{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where chamber = \"House\", state = \"NJ\" and year = 2025 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-blasts-trump-administration-denial-8-million-passaic-county", "Congresswoman Pou Blasts Trump Administration Denial of $8 Million for Passaic County Schools", "2025-12-30", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Nellie Pou", "P000621", "pou.house.gov", "pou", "https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "PATERSON, NJ \u2014 Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today hammered the U.S. Department of Education\u2019s refusal to reverse its decision to strip $8 million in funding for Passaic County schools under the Full-Service Community Schools grant program.\n\n\u201cDespicable does not begin to describe this unjust and outrageous decision. With its denial today, the Trump Department of Education is ripping support right from the hands of our students in Paterson and Passaic,\u201d said Congresswoman Nellie Pou. \u201cWith zero warning, little explanation, no rational basis, and days before Christmas, Paterson schools were notified that $7.9 million in federal support they were counting on would be terminated. This critical aid funds a myriad of vital services including after-school programming, tutoring, counseling, food assistance, and health services \u2013 all of which will now cease to exist because of the Trump administration\u2019s callousness and cruelty.\n\n\u201cDespite the Paterson Public School District\u2019s willingness to remedy any concerns the Administration had with its programming under the grant, the Education Department refused to engage and has now hung these students and educators out to dry. At a time when the Department of Education has rolled back support to K-12 schools from coast to coast, New Jersey students will now be forced to return to their classrooms in the new year with fewer tools to help them succeed, incurring consequences that will be felt for years to come. The President promised to dismantle public education in America, and today he is doing exactly that. These cuts must be reversed and this funding must be restored.\u201d\n\nOn December 18, Congresswoman Pou sent an urgent letter to Education Secretary Linda McMahon highlighting the \u201ccatastrophic harm\u201d these cuts would cause and demanded the funding be restored \u201cbefore it is too late.\u201d During Christmas week, Pou\u2019s office had been in touch with administration officials to make clear the district\u2019s willingness to work with the Department to address their priorities.\n\nFull-Service Community School grants support a myriad of resources in New Jersey including social, health, nutrition, and mental health services, early childhood education programs, juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs, and educational programs to support the next generation of workers.\n\nThe cuts impact eight Passaic County schools in the Ninth District: Passaic MLK School No. 6, Passaic High School, Joseph A. Taub Middle School, Paterson International High School, Paterson Eastside High School, Paterson School No. 16, Paterson School No. 6, and Alonzo T. Moody Academy High School.\n\nIn total, $7.9 million in federal grants will be slashed from these schools ($2.8 million for 2026, $2.8 million for 2027, and $2.3 million for 2028). Nationwide, 18 Full-Service Community School grants were scheduled for elimination by the Trump administration.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415233", "Rep. Smith condemns Communist China\u2019s provocations and acts of aggression against Taiwan", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued the following statement in response to China\u2019s deliberately provocative and antagonistic military exercises around Taiwan:\n\n\u201cCommunist China\u2019s egregious violations of Taiwan\u2019s air space, its ships\u2019 crossing the median line of the Taiwan Strait, and live-fire drills, which commenced on December 29, are belligerent provocations, which constitute the crime of aggression under international law. Communist China\u2019s violations of the sovereignty of the democratic island nation\u2014coupled with recent transgressions against U.S. treaty allies Japan and the Philippines\u2014directly threaten peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.\n\n\u201cChina is a totalitarian tyrant, which abuses its own people at home and remains a predatory rogue state abroad. Congress stands with freedom-loving peoples in both nations\u2014those in China, working against the oppressive Communist Party ruling their country, and the people of Taiwan, standing firm against this outside aggressor. By its actions, Communist China has put itself outside the community of nations.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-files-appeal-notice-in-ice-oversight-case-says-shes-not-backing-down", "McIver Files Appeal Notice in ICE Oversight Case, Says She\u2019s Not Backing Down", "2025-12-29", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, NJ \u2013 Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) filed a notice of appeal after, in November, a federal judge ruled to deny pretrial motions to dismiss the case against her. The appeal will focus on legislative immunity. The charges against McIver, brought by the Trump administration, stem from a lawful oversight visit to an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention center in Newark, New Jersey, in May 2025. McIver faces up to 17 years in federal prison.\n\n\u201cFrom the beginning, I\u2019ve fought back against this administration\u2019s cruelty and attempts to silence dissent\u2014this appeal is the next step in the fight. The Trump administration\u2019s case is dangerous, baseless, and designed to stop me from doing my job. I won\u2019t,\u201d said McIver. \u201cThis appeal is for everyone who is standing up to this administration as they try to operate without oversight, silence the people who oppose them, and shut down those who protect the vulnerable. They want to make an example out of me, but I will not let them. I will not be bullied out of doing my job and protecting our communities. Not now, not ever.\u201d\n\nMcIver and counsel sought to have criminal charges brought against her by the Trump administration dismissed. A judge in Newark partially denied those motions, a decision on one count remains pending. The appeal noticed today will head to a Third Circuit panel.\n\nLast week, McIver returned to the Delaney Hall detention center for an oversight visit in the wake of the death of a detainee. This was her first time returning to Delaney Hall since charges were brought against her for her earlier oversight visit in May.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415219", "Chairman Smith on President Trump\u2019s decisive action to strike ISIS encampments in Nigeria", "2025-12-27", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee issued the following statement after the U.S. military\u2019s coordinated strikes on ISIS settlements in northwestern Nigeria:\n\n\u201cPresident Trump\u2019s decisive action reflects the United States\u2019 unyielding commitment to standing up to the Nigerian terrorists, who have been murdering, raping, torturing and violently harassing Christians and non-radical Muslims in the region for decades.\n\n\u201cCoordinated under Secretary Pete Hegseth, the limited precision airstrikes against Islamist terrorists in Nigeria clearly demonstrate that violent actions against Christians and other religious groups have profound consequences.\n\n\u201cThe strikes also put the radical Islamist terrorists in Nigeria on notice that the United States will never condone or turn a blind eye to religious persecution and violence.\n\n\u201cSignificantly, the U.S. Department of State and Nigeria on December 19 signed a five-year bilateral America First Global Health Strategy, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen Nigeria\u2019s health system with a strong emphasis on promoting Christian faith-based healthcare providers. The U.S. intends to commit $2.1 billion in health assistance in the combined investment of nearly $5.1 billion over the life of the MOU.\n\n\u201cAccording to State, \u2018The MOU was negotiated in connection with reforms the Nigerian government has made to prioritize protecting Christian populations from violence\u2026.\u2019 Additionally, it was announced that the Trump Administration \u2018expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations.\u2019\n\n\u201cIn October, I and many of my colleagues applauded President Trump and welcomed his declaration of Nigeria as a \u2018Country of Particular Concern\u2019 based on the religious persecution of Christians in that country.\n\n\u201cI then chaired a hearing entitled, \u2018President Trump\u2019s Redesignation of Nigeria as a \u201cCountry of Particular Concern\u201d: A Serious, Well-Founded Wake-Up Call,\u2019 at which key State Department officials made it clear that the Trump administration was working tirelessly to ensure that human rights and religious freedom remain central to our bilateral relationship with Nigeria.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415214", "TAPinto Gold Coast article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Federal Pause Hits Offshore Wind Projects Planned Off the Jersey Shore and Along the East Coast'", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Jim Lonergan\n\nPublished December 23, 2025 at 9:51 AM\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 The Trump administration has ordered a suspension of construction and lease activity for five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast, including Empire Wind, which is planned off the New Jersey and New York coasts. Federal officials cited national security concerns, specifically the potential for large offshore wind turbines to interfere with military and civilian radar systems used for aviation and maritime navigation.\n\nThe pause, announced by the U.S. Departments of the Interior and Defense, applies not only to future permitting but also to projects that were already approved, under construction, or still in the development phase. Administration officials said the action is intended to allow time for additional review and coordination between federal agencies, the military, and project developers.\n\nThe five offshore wind projects affected by the suspension are:\n\nEmpire Wind 1 (New York\u2013New Jersey coast), developed by Equinor\n\nVineyard Wind 1 (off Massachusetts), the nation\u2019s first large-scale offshore wind farm\n\nRevolution Wind (off Rhode Island and Connecticut), led by \u00d8rsted\n\nSunrise Wind (off New York), also developed by \u00d8rsted\n\nCoastal Virginia Offshore Wind (CVOW), a Dominion Energy project off Virginia\n\nTogether, these projects represent several gigawatts of planned renewable energy capacity and had been central to state and federal clean energy goals along the Eastern Seaboard.\n\nPhoto Credit: shutterstock/ShutterDesigner\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R\u2013NJ), a long-time critic of offshore wind development, welcomed the administration\u2019s decision, saying it validates concerns he has raised for years regarding radar interference and national security risks. Smith has argued that offshore wind turbines can create radar \u201cclutter\u201d that may weaken or disrupt systems relied upon by the Federal Aviation Administration and the U.S. Armed Forces. Click HERE for Rep. Smith's deeper explanation of the risks posed.\n\nSmith pointed to an April 2025 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report examining offshore wind\u2019s impact on radar systems, a study he said he requested with other members of Congress. He also cited legislation he sponsored that passed the U.S. House in 2023 requiring certification that offshore wind projects would not interfere with military or aviation radar capabilities.\n\nEmpire Wind has drawn particular scrutiny because of its proximity to major transportation and defense infrastructure, including Newark Liberty International Airport, LaGuardia Airport, and JFK, as well as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Naval Weapons Station Earle in New Jersey.\n\nWe spoke with Rep. Smith about the offshore wind pause, and he said, \u201cThis has been one of my deepest concerns and an issue I have fought since day one. The fact that these risks were never fully tested, and that the previous administration would not certify the projects as safe, is alarming and, at best, negligent. You don\u2019t move forward with projects of this magnitude \u2014 especially in close proximity to critical military installations and major airports \u2014 without first proving they pose no risk to national security, aviation safety, or maritime operations.\u201d\n\nLocal Impact: Offshore Turbines and Transmission Lines: Beyond Empire Wind, the federal pause comes as offshore wind development tied to the Atlantic Shores Offshore Wind South also fall under the Federal pause. The project, which we've written about at length, would place turbines roughly nine miles off Long Beach Island, while its onshore transmission lines would affect Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall Township, and Howell. Plans call for subsea cables to make landfall near the Sea Girt National Guard Training Center before running underground through local corridors to grid connections in Howell. Officials and residents in those communities have raised concerns about construction disruption, long-term infrastructure impacts, environmental effects, and potential costs associated with hosting offshore wind transmission infrastructure.\n\nBeyond national security, critics have raised concerns about the potential impact of offshore wind projects on commercial and recreational fishing, marine ecosystems, and coastal tourism. Opponents have also questioned the cost of large-scale offshore wind development and the financial burden it could place on taxpayers and ratepayers.\n\nOffshore wind developers and clean energy industry groups told Reuters that several of the paused projects had already undergone years of federal environmental and security review. They cautioned that suspending construction could delay clean energy goals, disrupt supply chains, and impact jobs tied to offshore wind manufacturing, port infrastructure, and maritime construction across multiple states.\n\nThe administration has not released a timeline for completing its review or for determining whether the projects could resume under revised conditions or additional mitigation measures. For now, construction activity on all five projects remains paused.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415216", "Shorebeat article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Trump Halts Construction of Remaining Offshore Wind Project Off N.J.'", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Daniel Nee\n\nPublished December 23, 2025\n\nPresident Donald Trump halted numerous offshore wind projects on Monday, citing national security concerns, officials said. The decision led to cheers from U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, who has lobbied against the projects for years, and with consternation from some environmental groups that favored the projects.\n\nThe order from Trump\u2019s administration will stop five major offshore wind farms \u2014 including Empire Wind, located offshore in the New York bight, roughly between Monmouth County and portions of southern Long Island. Unlike some other wind projects, proposed and approved, Empire Wind would not likely have been visible from the New Jersey coast.\n\nOffshore wind development has been a persistent source of partisan wrangling, favored by New Jersey Democrats as well as officials in the former Biden administration. Trump, and GOP congressional leaders, pledged to eliminate the leases of offshore territory after concerns grew over potential negative effects on marine mammals, as well as subsidies for its foreign owner, the Norwegian firm Equinor. An executive order shutting down the projects has bounced between courtrooms since Trump took office in 2025, with the administration suffering a loss in court earlier this month when Massachusetts U.S. District Judge Patti Saris, appointed by President Bill Clinton, struck down the order. The decision is expected to be appealed, but Monday\u2019s order effectively accomplishes the abolition of the projects \u2013 at least in the immediate future \u2013 for reasons related to national security.\n\nOffshore wind turbine. (Photo: Harald Pettersen/Statoil)\n\nThe Department of the Interior halted the projects to allow for a \u201cpause\u201d so a review could be conducted in conjunction with the Department of Defense (War). Critics of the offshore development, most prominently Smith, have raised concerns that the massive turbines atop the structures could create radar clutter in busy airspace, most notably affecting Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a major transit point for materiel between the U.S., Europe and the Middle East.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum for their leadership in assessing ocean wind\u2019s threats to national security and radar interference,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAs I have argued from day one \u2014 ocean wind projects pose significant, catastrophic impacts to radar, putting military and civilian aircrafts and vessels at grave risk.\u201d\n\nA lawn sign opposing wind turbines off Long Beach Island, Sept. 2022. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\n\nA deceased humpback whale floats off Seaside Park, N.J., March 1, 2023. (Photo: Daniel Nee)\n\nA humpback whale is prepared to be buried at Funtown Beach, Seaside Park, N.J., March 3, 2023. (Photo: MMSC)\n\nThose in favor of the projects have said the matter had already been the subject of reviews by the U.S. Coast Guard under the previous administration, which did not identify any issues with radar clutter or interference.\n\n\u201cThe administration is again illegally blocking clean, affordable energy,\u201d said Ted Kelly of the Environmental Defense Council.\n\n\u201cPlacing largely foreign-owned wind turbines along our coastlines was never acceptable,\u201d countered Robin Shaffer, President of Protect Our Coast New Jersey, largely echoing the concerns raised by Smith.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415218", "Daily Caller article on Smith's Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act'\"Murder Masquerading As Medicine\": Senate Ignores Bill On CCP's Christian Organ Harvesting'", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Derek VanBuskirk\n\nPublished December 23, 2025 at 1:08 PM ET\n\nA bill aimed at curbing the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) forced organ harvesting of cultural and religious minorities, including Christians, has \u201clanguished\u201d in committee for seven months as Senate leaders have failed to act.\n\nRepublican New Jersey Rep. Christopher Smith, sponsor of the legislation that passed the House with a nearly unanimous vote, told the Daily Caller about the growing threat to Christians in China and the real consequences of delaying Senate action.\n\nH.R. 1503, the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act of 2025, is not Smith\u2019s first attempt to confront the practice. A 2023 version of the bill passed the House 413-2 before dying in the same place the current bill now sits: the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations.\n\n(Photo by CHRISTOPHE ARCHAMBAULT/AFP via Getty Images)\n\nSmith chaired his first hearing on forced organ harvesting in 1998, hearing testimony from Chinese security officials. While the practice was once limited in scope, it exploded into a billion-dollar state enterprise following the CCP\u2019s 1999 crackdown on Falun Gong.\n\nFalun Gong, a spiritual practice drawing on Buddhist and Taoist traditions and once widely embraced in China, was the primary early target.\n\nBecause practitioners abstain from tobacco and alcohol, they were considered ideal harvesting candidates, with the average age of those executed and immediately harvested being 28, Smith said.\n\nTaipei, TAIWAN: During a rally joined by thousands of Falun Gong practitioners at Taipei 23 April 2006, four demonstrators play in an action drama against what they said was the Chinese communists\u2019 killing of Falun Gong followers and harvesting of their organs in concentration camps. (Photo: PATRICK LIN/AFP via Getty Images)\n\n\u201cI want to know how long [the patients] have to wait [for a liver transplant].\u201d\n\nDavid Matas and David Kilgour recorded from an undercover conversation they had with a Chinese doctor, as recorded in \u201cBloody Harvest: The Killing of Falun Gong for Their Organs.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe supply of organs we have, we have every day. We do them every day,\u201d the doctor responded.\n\n\u201cWe want fresh, alive ones,\u201d Matas and Kilgour asked.\n\n\u201cThey are all alive, all alive,\u201d the doctor reassured.\n\n\u201cI heard some come from those who practise Falun Gong, those who are very healthy,\u201d Matas and Kilgour said.\n\n\u201cYes, we have. I can\u2019t talk clearly to you over the phone,\u201d the doctor said, before inviting whom he believed was a potential buyer to visit in person.\n\nThis photo taken on June 2, 2019 shows buildings at the Artux City Vocational Skills Education Training Service Center, believed to be a re-education camp where mostly Muslim ethnic minorities are detained, north of Kashgar in China\u2019s northwestern Xinjiang region. (Photo: GREG BAKER/AFP via Getty Images)\n\nSmith, who has held nine hearings on the issue, said detainees\u2019 health was closely monitored to prepare them for execution and the harvesting of up to six vital organs.\n\nA 2024 report from Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting (DAFOH) cited several independent sources verifying that Falun Gong often reported that prisoners of conscience were subject to unsolicited, coerced medical exams and blood testing, adding that guards would use organ transplantation to threaten prisoners who would not comply.\n\nAlthough reliable data is difficult to obtain, DAFOH also found that Chinese organ transplant numbers were reported irregularly, as sudden increases were followed by decade-long standstills, contrasting the steady increase of other countries.\n\nFor example, DAFOH found that Chinese annual transplant numbers increased by 250% between 2000 and 2004, which contrasts with the rates of other countries, ranging from 10-15% during the same time period.\n\n\u201cThey have perfected this art form of killing and stealing organs,\u201d Smith told the Caller.\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 NOVEMBER 19: U.S. House Speaker Emerita Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) (2nd L) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) (3rd L) join (L-R) Policy and Advocacy Coordinator of the Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) Foundation Frances Hui, Research and Policy Advisor of the Hong Kong Watch Anouk Wear, Executive Director of the Hong Kong Democracy Council Anna Kwok, Senior International Advocacy Associate of the Hong Kong Democracy Council Carmen Lau during a news conference in response of the sentencing ruling in the Hong Kong 47 case November 19, 2024 in front of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)\n\nIn a 2024 written testimony, researcher Ethan Gutmann estimated that annual victims may number between 25,000 and 50,000, suggesting as many as 175,000 victims even under lower estimates.\n\nOfficials-turned-witnesses testified in Smith\u2019s hearings that they personally harvested organs from living patients to maximize quality.\n\nSmith said the motive goes beyond profit, serving the party\u2019s pursuit of practical immortality.\n\nWhen a member of the CCP\u2019s totalitarian leadership needs an organ, prisoners\u2019 medical records are searched. If a match is found, the individual is killed for the benefit of the party \u2014 or, more accurately, the men running it, Smith said.\n\nSmith cited a September hot-mic exchange between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping discussing harvesting in this manner.\n\n\u201cEarlier, people rarely lived to 70, but these days at 70 you are still a child,\u201d Xi said through a translator, according to The Epoch Times.\n\n\u201cAs biotechnology advances, human organs can be continuously transplanted, allowing us to become younger and younger, perhaps even achieve immortality,\u201d Putin reportedly replied.\n\nIn this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, (L-R) Russia\u2019s President Vladimir Putin walks with China\u2019s President Xi Jinping and North Korea\u2019s leader Kim Jong Un before a military parade marking the 80th anniversary of victory over Japan and the end of World War II, in Beijing\u2019s Tiananmen Square on September 3, 2025. (Photo by ALEXANDER KAZAKOV/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)\n\nSmith called the practice \u201cmurder masquerading as medicine.\u201d\n\nAfter decades of rapid harvesting, Smith said healthy Falun Gong candidates were depleted, forcing the party to expand into \u201calternative\u201d supply sources, including Uyghur Muslims, Kazakhs, other Central Asians and Christians.\n\nChristians\u2019 health and \u201cpure lives,\u201d Smith said, make them highly valuable \u201ccommodities.\u201d\n\nWhile Christians currently represent a \u201csmaller portion\u201d of victims, Smith warned they could become increasingly targeted as other populations are exhausted, serving as a fresh resource for an \u201cever-expanding\u201d enterprise.\n\nReligious persecution is routine in China. Smith told the Caller that Beijing licenses clergy, edits holy scriptures, censors online worship, bars minors from religious life and restricts contact with fellow believers abroad, adding that \u201cthe end goal is eradication.\u201d\n\nA Catholic worshipper prays during an Easter Sunday mass at a prayer house in a village near Beijing on April 4, 2021. (Photo by JADE GAO/AFP via Getty Images)\n\nThough most harvesting occurs in China, H.R. 1503 targets the global organ trade, including Western participants in \u201ctransplant tourism.\u201d\n\nThe U.S. is no exception. Wealthy American patients, Smith said, are willing to pay steep fees to bypass transplant waitlists, funding China\u2019s system in the process.\n\nSmith is not proposing a new approach but expanding a proven one. By attaching organ harvesting to the Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000, the same framework used against Ghislaine Maxwell, he aims to signal that the FBI will treat transplant tourists and brokers like sex traffickers.\n\nThe goal is to make the risk \u2014 up to 20 years in federal prison and a $1 million fine for those prosecuted in the U.S. \u2014 so high that U.S. demand collapses.\n\nThe bill would also impose asset freezes, sanctions, and travel bans on foreign participants of the underground market.\n\n\u201cMaybe it deters it, and after a few prosecutions, it begins to make a real serious impact,\u201d Smith said. \u201cYou start prosecuting people, and at least it will dry up people utilizing this tainted supply chain.\u201d\n\nH.R. 1503 passed the House 406-1 under suspension of the rules, a process reserved for broadly nonpartisan legislation.\n\nThe sole dissenting vote came from Republican Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie, whom Smith said votes no on almost everything.\n\nAs 2025 draws to a close, the bill remains stalled in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, chaired by Republican Idaho Sen. Jim Risch.\n\nWASHINGTON, DC \u2013 MARCH 25: Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Sen. Jim Risch (R-ID) arrives for the confirmation hearing for former Governor of Arkansas Mike Huckabee, U.S. President Donald Trump\u2019s nominee to be ambassador to Israel, at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on March 25, 2025 in Washington, DC. Huckabee, the former governor and presidential candidate, answered questions on Israel and its campaign against Hamas. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)\n\n\u201cI appreciate Rep. Smith\u2019s attention to this horrific issue,\u201d a committee spokesperson told the Caller. \u201cSenator Risch remains committed to countering the dreadful practice of organ harvesting and is happy to work with anyone to counter it. However, this particular piece of legislation has not been raised with the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.\u201d\n\nWhile any member may request consideration, only the chairman controls the agenda. That leaves the responsibility ultimately on Risch to get the bill out of what Smith called the legislative black hole of referred-but-ignored legislation \u2014 the same fate as his 2023 effort.\n\nIf Gutmann\u2019s estimates are accurate, between 68,000 and 136,000 people have been killed since the 2023 bill reached the committee, with 15,000 to 31,211 victims since the 2025 bill was referred in June.\n\nWithout action, the Chinese regime and its allies may seek to further expand the practice, and as reserves of Falun Gong practitioners and Uyghur Muslims are depleted, the CCP may turn to massacring even more Christians to maintain profits.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-menendez-clarke-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall", "McIver, Menendez, Clarke Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, N.J. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in Newark, New Jersey. She was joined by Reps. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) and Rob Menendez (NJ-08) for the visit.\n\nLast week, McIver learned of the death of a man who had been detained at Delaney Hall. In May, McIver, Menendez and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman conducted a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. The visit, which should have been a routine oversight visit, led to the Trump administration bringing charges against McIver. She now faces up to 17 years in prison for doing her oversight work.\n\nToday\u2019s visit was the first McIver has made to Delaney Hall since being indicted.\n\nThe members released the following statements after the visit:\n\n\u201cI have a responsibility to serve the people and protect the people of the 10th Congressional District, and that is why I had to put aside my experience here and come back to represent them\u2013to see what is happening inside of Delaney Hall. These are the things we\u2019re hearing: people who have not had a court date in months, people who are waiting on loved ones who cannot visit them, and people who are not getting proper medical care. It is awful, and this detention center needs to be shut down. That's why we're here. We're going to continue to show up, continue to have oversight, and continue to do our jobs,\u201d said Rep. McIver. \u201cWhen we left, a detainee told us this is not the America that we dreamed of. They thought they would be able to come here and have a better life.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhat we saw inside Delaney Hall is the betrayal of the American Dream,\u201d said Rep. Menendez. \u201cThese are people who believe in the promise of this country and are being ripped from our communities and held there on the American taxpayer\u2019s dime. All while the GEO Group is making an enormous profit and providing substandard care. We will not let this stand and we will continue to work to hold this Administration and those who benefit from tearing communities apart accountable.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the walls of Delaney Hall, today. What our tour made overwhelmingly clear is that Jean Wilson Brutus\u2019 death is a symptom of a larger culture of inhumanity that is inherent to for-profit detention centers like Delaney Hall. Nearly a thousand of our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our loved ones are confined to this facility indefinitely, where they are treated every day as though they are less than human. Across the nation, many thousands more are facing the exact same circumstances,\u201d said Rep. Clarke. \u201cBeing undocumented should not be a life sentence, and under no circumstance should it be a death sentence. Tragically, every passing week under this administration\u2019s control creates more victims like Jean Wilson Brutus. That sin will stain America for all time, and all those who are responsible for it must and will be held accountable.\u201d\n\nThis year has already been the deadliest in decades for people in ICE custody. In September, McIver wrote DHS and GEO Group to specifically highlight the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall. She again reached out to DHS, demanding accountability after this most recent death.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-mciver-and-clarke-conduct-oversight-visit-at-delaney-hall", "Menendez, McIver, and Clarke Conduct Oversight Visit at Delaney Hall", "2025-12-23", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, NJ \u2013Today, Congressman Rob Menendez conducted an oversight visit at Delaney Hall, an ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) detention facility in Newark operated by GEO Group. He was joined by Reps. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) and Congressional Black Caucus Chair Rep. Yvette Clarke (NY-09) for the visit.\n\n\u201cWhat we saw inside Delaney Hall is the betrayal of the American Dream,\u201d said Congressman Menendez. \u201cThese are people who believe in the promise of this country and are being ripped from our communities and held there on the American taxpayer\u2019s dime. All while the GEO Group is making an enormous profit and providing substandard care. We will not let this stand and we will continue to work to hold this Administration and those who benefit from tearing communities apart accountable.\"\n\n\u201cI have a responsibility to serve the people and protect the people of the 10th Congressional District, and that is why I had to put aside my experience here and come back to represent them\u2013to see what is happening inside of Delaney Hall. These are the things we\u2019re hearing: people who have not had a court date in months, people who are waiting on loved ones who cannot visit them, and people who are not getting proper medical care. It is awful, and this detention center needs to be shut down. That's why we're here. We're going to continue to show up, continue to have oversight, and continue to do our jobs,\u201d said Congresswoman McIver. \u201cWhen we left, a detainee told us this is not the America that we dreamed of. They thought they would be able to come here and have a better life.\u201d\n\n\u201cNo human being deserves to suffer the conditions we witnessed behind the walls of Delaney Hall, today. What our tour made overwhelmingly clear is that Jean Wilson Brutus\u2019 death is a symptom of a larger culture of inhumanity that is inherent to for-profit detention centers like Delaney Hall. Nearly a thousand of our neighbors, our coworkers, our friends, and our loved ones are confined to this facility indefinitely, where they are treated every day as though they are less than human. Across the nation, many thousands more are facing the exact same circumstances,\u201d said Congresswoman Clarke. \u201cBeing undocumented should not be a life sentence, and under no circumstance should it be a death sentence. Tragically, every passing week under this administration\u2019s control creates more victims like Jean Wilson Brutus. That sin will stain America for all time, and all those who are responsible for it must and will be held accountable.\u201d\n\nLast week, Congressman Menendez learned of the death of a man who had been detained at Delaney Hall. This followed numerous reports of substandard conditions at the facility and a tripling of Delaney Hall\u2019s population in less than a year of operation. In June, Congressman Menendez and Senator Andy Kim met with ICE officials at Delaney Hall after several detained individuals escaped amidst widespread complaints of overcrowding, poor quality food, and other issues that continue to be reported on a regular basis. In May, Menendez, McIver, and Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) conducted a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. The visit, which should have been a routine oversight visit, led to the Trump administration bringing charges against McIver. McIver now faces up to 17 years in prison for doing her oversight work.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has been a leader in the House of Representatives on oversight of immigrant detention centers. He has worked to ban private immigrant detention centers and led his colleagues in fighting the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal restrictions on oversight of these facilities. Earlier this year, in response to reports that the Trump Administration was planning to?expand immigration detention in New Jersey, Menendez led bicameral members of the New Jersey congressional delegation in opposing this expansion and demanding transparency. Since being sworn into to Congress in 2023, he has repeatedly called for the closure of all immigrant detention centers in New Jersey and has conducted several unannounced visits of Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center. He has long advocated for the humane and dignified treatment of individuals in detention.