A longtime New Jersey congressman nearly collapsed during a news conference when he apparently was overcome by the sweltering heat.

Democratic Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. was attending a news conference Tuesday morning in Englewood celebrating the passage of the Firefighter Cancer Registry Act when he appeared to become weak and had to be assisted onto a chair.

Dominick Marino, of the Professional Firefighters Association of New Jersey, said Pascrell was brought to the department's dorm to cool down because he "felt a little woozy." He was given water and appeared to be fine.

A spokesperson for the 81-year-old congressman says, “Rep. Pascrell is doing fine and resting comfortably. He is being kept for observation after suffering from heat exhaustion.”

Pascrell was first elected to the House in 1996.