jersey Democrat, passed away at 87, leaving behind a legacy of dedicated public service. Elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1996, Pascrell was known for his deep love for his hometown of Paterson, where he spent his entire life.
Despite his advancing age, Pascrell remained committed to his political career, passionately advocating for his constituents until his final days. His office announced his passing with a message highlighting his lifelong dedication to his community and his country.
Pascrell’s political journey was shaped by his early experiences in Paterson, a city with a rich industrial history and a rough political landscape. As a teenager, he was introduced to politics by his uncle, who took him to his first ward meeting.
The fierce, sometimes physical nature of local politics appealed to Pascrell, and he remained involved in the political arena from the age of 16. His early exposure to the no-nonsense world of New Jersey politics instilled in him a fighting spirit, which he carried into his long career in Congress.
During his tenure in the House, Pascrell became a prominent figure on the Ways and Means Committee, where he focused on tax policy and economic fairness. He was particularly known for his efforts to close tax loopholes that benefited the wealthy, such as the “carried interest” loophole, and to revise inheritance tax laws to ensure that capital gains taxes were paid on inherited property.
Pascrell also fought to restore state and local tax deductions, a critical issue for many in his home state of New Jersey, where high property and income taxes made the cap on these deductions particularly burdensome for middle-class families.
Pascrell’s commitment to his constituents extended beyond tax policy. Representing a district with a strong manufacturing base, he was a staunch ally of labor unions and worked to ensure that international trade agreements included protections for workers’ rights.
He also championed research and treatment for brain injuries, co-founding the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force in response to the growing number of veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries after the September 11 attacks and subsequent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Throughout his career, Pascrell remained closely connected to his roots in Paterson. He served as the city’s mayor while simultaneously holding a seat in the state Assembly before his election to Congress.
His tough approach to governance was balanced by his personal interests, which included reading and writing poetry and playing bocce, a game he found as soothing as his poetry. Pascrell’s legacy is one of unwavering dedication to his constituents, a fierce commitment to justice, and a life lived in service to both his local community and the nation.
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