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415204", "Construction of Empire Wind suspendedCiting national security concerns\u2014the critical issue Chris Smith has raised for years\u2014the Trump administration halts construction of offshore wind projects", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a longtime opponent of offshore wind industrialization, issued the attached statement following the Trump administration\u2019s announcement that the Depts. of the Interior and War have paused the leases for five major offshore wind farms\u2014including Empire Wind off the New Jersey and New York coasts\u2014due to national security concerns:\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum on May 7, 2025.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to President Donald Trump and Secretary Doug Burgum for their leadership in assessing ocean wind\u2019s threats to national security and radar interference. The safety and security of the American people should always be at the forefront of U.S. policy.\n\n\u201cAs I have argued from day one\u2014ocean wind projects pose significant, catastrophic impacts to radar, putting military and civilian aircrafts and vessels at grave risk.\n\n\u201cThis concern has been raised in a number of studies, including the April 2025 Offshore Wind Energy report released by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), an analysis I requested, along with many of my colleagues, and was also called for in my legislation passed by the House\u2014by a margin of 244 to 189\u2014nearly three years ago.\n\n\u201cAs early as 2023, I joined Fox News\u2019 Madison Alworth in Middletown, NJ to highlight the numerous national security and navigational risks associated with offshore wind industrialization.\n\nRep. Smith debates in favor of his FAA amendment on July 20, 2023.\n\n\u201cThat same year, the House passed my amendment requiring the President or his designee to certify that offshore wind projects \u2018will not weaken, degrade, interfere with, or nullify the capability of radar relied upon the Federal Aviation Administration or the Armed Forces.\u2019\n\n\u201cIt is particularly important that among the five offshore wind projects suspended by the Trump administration, Empire Wind is one of them\u2014a project I have vehemently opposed for years.\n\n\u201cEmpire Wind\u2019s close proximity to major international airports, including Newark Liberty, LaGuardia, and JFK, and critical military installations, such as Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and Naval Weapons Station Earle, make the project especially dangerous. It must be halted.\n\n\u201cProjects like Empire Wind have already threatened New Jersey\u2019s commercial and recreational fishing industries, as well as our tourism industry and the ocean environment, which is now recovering after years of pollution. And, these projects are extremely expensive, creating undue burdens on taxpayers\u2014which I discussed with Martha MacCallum in July of 2023.\n\n\u201cI look forward to working alongside the Trump administration in ensuring that these dangerous offshore wind projects are stopped.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415206", "Asbury Park Press article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'Is Lyme disease a military accident? New probe inspired by late Wall woman'", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Jerry Carino\n\nPublished December 22, 2025 at 5:05 AM\n\nAfter nearly a decade of trying, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., has gotten the green light for a federal investigation into whether the military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease as part of a Cold War experiment gone awry \u2014 furthering the spread and intensity of the illness, which has hit New Jerseyans particularly hard.\n\nSmith\u2019s Lyme disease amendment, attached to the $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 that was signed into law by President Donald Trump Dec. 18, directs the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office to produce a report on the matter.\n\nThe amendment flew under the media radar, but longtime Wall resident Rich Smith took notice. It\u2019s another chapter in the legacy of his late wife, Pat Smith, who was one of the nation\u2019s leading advocates for Lyme disease patients \u2014 in particular those who suffered from chronic or long-term Lyme. Pat Smith died in 2024 at age 78.\n\n\u201cI think she would think it\u2019s way past due and a very positive step in tracing the history of Lyme \u2014 one more step in the process of beating back this disease,\u201d Rich Smith told the Asbury Park Press.\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s smiling from above,\u201d Chris Smith said. \u201cShe\u2019s the pioneer.\u201d\n\nU.S. Rep. Chris Smith R-N.J., is shown with Pat Smith, Lyme Disease Association President, before a panel discussion about Lyme disease held at the Wall Township Municipal building Wednesday, May 29, 2019. Thomas P. Costello/Asbury Park Press\n\nThe challenge for Lyme patients\n\nIn the 1980s, Lyme disease afflicted two of Pat and Rich Smith\u2019s daughters, one of whom missed four years of school. Pat founded the nonprofit Lyme Disease Association and traveled the country to raise awareness.\n\n\u201cShe\u2019s the one who got me into Lyme,\u201d Chris Smith said. \u201cShe came to a town meeting in Wall in 1992 and said, \u2018What are you doing about Lyme disease?\u2019 I said \u2018Nothing.\u2019 We had lunch, and I\u2019ve been working on it ever since.\u201d\n\nLyme disease affects nearly 500,000 people a year in the U.S., and New Jersey has the second-most diagnosed cases after Pennsylvania, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). For many who are diagnosed promptly, the standard month-long course of antibiotics mitigates the illness. But detection is difficult and, for thousands of folks, the symptoms can continue for months or years. For these long-term sufferers, there has been little in the way of established treatment.\n\nTicks, usually found in brush-filled, grassy areas, can be hosts to diseases such as Lyme disease and anaplasmosis to people. Not all ticks are easily seen. This one is just a little larger than the letters on a penny. Graham Hickling/University of Tennessee\n\nPat Smith\u2019s partnership with Chris Smith on the issue led to several laws funding Lyme research, and Pat Smith became part of a 14-person congressional working group on changes to federal Lyme disease policy.\n\nOne thing that eluded them was probing the belief that Lyme\u2019s explosion in the latter decades of the 20th century had military origins. Two prior amendments to that effect by Chris Smith passed the House of Representatives but failed in the Senate in 2017 and 2019. The theory gained steam in 2019 with the publishing of the book \u201cBitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons\u201d by Stanford University-based science writer and chronic Lyme sufferer Kris Newby.\n\n\u201cWith this new GAO report, we will have both a public report and where necessary, one that is confidential and that hopefully will allow unfettered access to the files about what we (the U.S. Department of Defense) were doing,\u201d Chris Smith said. \u201cIf it\u2019s not an issue, the investigation will prove that and we\u2019ll turn the page.\u201d\n\n'Quite a testament'\n\nSpecifically, Chris Smith\u2019s amendment compels the Comptroller General of the United States to review research conducted by the military, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other federal agencies between the period of Jan. 1, 1945 and Dec. 31, 1972, regarding experiments involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales \u2014 two forms of tick-borne bacteria.\n\nThe idea behind the investigation, Chris Smith said, is that \u201can enhanced understanding of how Lyme came to be will only assist in finding a cure for this debilitating disease.\u201d\n\nRich Smith said the amendment\u2019s passage is \u201cquite a testament\u201d to his wife\u2019s legacy.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415211", "Patch article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'For The 2nd Time, Trump Pauses All Offshore Wind Farms, Including Empire Wind 19 Miles Off The Jersey Shore'", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Carly Baldwin\n\nPublished Monday, December 22, 2025 at 4:11 PM ET\n\nLONG BRANCH, NJ \u2014 For the second time this year, President Donald Trump's administration put a pause on all offshore wind farm development in the United States, and Empire Wind \u2014 currently being built 19 miles off Long Branch \u2014 is affected.\n\nOn Monday, U.S. Department of the Interior Secretary Doug Burgum announced here he is pausing the leases for all large-scale offshore wind projects under construction in the U.S. His decision temporarily shuts down existing wind farms that have been in operation for years, including Vineyard Wind off Martha's Vineyard and Sunrise Wind off Rhode Island. It also stops all work on wind farms in development, including Empire Wind, which started installing monopiles into the Atlantic Ocean floor and was 40 percent complete as of August.\n\nEmpire Wind is owned by Norwegian renewable energy company Equinor, the majority shareholder of which is the Kingdom of Norway.\n\nClean Ocean Action took these photos July 30 of Empire Wind being built off Long Branch. That's a monopile, at right, being pushed into the sea floor. (Clean Ocean Action)\n\nBurgum said he made his decision due to national security risks identified by the Department of War. Burgum cited reports from the Dept. of War that said the movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers can create radar interference called \u201cclutter.\u201d That radar interference can obscure legitimate moving targets and generates false targets near wind farms.\n\n\"This pause will give the Department, along with the Department of War and other relevant government agencies, time to work with leaseholders and state partners to assess the possibility of mitigating the national security risks posed by these projects,\" the Department of the Interior said Monday.\n\nThese are the five existing or planned wind farms off the United States affected by the new order:\n\nVineyard Wind 1 (OCS-A 0501) - off Marth's Vineyard, Massachusetts\n\nRevolution Wind (OCS-A 0486) - off Rhode Island and Connecticut\n\nCVOW \u2013 Commercial (OCS-A 0483) - off Virginia\n\nSunrise Wind (OCS-A 0487) - off Block Island, Rhode Island\n\nEmpire Wind 1 (OCS-A 0512) - off New Jersey\n\n\u201cWe are aware of the stop-work order announced by the Department of Interior involving five wind projects under offshore construction in the U.S. We are evaluating the order and seeking further information from the federal government,\" an Equinor spokesman said Monday.\n\nJersey Shore Congressman Chris Smith, a Republican who\u2019s opposed wind farms for years, said Monday:\n\n\"They will sue (referring to the wind companies), but it's done. This is the nail in the coffin. This is more than a pause. It's stopped. When you get into issues of national security, the courts will err on the side of national defense and the Department of Defense, or Department of War rather, as it's now called ... Offshore wind farms disrupt radar; the military has been saying this for years. You really could have planes flying into planes.\"\n\nOn his first day back in office in January, President Trump issued an executive order that put a pause on all U.S. wind farm development. However, Trump's order could not legally apply to existing wind farm leases that received permits from the Biden administration. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul intervened (Empire Wind is meant to supply wind power only to New York state, not New Jersey), and in May, the federal government lifted its stop-work order. Empire Wind was allowed to resume building off Long Branch.\n\nEmpire Wind is the only wind farm off New Jersey to actually begin construction; by mid August they were in the process of installing 54 monopiles into the ocean floor. Here are photos of Empire Wind being built off Long Branch.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415213", "New York Post article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Trump admin scraps 5 offshore wind farms \u2014 including New York projects \u2014 citing \"national security risks\"'", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Josh Christenson\n\nPublished December 22, 2025\n\nWASHINGTON \u2014 The US Interior Department announced Monday that it was immediately pausing leases for five offshore wind farms \u2014 including two in New York \u2014 \u201cdue to national security risks identified by the Department of War in recently completed classified reports.\u201d\n\nThe renewable energy projects included the Massachusetts and Rhode Island-headquartered Vineyard Wind 1 and Revolution Wind, a commercial wind farm in Virginia and New York\u2019s Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind \u2014 several of which had gotten either funding or regulatory boosts from the Biden administration.\n\nUnclassified reports have previously cited radar interference, also known as \u201cclutter,\u201d prompting false alarms due to \u201cthe movement of massive turbine blades and the highly reflective towers\u201d of the wind farms,\u201d the Interior Department noted in a press release.\n\nThe projects were scrapped due to unspecified national security risks. Empire Wind / Vestas Wind Systems A/S\n\nTrump speaks before delivering remarks at Mount Airy Casino Resort in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania on Dec. 9, 2025.AFP via Getty Images\n\nIn some cases, radar would also \u201cmiss actual targets.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe prime duty of the United States government is to protect the American people,\u201d Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers,\u201d he added.\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.\u201d\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), whose brothers are both pilots, told The Post Monday that has been advocating against the offshore wind farms for years based on their potential to disrupt both aircraft and ships\u2019 radar \u2014 for both civilians and military service members.\n\n\u201cCamp Evans is located in my district, and that\u2019s where the radars were created for World War II,\u201d he explained, \u201cand we knew before the [Mitsubishi A6M] Zeros hit Pearl Harbor about 40 plus minutes before, that they were coming because of the radars they deployed there, and they really made a difference.\u201d\n\n\u201cThis is something that Xi Jinping just loves. Iranians just love, and Putin just loves because we\u2019re blinding ourselves willfully \u2014 for what?\u201d\n\nTrump speaks at the White House on Dec. 17, 2025. AP\n\nThose concerns were confirmed in an April 2025 Government Accountability Office report that found the turbines \u2014 some as large as the Chrysler building \u2014 \u201ccan reduce the performance of radar systems used for defense and maritime navigation and safety in several ways.\u201d\n\n\u201cThese include reducing detection sensitivity, obscuring potential targets, and generating false targets, according to a DOE report,\u201d GAO stated. \u201cIn addition, offshore wind energy development may affect larger military exercises by obstructing flight and surface and subsurface vessel movement, according to DOD officials.\u201d\n\nSmith also noted potential hindrances to roughly 1,000 US Coast Guard rescues annually \u2014 or the ability to intercept foreign drones, some lawmakers and experts speculated, that vexed the Biden administration in December 2024.\n\nHuge disruptions could also result like what air passengers saw earlier this year when a frayed piece of copper wiring caused a radar outage at Newark airport, forcing delays and cancellations of flights, he added.\n\nThe Biden administration\u2019s response, Smith claimed, was instead: \u201cBuild it and who gives a damn about national security and, you know, security of the people when they\u2019re flying out of Newark or you name the place.\u201d\n\nRoughly a third of all construction costs for the wind farms has been borne by US taxpayers, according to Smith.\n\nBut that doesn\u2019t begin to include the costs of clean-up efforts when a powerful hurricane hits the wind farms.\n\nBurgum informed the congressman that there\u2019s concerns about the football field-size propellers being decommissioned for scrap metal within just 13 or 14 years \u2014 despite the wind projects touting environmental benefits, Smith noted.\n\nPresident Trump pledged to block all new wind and solar projects from receiving federal funding in August, calling the renewable energy sources the \u201cSCAM OF THE CENTURY!\u201c\n\nConstruction on Revolution Wind was halted the following month, only to be reinstated by a federal judge.\n\nBoth it and Empire Wind had been contracted for six-figure contracts by the Interior Department under former President Joe Biden, according to a review of federal spending records.\n\nSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer speaks to reporters on Dec. 16, 2025. AP\n\nMore than half-a-million dollars was also shoveled out the door by Biden\u2019s administration via a grant to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in December 2024, which in part funded \u201cemissions target setting, emissions strategy development and community stakeholder collaboration\u201d for Vineyard Wind.\n\nThat funding all stemmed from the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, Biden\u2019s marquee legislation focused on climate and renewable energy alternatives.\n\nThe so-called green subsidies could top $1 trillion over the next decade.\n\nRhode Island approved Sunrise Wind just weeks after the Biden administration gave final approval to the 65-turbine Revolution Wind project in August 2023.\n\nBoth were joint enterprises between the Danish wind gian Orsted and a New England utility firm.\n\nSenate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) fumed over the Trump administration\u2019s latest moves.\n\n\u201cTrump\u2019s obsession with killing offshore wind projects is unhinged, irrational, and unjustified,\u201d Schumer said in a statement. \u201cAt a time of soaring energy costs, this latest decision from DOI is a backwards step that will drive energy bills even higher.\n\n\u201cIt will kill good union jobs, spike energy costs, and put our grid at risk; and it makes absolutely no business sense. Many of us have been fighting Trump\u2019s war against offshore wind \u2014 a war on American jobs and American energy \u2014 and we will keep fighting to make sure these projects and the thousands of jobs they create and the energy they provide can continue.\u201d\n\nNew York Gov. Kathy Hochul and Big Apple lame-duck mayor Eric Adams also slammed the decision, touting how the projects could have helped power 1 million homes.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415215", "Save Jersey article on Trump administration's halting of offshore wind projects'Citing national security concerns, Trump pauses all U.S. offshore wind construction'", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Matt Rooney\n\nPublished December 22, 2025\n\nThis has been a long time in coming, Save Jerseyans.\n\nThe negative impact of offshore wind development on tourism and marine life is well established. Back in early 2023, I wrote about the building body of evidence suggesting that giant, radar-confusing turbines off of the East Coast also posed a threat to navigation and national security.\n\n\u201cAlthough the base of the tower is stationary, the nominal area of the turbine to the radar is dynamic since the machine is constantly tracking the wind,\u201d explained Wind Systems Magazine way back in 2010. \u201cWind turbines are made of highly reflective materials\u2014steel, fiberglass, and carbon fiber composite\u2014and can scatter and return a significant amount of the energy. The turbine tower is the most reflective component, but since it is constantly stationary the rotor is the largest problem to the radar. In most cases the signature can be quite large and can affect the radars/operator\u2019s ability to differentiate the wind farm from flying aircraft and weather storms. The Doppler effect is due to the moving rotor and can affect the moving target indicator of a radar.\u201d\n\n\u201cAnyone who has been paying close attention to the shoddy and reckless approval process for these offshore wind projects will not be fooled by this after-the-fact proposal\u2014which is far too little and far too late,\u201d added Congressman Chris Smith (R, NJ-04) in October 2024. \u201cFor years, we have been pointing out the lack of serious scrutiny and proper vetting for these projects\u2014especially and including the likely dire impacts on national security and military readiness\u2014but the Biden-Harris Administration has ignored our concerns,\u201d Smith added. \u201cIn fact, the implementation of this agreement so late in the process begs the question of what national security threats have been downplayed or neglected by BOEM over the past few years during its reckless, fast-track approval process.\u201d\n\nOn Monday, the Trump Administration relied upon the clear threat to our homeland to issue a general pause on all active offshore wind projects.\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s action addresses emerging national security risks, including the rapid evolution of the relevant adversary technologies, and the vulnerabilities created by large-scale offshore wind projects with proximity near our east coast population centers,\u201d said Doug Burgum, the Secretary of the Interior. \u201cThe Trump administration will always prioritize the security of the American people.\u201d\n\nThis new executive action impacts Empire Wind which would be visible from many of New Jersey\u2019s iconic beach communities. Two weeks ago, Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts struck down the President\u2019s original January 20, 2025 order halting the issuance of new offshore wind leases.\n\nBurgum joined Fox News on Monday to explain the Administration\u2019s latest effort to protect the coastline.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-co-leads-127-members-of-congress-in-urging-dhs-to-withdraw-public-charge-proposal", "Menendez Co-Leads 127 Members of Congress in Urging DHS to Withdraw Public Charge Proposal", "2025-12-22", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Vice Chair of Policy for Congressional Hispanic Caucus Highlights Harms to Immigrant Communities and Citizens\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Vice Chair of Policy Congressman Rob Menendez today co-led 127 Members of Congress, including 17 Senators and 110 Members of the House, in urging the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to withdraw its proposed public charge rule, warning it would harm U.S. citizen children, immigrant communities, and public health systems nationwide.\n\n\u201cThe Trump Administration\u2019s proposed public charge rule is a clear effort to harm immigrant communities and make families afraid to access the services they need,\u201d said Congressman Menendez. \u201cThis egregious proposed rule would not only hurt immigrants, but in many cases would restrict access to food, healthcare, childcare, education, and other essential resources for U.S. citizen children. My colleagues in the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and House Democratic Caucus across the board will fight against this cruel and unwarranted effort to target families who have done nothing wrong.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe proposed public charge rule will lead to mass uncertainty, disparate and arbitrary outcomes for individuals applying for permanent status or admission into our country, and undue harm to U.S. citizens,\u201d wrote the members, led by Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chair Adriano Espaillat, CHC Vice Chair of Policy Menendez, CAPAC Chair Grace Meng, Democratic Women\u2019s Caucus Chair Teresa Leger Fern\u00e1ndez, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette Clarke, in the House, and Sens. Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, and Alex Padilla in the Senate.\n\nThe Trump administration's proposal would rescind the clear 2022 public charge regulations and replace them with vague, undefined standards, leading to arbitrary decision-making, fear, and widespread confusion. Past public charge expansions have driven families, including those with U.S. citizen children, away from lawful access to health care, nutrition, and early childhood programs.\n\n\u201cThe chilling effects triggered by expansions of public charge interpretation are well-documented and severe. Research following [past public charge restrictions] showed that confusion about eligibility led large numbers of eligible immigrant families \u2014 including U.S. citizen children \u2014 to forego health insurance, nutrition supports, and early childhood programs vital to healthy development,\u201d wrote the lawmakers.\n\nThe letter argues the proposal contradicts congressional intent, undermines the rule of law, and risks triggering a massive chilling effect that would worsen child health outcomes, increase food insecurity, and shift costs to states and local governments.\n\nMembers urge DHS to withdraw the proposal in full and maintain the 2022 regulations, which provide clarity, fairness, and consistency for families and adjudicators alike.\n\nCongressman Menendez currently serves as Vice Chair of Policy for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and has been an outspoken leader on pushing back against President Trump and his Administration\u2019s extreme immigration policies. He has led his Congressional colleagues in oversight efforts and advocated against policies that hurt immigrant communities.\n\nYou can read the full letter here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-demands-accountability-following-death-at-delaney-hall", "Rep. Watson Coleman Demands Accountability Following Death at Delaney Hall", "2025-12-20", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following news that an ICE detainee died following a brief detention at Delaney Hall in Newark, NJ. In May, Rep. Watson Coleman, along with Reps. Rob Menendez, Jr. and LaMonica McIver reported on substandard conditions following a tour of the facility. In June, four detainees escaped Delaney Hall by breaking through an aluminum exterior wall.\n\n\u201cReports of negligence and abuse have emerged from ICE facilities around the country and are indicative of the Trump Administration\u2019s complete disregard for basic standards of health and safety of detainees. This has been on display at Delaney Hall since it opened this past Spring.\n\n\u201cThe warnings made by myself, my congressional colleagues, the Mayor, and others have been met by DHS with dismissal and frivolous legal action. Consequences of the administration\u2019s belligerent enforcement and utter disregard for the health or legal rights of detainees continue to mount.\n\n\u201cThis incident should be thoroughly investigated and Delaney Hall should immediately be closed. I encourage my Congressional colleagues from both parties to actively engage their Constitutional duty of oversight at facilities around the country.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415201", "Jimmy Lai\u2019s son, Sebastien, testified at CECC hearingRep. Smith on the shameful conviction of Hong Kong businessman and democracy/free speech champion, Jimmy Lai", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued the below statement following a Hong Kong court\u2019s unjust conviction of Jimmy Lai\u2014the founder of newspaper Apple Daily and an outspoken advocate for democracy and free speech\u2014on fraudulent, politically motivated national security and sedition charges:\n\n\u201cJimmy Lai\u2019s \u2018guilty\u2019 verdict by a Hong Kong court\u2014clearly orchestrated by the Chinese Communist Party\u2014is an affront to justice everywhere. Promoting democratic ideals and free speech is not, and should not be, a crime.\n\n\u201cIn addition to Jimmy\u2019s leadership as an advocate for democracy and free speech, he is a model of Christian conscience and a hero of the Catholic Faith. Though an evil regime seeks to crush him, his witness to Truth\u2014and to Jesus as the Truth\u2014will outlive and outshine his oppressors.\n\n\u201cRight now, Jimmy has been deprived of medical care, and his health is declining due to harsh prison conditions. We call upon Hong Kong authorities to release Jimmy on simple humanitarian grounds, as a humane gesture to him and his family.\u201d\n\nAt a Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing chaired by Smith in 2023, entitled \u201cOne City, Two Legal Systems: Political Prisoners and the Erosion of the Rule of Law in Hong Kong,\u201d Jimmy\u2019s son, Sebastien, gave compelling testimony about how his father has been vilified and targeted by the CCP and Hong Kong authorities:\n\n\u201cMy father has never advocated for violence. He is a man of peace. His only so-called \u2018crime\u2019 is to disagree and condemn the actions of the CCP and the Hong Kong authorities that seek to silence critical voices. For that, he faces the rest of his life in prison.\n\n\u201cMy father is a victim of an autocratic State which will not tolerate dissent or criticism. It is clear that there is no longer \u2018One Country, Two Systems\u2019 but that Beijing is now controlling Hong Kong. The [National Security Law] spells that out. His treatment is grossly unfair.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415202", "Smith authored the laws that created the position and elevated it to AmbassadorSmith commends Senate confirmation of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun as U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, today welcomed the U.S. Senate\u2019s confirmation of Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.\n\n\u201cI am glad to see that the U.S. Senate has finally confirmed Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, who I am confident will be an extraordinarily effective and formidable force in the global fight against antisemitism,\u201d said Smith, who, in 2004, wrote the amendment (PL 108-332) that created the State Department\u2019s Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.\n\nIn 2020, Smith authored the law\u2014the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act\u2014to elevate the Office of the Special Envoy to the high-level position of ambassador (PL 116-326).\n\n\u201cWhen I first authored the legislative provisions to create the position back in 2004, Rabbi Kaploun was exactly the type of leader I had in mind: incredibly strong, remarkably productive, and wholly committed to countering the escalating threats and acts of violence against Jews,\u201d continued Smith.\n\n\u201cAs acts of antisemitic violence and hate continue to rise\u2014including the horrific December 14th terrorist attack on the Jewish community in Australia\u2014President Trump\u2019s nomination of Rabbi Kaploun sends a strong message to the international community: the United States will never tolerate, excuse, or accept antisemitism within its borders\u2014and anywhere else in the world,\u201d stated Smith, who has chaired 18 congressional hearings on global antisemitism.\n\n\u201cI am grateful to President Trump for nominating such an impressive and accomplished candidate to serve as the Special Envoy, and I wish Rabbi Kaploun every success in his new position.\n\n\u201cI look forward to working alongside Rabbi Kaploun and his Office of the Special Envoy to eradicate the spiritual cancer of antisemitism that metastasizes around the world,\u201d concluded Smith.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415208", "Utility Dive article on Harris-Smith-Van Drew SPEED Act amendment'House passes permitting reform bill with anti-offshore wind amendment'", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Diana DiGangi\n\nPublished December 19, 2025\n\nThe U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday passed permitting reform legislation, the SPEED Act, with an amendment that prevents the bill from applying to offshore wind projects.\n\nThe SPEED Act would amend the National Environmental Policy Act to ease and speed the permitting of energy projects. It introduces new deadlines for opposition to projects \u2013 opponents would have to make a claim against a project no later than 150 days after final agency action is made public, for instance.\n\nIt also mandates that \u201cnot later than 30 days after completing an environmental impact statement or an environmental assessment for the proposed agency action, the lead agency, and any cooperating agency, shall issue a final agency action.\u201d\n\nGetty Images\n\nThe offshore wind carveout applies to \u201cthe issuance, modification, approval, or administration of any lease, easement, right-of-way, site assessment plan, construction and operations plan, or any other authorization for an offshore wind energy project,\u201d the amendment says.\n\nThe amendment was proposed by two New Jersey representatives, Reps. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., along with Maryland\u2019s lone Republican representative, Rep. Andy Harris, R-Md.\n\nSmith said in a Thursday release that the amendment was \u201cabsolutely critical for preserving the Trump administration\u2019s ability to continue its much-need reviews of ocean wind projects off of the Atlantic Coast due to overwhelming safety and national defense concerns.\u201d\n\nHe said that the amendment was designed to avoid nullifying the Trump administration\u2019s actions against offshore wind, including a halt on offshore wind permitting which a federal judge struck down as illegal in a Dec. 8 ruling.\n\nIn his own release, Harris said he \u201cwas engaged in deliberations with the House Natural Resources Committee for months to ensure the inclusion of this language, guided by a single principle: my constituents in Ocean City and communities across the Atlantic Coastline are not for sale.\u201d\n\nThe Oceantic Network said in a Thursday release that the group is \u201cdisappointed in the late inclusion of an amendment which is discriminatory toward renewable energy\u201d and urged the Senate to \u201crestore the heart of bipartisan permitting reform\u201d when it takes up the bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415209", "CatholicVote article on PLC statement on CMS Section 1303 guidance'Pro-life caucus praises CMS guidance barring states from redirecting unused abortion funds'", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Elise Winland\n\nPublished on December 19, 2025\n\nLawmakers in the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus welcomed new guidance from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) on Dec. 18 that clarifies that leftover abortion-related funds collected under Obamacare cannot be redirected to support state-level abortion programs.\n\nThe statement was released by the caucus\u2019 co-chairs: Republican Reps. Chris Smith of New Jersey, Andy Harris of Maryland, Bob Onder of Missouri, Michelle Fischbach of Minnesota, and Kat Cammack of Florida.\n\nThe CMS guidance, released Dec. 9, centers on Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), also known as Obamacare, which requires qualified health plans that cover elective abortions to collect a separate payment from enrollees for abortion-related services. The law mandates that those funds be kept segregated from federal subsidies.\n\nAccording to the caucus\u2019 statement, the new CMS guidance clarifies that any unused money from the segregated account must be returned to the health plan issuers at year\u2019s end, rather than being reallocated by states for broader abortion programs.\n\n\u201cWe applaud CMS\u2019s clear guidance that leftover money collected by qualified health plans (QHPs) to fund on-demand abortions, in compliance with Section 1303 of the PPACA, are returned to the QHP issuers,\u201d the lawmakers said. \u201cLeftover funds do not become available to states seeking to bankroll extreme abortion agendas.\u201d\n\nThe guidance addresses previous concerns that some state legislatures could seize unspent funds for state-run grant programs, effectively \u201cblurring the line between federal taxpayer dollars and individual contributions,\u201d according to the statement.\n\nThe caucus also credited CMS leadership under Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz for \u201cpreventing violations of Section 1303\u201d and reiterated their commitment to upholding the Hyde Amendment\u2019s longstanding prohibition on using federal taxpayer dollars for elective abortions.\n\nIn the statement, lawmakers argued that the PPACA conflicted with the Hyde Amendment by allowing plans that cover elective abortions to receive federal subsidies. They noted that while former President Barack Obama issued an executive order stating the law would comply with Hyde, it instead required health plans covering elective abortions to keep those funds completely separate from federal dollars.