She’s going to struggle to extinguish this blaze.
Democratic Rep. Laura Gillen is under fire for calling herself the hero behind almost $1 million in federal firefighting aid, even though she voted against the bill that brought the money in.
During a press briefing in Bellerose on Tuesday, Gillen stood beside fire officials and boasted that she secured $938,000 to modernize the village’s old fire‑truck fleet.
“Bellerose’s volunteer firefighters represent the best of Long Island: every day, they volunteer their time and put their lives on the line to serve their neighbors and their community,” she said.
“I am proud to deliver this critical funding that will help Bellerose FD keep our community safe.”
The claim has angered Republicans, who point out that she opposed the massive bill to reopen the federal government that included the $938,000 allotment. Troubadour Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of a neighboring Long Island‑Queens district voted for the same bill that ended the lengthy shutdown.
National Republican Congressional Campaign Committee spokeswoman Maureen O’Toole blasted Gillen, “Laura Gillen is shamelessly taking credit for funding for the Bellerose Fire Department she tried to block. Voters deserve better than a politician who thinks she can vote no and still claim a win.”
No GOP challenger has yet emerged to face Gillen, who last year toppled former Republican Rep. Anthony D’Esposito in a heated contest. She will defend her seat in the 2026 midterms after unseating the long‑time incumbent.
Nassau County GOP chair Joe Cairo Jr. added that Gillen is two‑faced: during her time as Hempstead town supervisor she allegedly lied about cutting taxes while actually voting against a tax‑cut measure. “Now she’s claiming credit for shoring up funding for a fire engine, despite voting against it in Congress,” he said. He warned that Long Island voters know her record is filled with falsehoods and tax hikes.
A GOP source suggested that the local firefighters were probably unaware that she had opposed the funding and were being used as props.
In response, Gillen’s office highlighted that she had asked for roughly $1 million for the Bellerose Fire Department in the Agriculture and Rural Agencies spending package in May, a request that appears on her congressional page.
Republicans still hold a narrow 219‑213 advantage heading into the 2026 elections.
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