CNN
—

Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell, an outspoken and influential congressman from New Jersey who served in the House of Representatives since 1997, has died at the age of 87.

“It is with deep sadness that we announce that Bill Pascrell Jr., our beloved husband, father and grandfather, passed away this morning,” a post on the congressman’s X-account read. “As our United States Representative, Bill fought until his final breath to return to the job he loved and the people he loved. Bill lived in Paterson his entire life and had an unwavering love for the city he grew up in and served. He now rests in peace after dedicating his life to our great nation of America.”

Pascrell was hospitalized last month with a fever.

The new party-political distribution in the House of Representatives provides for 220 seats for the Republicans and 211 for the Democrats, with four seats vacant.

Prior to serving in the House of Representatives, Pascrell served as a member of the New Jersey General Assembly and mayor of the City of Paterson, New Jersey.

In the House of Representatives, Pascrell represented New Jersey’s 8th District and, after redistricting, the state’s 9th District. Pascrell served on the influential House Appropriations Committee and worked to secure funding for a number of projects during his tenure in Congress, including nearly $17 million in federal funds for infrastructure improvements, including replacing lead pipes.

After Hurricane Sandy, Pascrell made scathing remarks about Republican leadership and urged support for an additional emergency package to provide reconstruction aid.

“It’s time to take the gloves off – Jersey style,” Pascrell said in the House. “Unfortunately, we are dealing with a schizophrenic leadership on the other side.”

Earlier this year, Pascrell faced Prospect Park Mayor Mohamed Khairullah in a Democratic primary, who criticized Pascrell’s staunch support of Israel amid a broader humanitarian crisis in Gaza. Khairullah, who is Muslim, made headlines last year after the Secret Service turned him away from an Eid reception at the White House to mark the end of Ramadan.

The district is home to Little Ramallah in Paterson, one of the largest Palestinian-American communities in the country, as well as a high Jewish population in Bergen County, making the area a flashpoint of tensions in the ongoing war in Gaza.

Nevertheless, Pascrell ultimately won the Democratic primaries with ease.