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/delaney-hall-detainee-dies-in-ice-custody-mciver-demands-accountability", "Delaney Hall Detainee Dies in ICE Custody, McIver Demands Accountability", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "NEWARK, NJ \u2013 A man detained at Delaney Hall in Newark, New Jersey, died last week in ICE custody, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) was informed this week. McIver and others have repeatedly called into question the conditions at Delaney Hall since its opening earlier this year. That legally protected oversight and scrutiny has caused the Trump administration to attempt to curtail oversight, going so far as to rewrite the guidelines to try to eliminate the ability of members of Congress to conduct unannounced inspections of ICE facilities. This year has already been the deadliest in decades for deaths in ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) custody.\n\nRep. McIver released the following statement:\n\n\u201cThe Trump administration has shown a complete disregard for human rights, human dignity, and human life. This tragedy is not an isolated incident, and we have seen neglect, abuse, and cruelty from this administration as they strip people of the rights this country affords everyone, including those in detention. This incident demands immediate answers,\u201dsaid Rep. McIver. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard about ICE detainees across the country being denied treatment and medication. I want to know exactly what happened, the circumstances of this individual\u2019s confinement and treatment, and what care he did or did not receive.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Constitution grants Congress oversight authority for a reason. Someone must be able to speak for the voiceless, go where others are not allowed, and uncover the abuses that we know take place in the dark. Delaney Hall must be closed immediately and a full, independent, investigation needs to take place. I will continue to demand accountability and closely monitor the situation as we learn more,\u201d Rep. McIver concluded.\n\nMcIver fought the opening of Delaney Hall and has repeatedly called for increased scrutiny, timely oversight, and an end to the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall and across the country. Private and government run ICE facilities subjecting detainees to dangerous conditions has become the norm.\n\nIn May, McIver and Reps. Bonnie Watson Coleman and Rob Menendez conducted a legally protected inspection of Delaney Hall. The visit, which should have been a routine oversight visit, led to the Trump administration bringing charges against McIver. She now faces up to 17 years in prison for doing her oversight work.\n\nMcIver, who sits on the House Committee on Homeland Security, has worked with colleagues to demand answers from Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and held Noem accountable in a hearing this month for DHS\u2019s (Department of Homeland Security) efforts to block oversight. McIver has worked with other members of Congress to focus on detainees' lack of access to menstrual products, mistreatment of individuals with disabilities, and failure to allow visitation; and in September, McIver wrote DHS and GEO Group to specifically highlight the inhumane conditions at Delaney Hall. They have failed to heed the Congresswoman's call for safety and security for detainees.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-condemns-conditions-at-delaney-hall-following-death-of-individual-in-ice-custody", "Menendez Condemns Conditions at Delaney Hall Following Death of Individual in ICE Custody", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressman Rob Menendez released the following statement after Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced the death of an individual detained at the Delaney Hall immigration detention facility operated by GEO Group:\n\n\u201cThe reported death of an individual who had been detained at Delaney Hall is deeply disturbing and follows months of serious concerns raised by myself, my fellow New Jersey delegation members, and many groups that have warned of the terrible conditions at this private immigration detention facility. The Trump Administration and ICE have completely disregarded safety, basic human rights, and common decency at detention centers across the country.\n\n\u201cThis Administration has attempted to impede the lawful oversight authority of myself and other Members of Congress in inspecting conditions at Delaney Hall and other detention centers, and incidents like this are exactly why. I am further disturbed by reports that there were delays in transporting this individual to University Hospital when minutes are able to make the difference between life and death in medical emergencies. While the Trump Administration will never hold itself accountable, my colleagues and I will continue to work to shut down Delaney Hall and private detention centers to prevent further avoidable tragedies.\u201d\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has been a leader in the House of Representatives on oversight of immigrant detention centers, and earlier this year present at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) in an incident that resulted in national attention to the issue. Congressman Menendez has worked to ban private immigrant detention centers and fought the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal restrictions on oversight of detention centers. He has also conducted several unannounced visits of detention centers including Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center and has long advocated for the humane and dignified treatment of individuals in detention.\n\nCongressman Menendez has proudly represented New Jersey\u2019s Eighth Congressional District since 2023. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is Vice Chair of Policy for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-bilirakis-min-schakowsky-sherman-amo-valadao-and-smith-introduce", "Pallone, Bilirakis, Min, Schakowsky, Sherman, Amo, Valadao and Smith Introduce Armenia Partnership Security Act", "2025-12-19", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2014 Earlier today, Congressman Gus M. Bilirakis (FL-12) and Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), along with Representatives Dave Min (CA-47), Jan Schakowsky (IL-09), Brad Sherman (CA-32), Gabe Amo (RI-01), David Valadao (CA-22), and Chris Smith (NJ-04) introduced the Armenia Security Partnership Act. This bipartisan legislation is designed to strengthen U.S. policy toward Armenia while holding the Government of Azerbaijan accountable for continued aggression and human rights abuses. It requires the President of the United States to certify to Congress that Azerbaijan has taken meaningful steps to:\n\nCompletely withdraw all military forces from the sovereign territory of Armenia;\n\nUnconditionally release all Armenian prisoners;\n\nCease engaging in hostilities toward Armenia; and\n\nRecognize the right of return for ethnic Armenians to their homes in Nagorno-Karabakh and commit to the preservation of Armenian cultural and religious sites in the region.\n\nIf the President is unable to make such a certification, the bill would:\n\nRequire a comprehensive review of U.S. security assistance to Armenia to identify gaps in Armenia\u2019s long-term defense needs and assess the threat posed by Azerbaijan; and\n\nProhibit the reauthorization of the waiver of Section 907 of the FREEDOM Support Act, thereby enforcing existing statutory prohibitions on U.S. assistance to Azerbaijan.\n\n\u201cArmenia is a key partner in a volatile region and deserves meaningful support as it faces continued threats to its sovereignty and security,\u201d said Congressman Bilirakis. \u201cThis legislation sends a clear message that the United States will not turn a blind eye to aggression, human rights abuses, or the forced displacement of ethnic Armenians. Accountability must be at the center of our foreign policy.\u201d\n\nCongressman Pallone added, \u201cFor far too long, Azerbaijan has been allowed to act with impunity to destabilize the South Caucasus, commit horrific human rights abuses, and threaten the Armenian people. Our bill is a great step in the right direction to finally hold the Aliyev regime accountable for ongoing crimes against humanity and threats to lasting peace in the region. I look forward to working with Congressman Bilirakis and the rest of my colleagues to pass it into law.\u201d\n\n\u201cA durable peace in the South Caucasus must be built on respect for sovereignty, human rights, and international law, not force or coercion,\u201d said Congressman Brad Sherman, Democratic Vice Chair of the Congressional Armenia Caucus. \u201cAzerbaijan\u2019s continued aggression against Armenia, the detention of Armenian prisoners, and the destruction of Armenian cultural and religious sites demands a serious response. This bipartisan legislation makes clear that the United States will not reward violations of international law and that Armenia deserves a reliable partner as it works to secure its borders and pursue a just and lasting peace.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs co-chair of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, I\u2019m proud to join my colleagues in introducing the Armenia Security Partnership Act,\u201d said Congressman Valadao. \u201cAzerbaijan\u2019s aggression in the South Caucasus has gone on for far too long, and this bipartisan bill takes meaningful steps to hold them accountable for ongoing human rights abuses and hostilities against the sovereign territory of Armenia.\u201d\n\nThe Members of the Congressional Armenian Caucus, have long worked to promote policies that uphold international law, protect vulnerable populations, and support regional stability.\n\n\u201cWe thank Congressman Bilirakis for proactively introducing this important, bipartisan, legislation. Azerbaijan\u2019s continuing aggression toward Armenia and its reluctance to fully embrace the August 8 Joint Declaration must stop if a just and durable peace is to be achieved,\u201d said Timothy Jemal, President of Global ARM. \u201cWe are hopeful this bill will receive broad, bipartisan support, and that Congress will actively consider and pass this legislation to strategically bolster peace negotiations and support U.S. interests in the South Caucasus.\u201d\n\n\"The ARMENIA Security Partnership Act represents a common-sense approach to both checking Azerbaijani aggression and strengthening America's partnership with Armenia,\" said ANCA Executive Director Aram Hamparian. \"This bipartisan legislation grounds U.S. policy in concrete benchmarks for peace \u2013 the release of Armenian prisoners, the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied Armenian land, and the protection of Armenian cultural heritage. We need to stop incentivizing continued Azerbaijani hostility, by normalizing its genocide of Artsakh and ongoing violations of international law, and start holding its Aliyev regime accountable for its crimes.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415198", "Congressional Pro-Life Caucus statement on CMS Section 1303 guidance", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, the Co-Chairs of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus\u2014Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Andy Harris (R-MD), Bob Onder (R-MO), Michelle Fischbach (R-MN), and Kat Cammack (R-FL)\u2014issued the following statement after the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) releasedguidance on the use of segregated funds, obtained in accordance with Section 1303 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA):\n\n\u201cWe applaud CMS\u2019s clear guidance that leftover money collected by qualified health plans (QHPs) to fund on-demand abortions, in compliance with Section 1303 of the PPACA, are returned to the QHP issuers. Leftover funds do not become available to states seeking to bankroll extreme abortion agendas.\n\n\u201cThe CMS guidance clarifies that no funds reallocated from Section 1303 separate accounts at the end of the year may be used to pay for elective abortion.\n\n\u201cPreviously, it was suggested that state legislatures could seize unspent Section 1303 funds and use the money for state-run grant programs, blurring the line between federal taxpayer dollars and individual contributions.\n\n\u201cWe are thankful for CMS\u2019s steadfast leadership, under Dr. Mehmet Oz, in preventing violations of Section 1303.\n\n\u201cThe Pro-Life Caucus remains committed to preventing taxpayer dollars from being used for elective abortions and protecting Hyde\u2019s longstanding, lifesaving legacy.\u201d\n\nThe Hyde Amendment, which has passed annually with bipartisan support for nearly 50 years, protects federal taxpayer dollars from paying for elective abortion or health plans that cover elective abortion.\n\nThe PPACA violated the Hyde Amendment by expressly allowing funding for plans that covered elective abortion.\n\nAlthough President Obama issued an executive order claiming that the PPACA would comply with the Hyde Amendment, it instead required health plans that chose to cover elective abortion to keep elective abortion funding completely separate from federal dollars. These plans must collect abortion-related funds in a separate account that is paid for only with non-federal funds. This requirement does not change the fact that federal taxpayer dollars are paying for ACA plans covering abortion in violation of the Hyde Amendment.\n\nFurthermore, in practice, even this small provision has been undermined. Instead of truly separating abortion funding from federal subsidies, plans do not issue a separate payment for the $1 abortion fee to be placed in a separate account.\n\nEven more concerning, some states are now attempting to repurpose these leftover funds to expand access to elective abortions, including paying for travel and other abortion-related assistance.\n\nRecent guidance from the Trump Administration reaffirmed the original intent of Section 1303. It makes clear that these separate accounts cannot be used as abortion-agenda slush funds, and that any leftover funds must be returned to the health plans at the end of the plan year, preventing states from stockpiling funds to advance an abortion agenda.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415200", "House adopts key amendment to preserve Trump administration review of offshore wind projects as part of SPEED Act", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "During debate on HR 4776, the SPEED Act, the U.S. House of Representatives adopted Amendment #4, offered by Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) and cosponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), which is absolutely critical for preserving the Trump administration\u2019s ability to continue its much-need reviews of ocean wind projects off of the Atlantic Coast due to overwhelming safety and national defense concerns.\n\nThe amendment was drafted following a December 5th letter to President Trump, led by Smith and cosigned by Harris and Van Drew, which raised concerns over the legislation\u2019s potential to undermine the Trump administration\u2019s ability to review offshore wind industrialization, should the bill be enacted.\n\nWith the adoption of the Harris/Smith/Van Drew amendment, the provisions of the SPEED Act will no longer nullify the administrative actions undertaken by the Trump administration prior to the bill\u2019s enactment.\n\nThis amendment preserves vital tools for President Trump to deliver on his promise to end the ill-conceived ocean wind industrialization experiment off the New Jersey coast.\n\nThe SPEED Act and the critical Harris/Smith/Van Drew amendment passed the House on Thursday, December 18th and is now pending in the Senate.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases/conaway-durbin-tillis-maloy-introduce-legislation-strengthen-and-improve", "Conaway, Durbin, Tillis, Maloy Introduce Legislation to Strengthen and Improve Enforcement of Illegal Tobacco Products", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Herbert C. Conaway, Jr.", "C001136", "conaway.house.gov", "conaway", "https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ), Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), and Congresswoman Celeste Maloy (R-UT) introduced the bicameral and bipartisan Strengthening Task Force Operations to Prevent Illicit Vaping Act (S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act). This legislation would establish and strengthen a federal multi-agency task force to coordinate enforcement, information sharing, and strategy to combat the illegal importation, distribution, and sale of unauthorized e-cigarettes.\n\n\u201cThe rise of illegally imported and unregulated e-cigarettes is a growing threat to public health, legitimate businesses, and the integrity of our enforcement system,\u201d said Congressman Conaway. \u201cAs a physician, I understand the urgency of protecting Americans from illegal and dangerous tobacco products. The S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act strengthens federal task forces on the front lines, equipping them with the tools and coordination necessary to disrupt illegal vaping networks. This bill takes a responsible, enforcement-focused approach to safeguarding communities and ensuring a lawful, transparent marketplace.\u201d\n\n\u201cIf we hope to prevent the next generation of children from getting hooked on nicotine, we must enforce our existing laws and finally crack down on the illegal e-cigarette products that are flooding stores nationwide,\u201d said Senator Durbin. \u201cMy bipartisan legislation, the S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act, would cement DOJ and FDA\u2019s task force dedicated to preventing the unlawful sale of these unauthorized vape products.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe flood of illegal and unregulated e-cigarettes, particularly from China, undermines public health, skirts federal law, and disadvantages businesses that play by the rules,\u201d said Senator Tillis. \u201cThe S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act strengthens coordination among federal agencies to crack down on these illicit products, protect kids from unauthorized nicotine devices, and ensure our laws are enforced as Congress intended.\u201d\n\n\u201cThere are clear laws on the books governing tobacco and vaping products, but those laws only matter if they\u2019re enforced,\u201d said Congresswoman Celeste Maloy. \u201cThe S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act strengthens enforcement by improving coordination across agencies so illegal operators can\u2019t take advantage of gaps in the system.\u201d\n\nFor the S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act bill text click here.\n\nThe S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act is cosponsored by: Reps. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL).\n\nThe S.T.O.P. Illicit Vaping Act is endorsed by the following organizations: American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.\n\n\u201cThe Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids strongly supports the legislation introduced by Rep. Conaway and Rep. Maloy to help ensure the federal government is taking comprehensive enforcement action against the many illegal e-cigarette products that are currently on the market. We commend their efforts to prevent illegal e-cigarettes from being imported, distributed and sold in the United States and to hold bad actors accountable for endangering the health of our kids,\u201d said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.\n\n\u201cAcross the U.S., more than 1.6 million middle and high school students vape, and nearly 90% use e-cigarettes flavored like fruit, dessert or mint. Unfortunately, many of the e-cigarettes youth use are being illegally sold in the U.S. Keeping these illegal, addictive and harmful products out of the hands of children requires strong coordination across federal agencies. We commend Representative Conaway\u2019s leadership in introducing legislation to codify the multi-agency taskforce responsible for combatting illicit e-cigarettes,\u201d said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.\n\n\u201cPediatricians too often see the health impacts of e-cigarette use on our patients, and we know that many of the addictive nicotine devices that end up in the hands of young people are being sold unlawfully. The STOP Illicit Vaping Act would take important strides toward removing unauthorized e-cigarette products from the market and keeping them away from children and teens. We look forward to seeing Congress move this bill forward,\u201d said Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.", 1, "2026-06-04T06:38:12Z", "2026-06-04T06:39:44Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-introduces-bill-to-rename-newark-penn-station-in-honor-of-congressman-donald-payne-jr", "McIver Introduces Bill to Rename Newark Penn Station in Honor of Congressman Donald Payne, Jr.", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, on what would have been his 67th birthday, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced a bill to rename Newark Penn Station for Donald M. Payne, Jr. Located at 1 Raymond Plaza West Newark, NJ, the station would be renamed the Donald M. Payne, Jr. Transit Center at Newark Penn Station to honor the late Donald Payne, Jr., a devoted public servant and transit champion, who dedicated 12 years to serving New Jersey\u2019s 10th Congressional District in the House of Representatives.\n\n\u201cI knew that I had a giant\u2019s shoes to fill when I was elected to serve New Jersey\u2019s 10th Congressional District, succeeding Congressman Payne. Donald Payne, Jr. was a towering leader in our community, championing New Jerseyans from all walks of life\u2014especially through his tireless advocacy for transportation infrastructure,\u201d said Rep. McIver. \u201cRenaming this beacon of transportation for our community is fitting. The Congressman was a trailblazer whose legacy has shaped my leadership and left an enduring imprint on the heart of the 10th District.\u201d\n\n\u201cDonald Payne, Jr. wasn't just a colleague, he was like family to me. I\u2019ll always cherish the 10 years I spent working with Don on issues important to us such as access to child care and fighting cancer. He was always fighting for Newark and the communities that needed him most. It's fitting that on his birthday we should remember him by introducing this bill to rename Newark Penn Station in his honor,\u201d said Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman.\n\n\u201cAs a Newark native, Congressman Don Payne understood how central Newark Penn Station is to daily life in the city. On his birthday, I\u2019m proud to support renaming the station in his honor, reflecting his years of service and his advocacy for transportation investments that helped connect Newark to the rest of the region and support the city\u2019s economy,\u201d said Rep. Frank Pallone.\n\nBorn on December 17th, 1958, Honorable Donald Milford Payne, Jr. graduated Hillside High School and attended college at Kean University in Union. After serving as Newark City Council President, he ran in the primary to succeed his father, and the first African American elected to New Jersey\u2019s Congressional delegation, Donald Milford Payne, Sr. Payne, Jr.\u2019s early career spent in transportation management proved invaluable when he was elected to Congress and appointed to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. He is remembered by the 10th District community as an advocate for affordable healthcare, transportation, voting rights, criminal justice reform, and much more.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-demands-state-health-commissioner-deny-application-close-long-branch", "Pallone Demands State Health Commissioner Deny Application to Close Long Branch Hospital", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONG BRANCH, N.J. \u2014 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today released the following statement following the final New Jersey State Health Planning Board meeting on the future of Monmouth Medical Center:\n\n\u201cAt this point, Commissioner Brown has all the information he needs to do the right thing and keep Monmouth Medical Center Hospital in Long Branch open. The State Health Planning Board has raised serious, unresolved concerns about access to care, transportation barriers, existing health disparities, and the strain this move would place on surrounding hospitals. If the Commissioner were to decide to close the Long Branch hospital after all of that has been put plainly on the record, it would be a conscious decision to ignore the facts, the data, and the voices of this community. Long Branch deserves real health care access, not more excuses.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have been crystal clear: the consequences of closing Monmouth Medical Center Hospital in Long Branch would be immediate and lasting. Patients would face longer travel times for emergency care, particularly seniors. The loss of a full-service hospital would push patients farther from trauma care, inpatient beds, and a comprehensive emergency department. This would delay treatment when minutes matter and increase the risk of worse health outcomes.\u201d\n\n\u201cOver time, the closure of the Long Branch Hospital would weaken the entire regional health care safety net. Nearby hospitals would be forced to absorb additional patients despite already operating near or at capacity, leading to longer wait times, fewer available beds, and increased pressure on emergency departments. Long Branch, a diverse, working-class community with well-documented health disparities, would bear the brunt of that strain, widening gaps in care and leaving residents with fewer options and less stability.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Commissioner should not let a low-income community become a hospital desert because RWJ Barnabas wants to capture a wealthier population in Tilton Falls.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-demands-restoration-79-million-new-jersey-schools", "Congresswoman Pou Demands Restoration of $7.9 Million to New Jersey Schools", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Nellie Pou", "P000621", "pou.house.gov", "pou", "https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ\u201309) is calling for the immediate restoration of nearly $8 million in New Jersey school funding abruptly cut by the Trump administration in an urgent new letter to U.S. Education Secretary Linda McMahon.\n\n\u201cI write to express grave concerns over the Department of Education\u2019s recent decision to terminate Paterson, New Jersey School District\u2019s Full-Service Community School grants. This unfounded decision will cause catastrophic harm to students and impede their ability to succeed both in and out of the classroom. I am demanding that the Department of Education reconsider this decision and reverse course before it is too late,\u201d writes Congresswoman Pou to Secretary McMahon.\n\nFull-Service Community School grants support a myriad of resources in New Jersey including social, health, nutrition, and mental health services, early childhood education programs, juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs, and educational programs to support the next generation of workers.\n\nThe cuts impact eight Passaic County schools in the Ninth District: Passaic MLK School No. 6, Passaic High School, Joseph A. Taub Middle School, Paterson International High School, Paterson Eastside High School, Paterson School No. 16, Paterson School No. 6, and Alonzo T. Moody Academy High School.\n\nIn total, $7.9 million in federal grants will be slashed from these schools ($2.8 million for 2026, $2.8 million for 2027, and $2.3 million for 2028). Nationwide, 18 Full-Service Community School grants are being eliminated by the Trump administration.\n\nThe text of Congresswoman Pou\u2019s letter to Secretary McMahon is below.\n\nDear Secretary McMahon:\n\nI write to express grave concerns over the Department of Education\u2019s recent decision to terminate Paterson, New Jersey School District\u2019s Full-Service Community School (\u201cFSCS\u201d) FY 2022 and FY 2023 grants. This unfounded decision will cause catastrophic harm to students and impede their ability to succeed in and out of the classroom. I am demanding that the Department of Education reconsider this decision and reverse course before it is too late.\n\nAs you know, the FSCS program was initially created in 2008 as a way to support and improve academic and wrap-around services for children and their families, particularly those living in high-poverty school districts and communities. These grants have helped provide vital programs and assistance that students would not otherwise receive, including social, health, nutrition, and mental health services, early childhood education programs, juvenile crime prevention and rehabilitation programs, as well as educational school-to-career pipeline programs ensuring our country has a strong next generation of workers.\n\nDespite the profound impact FSCS grants have had on students and their families, on December 15, the Education Department \u201cabruptly canceled tens of millions of dollars in grants just two weeks before their next round of funding was set to arrive.\u201d One of those recipients is located within my district: Paterson School District. The city of Paterson is one of the poorest in our entire state, with roughly 29% of its residents living below the poverty level\u2014nearly 16% higher than the national average. Moreover, roughly 41% of Paterson\u2019s children are impoverished and do not receive sufficient food on a regular basis. Historic underinvestment has resulted in roughly one-quarter of residents over age 25 never completing high school, while only one-eighth hold a bachelor\u2019s degree or higher. These statistics emphasize the need for resources and programs to change course and help students and their families have a chance to succeed.\n\nUnder its FSCS program, Paterson has taken an all-hands approach to change this situation for students and families. Through the FY 2022 and FY 2023 FSCS grants, Paterson has created and expanded programs across eight different schools to support the whole development and care of students: Passaic MLK School No. 6; Passaic High School; Joseph A. Taub Middle School; Paterson International High School; Paterson Eastside High School; Paterson School No. 16; Paterson School 6; and Alonzo T. Moody Academy High School. For example, Paterson established (1) a school-based health center that provides medical, mental, and behavioral health services and (2) a food distribution program at each school to provide consistent and nutritious food to supplement children in need. FSCS funds have also provided (1) resources for teen parents to prevent chronic absenteeism and possible drop-out of high school, (2) afterschool tutoring programs, (3) summer bridge programs for kindergarten and sixth and ninth grades to prepare incoming students for the new school experience, (4) programs for crime prevention and anti-bullying, (5) adult and basic skills and technology education and parenting workshops, (6) expanded Mindful Schools Professional Development programming and advanced course options for teachers. These programs are made available to individuals based on need. The consideration of any other factors would not only take away resources from those who are unable to access these services on their own, but minimize the entire intent of Congress in creating the FSCS program in the first place.\n\nThe Education Department\u2019s decision to strip nearly $8 million in FSCS funding from these schools not only endangers the academic success of our future generation but also poses enormous health and wellness risks given the range of services currently being offered to students in one of the poorest cities in our state.\n\nAs the representative serving New Jersey\u2019s Ninth Congressional District, I cannot and will not stand idly while my constituents\u2014and specifically, children\u2014risk losing access to food, health care, and vital academic programming that charts them on a course for a better future. Therefore, I demand that the Education Department immediately review and reverse this decision. In addition, I am making myself available to you, Secretary McMahon, to meet and discuss this issue.\n\nSincerely,\n\nNellie Pou\n\nMember of Congress\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-railway-safety-bill-cleared-house-panel", "Congresswoman Pou Railway Safety Bill Cleared by House Panel", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Nellie Pou", "P000621", "pou.house.gov", "pou", "https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ-09) today advanced her railway safety legislation through a key panel. A member of the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Pou authored the SAFE TRACKS Act (State Actions for Employing Transportation Risk Assessments and Crossing Knowledge Strategies), which aims to improve safety at rail crossings nationwide and help prevent suicides. After being approved unanimously by the full committee today, the bill now heads to the full House.\n\nThe bipartisan legislation is co-led by Congressman Mike Bost (R-IL-12).\n\n\u201cHigh risk railroad crossings remain a serious threat in communities in northern New Jersey and across our country,\u201d said Congresswoman Pou. \u201cWhile we have made progress, particularly through the landmark 2021 roads and bridges law, we must continue to pursue railway improvements. My SAFE TRACKS bill will require states, railroads and other stakeholders to work more closely together to reduce pedestrian deaths. These changes will save lives and I will work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get this measure enacted into law.\u201d\n\nFRA tracks safety data at the nation\u2019s more than 200,000 railroad crossings. 2016 FRA data shows that Midland Avenue\u2019s railroad crossing in Elmwood Park, New Jersey ranked the sixth most dangerous crossing in the United States, and the most dangerous on the East Coast.\n\nBetween 2021 and the present, two of New Jersey\u2019s ten deadliest rail crossings were in the Ninth District \u2013 located in the cities of Garfield and Paterson \u2013 where four incidents led to two deaths. During this period, FRA also reported that Bergen, Hudson, and Passaic Counties had 57 pedestrian or suicide incidents along rail lines \u2013 resulting in over 40 deaths and over 20 injuries.\n\nThe SAFE TRACKS Act would strengthen federal oversight of highway-rail grade crossing safety by building on existing federal regulations which require the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to review and approve State Action Plans that identify high-risk highway-rail grade crossings and deploy targeted safety fixes.\n\nThe SAFE TRACKS Act would reaffirm those requirements while compelling states to outline how they will work with railroads and other stakeholders to reduce pedestrian deaths and suicides along railroad tracks, in consultation with mental health and law enforcement agencies.\n\nThe bill would also direct the FRA to continue issuing updated reports on state progress every five years, ensuring that grade crossing safety initiatives and pedestrian risk reduction efforts remain ongoing, data-driven, and responsive to emerging safety challenges.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases/conaway-wasserman-schultz-introduce-legislation-track-tobacco-products", "Conaway, Wasserman Schultz Introduce Legislation to Track Tobacco Products", "2025-12-18", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Herbert C. Conaway, Jr.", "C001136", "conaway.house.gov", "conaway", "https://conaway.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressman Herb Conaway Jr., MD (D-NJ) and Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) introduced the tobacco Tracking, Reporting, and Accountability for Compliance in Enforcement Act (The Tobacco TRACE Act). This legislation would establish a national track-and-trace system requiring all tobacco products to carry unique, secure tracking codes by June of next year, improving accountability and enforcement across the supply chain.\n\n\u201cFor too long, gaps in our tobacco oversight system have allowed illicit products to slip through the cracks, undermining public health and law enforcement alike,\u201d said Congressman Conaway. \u201cThe Tobacco TRACE Act brings accountability into the 21st century by establishing a secure, national track-and-trace system for tobacco products. By requiring unique, tamper-resistant tracking codes by June 1, 2026, this legislation will strengthen enforcement across the entire supply chain, crack down on illegal tobacco trafficking, and ensure manufacturers and distributors are playing by the rules. This is a commonsense step to protect consumers, support compliance, and give regulators the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.\u201d\n\n\u201cOverly lax oversight of tobacco means illegal and harmful versions of this already-deadly product are more likely to end up on shelves, erode public health and needlessly increase medical system costs,\" said Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. \"By swiftly establishing a strong track-and-trace system, we will help get these bad-actor products off the market, ensure everyone plays by the rules, and ultimately, reduce tobacco use. Consumers need regulators to have all the tools they need to do this work. This bill does that.