Bill Pascrell Jr.

Bill Pascrell Jr. was a Democratic congressman from New Jersey who served 14 terms in the U.S. House of Representatives. Born on January 25, 1937, in Paterson, New Jersey, he was the grandson of Italian immigrants and the first member of his family to graduate from high school. He was a lifelong resident of Paterson and built his career around public service principles rooted in his South Side upbringing.

Education

Pascrell graduated from St. John the Baptist High School, where he served as student council president. He attended Fordham University in the mid-1950s, earning a bachelor's degree in journalism in 1959 and a master's degree in philosophy in 1961.

Political Experience

Before entering electoral politics, Pascrell served in the U.S. Army and Army Reserve for much of the 1960s, receiving an honorable discharge in 1967. He then spent 12 years as a public high school teacher and college professor in New Jersey.

His local political career began when he was elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in 1988. He was subsequently elected mayor of Paterson, serving two terms from 1990 to 1996, before running for Congress.

In Congress, Pascrell served on the influential House Ways and Means Committee and later chaired the Ways and Means Oversight Subcommittee. His legislative priorities included tax reform, environmental protection, and funding for public safety and education. Notable achievements include helping establish the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which funds first responders nationwide, and playing a key role in establishing the Paterson Great Falls as a national historical park.