\u201d\n\nFor the Tobacco TRACE Act bill text click here.\n\nThe Tobacco TRACE Act is cosponsored by: Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC)\n\nThe Tobacco TRACE Act by the following organizations: American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Campaign forTobacco Free Kids, American Cancer Society, and the American Academy of Pediatrics.\n\n\u201cWith over 1.6 million middle and high schoolers in the U.S. reporting use of e-cigarettes \u2013 many of which are being sold unlawfully \u2013 it is critical that we have the tools necessary to protect young people from these harmful products. The Tobacco TRACE Act is one important way we can address the availability of these unauthorized products, helping prevent young people from obtaining them in the first place. Pediatricians call on Congress to support this vital measure,\u201d said Susan J. Kressly, MD, FAAP, President of the American Academy of Pediatrics.\n\n\u201cThe Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids strongly supports the legislation introduced by Rep. Conaway and Rep. Wasserman Schultz to require codes on the labels of tobacco products to help track the products throughout the supply chain. We commend their efforts to prevent illegal e-cigarettes and other tobacco products from being imported, distributed and sold in the United States and to hold bad actors accountable forendangering the health of our kids,\u201d said Yolonda C. Richardson, President and CEO of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids.", 1, "2026-06-27T21:44:12Z", "2026-06-27T22:31:39Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415195", "Lakewood Alerts article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'Congressman Smith Joins RFK Jr. for Lyme Disease Roundtable'", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Lakewood Alerts\n\nPublished December 17, 2025\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.), co-chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on Tuesday for a roundtable discussion focused on advancing diagnostics, treatment options, and long-term care for Lyme disease patients.\n\nThe discussion, convened by Kennedy at HHS, brought together senior federal officials, lawmakers, medical experts, and patients. Participants included Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-Va.), and specialists in Lyme and tick-borne diseases.\n\nSmith, who has authored multiple laws aimed at increasing federal investment in Lyme disease research, said the meeting addressed both current gaps and future opportunities in diagnosing and treating the illness.\n\n\u201cThis chronic, life-altering disease\u2014which continues to rise throughout the United States, including and especially in my home state of New Jersey\u2014deserves the federal government\u2019s undivided attention and assistance,\u201d Smith said.\n\nDuring the roundtable, Kennedy announced several initiatives intended to strengthen federal efforts on Lyme disease. Among them was the renewal of the $10 million LymeX Innovation Accelerator, a public-private partnership supported by the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation that focuses on developing improved diagnostic tools. Smith has previously advocated for federal funding to sustain the program.\n\nKennedy also said CMS will expand its Chronic Care Management program to include individuals with Lyme disease and related conditions. The move is intended to increase access to coordinated medical care and reduce financial barriers for patients with long-term or persistent symptoms.\n\n\u201cOne of the reasons we wanted to host this meeting is to announce to the world that the gaslighting of Lyme patients is over,\u201d Kennedy said. He added that HHS aims to ensure physicians nationwide are better equipped to recognize Lyme disease, test for it, and guide patients toward appropriate treatment.\n\nKennedy also referenced the personal impact Lyme disease has had on members of his family, underscoring the need for improved awareness and research.\n\nSmith said the discussion marked a turning point for patients who have long argued that Lyme disease has been underdiagnosed and undertreated.\n\n\u201cLyme patients have suffered in silence for far too long,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWith stronger diagnostic criteria and improved treatment options, we can work toward finally finding a cure for this invisible yet debilitating illness.\u201d\n\nThe roundtable follows recent congressional action related to Lyme disease research. Last week, the U.S. House passed an amendment authored by Smith as part of the fiscal year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The amendment directs the Comptroller General to review whether U.S. government agencies conducted research between 1945 and 1972 involving the use of ticks as potential vectors for biological warfare agents.\n\nThe review would examine experiments involving two types of tick-borne bacteria, Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales. The amendment is expected to be considered by the Senate later this week.\n\nSmith said the legislation was prompted in part by the high prevalence of Lyme disease in New Jersey and by research discussed in Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons by Kris Newby. The book includes accounts from the late Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, the scientist credited with identifying Lyme disease, who later described work involving ticks and pathogens during his time as a federal researcher.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-announces-2025-congressional-app-challenge-winners", "Kean Announces 2025 Congressional App Challenge Winners", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(December 17, 2025) LEBANON BOROUGH, NJ \u2014 Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey\u2019s Seventh Congressional District. The winning team, Maxwell Brohm of Califon and Zander Leon of Kinnelon, are students at the Morris County School of Technology. Their winning app, ChronoIQ, is designed to enhance students\u2019 time management skills, promoting greater efficiency while minimizing stress and academic pressure.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge (CAC) is a district-wide competition for middle and high school students that encourages coding and inspires student interest in computer science and other STEM fields. This year, the CAC received more than 4,600 applications nationwide and it has become the most prestigious competition in computer science for students, as well as the largest competition of its kind in the country.\n\n\u201cI am excited to announce Maxwell Brohm and Zander Leon as the winners of this year\u2019s Congressional App Challenge for New Jersey\u2019s 7th Congressional District,\u201d said Congressman Kean. \u201cToday\u2019s students are balancing demanding academic schedules alongside extracurricular activities and personal commitments, and ChronoIQ offers a smart, practical solution to help them manage their time more effectively. Maxwell and Zander's app reflects the remarkable talent, creativity, and problem-solving skills we have in NJ-07. I would also like to commend every student who participated in this year's competition and thank the judges for their time and dedication.\u201d\n\nReflecting on what inspired their app, Brohm and Leon said, \u201cOur inspiration for ChronoIQ came from our own struggles with time management. We both have struggled with procrastination, which causes a lot of stress during school and at home. Staying up late to finish assignments has even affected our health. That\u2019s why we created ChronoIQ, to help students stay organized, lower stress, and live healthier lives.\u201d\n\nAs winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge, the students are eligible for the following recognitions:\n\nTheir winning app featured in the U.S. Capitol Building\n\nDisplay of their app on House.gov, which receives more than 10 million visitors annually\n\nInvitation to attend the #HouseOfCode celebration in Spring 2026\n\nWaived copyright registration application fees through the ARTS Act\n\nAll submissions for this year\u2019s Congressional App Challenge were judged by Mr. Vincent Panico, Mrs. Samantha Billig, and Mr. David Angradi. A former computer science professor at Raritan Valley Community College, Mr. Panico uses his tech background as a sales leader in the enterprise technology world and as Deputy Mayor of his hometown of Readington. Mrs. Billig, named in 2016 as the Hunterdon County Teacher of the Year, has been a Business Education Teacher at Hunterdon Central in Flemington for 18 years, where she teaches Entrepreneurship 1 and 2, as well as Digital Multimedia Design. A graduate of Rutgers University, Mr. Angradi leverages his more than 20 years of experience helping customers with their Digital Transformation initiatives as Field CTO with Presidio.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/icymi-pallone-and-menendez-say-kean-and-van-drew-betrayed-nj-by-not-signing-discharge-petition-to-protect-aca-premium-tax-credits", "ICYMI: Pallone & Menendez Say Kean and Van Drew Betrayed NJ by Not Signing Discharge Petition to Protect ACA Premium Tax Credits", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rob Menendez called out New Jersey Congressmen Tom Kean Jr. and Jeff Van Drew for not being among the four Republicans who signed the discharge petition to force a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year.\n\n\u201cEvery House Democrat and four House Republicans signed this discharge petition because we know exactly what happens if these tax credits expire: premiums spike and millions of households get priced out of coverage,\u201d Pallone said. \u201cAnd even though Congressmen Kean and Van Drew both said they support extending ACA premium tax credits they did nothing to back it up. These credits expire at the end of the year and signing the discharge petition forces Speaker Johnson to schedule a vote. Unfortunately, Kean and Van Drew broke their promise to lower the cost of health care for New Jersey families.\u201d\n\nIn October, Kean and Van Drew wrote a letter expressing support for extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, a position that directly aligns with the three-year extension included in the discharge petition.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, which oversees health policy, said, \u201cToday, several House Republicans joined Democrats in forcing a vote to extend the ACA premium tax credits, which will save Americans and New Jerseyans from skyrocketing healthcare premiums. This petition was an opportunity to show support for New Jerseyans and prevent them from losing their coverage or dealing with the possibility of not being able to afford health insurance at all. That is why I am surprised and disappointed that Reps. Van Drew and Kean \u2013 who made public pledges of support for extending ACA tax credits \u2013 refused to sign it.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-menendez-say-kean-and-van-drew-betrayed-nj-not-signing-discharge", "Pallone & Menendez Say Kean and Van Drew Betrayed NJ by Not Signing Discharge Petition to Protect ACA Premium Tax Credits", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, Congressmen Frank Pallone, Jr., Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rob Menendez called out New Jersey Congressmen Tom Kean Jr. and Jeff Van Drew for not being among the four Republicans who signed the discharge petition to force a House vote on extending Affordable Care Act premium tax credits set to expire at the end of the year.\n\n\u201cEvery House Democrat and four House Republicans signed this discharge petition because we know exactly what happens if these tax credits expire: premiums spike and millions of households get priced out of coverage,\u201d Pallone said. \u201cAnd even though Congressmen Kean and Van Drew both said they support extending ACA premium tax credits they did nothing to back it up. These credits expire at the end of the year and signing the discharge petition forces Speaker Johnson to schedule a vote. Unfortunately, Kean and Van Drew broke their promise to lower the cost of health care for New Jersey families.\u201d\n\nIn October, Kean and Van Drew wrote a letter expressing support for extending the enhanced ACA subsidies, a position that directly aligns with the three-year extension included in the discharge petition.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-introduces-legislation-to-curb-profiteering-by-president", "Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Legislation to Curb Profiteering by President", "2025-12-17", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) introduced comprehensive legislation to curb profiteering by the President and his family, the Stop Padding Presidential Pockets Act.\n\nSince the start of his second term, President Trump has engaged in a number of schemes that used his position as President to increase his personal wealth. Multiple reports confirm that the President\u2019s net worth has increased by $3 billion from 2024 to 2025. The President has amassed a vast fortune while cutting services to millions of everyday Americans who are living paycheck-to-paycheck.\n\nThe Stop Padding Presidential Pockets Act will\n\nRequire anyone who receives Secret Service protection and travels in furtherance of the business interests and financial benefits of the President to reimburse the treasury for costs incurred by the Government pertaining to that travel, including for the provision of Secret Service protection;\n\nAmend the Federal Tort Claims Act so that no sitting president or their immediate family members can file or benefit from a claim while the president is in office;\n\nAmend the Presidential Libraries Act so that the president and their immediate family cannot solicit gifts or donations for their future Presidential library and museum;\n\nRequire the President and Vice President to remove themselves from any of their personal business activity and put all their financial holdings into a blind trust; and\n\nRequire the immediate family of the President and Vice President to provide quarterly reports of their financial holdings and refrain from joining boards of for-profit organizations.\n\n\u201cThe President has made a killing for himself and his family by wielding the power of the Office while everyday Americans are struggling,\u201d said Watson Coleman. \u201cWhen the people elect a President, they are putting their trust in him or her to execute the responsibilities of that office with the public good in mind. The President has violated that trust and so measures must be taken to ensure this or any future President puts the needs of the people first.\u201d\n\nThis year, Congresswoman Watson Coleman has documented many of the President's and his family's corrupt actions in a series of videos.\n\nThe Padding Presidential Pockets Act is cosponsored by Rep. LaMonica McIver (NJ-10).\n\nText of the act can be read here.\n\nRelated Files", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415190", "New diagnostics, effective treatmentsRFK Jr., Smith push solutions to tick-borne disease pandemic", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith and Sec. Kennedy at the HHS' Lyme Disease Roundtable on December 15, 2025.\n\nYesterday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. for a \u201cgame changing\u201d discussion about new and improved diagnostics, therapeutics, and prognoses for Lyme disease patients.\n\nThe HHS\u2019 Lyme Disease Roundtable discussion, convened by Sec. Kennedy, was also attended by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME), Rep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA), Lyme disease experts, and patients.\n\n\u201cAs Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, I was honored to join Secretary Kennedy and other distinguished stakeholders, such as my fellow members of Congress, experts, and patients, in discussing the present state and future possibilities of Lyme disease diagnostics, treatments, and therapies,\u201d said Smith, the author of numerous laws to enhance federal funding for Lyme disease research.\n\n\u201cThis chronic, life-altering disease\u2014which continues to rise throughout the United States, including and especially in my home state of New Jersey\u2014deserves the federal government\u2019s undivided attention and assistance,\u201d stated the longtime advocate for Lyme patients.\n\n\u201cI want to thank, first of all, Congressman Chris Smith, who is the Chair of the Lyme Caucus and who has been responsible for getting some of the funding that we need to make sure that this works,\u201d said Sec. Kennedy. \u201cOne of the reasons we wanted to host this meeting is to announce to the world that the gaslighting of Lyme patients is over.\n\n\u201cWe want to make sure that every physician in the country can recognize the symptoms of Lyme disease and test for it and then direct patients to the best possible treatments,\u201d continued Sec. Kennedy.\n\nThroughout the roundtable discussion, Sec. Kennedy\u2014who described the personal impact of Lyme disease on his family\u2014announced numerous, significant HHS initiatives to better research and treat Lyme disease, including:\n\nThe renewal of the $10 million LymeX Innovation Accelerator initiative, made possible through the partnership of the Steven & Alexandra Cohen Foundation, which will advance new and improved diagnostic tools and resources. Smith has successfully advocated for and secured millions of dollars in federal funds for the continuation of the program; and\n\nThe expansion of CMS\u2019 Chronic Care Management program to include and support beneficiaries with Lyme disease and related conditions, increasing access to coordinated care and reducing financial barriers for patients with chronic Lyme.\n\nRep. Chris Smith speaks at the HHS' Lyme Disease Roundtable.\n\n\u201cThe highly productive and enlightening conversations between government officials, lawmakers, and experts at yesterday\u2019s roundtable should serve as beacons of hope for all Lyme patients and advocates throughout the country,\u201d stated Smith. \u201cLyme patients have suffered in silence for far too long. With stronger diagnostic criteria and improved treatment options, we can work towards finally finding a cure for this invisible yet debilitating illness.\n\n\u201cI am very grateful for Secretary Kennedy\u2019s unwavering commitment to uncovering the origins, investigating the comorbidities, and developing new diagnostics and treatments for Lyme disease\u2014significantly improving the qualities of life and care for patients. Lyme patients deserve answers, and under Secretary Kennedy\u2019s phenomenal leadership, the HHS is steadfastly working towards procuring them,\u201d concluded Smith.\n\nThe Lyme Disease Roundtable comes on the heels of another breakthrough for federal Lyme disease research\u2014the House passage of Smith\u2019s FY 26 NDAA amendment to probe whether the Cold War-era U.S. government weaponized ticks with Lyme disease to serve as hosts or delivery mechanisms for biological warfare agents.\n\nSmith\u2019s amendment\u2014which compels the Comptroller General of the United States to perform an exhaustive review of research conducted by the military and other federal agencies between 1945 and 1972 regarding experiments involving two forms of tick-borne bacteria, Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales\u2014was included in the major 2026 defense bill passed by the House last week and is expected to be voted on by the full Senate later this week.\n\nThe legislation was inspired in-part by the explosion of Lyme disease in New Jersey and Kris Newby\u2019s book, Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons.\n\nBitten features in-depth interviews with and the personal files of Dr. Willy Burgdorfer\u2014the federal researcher and U.S. bioweapons specialist credited with discovering Lyme disease\u2014who later revealed that he and other bioweapons specialists injected ticks with pathogens in a quest to cause severe disability, disease, and even death to potential enemies in unsuspecting ways.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415193", "Thanks to President Trump for direct engagementChris Smith on the release of Belarusian political prisoners, including Nobel laureate Ales Bialiatski; announces January hearing on remaining prisoners", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a longtime champion of human rights and democracy in Belarus and author of landmark U.S. legislation\u2014the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004\u2014welcomed the December 13th release of 123 political prisoners by the government of Belarus\u2014a release made possible through the energetic efforts of President Trump.\n\n\u201cI rejoice with everyone released and their families\u2014today, they are free, and God willing, the remaining prisoners in Belarus will be free one day as well,\u201d said Smith.\n\nAmong those freed were Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ales Bialiatski, prominent opposition figures Maria Kolesnikova and Viktar Babaryka, and one American citizen. Thanks to President Trump\u2019s direct engagement, more than 200 political prisoners have now been released, including several U.S. citizens.\n\n\u201cAs the prime author of the Belarus Democracy Act of 2004 and multiple reauthorizations, as well as the current Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2025 (HR 3225), I have worked for decades to hold the Lukashenko regime accountable and secure freedom for Belarus\u2019s political prisoners,\u201d stated Smith, who co-chairs the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.\n\n\u201cFull credit should be given to President Trump for this remarkable achievement\u2014his bold diplomacy and personal engagement have delivered life-saving results for 123 innocent people, who were languishing in brutal detention. Now, they are with their families. I have had the privilege of meeting some of the released prisoners, and their stories of courage amid unimaginable hardship are deeply inspiring,\u201d continued Smith.\n\n\u201cWe must not forget the more than 1,000 political prisoners who remain behind bars in harsh and often life-threatening conditions. Their immediate and unconditional release is clearly a top priority for President Trump. In order to build on the President\u2019s momentum, I plan to hold a congressional hearing in January focused on the remaining prisoners.\u201d\n\nSmith has led U.S. legislative efforts on Belarus for over two decades, authoring the original Belarus Democracy Act (P.L. 108-347) and subsequent laws\u2014including the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2006 (HR 5948) and the Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act of 2011 (HR 515)\u2014which impose sanctions on the regime until it releases political prisoners, respects human rights, and moves toward free and fair elections. His current bill, HR 3225, the Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2025, updates and strengthens these measures.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415194", "The Lakewood Scoop article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'RFK Jr., Smith Push Solutions to Tick-borne Disease Pandemic'", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By The Lakewood Scoop\n\nPublished December 16, 2025 at 7:45 PM\n\nCongressman Chris Smith, the longtime Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, joined Kennedy this week at a high-level Lyme Disease Roundtable convened by HHS to address what both leaders described as a growing public health crisis. The discussion brought together federal health officials, members of Congress, medical experts, and Lyme disease patients to explore new diagnostics, therapies, and long-term care options.\n\nLyme disease cases continue to rise throughout the country, with New Jersey among the hardest-hit states. Smith, who has authored and championed numerous laws to increase federal funding for Lyme research, said the disease has been ignored for far too long.\n\nKennedy credited Smith with securing critical funding and helping elevate the issue nationally, stating that federal agencies are now committed to ending what he described as the \u201cgaslighting\u201d of Lyme disease patients. He emphasized the importance of ensuring that physicians nationwide can recognize symptoms, properly test for Lyme, and guide patients to effective treatment.\n\nDuring the roundtable, Kennedy announced several significant initiatives, including the renewal of the $10 million LymeX Innovation Accelerator, which will support the development of improved diagnostic tools through a public-private partnership, and the expansion of Medicare\u2019s Chronic Care Management program to include Lyme disease patients, reducing financial barriers and improving coordinated care for those suffering from chronic symptoms.\n\nSmith praised the announcements as a turning point, calling the discussions \u201cbeacons of hope\u201d for patients who have long struggled to obtain answers and proper treatment. He said stronger diagnostic standards and improved therapies are critical steps toward finally addressing what many patients describe as an invisible yet debilitating illness.\n\nThe meeting follows another major development in federal Lyme research efforts: the recent House passage of Smith\u2019s amendment to the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. The measure calls for a comprehensive investigation into whether the U.S. government experimented with ticks as potential biological warfare delivery mechanisms during the Cold War era.\n\nThe amendment requires an exhaustive review of military and federal research conducted between 1945 and 1972 involving tick-borne bacteria. The legislation, inspired in part by the sharp rise of Lyme disease cases in New Jersey and the book Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons, is expected to be taken up by the Senate in the coming days.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415197", "Jewish Insider article on letter from co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism'After Sydney Hanukkah massacre, House lawmakers urge Australia to act to protect Jewish community'", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Marc Rod\n\nPublished December 16, 2025\n\nThe co-chairs of the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Antisemitism are urging Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to act more forcefully to protect Australia\u2019s Jewish community and implement months-old recommendations from the country\u2019s antisemitism envoy.\n\nIn a letter to Albanese sent Monday, the ten lawmakers said that the attack, which killed at least 15 people at a Hanukkah celebration, \u201ccomes in the wake of the Australian Jewish community repeatedly raising the alarm and urging swift action to counter the spread of unchecked antisemitic rhetoric and demonstrations occurring in Australia for far too long.\u201d\n\nThe lawmakers said that there have been repeated \u201cwarning signs,\u201d including firebombings of synagogues, graffiti, assaults and threats of violence, which \u201chave now led to a tragic reality.\u201d\n\nAustralian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during a press conference in Canberra on August 11, 2025.\n\nThey noted that Jillian Segal, the Australian special envoy to combat antisemitism, released 49 recommendations to be implemented across a range of institutions in July, and questioned what the Australian government has done to enact that plan and how it will protect the Jewish community going forward.\n\nThe lawmakers called on Albanese to \u201cmove swiftly and decisively\u201d to implement those recommendations.\n\n\u201cWhile we appreciate Australia joining the Global Guidelines for Countering Antisemitism led by the United States, we urge your government to implement and actively utilize this document and its recommendations within,\u201d the letter continues. \u201cWe also encourage you to further insulate Australia from malign foreign influence, like that of Iran and possibly others, which has been found to be supporting antisemitic attacks in Australia.\u201d\n\nThe letter states that Australia\u2019s designation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp as a terrorist organization \u201cis an important first step, but it cannot be the last step if Australia is to address the antisemitism brewing at home while also thwarting collusion from abroad.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-delivers-500000-federal-grants-support-local-fire-departments", "Kean Delivers $500,000 in Federal Grants to Support Local Fire Departments", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(December 16, 2025) LEBANON BOROUGH, NJ \u2013 Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that $510,531 in federal grant funding will be delivered to six fire departments in New Jersey\u2019s 7th Congressional District to support their public safety missions. The funding was provided through the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Fiscal Year 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) program.\n\nCongressman Kean played a key role in securing these funds for local fire departments. In February 2024, he hosted a webinar to explain the Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program and assist departments in navigating the application process. Congressman Kean also submitted letters of support for fire departments that requested assistance.\n\nThe funding was made possible through Congressman Kean\u2019s legislation, the Fire Grants and Safety Act, which provided critical federal resources to support many fire departments across New Jersey and over 1,000 other departments nationwide. His bill, which was signed into law in July 2024, reauthorized for five years the U.S. Fire Administration (USFA), the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) Program, the Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grant Program, and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Grant Program.\n\n\u201cI am thrilled to announce that we brought home over $500,000 in federal dollars to support six fire departments in New Jersey\u2019s Seventh Congressional District,\u201d said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. \u201cEvery day, our firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our families and neighbors, and these grants will help departments purchase essential equipment, enhance training, and strengthen readiness to keep communities safe. I remain committed to supporting our first responders and I encourage other departments in the district to apply for these grants. My office stands ready to assist throughout the process.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are grateful for this $75,000 AFG grant and for Congressman Kean\u2019s support in securing these funds for Summit,\u201d said Summit Mayor Elizabeth Fagan, M.D. \u201cThis grant directly benefits our residents by giving our firefighters the tools and training they need to respond quickly and safely in any emergency. Investing in our fire department is investing in the safety and well-being of the entire Summit community.\u201d\n\n\u201cWith this AFG grant, we are looking to purchase between 15-18 sets of turnout gear, boots, helmets, gloves, and cancer reducing hoods. We thank the Congressman for advocating for us and the district,\u201d said Clinton Fire Department Chief Jeff Hedden.\n\n\u201cThis grant is a game-changer for our department,\u201d said Greg Bunting, Chief of the Delaware Township Fire Company. \u201cOur firefighters rely on dependable communications when responding to emergencies. These new radios will not only improve our operational efficiency but will also help keep our members and residents safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cI am honored to announce that the Westfield Fire Department has been awarded $45,818 from the FY2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant program,\u201d said Westfield Fire Chief Michael Duelks. \u201cThe funding will be utilized to assist the department in purchasing additional Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for our personnel.\u201d\n\n\"These federal grants are very important to small towns like Pohatcong. Our budgets are extremely tight as it is and these federal grants provide the funding needed to our first responders to things possibly outside our current budgets,\u201d said Pohatcong Mayor David Slack.\n\nThe full list of AFG grant awardees is as follows:\n\nTownship of Pohatcong Fire Department - $68,571\n\nTown of Westfield Town Hall - $45,818\n\nDelaware Township Fire Company (f.k.a Sergeantsville Volunteer Fire Co) - $242,857\n\nKingwood Township Volunteer Fire Co No 1 - $4,000\n\nTown of Clinton Fire Department - $74,285\n\nCity of Summit - $75,000\n\nThe AFG program helps firefighters and other first responders obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources necessary to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/mciver-introduces-bill-aimed-at-lowering-household-energy-costs-during-inflation", "McIver Introduces Bill Aimed at Lowering Household Energy Costs During Inflation", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) introduced the Utility Price Lift In Flux & Transition (UPLIFT) Act, a bill aimed at easing the burden of household energy costs during inflation spikes through the creation of a new federal tax credit. The tax credit would offer relief and stability to Americans by addressing the rising, unpredictable costs of their utilities.\n\n\u201cMaking paying the bills a little easier is exactly why I am introducing the UPLIFT Act. Every month, millions of American families face the burden of rising energy bills. Under this administration, that burden is growing. In the face of inflation and spikes in utility costs, Americans are struggling to keep the lights on and their homes livable,\u201d said Rep. McIver. \u201cHeat and cool air are necessities, not luxuries, and too many households\u2014especially working-class and elderly Americans\u2014are being forced to make painful decisions because those bills are just too high. I am proud that this bill takes responsive steps to give our communities breathing room when inflation hits hardest. Lowering costs is exactly the kind of work I came to Washington to do.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs the Trump administration\u2019s policies send heating and electricity prices soaring twice as fast as inflation for millions of households across the country, Congress needs to ensure those spending more of their income on their energy bill get needed financial relief,\u201d said Meghan Pazik, senior policy advocate with Public Citizen\u2019s Climate Program. \u201cPolicymakers need to provide economic solutions for low-income and vulnerable communities from these electricity price surges. Congresswoman McIver\u2019s UPLIFT Act is a step in the right direction to address the growing affordability crisis and give those hit hardest a chance with targeted, timely, and direct support.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnited for a Fair Economy supports the UPLIFT Act. At a time like this, when the very wealthy are controlling more wealth and power while others struggle, the UPLIFT Act is a common-sense solution to help families in need make ends meet,\u201d said Mike Lapham, Deputy Director of United for a Fair Economy. \u201cCongress should pass this legislation as soon as possible.\u201d\n\n\u201cNCRC is proud to endorse the UPLIFT Act because too many low- and moderate-income families are one energy-cost spike away from crisis, and this bill provides timely support that protects economic mobility when it\u2019s most at risk,\u201d said Doug Mollett, Economic Mobility Manager at National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC). \u201cBy linking relief to real economic conditions and safeguarding safety-net benefits, it strengthens household stability and ensures rising utility bills don\u2019t push vulnerable Americans further from opportunity.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe UPLIFT Act offers practical help for Americans coping with unaffordable energy costs,\u201d said Consumer Action\u2019s Director of Consumer Protection Ruth Susswein. \u201cIt puts cash back in consumers' hands, with a tax credit designed to help alleviate rapidly rising gas and electric bills.\u201d\n\n\u201cAt a time when more Americans than ever struggle to afford their monthly electric bill, the UPLIFT Act is an example of the sort of creative policy thinking we need to help people afford their needs,\u201d says Logan Atkinson Burke, Executive Director of the Alliance for Affordable Energy. \u201cWe applaud Congresswoman McIver in taking action on this critical issue and introducing legislation that lessens energy burdens by providing direct financial support to working-class families. We need Congress to follow her lead.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe UPLIFT Act of 2025 would put money back in the pockets of working families coping with the rising costs of energy, food, medicine and housing,\u201d said Olivia Wein, senior attorney at the National Consumer Law Center. \u201cThe Act provides an income-limited, refundable tax credit that helps low- and moderate-income families with stretched monthly budgets cope with unaffordable energy bills during periods of high inflation.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe escalating cost of utilities has taken a significant toll on poor and working-class families of color, including families that rent their homes with Housing Choice Vouchers,\u201d said Thomas Silverstein, Executive Director of the Poverty & Race Research Action Council. \u201cThe UPLIFT Act of 2025 is a common sense measure that would advance racial and economic justice by reducing the impact of utility costs on people who are struggling right now.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the Utility Price Lift In Flux & Transition (UPLIFT) Act would:\n\nCreate a refundable income tax credit worth up to $1,200 per year (or $2,400 for married couples filing jointly or heads of household) to cover residential energy costs, including electricity, natural gas, and propane.\n\nAutomatically activate during high-inflation years, ensuring relief is triggered when the personal consumption expenditures (PCE) index rises more than 2%.\n\nDirect relief to families\u2019 primary residences, ensuring benefits cannot be claimed for second homes or investment properties.\n\nSafeguard access to existing energy assistance programs by guaranteeing that households receiving federal, state, local, or Tribal energy aid remain fully eligible for this credit.\n\nProtect low-income families on means-tested programs by ensuring refunds from this credit are never counted as income or resources that could reduce other benefits.\n\nThe bill is endorsed by: United for a Fair Economy (UFE), Responsible Wealth, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition, Consumer Action, Alliance for Affordable Energy (AAE), Public Citizen, the Poverty & Race Research Action Council, the National Low Income Housing Coalition, and the National Consumer Law Center.\n\n###", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-announces-125-million-grant-for-jersey-city-public-schools", "Menendez Announces $1.25 Million Grant for Jersey City Public Schools", "2025-12-16", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08) today announced a $1,249,501 federal grant from the U.S. Department of Education (DoED) for Jersey City Public Schools (JCPS). The grant, part of DoED\u2019s Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration program, will fund JCPS\u2019s Project STARR, which will implement dual-focused school psychology practical training and internships to prepare school psychology graduate trainees to deliver early and intensive mental health services in addition to school psychology competencies.\n\n\u201cI am proud to announce this funding which advances a critical priority \u2013 the mental health of our children,\u201d said Congressman Menendez. \u201cIn working with Jersey City Public Schools, we have now delivered federal funding which will put more mental health professionals into Jersey City schools and provide children with mental-health services at a time when many children need all of the support that can be given to them. I have and always will fight for every single resource that we can secure to support our children and our public schools.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe are absolutely thrilled and deeply grateful to receive the Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Program Grant,\u201d said Jersey City Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Norma Fernandez. \u201cThe grant represents a critical investment in our students\u2019 well-being. This funding is essential for the Jersey City Public Schools District to continue and expand our dedicated school-based mental health services, ensuring our students have the consistent support they need to thrive academically and personally.\u201d\n\n\"Thank you Congressman Rob Menendez for securing this generous grant, and for your continued support of the Jersey City School District,\" said Jersey City Board of Education President Noemi Velazquez. \"At a time when Washington is cutting funding for the much needed educational programs, it is heartwarming to know that we can depend on a friend and champion like you in Congress, advocating for our children. Your tireless efforts and sound commitment to your community never goes unnoticed and is always appreciated.\"\n\nThe Mental Health Service Professional Demonstration Program provides competitive grants to test and evaluate innovative partnerships between institutions of higher education (IHE) and States or high-need local education agencies (LEA) to train school counselors, social workers, psychologists, or other mental health professionals qualified to provide school-based mental health services, with the goal of expanding the pipeline of these workers into low-income public elementary schools and secondary schools in order to address the shortages of mental health service professionals in such schools.\n\nProject STARR has three goals: (1) Increase the capacity of available JCPS school psychologists delivering mental health services by implementing a dual-focus school psychology training program; (2) Increase the number of newly hired credentialed school psychologists available to deliver early intervention mental health services and intensive mental health services in JCPS; and (3) Trainees will provide evidence-based early intervention and intensive mental health services to students through their practicums.\n\nA strong advocate for public schools, Congressman Menendez worked with the New Jersey Democratic delegation earlier this year to release $162 million in K-12 and adult education funding frozen by the Trump Administration. This year, Congressman Menendez also brought back over $15 million for Head Start and early childhood education programs in our communities.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415188", "Daily Mail article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'US military under investigation over claims it weaponized ticks to spread insidious disease'", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Stacy Liberatore, US Science & Technology Editor\n\nPublished 11:01 EST, 15 December 2025\n\nScientists have long debated a chilling question: Did the US military weaponize ticks during the Cold War?\n\nNow, Congress is demanding answers with a newly filed amendment that directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether federal agencies experimented with pathogen-laden ticks as tools of war.\n\nThe provision, authored by New Jersey Representative Chris Smith and filed on Friday, calls for a review of military, National Institutes of Health and US Department of Agriculture projects conducted between 1945 and 1972 involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales, two families of bacteria linked to tick-borne illnesses.\n\nSmith, who co-chairs the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, said the effort is driven by New Jersey's unusually high infection rates and concerns for civilians and military personnel stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.\n\n'The hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans suffering from Lyme disease deserve to know the truth about the origins of their illness,' Smith said.\n\nSmith is not the first public official to raise such questions, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr has previously suggested that Lyme disease may have emerged from a failed US bioweapons program in the 1970s, allegedly involving research at Plum Island, New York.\n\nScientists, however, have repeatedly rejected those claims, calling them a debunked conspiracy and pointing to evidence that Lyme-causing bacteria existed in North America long before the 20th century.\n\nLyme disease, caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi, is reported in 30,000 to 40,000 cases annually to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though the agency estimates that as many as 476,000 infections may occur each year and go undiagnosed.\n\nCongress is demanding answers with a newly filed amendment that directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate whether federal agencies experimented with pathogen-laden ticks as tools of war\n\nMuch of the theory traces back to the 2019 book 'Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons' and related interviews with the late Swiss-born scientist Willy Burgdorfer, who identified the Lyme disease pathogen in 1981 and previously worked as a US military bioweapons specialist during the Cold War.\n\nAccording to the book and related sources, Burgdorfer and other researchers allegedly injected ticks and other insects, including fleas and mosquitoes, with pathogens such as those causing Q fever, tularemia and relapsing fever to study their potential use as biological weapons.\n\nThe accounts also describe experiments in which ticks were force-fed infectious agents through glass capillary tubes and discussions about dispersing 'weaponized' ticks from aircraft to incapacitate enemy populations.\n\nThe book further alleges that hundreds of thousands of radioactive ticks were released in Montana and along the Atlantic Flyway to track how far they could spread.\n\nThe new amendment revives two similar efforts Smith introduced in 2019 and 2021 that passed the House but stalled in the Senate.\n\nSmith said the latest GAO probe could either substantiate or finally put to rest theories about government involvement in the spread of Lyme disease.\n\n'If the investigation finds that our bioweapons program had nothing to do with it, we turn the page,' Smith said. 'But the American people deserve answers.'\n\nWithin 3 days to a month, a red, bull's-eye rash will appear in 70 to 80 percent of cases involving a tick bite\n\nLyme disease is a bloodborne bacterial infection. The bacteria enters the skin from a tick bite, then travels through the bloodstream to spread to other parts of the body (STOCK)\n\nSmith called for an investigation in 2020 into claims that secret research was conducted on Plum Island and at Fort Detrick in Maryland on weaponizing ticks.\n\nPlum Island is an 840-acre island off the northeastern coast of Long Island, New York.\n\nIt's home to the Plum Island Animal Disease Center (PIADC) and has been used by the US government for research on infectious animal diseases since the 1950s.\n\nThe US Department of Homeland Security has previously stated that the government facility at Plum Island 'does not and has not performed research on Lyme disease.'\n\nIn 2024, RFK Jr made the same claims about the disease, alleging on his own podcast that government scientists were experimenting with ticks on this island in the Northeast.\n\n'The ticks are an epidemic because of what happened at Plum Island and the other labs,' the health secretary said in the January 2024 episode of the RFK Jr Podcast.\n\n'We also know that they were experimenting with diseases of the kind, like Lyme disease, at that lab, and they were putting them in ticks and then infecting people,' RFK Jr added.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415189", "TAPinto Gold Coast article on Smith's statement condemning antisemitic violence'Congressman Smith Condemns Deadly Antisemitic Attack at Hanukkah Event in Australia'", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Jim Lonergan\n\nPublished December 15, 2025 at 9:10 AM\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., condemned a deadly antisemitic terrorist attack this weekend at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia, where gunmen opened fire during a Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 people and injuring dozens more, including children and elderly attendees.\n\nThe attack occurred during a public Hanukkah gathering near the beach, where families and community members had assembled to celebrate the holiday. Authorities have described the shooting as a targeted act of antisemitic terrorism. Multiple attackers were involved, and police said the rapid intervention of bystanders and first responders prevented an even higher death toll. The incident has sent shockwaves through Australia and prompted heightened security around Jewish institutions nationwide.\n\nIn a statement, Smith expressed condolences to the victims and the Australian Jewish community, calling the attack a stark example of the global rise in antisemitic violence.\n\n\u201cMy heart breaks for the victims, their families, and the entire Australian Jewish community enduring this unimaginable tragedy,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe savagery and cruelty of this attack on Jewish families echoes the worst antisemitic violence we have seen since the October 7 Hamas atrocity.\u201d\n\nSmith also praised the actions of a bystander who intervened during the attack, tackling and disarming one of the gunmen. He said the individual\u2019s actions likely saved many lives.\n\nA longtime advocate for combating antisemitism, Smith is the author of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2021. He used the moment to renew calls for stronger international efforts to confront antisemitism and hold perpetrators accountable.\n\nUnder the law, President Trump nominated Yehuda Kaploun in April to serve as the U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, with the rank of ambassador. Smith noted that nearly nine months later, the nomination is still awaiting final Senate confirmation.\n\nThe delay reflects the modern Senate confirmation process, which has grown increasingly slow and politicized, particularly for ambassador-level appointments. While the position requires Senate approval, extended confirmation timelines have become common due to partisan divisions, limited floor time, and competing legislative priorities.\n\nIn announcing the nomination earlier this year, Trump described Kaploun as a successful businessman and a strong advocate for the Jewish faith, citing the need for decisive leadership as antisemitism continues to rise worldwide.\n\nSmith emphasized that antisemitism must be confronted across all fronts, including extremist violence, institutional bias, and inflammatory rhetoric.\n\n\u201cThe United States must stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies to ensure Jewish communities can practice their faith openly and without fear,\u201d Smith said. \u201cLeaders worldwide must redouble their efforts to counter this rising tide of hate, including through enhanced security measures and accountability for those who incite or commit these crimes.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-co-leads-legislation-to-safeguard-emergency-alerts-funding-protect-public-safety-communications", "Menendez Co-Leads Legislation to Safeguard Emergency Alerts Funding, Protect Public Safety Communications", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08), along with Representatives Tim Kennedy (NY-26), April McClain Delaney (MD-06), and Nanette Barragan (CA-44), introduced the Supporting and Advancing Federal Emergency Communications through Infrastructure (SAFE Comms) Act, legislation to ensure that local broadcasters can continue to deliver lifesaving emergency alerts despite disruptions to the federal grant program that supports them. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to administer and disburse funds through the Next Generation Warning System (NGWS) grant program, guaranteeing that already-approved funds to improve emergency alerting reach communities across New Jersey and the nation.\n\n\u201cFEMA programs like the Next Generation Warning System are crucial to ensuring that our communities stay up-to-date with life-saving emergency information,\u201d said Congressman Menendez. \u201cWith Republican cuts to public broadcasting, we must continue to fund and protect this program so local public media stations can provide timely alerts to New Jerseyans in the most critical moments.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs Ranking Member of the Emergency Management and Technology Subcommittee, it is my priority to ensure that the bedrock of our emergency alerting system - local stations - receive promised support from Congress,\u201d said Congressman Tim Kennedy. \u201cIn the face of this President\u2019s assault on FEMA and its lifesaving programs, we must guarantee the continuity of the Next Generation Warning System. I\u2019m proud to introduce this legislation to ensure that local communities in Western New York and across the U.S. continue to benefit from critical federal investments in emergency alerting infrastructure.\u201d\n\n\u201cLocal public TV and radio stations are a lifeline during emergencies, especially in rural and underserved communities,\u201d said Congresswoman Nanette Barrag\u00e1n.\u201cThe Next Generation Warning System Grant Program helps these stations get the resources they need to send timely alerts when people need them most. I\u2019m proud to join Reps. Kennedy, Menendez, and McClain Delaney in co-leading this effort to safeguard the future of the program and make sure every community has the information it needs during disasters.\u201d\n\n\"Every second counts when protecting the public from natural disasters and other emergencies, and next-generation warning systems are essential to safeguarding lives and property,\u201d said Congresswoman April McClain Delaney. \u201cWith the Corporation for Public Broadcasting now closed, FEMA must deliver Congressionally appropriated funds directly \u2013 and without delay \u2013 to local broadcasters. I\u2019m proud to support legislation that provides this critical fix as we continue modernizing and strengthening our nation\u2019s warning capabilities, building more prepared and resilient communities.\"\n\n\u201cAmerica\u2019s Public Television Stations, on behalf of the 158 locally operated, locally controlled public television stations, commend Representative Kennedy and the other co-sponsors for the introduction of the SAFE Comms Act,\u201d said Kate Riley, CEO & President of America\u2019s Public Television Stations. \u201cThis bill recognizes the lifesaving work of local public broadcasting stations and requires that FEMA follow Congressional intent in spending funds that Congress has already appropriated to support local stations\u2019 public safety services. We greatly appreciate the long-standing bipartisan support for the Next Generation Warning System at FEMA and are grateful that this legislation would ensure that this critical program continues to support the lifesaving emergency alert, warning and public safety services provided to local communities by their public broadcasting stations.\u201d\n\nEstablished by Congress in 2022, the NGWS grant program allows public media stations to upgrade technology and infrastructure used to broadcast emergency alerts. The program, implemented by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), strengthens reliability and resilience for emergency communications including upgrading transmitters, expanding coverage, and improving the ability to reach vulnerable and rural populations. Every day, local public radio and television stations serve as lifelines for communities across the United States, delivering critical, real-time information to families when disaster strikes. From snowstorms to flash floods, New Jerseyans rely on these trusted resources to provide the timely alerts that save lives. Alarmingly, a breakdown in federal funding and grant administration, spurred by the Trump administration, has put this funding at risk.\n\nIn July, congressional Republicans passed the Rescissions Act of 2025 which defunded CPB, the lone administrator of the NGWS grant program. Without CPB to manage the NGWS grant program, millions of dollars in previously approved funding were left in limbo at FEMA, jeopardizing upgrades for critical technology that ensure emergency alerts reach people when they\u2019re needed most.\n\nThe SAFE Comms Act safeguards continuity and accountability by directing FEMA to assume full responsibility for the NGWS program, disburse already obligated Fiscal Year 2022 funds within 180 days of bill enactment, and begin the process of awarding grants for Fiscal Years 2023 and 2024. Through Congressman Menendez\u2019s bill, local stations will be able to continue improving their emergency communications systems without further delay.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-congressional-progressive-caucus-announce-taskforce-on-rebuilding-and-reimagining-the-government", "Rep. Watson Coleman, Congressional Progressive Caucus Announce Taskforce on Rebuilding and Reimagining the Government", "2025-12-15", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) announced the creation of the Congressional Progressive Caucus\u2019s Taskforce on Rebuilding and Reimagining the Government.\n\nThe taskforce, created in response to the harm the Trump Administration has done to the functioning and responsiveness of the federal government, will examine the recent erosion to in the effectiveness of federal agencies within the Executive Branch and make legislative proposals to address the shortcomings of the federal government, restore and improve agencies\u2019 critical roles and functioning, and protect them from destructive actions by their executive leadership, and develop bold new ideas to reorient these agencies wherever appropriate to deliver more immediate, visible, and direct benefits for the American people.\n\nThe taskforce will culminate in a report published by the end of 2026, as well as legislative proposals.\n\nCongresswoman Watson Coleman is an Executive Board Member of the CPC who led its Policing, Constitution, and Equality Task Force. She also chairs the Democratic Caucus\u2019s Taskforce on Poverty and founded and chaired the Congressional Black Caucus Taskforce on Black Youth Suicide and Mental Health in 2019.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve seen the damage one administration can do to the working of the federal government when our institutions are weak. However, a people\u2019s lack of trust in the ability of the Federal Government to deliver for them far preceded the Trump Presidencies,\u201d said Watson Coleman. \u201cWe have a responsibility to both strengthen our democratic institutions as well as ensure they are oriented toward serving everyday people. This is no small task, but the Progressive Caucus has some of the most brilliant, forward-thinking, and creative minds in Congress who I know are up to the task of rebuilding and reimagining a government that works for everyone.\u201d\n\n\u201cA functioning democracy requires a government that people can trust to improve their lives,\u201d said Rep. Omar. \u201cI am proud to join this taskforce to rebuild and reimagine a federal government centered on improving people\u2019s daily lives. Our work must go beyond undoing damage; it must fundamentally transform how agencies operate so they serve the people instead of powerful special interests.\u201d\n\nThe Taskforce will convene its first official meeting in early 2026.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415185", "Calls on U.S. Senate to confirm Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat AntisemitismSmith condemns antisemitic terror attack targeting Jewish community during Hanukkah in Australia", "2025-12-14", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "The author of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism Act of 2021\u2014 Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)\u2014condemned the horrific, antisemitic terrorist attack at Bondi Beach in Sydney, Australia. The attackers opened fire on a peaceful Hanukkah celebration, killing at least 15 innocent people\u2014including children and the elderly\u2014and injuring dozens more.\n\n\u201cMy heart breaks for the victims, their families, and the entire Australian Jewish community enduring this unimaginable tragedy, and my wife, Marie, and I pray for the swift recovery of the wounded. The savagery and cruelty of this attack on Jewish families echoes the worst antisemitic violence we\u2019ve seen since the October 7th Hamas atrocity. It is a stark reminder of the truly dark nature of the spiritual cancer of antisemitism that metastasizes around the world,\u201d said Smith, who, in 2004, wrote the amendment that created the State Department Office to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, now known as the Office of the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism.\n\n\u201cI commend the extraordinary courage of the bystander who tackled and disarmed one of the gunmen\u2014he saved many lives.\u201d\n\nSmith, a longtime advocate for combating antisemitism through legislation and congressional hearings, called for immediate international action to root out this hatred.\n\nPursuant to Smith\u2019s law, last April, President Trump nominated Yehuda Kaploun to serve as the Special Envoy with the rank of Ambassador to \u201cserve as the primary advisor to, and coordinate efforts across, the United States Government relating to monitoring and combating anti-Semitism and anti-Semitic incitement that occur in foreign countries\u2026\u201d\n\nSmith said, \u201cNearly nine months later, the U.S. Senate may finally confirm Yehuda Kaploun.\u201d\n\nIn April, President Trump wrote on Truth Social: \u201cI am proud to nominate Yehuda Kaploun as the United States Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism, Ambassador-at-Large.\n\n\u201cYehuda is a successful businessman, and staunch advocate for the Jewish Faith and the Rights of his people to live and worship free from persecution. With Anti-Semitism dangerously on the rise, Yehuda will be the strongest Representative for Americans and Jews across the Globe, and promote PEACE\u2026\u201d\n\nSmith stated: \u201cAntisemitism in all its forms\u2014whether fueled by extremist ideologies, biased institutions, like the United Nations, or unchecked rhetoric\u2014must be confronted and defeated wherever it rears its ugly head. The United States must stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our allies, including and especially Israel, to ensure Jewish communities can practice their faith openly and without fear. I urge leaders worldwide to redouble efforts to counter this rising tide of hate, including through enhanced security measures and accountability for those who incite or perpetrate such crimes.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watson-coleman-statement-on-bondi-beach-shooting", "Watson Coleman Statement on Bondi Beach Shooting", "2025-12-14", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released a statement following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Bondi Beach, Australia which killed 11 people.\n\n\u201cThe horrific murders at Bondi Beach displayed for all to see the hate that still exists in this world. I am praying for the victims, their families, and all people impacted, including the Jewish community around the world as they begin Hanukkah this evening.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m grateful to the authorities who took action and the bystander, Ahmed al Ahmed, whose courageous act, tackling and disarming one of the shooters, saved countless lives.\n\n\u201cWe are all children of God. We must learn to see in each other the humanity God granted us. May He comfort those impacted and may he grant us all the ability to extinguish hate and create a more peaceful world.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415180", "Export Compliance Daily article on Smith's House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'House Lawmaker Seeks Terror Label for Sudan's RSF'", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Marc Selinger\n\nPublished December 12, 2025\n\nRep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, said Dec. 11 the U.S. should designate Sudan\u2019s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) militia a Foreign Terrorist Organization.\n\nAt a hearing on Sudan\u2019s civil war, which pits the militia against the Sudanese Armed Forces, Smith accused the RSF of a host of crimes, including a recent deadly attack on a kindergarten. His comments came about six weeks after a bipartisan group of six senators said the U.S. should consider designating the RSF an FTO or a Specially Designated Global Terrorist (see 2511040018).\n\nAlso at the subcommittee hearing, Rep. Sara Jacobs, D-Calif., the panel's ranking member, urged the Trump administration to sanction entities in the United Arab Emirates that back the RSF. She also called for blocking weapons sales to the UAE until it stops providing material support to the RSF. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., tried unsuccessfully last month to force a Senate vote on a bill to suspend arms sales to the UAE (see 2511210036).", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415184", "Fox News article on Smith's House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'As world fixates on other wars, Sudan sees 12 million forcibly displaced in devastating conflict'", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Chris Massaro\n\nPublished December 12, 2025 at 10:18 AM EST\n\nWhile the world\u2019s attention has focused on Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine and Israel\u2019s war with Hamas in Gaza, Sudan remains the world\u2019s largest displacement crisis, with some 12 million people driven out of their homes.\n\n\"Sudan is under the darkest of clouds, a catastrophe that has, for far too long, been met with paralysis by the international community,\" Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., chair of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, said during his opening statements during a December 11 hearing on crimes against humanity in Sudan.\n\nSmith said the hearing was a global call to action and that there must be an immediate cessation of hostilities between the warring factions.\n\nSmoke rises as clashes continue in the Sudanese capital on April 16, 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The death toll in ongoing clashes between Sudan's military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has reached 56, while the injured is 595. (Photo by Mahmoud Hjaj/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)\n\n\"Crimes against humanity \u2014 particularly by the Rapid Support Forces \u2014 including mass rape, ethnic targeting and systematic looting, must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable,\" Smith added.\n\nThe conflict in Sudan has received renewed attention after President Donald Trump vowed to secure a peace deal in the African nation following his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in November.\n\nTedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization, recently said repeated drone strikes on Dec. 4 in Sudan\u2019s South Kordofan region struck a kindergarten and nearby hospital, killing 114 people, including 63 children.\n\nRep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee, held a hearing on Sudan\u2019s devastating civil war on Thursday. (Rep. Chris Smith's Office)\n\n\"Disturbingly, paramedics and responders came under attack as they tried to move the injured from the kindergarten to the hospital,\" Tedros said in a statement.\n\nSudan Doctors Network, a medical organization, said the attacks were perpetrated by the Rapid Support Forces.\n\nThe conflict in Sudan has been raging since April 2023, when an uneasy alliance between Sudan\u2019s two warring factions, the government-led Sudanese armed forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) collapsed following a tenuous power-sharing agreement struck in 2021.\n\nSudan\u2019s army and the RSF had collaborated for years under the previous regime of ousted dictator Omar al-Bashir.\n\nMembers of the Sudanese army's Special Mission Forces battalion in the Northern State hold a parade in Karima city on May 19, 2024. Sudan has been in the throes of conflict for over a year between the regular army led by de facto ruler Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and the RSF led by his former deputy Mohamed Hamdan Daglo. (Photo by -/AFP via Getty Images)\n\nThe situation has only escalated since fighting first broke out in 2023 and has not garnered the same level of international effort or outrage that the conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza have generated.\n\n\"The war in Sudan has been one of the most gruesome humanitarian catastrophes in world history. However, there has been frequent paralysis by world leaders and international institutions to solve it, in addition to reduced, fluctuating media attention on the conflict,\" Caroline Rose, director of Military and National Security Priorities at New Lines Institute, told Fox News Digital.\n\n\"This could be attributed to the fact that, unlike wars in Ukraine and Gaza, there is not a component of great-power competition or regional contestation,\" she added.\n\nRose and other observers of the conflict note that there is inhibited ground access, creating challenges not only for journalistic reporting, but also the documentation of war crimes and testimonies.\n\nThe Sudanese armed forces have prevented access to aid workers in territories they control on the basis of sovereignty and have expelled humanitarian workers that had been in the country.\n\nThe RSF has also been accused of committing grave human rights violations and reportedly killed over 400 aid workers and patients in October at the Saudi Maternity Hospital in the North Darfur city of El Fasher. The RSF siege of El Fasher caused at least 28,000 people to flee to neighboring towns, and the U.N. Human Rights Office accused the RSF of \"summary executions, mass killings, rapes, attacks against humanitarian workers, looting, abductions and forced displacement.\"\n\nA man walks by a house hit in recent fighting in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, April 25, 2023. Sudan has been torn by war for a year now, torn by fighting between the military and the notorious paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. (AP Photo/Marwan Ali, File)\n\nEven as the Trump administration works for a ceasefire between the warring factions, the killings continue.\n\nTom Perriello, the former U.S. special envoy for Sudan, said in a September New York Times interview that he believed up to 400,000 have been killed since the outbreak of violence in 2023. A recent article in Foreign Policy put the figure at 100,000 in what it called the \"forgotten war.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-amo-introduce-bill-promote-drone-and-aviation-safety-advance-research", "Kean, Amo Introduce Bill to Promote Drone and Aviation Safety, Advance Research & Development", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(December 12, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Gabe Amo (RI-01) announced the introduction of the Drone Safety Enhancement Act, bipartisan legislation designed to advance research on drones and support the future of advanced air mobility.\n\nThe bill strengthens federal research and development (R&D) efforts focused on drone safety and autonomous aviation within the national airspace system. It also directly supports ongoing work at federal aviation laboratories\u2014including the FAA's William J. Hughes Technical Center for Advanced Aerospace located in New Jersey\u2014to ensure safe, efficient, and modern evolution of aviation technology.\n\n\u201cAs technology rapidly advances and drones become increasingly integrated into our daily lives, it is critical that air traffic for these systems is managed safely and transparently,\u201d said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. \u201cI introduced the Drone Safety Enhancement Act with Representative Amo to direct the research needed to modernize our national airspace and support responsible integration of emerging technologies. Continued R&D in autonomous aviation is vital to America\u2019s competitiveness and to guaranteeing our airspace remains safe, efficient, and prepared for the future.\u201d\n\n\u201cI\u2019m proud to help introduce the bipartisan Drone Safety Enhancement Act with Congressman Tom Kean to ensure the federal government is collaborating across agencies and with leaders in academia and industry to enhance our understanding of drones and advanced air mobility,\u201d said Congressman Gabe Amo. \u201cWe must harness emerging technologies for good.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the bill would:\n\nRequire the NASA Administrator, the FAA Administrator, and leaders of other relevant federal agencies to collaborate on research related to unmanned aircraft systems and advanced air mobility. This includes research on unmanned aircraft system traffic management (UTM) and autonomous aviation capabilities.\n\nRequire congressional briefings on the progress of this research 18 months after the bill\u2019s enactment.\n\nThe full text of the bill is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-applauds-court-ruling-forcing-trump-administration-restore-disaster", "Pallone Applauds Court Ruling Forcing Trump Administration to Restore Disaster Preparedness Funding for Highlands, Communities Across Country", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, today issued a statement following the successful lawsuit against the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal attempt to unilaterally shut down the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC program):\n\n\u201cDisaster preparedness shouldn\u2019t be a partisan issue, and this court order means the Trump Administration can\u2019t shut down a program designed to keep New Jersey communities safe. This is great news for Highlands, which had a $12 million award taken away by President Trump. I\u2019m going to keep pushing to make sure this Administration follows the law and delivers every dime. Our state is on the front line every hurricane season, and we know that every dollar invested in disaster preparedness saves property and lives. Trump is hellbent on abolishing FEMA and illegally gutting vital disaster assistance programs, and this lawsuit confirms that the power to legislate lies with Congress\u2014and not a power-hungry president.\"\n\nThe BRIC program is the core of FEMA\u2019s disaster mitigation efforts and has invested approximately $4.5 billion in funding nationwide and $180 million in New Jersey for projects such as evacuation shelters, grid strengthening, wastewater management infrastructure, road fortification, and flood walls.\n\nAfter the Trump Administration moved to unilaterally cancel funding for the program, attorneys general from the states of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, as well as the governors of Kentucky and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, filed a lawsuit to block the Administration\u2019s actions, arguing they were in direct violation of the Appropriations and Spending Clauses, the Administrative Procedure Act, and the Separation of Powers outlined in the U.S. Constitution. The judge\u2019s decision prevents FEMA from unilaterally terminating the BRIC program and mandates the immediate restoration of these funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-wants-answers-concerns-raised-state-health-planning-board-meeting-next", "Pallone Wants Answers To Concerns Raised by State Health Planning Board at Meeting Next Week on the Future of Monmouth Medical Center", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONG BRANCH, N.J. \u2013 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today released the following statement in response to the State Health Planning Board\u2019s decision to hold a special public meeting, Thursday December 16th, to consider RWJ Barnabas Health\u2019s proposal to move Monmouth Medical Center hospital from Long Branch to Tinton Falls:\n\n\u201cAt their last meeting on December 4th, the state health planning board echoed the concerns of community members who spoke out against the proposed removal of Monmouth Medical Center hospital from Long Branch. The Board had several questions about health disparities in the Long Branch area, transportation, and the impact on nearby hospitals and whether RWJ Barnabas Health would keep medical services in Long Branch long-term.\n\nThe Board asked serious questions that deserve answers with full analysis so we can better understand the impact of RWJ Barnabas\u2019 proposal. Instead of moving the hospital away from families who need it most, the State should invest in a solution that works for everyone.\n\nAs I have said from the beginning of this process, I continue to try and find a path forward in Long Branch to keep critical inpatient and outpatient acute care services with a full-service emergency department. We had a compromise that achieved that objective and if there\u2019s enough political will, we can make it a reality.\u201d\n\nPallone has led opposition to RWJ Barnabas Health\u2019s plan to close Monmouth Medical Center hospital in Long Branch from day one, arguing that the plan would worsen health care outcomes for area residents and deepen the national health care crisis for the region.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-statement-impeachment-resolution", "Congresswoman Pou Statement on Impeachment Resolution", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Nellie Pou", "P000621", "pou.house.gov", "pou", "https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ\u201309) issued the following statement after voting present to table H. Res.939.\n\n\u201cThe American people are counting on us to address the challenges created by this Administration. This President and this Republican Congress promised to make life in America more affordable \u2014 yet they have failed miserably.\n\n\u201cIt is clear that President Trump\u2019s disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law requires that Congress reclaim its oversight duties over his administration and exercise its authority in the way our founders intended.\n\n\u201cImpeachment calls for transparency, and a presentation of facts and evidence to the public, in order to hold any President to account for high crimes and misdemeanors. Under the current House MAGA leadership, those conditions are simply not available.\n\n\u201cIn order to hold any President to account for high crimes and misdemeanors, impeachment requires a transparent process with hearings, testimonies and investigations with the support of the majorities in the House and Senate \u2014 all conditions that are simply not available under the current Republican leadership.\n\n\u201cBecause there is no viable process for impeachment at this time, I voted present on today\u2019s motion to table the resolution. I want to be clear: this vote does not excuse the illegal actions of this president and his administration, Congress has other avenues for accountability that we can and should be utilizing.\n\n\u201cI am committed to upholding the rule of law, defending our Constitution and protecting democracy.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases/congresswoman-pou-votes-pay-raise-troops", "Congresswoman Pou Votes for a Pay Raise for Troops", "2025-12-12", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Nellie Pou", "P000621", "pou.house.gov", "pou", "https://pou.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON \u2014 Congresswoman Nellie Pou (D-NJ\u201309) issued the following statement after voting in favor of the bipartisan FY 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.\n\n\u201cThis week, I voted in favor of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act. Though far from perfect \u2014 this funding gives a well-deserved pay increase to military personnel, provides support to our allies and friends like Ukraine and Taiwan, repeals outdated sanctions to Syria, and strengthens our national security,\u201d said Congresswoman Pou. \u201cI am proud of our Democratic caucus which stood firm and defeated the inclusion of harmful amendments that attempted to please the president at the expense of the American people. I hope this bill is a testament to the bipartisan work that is possible, even in this Congress and I urge my colleagues on both sides to continue working together for the security, safety, and well-being of the American people.\u201d\n\nThe funding authorizes a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers, expands bonuses and special pays, extends childcare services for military families, boosts the family separation allowance, and orders a review to ensure housing allowances keep pace with rising rents. This bill repeals outdated Caesar Act sanctions on Syria, originally imposed during the rule of former dictator Bashar al-Assad. It provides $400 million in security assistance for Ukraine and extends the Pacific Deterrence Initiative to strengthen U.S. posture in the Indo-Pacific.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415165", "Lakewood Alerts article on Smith Lyme disease amendment'Is Lyme Disease a U.S.-Made Biological Weapon? Rep. Chris Smith Triggers Federal Probe'", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Lakewood Alerts\n\nPublished December 11, 2025\n\nA long-debated question about the origins of Lyme disease is poised for federal scrutiny after Congress approved an amendment requiring an investigation into whether the U.S. military once weaponized ticks. The provision, authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), was included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 and now awaits the President\u2019s signature.\n\nSmith\u2019s amendment, now Sec. 1068 of the defense bill, directs the Government Accountability Office to examine Cold War-era biological weapons research and determine whether federal agencies used ticks as delivery mechanisms for pathogens. The review will encompass military, NIH, and USDA projects from 1945 to 1972 involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales, two families of bacteria linked to tick-borne illnesses.\n\nSmith, who co-chairs the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus, said the push is rooted in New Jersey\u2019s unusually high infection rates and concerns for both civilians and military personnel stationed at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. \u201cThe hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans suffering from Lyme disease deserve to know the truth about the origins of their illness,\u201d he said.\n\nThe amendment follows two similar efforts Smith advanced in 2019 and 2021, which cleared the House but were blocked in the Senate. His renewed push has drawn attention in part because of claims featured in Kris Newby\u2019s book Bitten, which cites interviews and files from Dr. Willy Burgdorfer, the scientist credited with discovering Lyme disease. Burgdorfer, according to the book, said he and other researchers experimented with pathogen-loaded ticks for potential battlefield use.\n\nSmith said the GAO probe could either confirm or definitively dispel theories about government involvement in the spread of Lyme disease. \u201cIf the investigation concludes that our bioweapons program was not involved, we turn the page,\u201d he said. \u201cBut we need answers.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415166", "Opening statement of Chairman Smith at hearing on SudanStopping the Bloodshed: U.S. Response to Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "The following are excerpts of Chairman Chris Smith\u2019s (R-NJ) opening statement at the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee\u2019s December 11th hearing\u2014his seventeenth hearing chaired exclusively on Sudan\u2014entitled \u201cStopping the Bloodshed: U.S. Response to Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan\u201d:\n\nLast week, I had the honor of attending President Trump\u2019s convening of two African leaders to bring an end to decades of bloodshed and war in eastern Congo. It is through the President\u2019s leadership, and the tireless efforts of his staff, that the leaders were able to sign an historic accord\u2014the Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity\u2014the gravity of which, we hope, will result in a lasting peace between Rwanda and the DRC.\n\nThe President is a man of peace\u2014peace through strength\u2014and I am encouraged by his focus and engagement on Sudan.\n\nSudan is under the darkest of clouds, a catastrophe that has, for far too long, been met with paralysis by the international community.\n\nThe people of Sudan have been subjected to unbearable pain, suffering, and loss of life\u2014even slavery\u2014for decades. Three decades ago, I chaired a hearing in 1996 on the scourge of slavery in Sudan and Mauritania, where we heard testimony that chilled the soul.\n\nI went to Khartoum in August of 2005 and met with President Omar al Bashir and other government officials to press for an end to the genocide in Darfur. The meeting was necessarily contentious. Bashir denied any wrongdoing or complicity in the Darfur genocide. In 2009, however, Bashir was charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC) with committing war crimes and crimes against humanity, and in 2010, he was the first person ever charged for the crime of genocide.\n\nAfter meetings with Bashir and other government officials, my staff director, Greg Simkins, and I visited two refugee camps in Darfur\u2014Kalma camp and stayed overnight at another, Mukjar\u2014an experience that profoundly motivated me to do more to end the mass violence. When our helicopter landed at the remote Mukjar camp, thousands of women and children danced, clapped, and sang beautiful traditional African songs. The people of Darfur have a remarkable generosity and spirit\u2014and it was awe-inspiring.\n\nJust about everyone we spoke with, however, especially the women, told us personal stories of rape, senseless beatings, and massacres by the Janjaweed and Sudanese militias.\n\nFormer Trump Administration Africa Director in the National Security Council, Nicole Widdersheim of Human Rights Watch\u2014one of our witnesses today\u2014lived and worked in Sudan for seven years and was on that trip to Mukjar.\n\nAmbassador\u2014then-U.S. Senator\u2014Sam Brownback, along with Congressman Frank Wolf, were the first members of Congress to visit Darfur in June of 2004. Their historic trip\u2014followed by aggressive advocacy for the vulnerable and the victims\u2014helped galvanize efforts to end the violence.\n\nFormer Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Tony Perkins has also led a delegation to Sudan in 2020, and today will testify that \u201cboth the RSF and the SAF have a common enemy in Christians\u2026 Christians have been denied food aid and told, unless you leave your Christianity, no food for you.\u201d\n\nKen Isaacs of Samaritan\u2019s Purse, who testified at our subcommittee hearing this past May 22nd, will testify that \u201cToday, the humanitarian situation in Sudan has deteriorated further,\u201d that \u201cwhat\u2019s happening in Sudan is a manmade famine\u201d with \u201ctwenty-one million people facing acute food insecurity, and 6.5 million in or near famine\u2026\u201d\n\nHistory is not just repeating itself in Sudan\u2014it is compounding. President Trump called Sudan \"the most violent place on Earth\" and \"the single biggest Humanitarian Crisis,\" and said \"tremendous atrocities are taking place.\"\n\nToday, Sudan is in a state of collapse. We are witnessing a genocide that echoes the horrors of the early 2000s, perpetrated by the very same actors who soaked the soil of Darfur in blood two decades ago.\n\nThe Catholic Bishops of Sudan and South Sudan said: \u201cWe find ourselves deeply disturbed by the ongoing devastating conflicts and the dishonoured peace agreements in both nations, especially with the worsening situation in 2025. It is alarming that dialogue is no longer seen as a vehicle for harmony, healing, reconciliation, and unity,\u201d the prelates write.\n\nThe Bishops call out politicians in Sudan and South Sudan for their astonishing lack of respect for human dignity.\n\nThere will never be peace in Sudan until there is accountability for the atrocities committed by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known to the world as \"Hemedti,\" of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF).\n\nThese two warlords have ravaged Sudan with utter impunity. Their bloody records are littered with war, arbitrary killings, detentions, abductions, and the mass rape of women and children. We have received credible reports of child soldier recruitment and the deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, including just last week, a bombing of a World Food Program convoy, which is not an isolated incident. This is the sixth bombing of a World Food Program convoy in Sudan.\n\nJust last week, over 100 civilians \u2013 including at least 63 children \u2013 were killed in South Kordofan state when the RSF attacked a kindergarten. To compound the horror, the RSF then reportedly attacked the first responders and ambulances as they rushed wounded children to local hospitals. Since this conflict erupted in April 2023, estimates suggest as many as 150,000 people have been slaughtered, and more than 10 million have been displaced.\n\nThese are not just numbers. Each murdered civilian, each child starved to death in the Zamzam camp, each woman violated in El Geneina, is a person whose life has been taken or irrevocably shattered.\n\nI was deeply disappointed by the previous administration's delays in imposing robust sanctions and allowing the fight to spin out of control from the beginning. For too long, we dithered while Burhan and Hemedti cemented their power. It was unconscionable that Burhan was allowed to travel to New York and be received by the UN Secretary-General, granting legitimacy to a man with massive amounts of blood on his hands.\n\nWe must also be clear-eyed about the external actors fueling this fire. On Tuesday, the Department of the Treasury announced sanctions on a Colombian-led transnational network of hundreds of former Colombian military personnel, who have traveled to Sudan to fight alongside the RSF since 2024.\n\nIt is the illicit flow of Sudanese gold, smuggled by the RSF through the United Arab Emirates, that is directly funding Hemedti\u2019s war machine. We cannot turn a blind eye to the UAE\u2019s role in supplying weapons that kill innocent Sudanese civilians. Simultaneously, we see the malign influence of Russia seeking naval access to Port Sudan, and reports of Iranian drones bolstering the SAF. Sudan has become a playground for foreign powers, while its people serve as the collateral damage.\n\nToday\u2019s hearing is a global call to action. We must demand an immediate cessation of hostilities.\n\nExternal financing and arms flow must stop. The UAE must cease all support for the RSF, and Turkey and Iran must halt military assistance to the SAF.\n\nCrimes against humanity\u2014particularly by the RSF\u2014including mass rape, ethnic targeting, and systematic looting, must be investigated, and perpetrators held accountable. RSF should be designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO).\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415176", "WATCH: Rep. Chris Smith highlights House hearing on Sudanese Civil War and religious liberty concerns there", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, sat down with Tony Perkins on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss religious persecution throughout the globe, the violence perpetrated by Hamas and other radical Islamist groups, and his recent House hearing on the humanitarian crisis in Sudan.\n\nThe full interview can be viewed by clicking here.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415178", "The National article on Smith's House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'US politicians condemn RSF and SAF over human rights abuses in Sudan'", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By The National\n\nPublished December 11, 2025\n\nMembers of the US Congress on Thursday called for accountability in the civil war in Sudan, urging both sides to declare a ceasefire in a conflict that has killed tens of thousands.\n\nThe Africa Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee met to discuss the US response to the humanitarian crisis.\n\n\"There will never be peace in Sudan unless there's accountability for the atrocities committed by Gen [Abdel Fatah] Al Burhan of the Sudanese Armed Forces and [Gen] Mohamed Dagalo \u2026 of the Rapid Support Forces, the RSF,\" Representative Chris Smith said. \"These two have savaged Sudan with impunity.\"\n\nThe war between the armed forces and the RSF erupted in April 2023, when simmering tension between the military and the paramilitary group broke into open conflict. The war has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced almost 13 million and pushed some regions into famine.\n\n\"From our perspective, there are no good actors in this conflict,\" Vincent Spera, deputy assistant secretary at the State Department's Bureau of African Affairs.\n\nThe armed forces and RSF have been accused of war crimes and human rights abuses. The US has imposed sanctions on Gen Al Burhan and Gen Dagalo, as well as people and entities involved in human rights violations. Mr. Spera pointed to the army being placed under sanctions in May for its use of chemical weapons in 2024.\n\nThe UAE embassy in Washington issued a statement on Sudan, condemning attacks on civilians and lamenting the humanitarian crisis in the East African nation.\n\nThe embassy said the UAE has consistently called for an arms embargo across Sudan and said there is no substantiated evidence that it has provided any support to the RSF or any warring parties.\n\n\"Claims suggesting otherwise are an attempt to misrepresent the facts and distract from the urgent need for a ceasefire and for accountability among those perpetrating violence on the ground,\" the statement said.\n\nCongressman Gregory Meeks condemned the RSF and the Sudanese military for destroying \"a nation's hopes for the future in the pursuit of corrupt wealth and power.\"\n\n\"I think it's past time for Congress and for the administration to take action collectively,\" Mr. Meeks said. \"This means not only pressing the RSF and SAF to agree to cease fire in negotiations, but also enforcing real consequences for external actors.\"\n\nUS President Donald Trump declared last month that he would focus on ending the conflict, after a conversation with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the US form the Quad group that is working to bring about peace in the region.\n\n\"We're focused on a road map to peace, starting with the humanitarian truce, to allow for the delivery of more humanitarian assistance, which would create the conditions for political dialogue and ultimately, a civilian-led process,\" Mr. Spera said.\n\nMr. Smith said that Sudan \"has become a playground for foreign powers.\" He and congresswoman Sara Jacobs accused the UAE of arming the RSF.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases/reps-mciver-cleaver-reintroduce-bill-to-protect-and-prepare-workers-for-economic-impact-of-ai", "Reps. McIver, Cleaver Reintroduce Bill to Protect and Prepare Workers for Economic Impact of AI", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "LaMonica McIver", "M001229", "mciver.house.gov", "mciver", "https://mciver.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO-5), and Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) reintroduced the Workforce of the Future Act, legislation that would require a detailed study to grow our understanding of artificial intelligence (AI), its impact on the economy and workforce, and determine the skills necessary for workers to succeed. Additionally, the bill would provide workers, teachers, and students with the resources to develop integral skills required to participate in the workforce of the future. Companion legislation was introduced in the Senate by Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Mazie Hirono (HI), and Adam Schiff (CA).\n\n\u201cWorking people deserve innovation that expands opportunity\u2014not eliminates it. Strengthening our understanding of how AI is impacting jobs in real time and investing directly in education makes sure Americans are not caught flat-footed as AI accelerates,\u201d said Congresswoman McIver. \u201cBy prioritizing training that delivers economic gains to young people and underrepresented communities, the Workforce of the Future Act puts power back where it belongs: with the people who keep our economy running.\u201d\n\n\u201cWhile there is much excitement about the potential of AI and the benefits it can bring to our communities, there is also much concern about the impacts it will have on American workers, their jobs, and their wages. It is critically important that we take steps today to prepare our nation and our workforce for the economic consequences that are rapidly approaching with thegrowing adoption of AI,\u201d said Congressman Cleaver. \u201cThe Workforce ofthe Future Act will provide the investments necessary to ensure American workers are ready and able to capitalize on those opportunities and that nobody is left behind.\u201d\n\n\"Artificial intelligence is increasingly disrupting our economy, contributing to layoffs and occupational changes,\u201d said Senator Blunt Rochester. \u201cBuilding off the work done by Senator Laphonza Butler in the last Congress, I\u2019m proud to introduce the Workforce of the Future Act alongside Senators Hirono and Schiff and Representatives Cleaver and McIver. This bill allows us to remain proactive, protect workers who are most impacted by the technology, and supercharge the future of work by ensuring our future workforce has the skills they need to succeed. As Delaware\u2019s former Secretary of Labor, I have spent my career ensuring people can access and maintain stable, good-paying jobs. I will maintain this commitment in theSenate as we race to confront the challenges of tomorrow.\u201d\n\n\u201cAI is already transforming every corner of our economy in California and across the country. That\u2019s why it\u2019s critical the federal government do more to evaluate how AI will impact workers, while also investing in job training programs to prevent AI-related job displacement,\u201d said Senator Schiff. \u201cI\u2019m pleased to join Senators Blunt Rochester and Hirono as well as Representatives Cleaver and McIver on the Workforce of the Future Act. We must act now to gain a full understanding of the impact of AI on theworkplace, so we can ensure access to good paying jobs for the American people even as technology changes how we work.\u201d\n\n\u201cAs advanced and emerging technologies\u2014including AI\u2014become rapidly integrated within society, it is imperative that we prepare our workforce for these changes,\u201d said Senator Hirono. \u201cSpecifically, we must ensure advances enabled by AI are used to strengthen, not weaken, the workforce. I am proud to introduce the Workforce of the Future Act to better prepare and equip workers with the skills necessary to adapt to AI and a rapidly-changing work environment.\u201d\n\nWithout proper guardrails, the impact AI could have on our economy is wide-ranging. According to studies from the Massachusetts Institute ofTechnology (MIT), AI could replace nearly 12 percent of the workforce. Currently, many recent college grads report being unable to find work. This legislation addresses the most pressing concerns behind AI\u2019s rapid advancement in our workforce while also providing resources to prepare individuals to succeed in advanced technology sectors.\n\nThe Workforce of the Future Act will:\n\nRequire the Secretaries of Labor, Commerce, and Education to jointly and efficiently prepare a report analyzing AI\u2019s impact on theeconomy and workforce that must identify critical information, including what industries and jobs will be most impacted, how job quality will be impacted, necessary skills for workers, and recommendations for preparing the 21st century workforce.\n\nAuthorize the Department of Education to award $160 million in grants to support expanding access to emerging and advanced technology education. Grants will help support foundational and innovative STEAM learning for students who need this knowledge to participate in the 21st century workforce.\n\nGrants must leverage information and recommendations from the report and may be used for teacher training and recruiting, high-quality learning materials, reducing gaps in access for underrepresented groups, engaging industry, and providing necessary support for student success.\n\nAuthorize the Department of Labor to award $90 million in grantsto support workforce training for workers most impacted by AI.\n\nGrants must leverage information and recommendations from the report and support the training of workers to prevent AI-related displacement and provide immediate support and training to workers who experience job loss in AI-impacted industries.\n\nThe Workforce of the Future Act is co-sponsored by Representatives Dan Goldman (D-NY), John Larson (D-CT), and Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC).\n\nThe Workforce of the Future Act is endorsed by the American Federation ofTeachers (AFT), Anthropic, the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Microsoft, the National Association of Voice Actors (NAVA), OpenAI, the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation ofTelevision and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-announces-sea-bright-edison-will-receive-50000-funds-firefighter", "Pallone Announces Sea Bright, Edison Will Receive $50,000 in Funds For Firefighter Equipment and Training", "2025-12-11", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "EDISON, N.J. \u2013 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today announced that the towns of Edison and Sea Bright will receive over $50,000 in federal funding to upgrade and modernize their firefighting equipment. The funding comes from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)\u2019s Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) funding grant, which is a program Pallone has fought to support and protect in the face of President Trump\u2019s efforts to abolish FEMA.\n\nThe funding will help Sea Bright obtain funds to purchase new Automated External Defibrillators, a LUCAS Automated Chest Compression System, a new Rapid Intervention Air Bag system for firefighters in distress, and training for the new equipment. The funding will also help Edison obtain funding for Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) and Emergency Medical Response certifications for firefighters.\n\n\u201cI\u2019m glad that Edison and Sea Bright were able to secure these grants to provide local firefighters with new and updated equipment, and ensure they have the training they need to use it,\u201d Pallone said. \u201cIt\u2019s essential that our first responders have the resources they need to respond to emergencies. I\u2019ll continue to work to make sure that New Jersey\u2019s towns continue to receive federal funding to keep their residents and first responders safe.\u201d\n\n\u201cSea Bright is grateful to receive this Assistance to Firefighters Grant from FEMA, which will directly support our ongoing efforts to enhance public safety for residents and visitors,\u201d said Mayor Brian Kelly. \u201cThis funding will allow Sea Bright Fire Rescue to upgrade critical equipment and continue delivering the highest level of service to our community.\u201d\n\n\u201cThank you, Congressman Frank Pallone, for helping Edison secure funds for the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program,\u201d said Mayor Sam Joshi. \u201cThis will significantly enhance our firefighting capabilities, ensuring that our brave first responders have improved safety and resources they need to protect our community. We are grateful for this investment in our public safety and committed to using these funds to further safeguard our first responders and residents.\u201d\n\nPallone is one of the champions in Congress who fights to secure adequate funding for the Assistance to Firefighters (AFG) grant program. AFG grants are awarded directly to fire departments and Emergency Medical Services organizations (EMS) to enhance their ability to protect the health and safety of the public, as well as that of first responder personnel. Since its implementation in 2001, the AFG program has provided more than $8 billion to fire departments and EMS organizations across the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415161", "The Epoch Times article on the CECC's 2025 Annual Report'CCP's History of \"Broken Promises,\" Human Rights Abuses Harms US, World: Congressional Commission'", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Catherine Yang\n\nPublished December 10, 2025\n\nChina has regressed with respect to rule of law, according to the Congressional-Executive Commission on China\u2019s (CECC) 2025 annual report, released Dec. 10, which highlights the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) long history of breaking promises.\n\nThe commission was created in 2000 to monitor human rights and rule of law in China.\n\n\u201cBroken promises are not an exception; they are a feature of how the CCP deals with the world and with its own people,\u201d commission co-chairs Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) said in a statement in the report.\n\n\u201cThese broken promises affect Americans,\u201d they stated. For example, Americans traveling to China for work or study can become subject to exit bans and arbitrary detention, Chinese forced labor becomes intertwined with U.S. supply chains, national security laws grant the regime \u201csweeping access\u201d to American data, and the regime carries out its human rights abuses extraterritorially through transnational repression such as overseas police stations.\n\nThe annual report includes dozens of recommendations aimed at curbing longstanding CCP practices that harm the United States and international community, including several bills that lawmakers have introduced this year.\n\nOfficers of China's military and police arrive for the third plenary session of the National People's Congress in Beijing on March 12, 2019. Kevin Frayer/Getty Images\n\nThe chairs called on the United States and free world allies to reject Beijing\u2019s attempts to incentivize and divide, because otherwise \u201cAmericans pay the price\u2014in security, in prosperity, and in credibility.\u201d\n\n\u201cUpholding human dignity helps keep markets fairer, travel safer, technology freer, and alliances stronger. It reduces the leverage authoritarian states\u2014led by a totalitarian [People\u2019s Republic of China]\u2014wield over people and partners,\u201d the chairs stated.\n\nIn addition to producing an annual report, the CECC maintains the Political Prisoner Database, which contained 11,262 records as of June 30, which the commission believes is an underreporting of the actual number. They include 2,755 active detentions; the rest are either believed or known to have been released, or have been executed, died in custody, or escaped.\n\nThey include Zhang Zhan, a journalist who reported on the CCP\u2019s response to the COVID-19 outbreak, as well as critics of that response who hung banners in public spaces, such as Peng Lifa, Mei Shilin, and Fang Yirong. They also include artists depicting what the regime considers sensitive issues, such as Gao Zhen, whose work depicted the Cultural Revolution, and Uyghur filmmaker Ikram Nurmehmet.\n\nAmong them are religious believers who do not promote and practice the CCP\u2019s version of religions, such as Xin Ruoyu, who worked on developing a Christian app that provided users access to hymns and worship music, and Zhao Ying, an elderly woman aged over 80 sentenced to more than three years in prison for giving people materials about Falun Gong.\n\nWorst Offender\n\nChina continues to rank among the worst human rights offenders in various reports. Reporters Without Borders ranked China 178 out of 180 countries and territories and the leading jailer of journalists in its 2025 press freedom reports. Freedom House scored China zero out of four on \u201cfree and independent media.\u201d\n\nThe commission saw an increase in dissent as well as suppression in recent years. It cited a China Dissent Monitor report finding a 27 percent year-on-year increase in events from a period July to September 2023 to 2024. The regime created central and local branches of the Central Society Work department in 2023 to further control society and eliminate \u201cillegal social organizations.\u201d In 2025, it tightened rules on banning these organizations.\n\nThe commission reported it observed a \u201ca coordinated campaign, led by the United Front Work Department\u201d to tighten \u201cgovernance of religion\u201d in 2025. This included suppression of ethnic minority Muslim groups, asserting authority of the Catholic Church in China despite an agreement with the Vatican, mass arrests of Protestant house church leaders, and directing \u201cconsiderable resources and attention\u201d in the CCP\u2019s continued persecution of Falun Gong.\n\nUnder the CCP, the criminal justice system is a \u201cpolitical instrument,\u201d according to the report. Dissidents can be arbitrarily detained in \u201cblack jails\u201d such as psychiatric facilities, without formal legal process, and subjected to torture and other mistreatment.\n\nInfluence Operations and Overseas Oppression\n\nThe commission reported an increase in the regime\u2019s digital activities in realms of censorship and global influence campaigns. For instance, U.S.-based OpenAI found accounts that \u201cappear to originate in China\u201d using AI to write articles criticizing the United States and denouncing a critic of the regime.\n\nThe regime\u2019s regulations require embedding \u201ccore values of socialism\u201d into its AI models, raising concerns about how Chinese AI and software can expand the regime\u2019s censorship model.\n\nBeijing is also building out physical infrastructure by way of satellite expansion, which has raised concerns about the regime\u2019s ability to spread its digital authoritarianism.\n\nIts efforts to suppress critics internationally are \u201cmultifaceted,\u201d according to the report, which cites bounties the regime placed on Hong Kong activists, as well as passport cancellations, harassment, hacking, and diplomatic pressure for extradition of dissidents.\n\nThe commission noted that several pieces of legislation addressing transnational repression have already been introduced, and recommended that the government produce a threat assessment of CCP transnational repression and whether there are statutory gaps.\n\nIt also recommended an interagency hub be formed to address the CCP\u2019s malign influence on civil society and institutions.\n\nLong History of Broken Agreements\n\nIn addition to Chinese laws that outline several human rights protections, Beijing has signed onto several international human rights and standards agreements that the regime continually violates, according to the report.\n\nIn 1979, Beijing ratified the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations which requires consular officers to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving state, and Chinese embassies in the United States have many times found to be engaging in the CCP\u2019s transnational repression against critics of the regime, such as the high profile incident of instigating violence against peaceful protestors during the 2023 APEC summit in San Francisco, and carrying out espionage.\n\nIn 1981, it ratified the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, requiring a commitment to reverse laws or regulations that perpetuate racial discrimination. Yet the CCP is currently actively erasing minority cultures by forcing Tibetan, Uyghur, and Mongolian children to attend \u201ccolonial boarding schools\u201d that teach a CCP-centric curriculum and penalize the use of native languages and cultural customs.\n\nIn 1984, Beijing ratified the Sino-British Joint Declaration, meant to guarantee Hong Kong \u201ca high degree of autonomy\u201d with independent executive, legislative, and judicial powers. In recent years, the world witnessed as the CCP cracked down on protesters in Hong Kong and the passing of vaguely worded national security laws that give the CCP sweeping power to target dissenters.\n\nIn 1988, the regime ratified the Convention Against Torture, but regular reports from human rights lawyers and religious prisoners show that the regime is continuing to torture political and religious prisoners such as the Uyghur Muslims and Falun Gong practitioners, which have found to be targets of live organ harvesting by the regime. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice that teachers truth, compassion, and tolerance. It was introduced to the public in China in the early 1990s and banned by the regime in 1999. The commission recommended passing bills introduced that would prohibit U.S. public funds from paying for medical care related to organ transplants obtained in China and sanction perpetrators of organ harvesting.\n\nIn 1996, it ratified the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea, which the regime has violated by building and militarizing artificial islands in contested territory in the South China Sea and increasing maritime aggression against Philippine vessels.\n\nIn 2001, Beijing ratified the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, which includes agreements safeguarding fair labor practices. However, the only labor union in China is one led by the CCP, and the regime typically treats strikes as a criminal offense. Multiple investigations in recent years have also uncovered regime-imposed slave labor, including the exploitation of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.\n\nAn Environmental Justice Foundation investigation also revealed the forced labor of North Korean workers on Chinese fishing ships, and the Brazilian government has accused China\u2019s BYD of employing at least 163 workers in \u201cslave-like conditions\u201d and withholding workers\u2019 passports and salaries. The report also noted that workers are subjected to \u201cexcessive overtime practices,\u201d including coffee farm workers in Yunnan who supply coffee to Starbucks and Nestle.\n\nThe covenant also protects parents\u2019 freedom to choose schools to \u201censure the religious and moral education of their children,\u201d which the CCP continues to violate.\n\nIn 2022, the regime ratified the Forced Labor Convention, but the commission found that systemic forced labor practices involving Uyghurs and Turkic minorities have expanded in Xinjiang this past year. The United States government considers the CCP\u2019s persecution of the Uyghur minority a genocide and has enacted law to prohibit the entry of goods made with forced labor in response. The commission recommended strengthening existing mechanisms and expediting the blacklisting of companies using forced labor and mandating transparency in supply chains. The vast majority of Chinese cotton is produced in Xinjiang, and U.S. lawmakers have pressed for better disclosures and due diligence from Chinese fashion retailers.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415162", "Major 2026 defense bill includes Smith amendment to combat LymeSmith amendment to probe whether the U.S. military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease passes House", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "A critical amendment authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to investigate whether the U.S. military weaponized ticks with Lyme disease has been included in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26 NDAA) (S. 1071), which has cleared the U.S. House of Representatives, headed to the Senate, and is expected to be signed by President Trump upon its final passage.\n\nSmith\u2019s amendment\u2014now Sec. 1068 of the bill\u2014directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO)\u2014the Congressional \u201cwatchdog\u201d\u2014to investigate the Cold War-era Department of Defense (Department of War) bioweapons program and determine whether they ever used ticks as hosts or delivery mechanisms for biological warfare agents.\n\n\u201cNew Jersey has one of the highest Lyme rates in the United States\u2014the disease is present in all 21 counties,\u201d noted Smith, Co-Chair of the Congressional Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Caucus. \u201cThe pervasive presence of Lyme disease in New Jersey not only carries concerns for civilians, but also for the military personnel stationed in the state\u2014especially and including those serving at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, part of which is located within my congressional district.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, Smith\u2019s amendment in the NDAA compels the Comptroller General of the United States to conduct an exhaustive review of research conducted by the military, the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and other federal agencies between the period of January 1, 1945 and December 31, 1972, regarding experiments involving Spirochaetales and Rickettsiales\u2014two forms of tick-borne bacteria.\n\n\u201cNow that this vital provision has advanced out of the House, we are one step closer to finally determining whether the U.S. government\u2019s bioweapons program contributed to the proliferation of Lyme disease,\u201d stated Smith. \u201cIf the GAO investigation concludes that our government\u2019s bioweapons program was not involved, we turn the page.\n\n\u201cThe hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans suffering from Lyme disease\u2014in addition to the millions across the United States\u2014deserve to know the truth about the origins of their illness. An enhanced understanding of how Lyme came to be will only assist in finding a cure for this debilitating disease,\u201d said Smith.\n\nIn previous Congresses, Smith offered two similar amendments\u2014one in 2019 and the other in 2021\u2014both of which passed the House, but were blocked in the Senate.\n\nSmith\u2019s amendments have been inspired in-part by the explosion of Lyme disease in New Jersey and Kris Newby\u2019s book, Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons. The book includes in-depth interviews with and the personal files of Dr. Willy Burgdorfer\u2014the federal researcher and U.S. bioweapons specialist credited with discovering Lyme disease\u2014who later revealed that he and other bio-weapons specialists injected ticks with pathogens in order to cause severe disability, disease, and even death to potential enemies in unsuspecting ways.\n\nIn addition to Smith\u2019s section on Lyme disease, the FY26 NDAA includes significant reforms to our Nation\u2019s military, making it better prepared to meet the threats of the future and ensuring fairness for those who answer the call to serve.\n\n\u201cThe FY26 NDAA authorizes $900.6 billion for national defense discretionary programs\u2014proving that Congress is capable of properly funding our military\u2019s operations and supporting our servicemembers, all while ensuring greater fiscal accountability for American taxpayers,\u201d said Smith, the former Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans\u2019 Affairs.\n\n\u201cThis bill supports President Trump\u2019s \u2018peace through strength\u2019 agenda by investing in enhanced defense technologies and activities to more effectively protect America\u2019s lands, seas, and skies.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the FY26 NDAA:\n\nImproves servicemember quality of life by implementing a 3.8% pay raise and enhances military bonuses and special pay;\n\nFully funds the establishment and enforcement of National Defense Areas along the southwest border;\n\nCodifies President Trump\u2019s executive orders and legislative proposals to eliminate poisonous \u201cwoke\u201d and DEI policies, which harm military recruitment and retention;\n\nAdvances and supports President Trump\u2019s Golden Dome program for missile and drone defense to protect the homeland;\n\nAuthorizes more than $1 billion to combat drug trafficking, including $398 million for DOW support of counter-narcotics operations and $216 million for National Guard counter-drug initiatives;\n\nAllocates $145.7 billion to research, develop, test, and evaluate new technologies, such as drones and counter-drone systems, urgently needed by warfighters;\n\nAuthorizes $26 billion in shipbuilding funding for submarines and surface vessels;\n\nAuthorizes more than $35 billion to restore the United States\u2019 arsenal of munitions\u2014critical for installations, such as Naval Weapons Station Earle;\n\nAuthorizes $38 billion to ensure air dominance, including funds for a next-generation fighter;\n\nProtects the security of Israel by fully funding joint U.S.-Israel cooperative missile defense programs, such as the Iron Dome, Arrow, and David\u2019s Sling;\n\nCounters the innumerable national security threats posed by Communist China by removing Chinese products from our defense supply chains, authorizing $2.7 billion for military construction projects in the Indo-Pacific, fully funding the Taiwan Security Cooperation Initiative at $1 billion, and supporting our allies in the Indo-Pacific to oppose China\u2019s malign influence operations; and\n\nReforms the defense acquisition system by fast-tracking novel war technologies to the warfighter.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415163", "Catholic News Agency article on Smith's work to promote religious freedom'Trump to create sanctions plan for Nigeria, congressman says'", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Madalaine Elhabbal\n\nPublished December 10, 2025 at 15:30 PM\n\nU.S. President Donald Trump is crafting a sanctions plan to increase pressure on the Nigerian government amid ongoing Christian persecution, according to a leading member of Congress.\n\nPresident Trump \u201cis in the process of crafting a comprehensive action plan including sanctions to pursue reform,\u201d according to Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, who described Nigeria as \u201cground zero,\u201d and the \u201cfocal point of the most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world today.\u201d\n\nSmith, a Catholic who chairs the house Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights, mentioned the plan during his Dec. 9 speech at \u201cThe Emergency Summit on Crimes Against Christians,\u201d organized by For the Martyrs, a nonprofit that aids persecuted Christians. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Missouri, and Rep. Marlin Stuzman, R-Indiana, also spoke at the event.\n\nRep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, speaks about a sanctions plan to increase pressure on the Nigerian government amid ongoing Christian persecution on Dec. 9, 2025. | Credit: Madalaine Elhabbal/CNA\n\nThe veteran New Jersey congressman praised Trump\u2019s designation of Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) and affirmed that \u201cReligious freedom will now be at the forefront of the U.S.-Nigeria bilateral relationship.\u201d\n\nThe president can choose from a menu of sanctions for a CPC-designated country under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), ranging from diplomatic measures to economic sanctions. The White House did not immediately reply to a request for comment.\n\nDuring his remarks, Senator Josh Hawley said Nigeria \u201chas recently drawn global attention and has drawn the attention of our own president.\u201d\n\n\u201cI applaud President Trump for standing up for persecuted Christians. I applaud the president for putting Nigeria back on the watch list where it belongs,\u201d Hawley said. The Missouri senator quoted the Book of Revelation while praising Christians persecuted around the world, saying: \u201cThey love not their lives, even unto death.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe see here in the Lord's own word, his testament to the power of the persecuted church,\u201d Hawley said. \u201cThat he says it is those who are persecuted, who are willing to lay down their lives for the Gospel\u2026it is those believers whose blood bears witness to the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ.\u201d\n\nStutzman, whose district includes Fort Wayne, Indiana, also condemned the persecution of Christians in Nigeria during his remarks, and praised Trump for being \u201cthe strongest president on [religious freedom] since probably Ronald Reagan.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe have a president who's willing to call out those bad guys around the world,\u201d he said. \u201cAt the end of the day, I think this is why it's so important for us as Americans, especially for us as Christians. We are the party of life. We believe life is a gift from God. And so therefore, we should protect it. And we should be asking those folks, What is the threat? What is the threat of Christians in Nigeria to the government, to the leaders in that nation? What is the threat of Christians there?\u201d\n\nTrump has charged Rep. Riley Moore, R-West Virginia, with leading an investigation into persecution in Nigeria.\n\nChina\n\nCongressman Smith went on to highlight religious persecution in China, saying \u201cChinese dictator Xi Jinping\u2019s accelerated and brutal crackdown on believers in China must be exposed and stopped as well.\u201d He highlighted the October raids on home churches by Chinese security agents, saying, \u201cin Xi Jinping\u2019s China, devotion that isn\u2019t Communist Party-approved is treated as a political problem to be solved by police brutality.\u201d\n\n\u201cWe must act with sanctions, especially those prescribed by the International Religious Freedom Act,\u201d Smith said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415170", "SeafoodSource article on the CECC's 2025 Annual Report'US commission on China calls on Congress to do more to curtail forced labor in seafood supply chain'", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Chris Chase\n\nPublished December 10, 2025\n\nThe U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China\u2019s (CECC) latest annual report \u2013 released to coincide with International Human Rights Day \u2013 features seafood prominently as it calls on Congress and the U.S. government as a whole to do more to combat forced labor.\n\nSeafood from China has been under scrutiny by the U.S. government, in part thanks to a report released by The Outlaw Ocean Project which released findings of a multi-month investigation into the global seafood supply chain. That investigation found extensive evidence of forced labor in processing facilities operated by multiple Chinese companies connected to the U.S. supply chain and U.S. companies.\n\nA later report revealed further evidence of Uyghur and forced labor being used by the Chinese processing industry, and Outlaw Ocean followed that report up with one in 2024 on the presence of North Korean laborers, the abuses they suffer, and the seafood produced by them present in the U.S. supply chain.\n\nThe U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China is calling for more action to tackle the presence of forced labor in China's seafood supply chain | Photo courtesy of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China\n\nSince that time, the U.S. government has placed an increased focus on Chinese seafood and removing seafood linked to forced labor from the supply chain. The CECC first called for an investigation into allegations from the first Outlaw Ocean report on Uyghur labor and later called on the administration of former U.S. President Joe Biden to collaborate across departments to determine whether seafood processed in China using North Korean labor was making its way into the U.S.\n\nThose efforts have continued in 2025, as U.S. lawmakers demanded the elimination of Chinese-sourced seafood from its military, called for harsh sanctions against Chinese seafood over human rights violations, and recently the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee approved the Stop Illegal Fishing Act which would impose sanctions on foreign individuals and vessels connected to illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing \u2013 particularly China\u2019s distant-water fleet.\n\nThe CECC\u2019s latest report continued those calls for action and again highlighted seafood in what it said was evidence of promises broken by the Chinese government.\n\n\u201cPromises made, promises broken: The People\u2019s Republic of China \u2013 in reality, a party state run by and for the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party \u2013 makes solemn commitments then governs as if those commitments are optional,\u201d CECC Chair Senator Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska) and Co-Chair Representative Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey) wrote in the report.\n\nThe two chairs said the broken promises by China are affecting Americans, including through the continued use of forced labor in seafood processing, which exposes U.S. consumers to seafood sourced unethically.\n\n\u201cWhere commitments are repeatedly set aside \u2013 on labor, religion, due process, or maritime norms \u2013 U.S. policy must be calibrated to address behavior that harms U.S. interests,\u201d the chairs wrote. \u201cThat means sustained enforcement against forced labor, real traceability in high-risk sectors like seafood and lithium, and alignment of federal procurement with human rights standards so that American consumers and workers are not made to subsidize coercion.\u201d\n\nThe CECC said the U.S. government should work to stop imports of Chinese seafood associated with forced labor, both to defend the U.S. fishing industry from unfair competition and to pressure China and its corporations to end exploitive labor practices violating international standards.\n\nAs part of that, the CECC has urged Congress to follow through on restricting Department of Defense spending on Chinese seafood imports, urged the Office of Management and Budget to issue clear guidance on procuring goods made with forced labor \u2013 particularly seafood processed in China \u2013 and said the secretary of state and U.S. director of national intelligence should issue a report on how much money is being exchanged between China and North Korea linked to seafood processing that skirts U.S. sanctions.\n\nOn top of its calls for action from Congress, the CECC said the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump should work to implement its executive order on seafood and issue an interagency trade strategy to combat forced labor and IUU fishing, establish a blacklist of vessels that have engaged in IUU and of Chinese processing facilities implicated in using forced labor, and grant law enforcement more resources to investigate Chinese fleets engaged in IUU and processing facilities connected with forced labor.\n\nThe CECC also said the U.S. government should strengthen its enforcement of the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act \u2013 which includes more targeted sanctions for goods like seafood that were found to be connected to the use of Uyghur labor.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-votes-fy2026-national-defense-authorization-act-supports-pay-raise", "Kean Votes for FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act, Supports Pay Raise for Servicemembers and Picatinny Arsenal Mission", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "December 10, 2025\n\n(December 10, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) released the following statement after voting yes on the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act:\n\n\u201cTonight, I voted in support of the FY2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to strengthen our national security, promote peace through strength, and deliver real improvements for our servicemembers.\n\n\u201cThis year's NDAA makes major strides in protecting our homeland. It provides critical resources to ensure continued security at our southern border, counters growing threats from foreign adversaries like China, and strengthens counterterrorism efforts. The SAFER SKIES Act, which is included in the bill, empowers authorities with the necessary tools to defeat drones when they present a threat to the public. Our bill also advances America\u2019s military dominance by revitalizing the defense industrial base and investing in key priorities like missile defense, autonomous systems, and new warships.\n\n\u201cFor the state of New Jersey, the final NDAA includes a version of my amendment to bolster ammunition capabilities, which will support the critical work being done at Picatinny Arsenal. To support our servicemembers and their families, the bill provides a 3.8% troop pay raise, expands access to childcare and healthcare, and improves housing. These improvements will ensure that those who serve our country can focus on their mission without worrying about the well-being of their loved ones.\n\n\u201cI look forward to seeing this legislation, which puts our national security and servicemembers first, head to the President\u2019s desk for signing.\u201d\n\n###\n\nIssues:National Defense", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-republicans-block-congressman-menendezs-amendments-to-protect-the-clean-water-act", "House Republicans Block Congressman Menendez\u2019s Amendments to Protect the Clean Water Act", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Yesterday, Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08) challenged House Republicans for refusing to consider his amendments to H.R. 3898, the PERMIT Act, a Republican bill that would weaken the Clean Water Actand erode critical protections that keep our nation\u2019s water systems safe, undercut states\u2019 authority to protect the environment, and jeopardize the health of American families. Rep. Menendez\u2019s amendments included critical protections for water quality and requirements for the EPA to certify that this legislation will not damage water quality in estuaries.\n\n\u201cEnsuring that our water remains clean has historically been a bipartisan issue, but now House Republicans are jeopardizing the safety of our water systems,\u201d said Rep. Menendez. \u201cI am disappointed but not surprised that House Republicans rejected our efforts to reduce the harm that this bill will bring in dismantling key protections of the Clean Water Act. Our communities deserve better than this legislation and that is what I will always fight for.\u201d\n\nTo protect New Jersey\u2019s waterways and estuarine ecosystems, Congressman Menendez\u2019s amendments required that this legislation not go into effect until the EPA Administrator certifies that it will not deteriorate water quality in the nation\u2019s estuaries. Another amendment would have struck the section of this bill requiring that cost to polluting entities and be considered when developing water quality criteria, which are currently a purely health-based standard.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has proudly represented New Jersey\u2019s Eighth Congressional District since 2023. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, and sits on the Subcommittees on Environment, Energy, and Communications and Technology. Congressman Menendez has consistently fought against corporate polluters and for clean water protections, including his recent push for the EPA to accelerate the cleanup of the Diamond Alkali Superfund Site, which has polluted the Passaic River and Newark Bay.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://norcross.house.gov/press-releases?ID=2903AB58-83F7-4712-BBCF-7522303D9B25", "FY26 National Defense Authorization Act Passes House of Representatives", "2025-12-10", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Donald Norcross", "N000188", "norcross.house.gov", "norcross", "https://norcross.house.gov/press-releases", "page_html", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the House of Representatives.\n\nThe FY26 NDAA improves military readiness and strengthens American industry by cutting red tape, fixing outdated systems, and supporting defense innovation. The FY26 NDAA also includes a 3.8% pay raise for all servicemembers and authorizes $1.5 billion in new construction of barracks, dormitories, housing, and child development centers.\n\n\u201cThe National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a commitment to our nation\u2019s security and a steadfast investment in the courageous men and women in our armed forces. After a year-long effort, we have delivered a robust bill that ensures that our troops are manned, trained, and equipped with the best to carry out our nation\u2019s mission and return home safely. It provides a $3.8% pay raise to all servicemembers, and it cuts down on red tape to make certain that our men and women in uniform have the resources they need to keep our country safe,\u201d said Congressman Donald Norcross. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation strengthens our industrial base, supports our allies, and streamlines procurement and decision-making. As ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Subcommittee, I was honored to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to strengthen our national defense, invest in our industrial base, and deliver for South Jersey.\u201d\n\nFiscal Year 2026 NDAA Priorities Secured by Rep. Norcross:\n\nOver $618 million for CH-47 helicopters, which will be manufactured by South Jersey workers.\n\nNearly $2.5 billion for the KC-46 refueler aircraft, which flies out of Joint Base McGuire-Dix Lakehurst.\n\nRequired an Army study to on the consequences of ammunition research and development away from Picatinny Arsenal in Wharton, New Jersey.\n\nRequired the Secretary of Defense to submit regular reports when they are housing undocumented immigrants on military bases, including if migrants are held at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.\n\n$9.9 million investment to enhance Army command and control for unmanned systems and their defense which will be developed by South Jersey workers.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-03-30T11:08:25Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415160", "CatholicVote article on Smith's upcoming House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee hearing on Sudan'Rep. Chris Smith calls attention to bloodshed in Sudan'", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Elise Winland\n\nPublished December 9, 2025\n\nRep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., is spotlighting Sudan\u2019s deepening civil war and the mounting atrocities against civilians ahead of a new congressional hearing on the conflict.\n\nSmith, a Catholic who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, will lead his 17th congressional hearing on Sudan Dec. 11. He said the scale of mass violence since the Sudanese Civil War began in 2023 demands urgent action from U.S. officials and the international community.\n\n\u201cSince 2023, as many as 18,000 civilian deaths have been committed in Sudan \u2014 with estimates as high as 150,000 \u2014 and more than 10 million people have been displaced as a direct result of the Sudanese Civil War,\u201d Smith said in a statement. \u201cThe catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan \u2014 which includes the systemic killings, rapes, abductions, detentions, and child soldier recruitments of innocent civilians \u2014 demands our attention.\u201d\n\nAs CatholicVote previously reported, the war erupted in April 2023 between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) over a stalled plan to integrate the RSF into the national army.\n\nAdobe Stock\n\nThe upcoming hearing will review the current status of the war, the widespread crimes attributed to the Sudanese government and armed groups, and the deepening humanitarian emergency facing civilians.\n\nThe first panel will feature Deputy Assistant Secretary Vincent D. Spera of the State Department\u2019s Bureau of African Affairs. A second panel will include Samaritan\u2019s Purse Vice President Ken Isaacs, Family Research Council President and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Vice Chair Tony Perkins, and Human Rights Watch Deputy Washington Director Nicole Widdersheim.\n\nChurch leaders have also raised alarms over the conflict. In two appeals last month \u2014 during his Nov. 2 Angelus address and again in a Nov. 16 social media post \u2014 Pope Leo XIV urged prayer for victims of violence in Sudan and highlighted the persecution of Christians there.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-announces-winners-2025-congressional-app-challenge", "Pallone Announces Winners of 2025 Congressional App Challenge", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "New Brunswick, NJ - Today, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) announced the winners of the 2025 Congressional App Challenge for high school and middle school students in New Jersey\u2019s 6th Congressional District. Eric Dai and Vaibhav Sitaraman from Edison Academy Magnet School won this year\u2019s competition. Their app RoadWatch is an initiative to enhance road safety and address infrastructure issues. Their app uses an AI-powered dashcam to detect road infrastructure issues, alert drivers, and report incidents to local governments.\n\n\u201cThe Congressional App Challenge is an important platform for students to showcase their technical and creative skills,\u201d said Pallone. \u201cI congratulate Eric and Vaibhav for their winning app and applaud all of this year\u2019s participants for their creativity. Year after year, the Congressional App Challenge brings out the best, brightest, and most innovative ideas from students across our district. I continue to be impressed by the ingenuity displayed by the winning teams each year and would like to thank the judges for their engagement and attention to this year\u2019s contest. As the Ranking Member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, I have seen how innovative technology creates new industries and opportunities for all Americans. I will continue to support investments in STEM education in New Jersey and across the country.\u201d\n\nRoadWatch's proposes to transform drivers into a network of road-monitoring sensors with minimal cost, time, and effort. The application is compatible with both iOS and Android, and can be connected to a Raspberry Pi or regular dashcam using Bluetooth. These devices continuously capture footage while driving, with AI models analyzing the video stream for multiple purposes. The AI scans for issues such as potholes, cracked pavement, broken streetlights, and construction zones, and can even determine their severity based on the number of reports and the size of anomalies. In addition, the model can detect other environmental hazards, such as the presence of animals on the road, and send notifications to keep drivers alert. When the AI identifies an accident or near-miss incident, it can automatically start a 911 call to ensure that incapacitated drivers can receive immediate emergency treatment. Lastly, the application serves as a comprehensive road infrastructure monitoring tool. Detected issues are automatically aggregated onto map interfaces by location, which provide local governments with detailed, real-time data across their jurisdictions. The issues are grouped by category, making it easy for local officials to identify patterns, address unsafe road designs, and get localized insights.\n\nThe Congressional App Challenge is an annual competition that highlights the value of computer science and STEM education by encouraging high school and middle school students to learn how to code through the creation of their own apps. Entries in New Jersey's 6th Congressional District were assessed by a panel of local experts on several criteria, including demonstrated knowledge of coding and programming skills as well as the quality and implementation of their ideas.\n\nAs the winning app in the contest, RoadWatch will be displayed on the Congressional App Challenge Website (https://www.congressionalappchallenge.us/) and on a digital display in the Capitol Building this year.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415159", "Thurs., December 11: Rep. Chris Smith to chair Foreign Affairs hearing\u201cStopping the Bloodshed: U.S. Response to Crimes Against Humanity in Sudan\u201d", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "On Thursday, December 11th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his seventeenth congressional hearing on the civil conflicts in Sudan and the resulting human rights abuses against civilians in the country.\n\n\u201cSince 2023, as many as 18,000 civilian deaths have been committed in Sudan\u2014with estimates as high as 150,000\u2014and more than 10 million people have been displaced as a direct result of the Sudanese Civil War,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThe catastrophic humanitarian crisis in Sudan\u2014which includes the systemic killings, rapes, abductions, detentions, and child soldier recruitments of innocent civilians\u2014demands our attention.\u201d\n\nWHAT: Congressional hearing on the status of the Sudanese Civil War, the widespread atrocity crimes and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Sudanese government against civilians, and the corresponding humanitarian crisis in Sudan.\n\nWHEN: Thursday, December 11, 2025 at 12:30 PM\n\nWITNESSES: (Partial list)\n\nPANEL 1:\n\noThe Honorable Vincent D. Spera, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State\n\nPANEL 2:\n\noMr. Ken Isaacs, Vice President, Programs and Government Relations, Samaritan\u2019s Purse\n\noMr. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council (FRC), Vice Chair of U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom\n\noThe Honorable Samuel Dale Brownback, Former Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom\n\noMs. Nicole Widdersheim, Deputy Washington Director, Human Rights Watch\n\nWHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building\n\nWHO: Chairman Chris Smith, other members of the HFAC Africa Subcommittee, and witnesses\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-habba-resigning-not-moment-too-soon", "Pallone on Habba Resigning: \u201cNot A Moment Too Soon\u201d", "2025-12-08", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement after Alina Habba, President Trump\u2019s pick for Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, announced her resignation from her illegally obtained post:\n\n\u201cDonald Trump and his right-wing partisans are not above the law. Alina Habba is gone, and not a moment too soon. Her illegal appointment caused major problems for federal courts here in New Jersey and she abused her power to go after Trump\u2019s political opponents. Partisan politics have no place in New Jersey\u2019s or America\u2019s justice systems.\u201d\n\nHabba\u2019s resignation comes after a Third Circuit court ruling confirmed that Habba was not legally serving as Acting U.S. Attorney, under the provisions of the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act\u2014a 2007 law which requires Senate confirmation of U.S. attorneys within 120 days, and which Pallone helped pass.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415154", "Rep. Smith on Taiwan's special defense budget announcement", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), issued the following statement, welcoming President Lai Ching-te\u2019s announcement that Taiwan would be investing $40 billion to meet defense needs:\n\n\u201cPresident Lai understands that cutting edge deterrence capabilities are needed to protect Taiwan\u2014a democratic Chinese society free from tyranny, where the people are able to achieve both liberty and wealth.\n\n\u201cFree and prosperous Taiwan presents a stark contrast to mainland China, which, under Xi Jinping and the Chinese Communist Party, enjoys neither; people struggle under a forced labor regime and a \u20189-9-6 economy\u2019 to simply make ends meet\u2014while propping up the dictatorship.\n\n\u201cI strongly encourage Taiwan\u2019s legislature\u2014and all political parties\u2014to approve President Lai\u2019s proposal and work with the President to advance other key measures to support Taiwan\u2019s military and the men and woman who serve to defend their nation.\n\n\u201cTaiwan is America\u2019s frontline in the Pacific, and Taiwan\u2019s security is America\u2019s security. I urge my fellow Americans to stand firmly with Taiwan.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415155", "CatholicVote article on the PROTECT Our Kids Act'House passes bill to prevent China's communist teachings in American schools'", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Elise Winland\n\nPublished December 5, 2025\n\nThe House approved legislation Dec. 4 to bar federal funding from any K-12 school that receives money from the People\u2019s Republic of China (PRC), as lawmakers sharpen scrutiny of Beijing\u2019s attempts to influence American education.\n\nThe measure, the PROTECT Our Kids Act (HR 1069), passed by a vote of 247-164, with all 164 opposing votes coming from Democrats.\n\nRepublican Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey, a Catholic, said the bill, which was introduced by Rep. Kevin Hern, R-Okla., is needed to counter the Chinese Communist Party\u2019s (CCP) \u201cpervasive and insidious influence\u201d in U.S. classrooms. He argued the measure would help shield students from CCP propaganda and bolster national security.\n\n\u201cThe PROTECT Our Kids Act is a vital tool for helping to stop the spread of the PRC\u2019s lies about communism and the operations of the Chinese government, as well as promote the importance of protecting national security interests in America\u2019s schools,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThis legislation helps ensure that American students can no longer be misled and misinformed by foreign governments, such as the PRC, about the empty promises of communism.\u201d\n\nShutterstock\n\nThe House also advanced a related bill Dec. 3. Rep. David Joyce, R-Ohio, introduced the Combatting the Lies of Authoritarians in School Systems Act, which passed with 242 votes.\n\nJoyce\u2019s bill would bar federally funded schools from accepting money or contracts from the Chinese government or its affiliates and would require schools to disclose any foreign funding to the Department of Education. He said the legislation responds to China\u2019s expanding attempts to shape American classrooms.\n\n\u201cThe CCP\u2019s attempts to shape narratives in our classrooms threaten the fairness and independence of American education,\u201d he said. \u201cGiven China\u2019s growing influence in education worldwide, taking commonsense steps to protect our children and safeguard the integrity of our school systems is essential.\u201d\n\nThe legislation comes amid heightened concern over what Smith has called the CCP\u2019s \u201cwar on religion.\u201d Earlier this year, Beijing detained about 30 leaders of the underground Zion Church, including well-known pastor Mingri \u201cEzra\u201d Jin, whose family holds U.S. citizenship. Catholic dissident Jimmy Lai has similarly spent nearly five years in a Hong Kong prison and still awaits sentencing.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415156", "Breitbart article on Smith-Lee letter to OPM'GOP Lawmakers Demand OPM Halt Taxpayer-Funded Abortions for Members of Congress, Staff'", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Katherine Hamilton\n\nPublished December 5, 2025\n\nTwo dozen Republican lawmakers say members of Congress and their staff have access to taxpayer-funded healthcare plans that include coverage for elective abortions, in violation of federal law.\n\nSen. Mike Lee (R-UT) and co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) led a bicameral letter on Friday to U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Scott Kupor demanding the agency stop \u201cadministering government contributions for Members of Congress and Congressional staff in connection with health insurance plans that cover elective abortion, in violation of the longstanding Smith (NJ) Amendment.\u201d\n\nThe letter explains that, since 1984, federal laws have prohibited the use of appropriated funds \u201cto pay for an abortion, or the administrative expenses in connection with any health plan under the Federal employees health benefits program which provides any benefits or coverage for abortions\u201d except in cases of rape or incest or if the life of the mother is in danger. Lawmakers said the provisions restrict OPM from administering government contributions in connection with any health plan for federal employees that covers elective abortion.\n\nJemal Countess/Getty Images for Women's March\n\n\u201cHowever, OPM is currently subsidizing plans that cover elective abortion in clear violation of the Smith Amendment,\u201d the letter alleges. \u201cWhile the Affordable Care Act (ACA) limits Members of Congress and designated Congressional staff to purchasing health plans offered through an Exchange, under a current Obama-era rule in effect since plan year 2014, OPM administers government contributions\u2026for Members of Congress and Congressional staff enrolled in any Gold level health insurance plan offered through the District of Columbia\u2019s Health Exchange Small Business Health Options Program (DC SHOP)\u2014also known as DC Health Link\u2014including plans that cover elective abortion.\u201d\n\nThe letter points out OPM\u2019s claim on its website that abortion coverage is enabled by segregated costs, meaning the individual\u2019s contribution to their health plan is used for abortion coverage, while other coverage is derived from taxpayer funds. Republicans rejected that claim in their letter, calling it an \u201caccounting gimmick.\u201d\n\n\u201cOPM\u2019s use of this accounting gimmick to grant abortion subsidies to Congress is not provided for under Section 1303 of the ACA and is blatantly illegal under the Smith Amendment\u2019s strict requirement for a complete exclusion of elective abortion coverage for federal employees,\u201d they wrote. \u201cBy flouting the Smith Amendment, such subsidies also violate the Antideficiency Act, which prohibits the authorization of expenditures or obligations without an appropriation by law.\u201d They continued:\n\nTaxpayers, who contribute 72 to 75 percent of these health benefit premiums, do not want their hard-earned tax dollars to pay for abortions,\u201d they continued. \u201cThe Smith Amendment does not allow Members of Congress and Congressional staff to operate under a different set of rules than other federal employees when it comes to taxpayer funding of abortion. For 2026, there are only two health plans offered through DC Health Link that do not cover abortion, CareFirst\u2019s BluePreferred PPO Gold and United Healthcare\u2019s Choice Plus Gold.\n\nTherefore, we request swift action by OPM to ensure that any health insurance subsidies for members of Congress or Congressional staff are in full compliance with the clear terms of the Smith Amendment. Any DC SHOP plan that covers elective abortion should not be eligible for a government contribution.\n\n\u201cThank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to working with you to ensure the health and safety of the American people,\u201d lawmakers concluded.\n\nLawmakers sent the letter amid a larger battle in Congress to extend the Hyde Amendment to expiring Obamacare premium subsidies. The Hyde Amendment bans the use of federal taxpayer dollars from funding abortions, with exceptions for rape or incest, or to save the life of the mother. It was first enacted in 1976 and must be renewed annually through the congressional appropriations process.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415158", "SeafoodSource article on the Stop Illegal Fishing Act'US House committee approves Stop Illegal Fishing Act'", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Nathan Strout\n\nPublished December 5, 2025\n\nThe U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee has approved the Stop Illegal Fishing Act, legislation that authorizes U.S. President Donald Trump to impose sanctions on foreign individuals and vessels that engage in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU) fishing.\n\nThe authors of the bill say the measure is necessary to crack down on large foreign fishing fleets that have dodgy records on the environment and human rights \u2013 particularly China\u2019s distant-water fleet.\n\n\u201cFleets of illegal fishing vessels are devastating sensitive fish populations, harming food security and local economies around the world. Nearly half of these vessels, 44 percent, originate from China. If Beijing won't hold these exploitive vessels and individuals accountable, the U.S. must. That is why we\u2019ve introduced legislation that would grant the president power to impose sanctions on any individual or entity engaging in IUU fishing,\u201d U.S. Representative Gregory Meeks (D-New York) and U.S. Representative Young Kim (R-California) said in a joint statement.\n\nThe Stop Illegal Fishing Act would give the president the authority to impose sanctions on individuals who own vessels engaged in IUU fishing, those who hold leadership positions at companies engaged in IUU fishing, and captains and senior crew members on the vessels. Sanctioned individuals could have their U.S.-based assets frozen and their visas revoked.\n\nIf passed, the legislation would require a report from the president to produce a list of all individuals and vessels sanctioned under the new law within 180 days.\n\nU.S. Representative Brian Mast (R-Florida), who chairs the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was highly critical of China\u2019s distant water fishing practices.\n\n\u201cIt is a serious threat to coastal nations worldwide,\u201d he said. \u201cWhat it really is, it's harassment. It is mostly a middle finger from the Chinese Communist Party to neighboring and coastal countries. The Chinese Communist Party oversees the largest illegal fishing fleet. They deplete fish stocks. They violate maritime laws. They harm local economies across the globe.\u201d\n\nU.S. lawmakers have grown increasingly critical of China\u2019s seafood sector following the Outlaw Ocean Project\u2019s reports documenting state-sponsored forced labor and other worker violations in the nation\u2019s domestic processing sector and distant water fishing fleet.\n\nThe first report, which was published in 2023, revealed evidence that the Chinese government was forcing members of the oppressed Uyghur population to work in seafood-processing plants, where they were subject to a litany of abuse. Follow-up reports alleged abusive working conditions on Chinese squid-harvesting vessels and the use of North Korean labor at seafood-processing facilities \u2013 a violation of international law. All told, the Outlaw Ocean Project alleged that at least 47,000 metric tons of seafood processed with Uyghur labor made its way to U.S. markets.\n\nDuring the 1 December markup of the Stop Illegal Fishing Act, U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-New Jersey) \u2013 who chaired a Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing on \u201cHow Forced Labor in China Taints America's Seafood Supply Chain\u201d shortly after the first Outlaw Ocean Project report dropped \u2013 urged his colleagues to support the bill.\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s fleet is filled to overflowing with forced labor,\u201d Smith said. \u201cOn the open seas, cut off from contact with the land, harsh and very cruel punishment is meted out to laborers, who are treated as slaves \u2013 wages are withheld. Captive peoples, especially the Uyghurs, are often conscripted onto these boats.\u201d\n\nSmith and other lawmakers on the commission have called on the federal government to further investigate the seafood industry\u2019s connections to forced labor and block seafood imports from China. Not long after the Outlaw Ocean Project revelations, U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas) introduced the Ban China\u2019s Forbidden Operations in the Oceanic Domain (Ban C-FOOD) Act, but no action was ever taken on the bill.\n\nWhile the U.S. has not outright banned Chinese seafood, the government has taken several actions targeting individual companies and restricting Chinese imports.\n\nIn 2024, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security added seafood to its high-priority list for enforcing the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act (UFLPA) and banned imports from the Shandong Meijia Group under the same law. The U.S. Forced Labor Enforcement Task Force held three webinars last year on what the government was doing to enforce the UFLPA.\n\nLawmakers are also currently pushing to pass the Fighting Foreign Illegal Seafood Harvest (FISH) Act, a bill that would establish a blacklist of vessels involved in IUU fishing and ban them from U.S. waters.\n\n\u201cThe FISH Act gives us more enforcement tools in response to illegal fishing,\u201d U.S. Representative Val Hoyle (D-Oregon) said during a November hearing. \u201cIt creates a list for illegal vessels, holds vessel owners accountable, and improves tracking of foreign boats, which helps keep illegal seafood out of American stores through sanctions and import restrictions, protecting consumers and vulnerable workers.\u201d\n\nThe Senate passed the FISH Act as an amendment to the annual defense appropriations bill in October, but it\u2019s not clear if that language will survive negotiations between the House and Senate. There are several differences between the two versions of the bill, including an amendment eliminating exceptions for seafood from the government\u2019s \u201cBuy American\u201d provisions in the House bill and an amendment banning the military from buying seafood originating from or processed in China in the Senate bill.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-welcomes-health-board-move-defer-decision-would-close-long-branchs", "Pallone Welcomes Health Board Move To Defer Decision That Would Close Long Branch\u2019s Hospital", "2025-12-05", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONG BRANCH, N.J. \u2014 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today welcomed the decision by the State Health Planning Board last night to defer their decision to issue a recommendation on the closure of Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) hospital in Long Branch.\n\nThe decision by the Board to postpone issuing their final recommendation comes after the State\u2019s final hearing in Trenton yesterday, where Pallone led hundreds of members of the community in expressing opposition to RWJ Barnabas Health\u2019s plan to relocate all of Monmouth Medical Center\u2019s acute care facilities and hospital license in Long Branch to a new facility in Tinton Falls\u2014a plan which would devastate vulnerable communities in Long Branch and the surrounding area.\n\n\u201cEveryone deserves access to life-saving health care at a hospital. This fight isn\u2019t over and I\u2019m glad the State Health Planning Board understands just how disastrous this would be,\u201d Pallone said. \u201cThe decision by the board to defer is unprecedented and demonstrates the legitimate and serious concerns with RWJ Barnabas Health\u2019s application. I\u2019m going to continue making the case that the current proposal fails Long Branch residents and puts hospital access throughout the region at risk. Premiums are going up, people are losing their insurance, and families are making tough choices. Closing Long Branch\u2019s hospital would only make our health care crisis worse.\u201d\n\nThe Board\u2019s decision to defer their recommendations comes after a lengthy and mismanaged public comment process where Long Branch area residents were literally shut out in the cold. The Board requested further information on the use of mass transit by patients to the new facility; staffing sourcing; an extension on the services that would remain in Long Branch; and how moving the hospital license and facilities out of Long Branch would detrimentally affect health equity.\n\nFor decades, Monmouth Medical Center hospital has provided essential health care to residents who already face barriers such as transportation challenges, chronic illness, and lack of insurance coverage.\n\nPallone has long argued that closing Monmouth Medical Center hospital and abandoning the Long Branch community will lead to worse health care outcomes for many. Other hospitals in the region will be forced to absorb an influx of patients, potentially leading to longer wait times, staff burnout, and greater financial strain. He continues to advocate for a solution that would allow RWJ Barnabas Health to keep acute care hospital services in Long Branch while building their new facility in Tinton Falls.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415150", "Combating foreign influence in American K-12 schoolsHouse passes the PROTECT Our Kids Act to prevent the People\u2019s Republic of China\u2019s communist teachings in American schools", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), the U.S. House of Representatives passed the PROTECT Our Kids Act (HR 1069), legislation to \u201cprohibit the availability of Federal education funds for elementary and secondary schools that receive direct or indirect support from the Government of the People\u2019s Republic of China\u201d (PRC).\n\n\u201cThe PRC\u2019s goal in influencing American students is not an altruistic one; they are not seeking to merely \u2018enlighten\u2019 American children and expand their worldviews,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThe purpose of these so-called \u2018Confucius Classrooms\u2019 is to undermine and subvert American business, national security, and civic interests by manipulating malleable students into perceiving China favorably on the global stage.\n\n\u201cFor many years, I have been sounding the alarm on the PRC\u2019s pervasive and insidious influence on American students in our colleges and universities,\u201d continued Smith, the author of legislation to require Confucius Institutes, think tanks, academic programs, or nongovernmental organizations funded by the PRC to register under section 2 of the Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938 (22 U.S.C. 612).\n\n\u201cStudents in our elementary and secondary schools are especially vulnerable to the PRC\u2019s fabrications\u2014we must immediately end these pernicious programs.\n\n\u201cThe PROTECT Our Kids Act is a vital tool for helping to stop the spread of the PRC\u2019s lies about communism and the operations of the Chinese government, as well as promote the importance of protecting national security interests in America\u2019s schools,\u201d noted the China policy expert. \u201cThis legislation helps ensure that American students can no longer be misled and misinformed by foreign governments, such as the PRC, about the empty promises of communism.\n\n\u201cChina, led by the dictator thug General Secretary Xi Jinping, has been a standalone leader in perpetrating mass human rights abuses; a foreign government, especially of this nature, should have absolutely zero say in the education of our students.\n\n\u201cI strongly urge my colleagues in the Senate to immediately take up this critical legislation for a vote. The United States should be educating our future leaders on the cruel truth of communist governments\u2014not allowing their impressionable minds to be shaped by a foreign government\u2019s lies,\u201d concluded Smith.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415151", "Signifying an end to decades of conflict and killingsPresident Trump\u2019s historic peace deal between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, joined President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and other high-ranking U.S. officials and foreign leaders at the historic peace deal signing ceremony between DRC President Felix Tshisekedi and Rwanda President Paul Kagame at the Donald J. Trump United States Institute of Peace.\n\n\u201cSkillfully and brilliantly brokered by President Trump, this momentous peace deal\u2014known as the \u2018Washington Accords for Peace and Prosperity\u2019\u2014signifies an end to the lengthy, bloody, and costly conflict in the region,\u201d said Smith, who, earlier this year, introduced legislation to formally recognize and applaud the President for arranging a peace agreement between the DRC and Rwanda.\n\n\u201cFor decades, the people of the DRC have endured intense conflict, political instability, humanitarian crises, displacement, and human rights violations.\n\n\u201cThe unstable situation in the DRC has developed into one of the largest and most complex humanitarian crises in the world. Under President Trump\u2019s strong leadership, we are now taking the necessary steps to end the violence and agony that has ravaged the region,\u201d stated Smith.\n\nDuring the ceremony, President Trump thanked Smith for his longtime leadership on the issue. In 2008, Smith led a four-day human rights mission to Goma, DRC, with an emphasis on combating human trafficking, child soldiers, and sexual violence, as well as underscoring U.S. commitment to critical peace negotiations.\n\nSmith has also chaired 13 congressional hearings on the DRC-Rwanda conflict\u2014one of which, held in 2011, featured the testimony of Ben Affleck, an actor and founder of the Eastern Congo Initiative. Another critical hearing chaired by Smith in 2012, entitled \u201cThe Devastating Crisis in Eastern Congo,\u201d examined the humanitarian crisis in the DRC and the role of U.S. policy in bringing an end to the conflict.\n\n\u201cI am enduringly grateful to President Trump for his unwavering commitment to promoting and securing peace throughout the globe, and I extend my deepest thanks to his Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, as well as his Senior Advisor for Arab and African Affairs, Massad Boulos,\u201d continued Smith.\n\n\u201cI look forward to working alongside President Trump and his extremely effective administration to watch the peace process unfold and ensure that the leaders of the DRC and Rwanda are honoring the terms of the agreement.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-colleagues-introduce-bill-protect-patients-high-prescription-drug-costs", "Kean, Colleagues Introduce Bill to Protect Patients from High Prescription Drug Costs", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(December 4, 2025) WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ), Nanette Barrag\u00e1n (D-CA), Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), Jake Auchincloss (D-MA), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ) reintroduced the Help Ensure Lower Patient (HELP) Copays Act to make life-saving prescription medications more affordable for patients with rare, serious, and chronic conditions.\n\nThis bipartisan legislation would require insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to count the value of copay assistance they receive on a patient\u2019s behalf toward cost-sharing requirements. This change ensures that payments, whether they come directly out of a patient\u2019s pocket or with help from non-profit organizations and prescription drug manufacturers, contribute toward a patient's annual deductible and out-of-pocket limit.\n\nCongressman Tom Kean, Jr. said, \u201cCopay assistance programs help make costly medications attainable for Americans who rely on them. Yet under current law, insurers and PBMs can pocket this assistance without lowering patients' cost-sharing obligations. Our bipartisan legislation will fix that problem by ensuring those savings are passed on to patients. This solution will protect access to essential prescription drugs, reduce overall healthcare costs for families, and hold these health companies accountable.\u201d\n\nRep. Barrag\u00e1n said, \u201cFor patients living with complex and chronic diseases, access to prescription drugs that help them manage their condition saves lives, plain and simple. But too many Americans are unable to afford the medications they need because the out-of-pocket costs are too high. This is unacceptable. Americans work hard every day to make sure they can feed their families and take care of their loved ones. They should not be priced out of receiving the life-saving medications they rely on. That is why I am proud to co-lead, the HELP Copays Act, with Congressman Kean. This bipartisan bill will help working American families afford their prescriptions by putting a stop to harmful practices by insurance companies and Pharmacy Benefit Managers, and ensuring that patients\u2019 copay assistance counts towards their cost-sharing requirements. Because drug affordability is not a blue-state issue or a red-state issue \u2014 it is an issue that affects tens of millions across the country and in every state.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Miller-Meeks said, \u201cToo many patients are forced to walk away from the pharmacy counter because their out-of-pocket costs are simply too high. The HELP Copays Act is a commonsense, bipartisan solution that ensures financial assistance, from nonprofits or drug manufacturers, actually counts toward a patient\u2019s deductible and copay. As a physician, I know how devastating it is when a patient can\u2019t afford the medication they need. This bill puts patients first by lowering their real, day-to-day costs and stopping insurance companies from shifting more of the burden onto families.\u201d\n\nCongressman Auchincloss said, \"Drug pricing middlemen want patients to pay deductibles twice. That\u2019s not how insurance should work. With this bill, those schemes stop.\"\n\nCongressman Fitzpatrick said, \u201cFor people living with chronic and rare diseases, copay assistance is often the only path to staying on lifesaving treatment. Yet far too many are paying twice, while insurers and PBMs pocket that assistance without ever counting it toward a patient\u2019s costs. That\u2019s wrong\u2014and it\u2019s exactly what the bipartisan HELP Copays Act corrects. This is common-sense, patient-first reform to lower out-of-pocket costs and ensure every dollar intended to help a patient actually does.\u201d\n\nSpecifically, the HELP Copays Act would:\n\nClarify the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to require that health plans count payments made \u201cby or on behalf of\u201d patients, including financial assistance offered by non-profit organizations and prescription drug manufacturers, toward cost-sharing requirements.\n\nClose the ACA's Essential Health Benefit (EHB) loophole to ensure that any covered prescription drug is defined as \u201cessential\u201d so that all related cost-sharing counts towards a patient\u2019s cost-sharing limits.\n\nThe full text of the House bill is available HERE. An identical companion Senate bill (S.864) was introduced by Senators Roger Marshall (R-KS) and Tom Kaine (D-VA) in March 2025.\n\nThe legislation is endorsed by the All Copays Count Coalition, a group of nearly 90 national patient and provider advocacy organizations. Read their press release HERE and endorsement letter in support of the bill HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-joins-bipartisan-group-35-house-members-announcing-new-health-care", "Kean Joins Bipartisan Group of 35 House Members Announcing New Health Care Framework", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2014 Today, December 4, 2025, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) joined a bipartisan group of 35 total House Members, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), announcing a new health care framework, CommonGround 2025. The bipartisan framework includes a two-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families, including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.\n\nThe Members backing the framework have also co-signed a letter urging House and Senate leadership to meet with them to discuss the framework and a constructive pathway forward in both chambers.\n\n\u201cToday, I joined both Democrats and Republicans to advance a new, bipartisan framework to make healthcare more affordable for New Jersey families,\u201d said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. \u201cOur CommonGround 2025 plan responsibly extends Premium Tax Credits and pairs them with targeted modifications, including PBM reform, guardrails against fraud, greater transparency, and other critical improvements.\n\n\u201cWe need to reduce health insurance premiums for every family and we need to hold accountable drug-pricing middlemen and fraudsters who are abusing our health care system,\u201d Kean continued. \u201cThrough bipartisan action, I am fighting for the people of New Jersey and driving forward a solution that Congress can deliver now.\u201d\n\nThe framework and letter, co-led by Reps. Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) and Jen Kiggans (VA-2), are also co-signed by Reps. Adam Gray (CA-13), Juan Ciscomani (AZ-6), Vicente Gonzalez (TX-34), Maria Salazar (FL-27), Darren Soto (FL-9), Mike Lawler (NY-17), Jim Costa (CA-21), Jefferson Van Drew (NJ-2), Josh Riley (NY-19), Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-7), Susie Lee (NV-3), Jeff Hurd (CO-3), Jared Golden (ME-2), David Valadao (CA-22), Chris Pappas (NH-1), Ryan MacKenzie (PA-7), Ed Case (HI-1), Carlos Gimenez (FL-28), Maggie Goodlander (NH-2), Monica De La Cruz (TX-15), Sam Liccardo (CA-16), Robert Bresnahan (PA-8), Greg Landsman (OH-1), Don Bacon (NE-2), Jimmy Panetta (CA-19), Kevin Kiley (CA-3), Henry Cuellar (TX-28), Nick LaLota (NY-1), Don Davis (NC-1), Scott Peters (CA-50), Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (WA-3), Hillary Scholten (MI-3), and Tom Suozzi (NY-3).\n\nFind the CommonGround 2025 framework here and the bill text here. Find the letter to House and Senate leadership here.\n\nTop-line Summary.\n\nTwo-year extension of health insurance premium savings for American families \u2014 including a year of the enhanced Premium Tax Credits (ePTCs), with targeted modifications, to be voted on by December 18, 2025, in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives.\n\nYear One: An extension of the ePTCs, with targeted modifications.\n\nExtension of the ePTCs for enrollees earning less than 600% of the federal poverty level (FPL) and a phase out of the ePTCs for enrollees earning between 600% FPL and 1000% FPL.\n\nNew guardrails to prevent \u201cghost beneficiaries\u201d and crack down on fraud, including:\n\nImplementing the Insurance Fraud Accountability Act to crack down on civil & criminal penalties for fraudulent agents / brokers;\n\nCodifying part of CMS\u2019s marketplace integrity rule to remove bad actors from ACA marketplaces;\n\nDirecting ACA marketplaces to regularly confirm enrollee eligibility with the Death Master File; and,\n\nRequiring marketplaces to better notify recipients of the amount of PTCs they are receiving from the federal government.\n\nExtension of open enrollment until March 19, 2026, and requiring HHS to notify qualified individuals of the extension of open enrollment.\n\nPBM reform (provisions included in the bipartisan Continuing Resolution from December 2024 and featured in the PBM Reform Act and Bipartisan Health Care Act) which:\n\nBans \u201cspread pricing\u201d in Medicaid.\n\nReforms Medicare Part D by delinking PBM compensation from the cost of medications.\n\nPromotes transparency for both employers and patients in their prescription drug plans.\n\nYear Two: Continued health insurance premium savings, including more significant reforms, agreed upon and voted on in the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives by July 1, 2026.\n\nReforms for consideration:\n\nOption for consideration: Medicare physician fee schedule (from December 2024 CR).\n\nBoosts the Medicare Physician Fee Schedule.\n\nOption for consideration: Hospital billing transparency.\n\nRequires hospitals to disclose prices, including negotiated rates and cash prices.\n\nOption for consideration: Give Kids A Chance Act (from December 2024 CR).\n\nAccelerates pediatric cancer treatments and expands access to life-saving therapies for children battling rare diseases.\n\nOption for consideration: Elimination of zero-dollar premiums with minimum monthly payments, but with need-based hardship support for those who cannot afford this payment.\n\nOption for consideration: HSA Accounts (Sen. Cassidy proposal).\n\nShifts funding that would have paid for the ePTCs to HSA accounts.\n\nPotential Pay-fors.\n\nAnti-Fraud provisions of IFAA, HOPE Act: not yet scored, but substantial.\n\nPBM reforms: as delineated in the December 2024 CR.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-state-closing-our-hospital-would-be-disaster-long-branch-area", "Pallone to State: Closing Our Hospital Would Be A Disaster For Long Branch Area Residents", "2025-12-04", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "LONG BRANCH, N.J. \u2013 At today\u2019s final State Health Planning Board hearing on RWJ Barnabas Health\u2019s plan to close Monmouth Medical Center (MMC) hospital in Long Branch, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) delivered testimony in opposition to RWJ Barnabas\u2019s plan to close one of New Jersey\u2019s best hospitals.\n\n\u201cSimply put, RWJ Barnabas\u2019 plan to close the Long Branch hospital puts profits over people. Period. They are abandoning a poorer, more diverse city for a significantly wealthier, less diverse suburb,\u201d Pallone said.\n\nPallone has opposed the disastrous plan from day one, arguing that RWJ Barnabas is abandoning a lower-income area to build a concierge hospital in Tinton Falls. For months, he has demanded fair hearings and an opportunity for community members to be heard after two chaotic and inaccessible hearings: one announced illegally, the other held in a cramped off-site venue in Eatontown where opponents were left outside in the freezing cold while RWJBarnabas employees filled the seats. Today\u2019s is the final public hearing before RWJ Barnabas\u2019s plan is approved by state officials.\n\nPrepared Testimony of Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr.\n\nState Health Planning Board \u2013 December 4, 2025\n\nCheck Against Delivery\n\nMy name is Frank Pallone, and I represent Long Branch and much of Monmouth and Middlesex Counties.\n\nSimply put, RWJ Barnabas\u2019 plan to close the Long Branch hospital puts profits over people. Period.\n\nThey are abandoning a poorer, more diverse city for a significantly wealthier, less diverse suburb.\n\nMonmouth Medical Center\u2019s most recent Community Health Needs Assessment \u2013 a rigorous review of its communities\u2019 health needs \u2013 underscores why Long Branch needs an acute care hospital.\n\nLong Branch has a 16.2% poverty rate, one of the highest in the county. Monmouth Medical Center\u2019s assessment estimates over 5,8000 uninsured residents, the highest in the county.\n\nMany Latino and Hispanic residents face transportation barriers, and Long Branch has the highest rate of foreign-born residents and foreign language speakers in the county.\n\nThe loss of Monmouth Medical Center Hospital in Long Branch would place an undue burden on both Jersey Shore Medical Center and Riverview Hospital, both closer to Long Branch than a new hospital in Tinton Falls.\n\nThe Health Department staff recommendations do not take into account the actual travel time.\n\nHave you ever tried to travel from Long Branch to Tinton Falls in July or August along Route 36? It\u2019s literally bumper to bumper and adds a half hour to your travel time.\n\nThe Health Department staff recommendations provide no analysis of the actual need for an acute care hospital in Long Branch or the shift of the Long Branch area residents to the two nearby Hackensack Meridian Hospitals.\n\nThe staff essentially says it doesn\u2019t matter since the new hospital in Tinton Falls is still in the Monmouth Medical Center service area.\n\nBut that begs the question of the true medical needs of the Long Branch area residents and the overcrowding resulting from thousands of new patients, many uninsured or on Medicaid that will go to Jersey Shore Hospital and Riverview Medical Center.\n\nFinancially, this move allows RWJBarnabas Health to drop Medicaid and uninsured patients while capturing wealthier ones, jeopardizing the stability of other hospitals in the area.\n\nThe application before you is significantly amended from the one filed by RWJBarnabas last year that retained Monmouth Medical Center hospital in Long Branch. The amended application seeks to transfer the hospital license from our city and eliminate acute inpatient services at Long Branch.\n\nThe Health Department staff recommendations insist that the Long Branch Hospital license be transferred to Tinton Falls because neither location would have the full complement of mandatory hospital services necessary for a general acute care hospital.\n\nBut, that is a mischaracterization of the initial application. The new hospital in Tinton Falls could have the full complement of mandatory hospital services and therefore qualify as a general hospital.\n\nThe most important acute care services that the initial application retained in Long Branch were; inpatient medical surgery and beds capable of being made into ICU units when necessary. This took into account the real needs of Long Branch area residents.\n\nThe Health Department staff recommendations do provide that the Long Branch campus offer other acute care services such as a satellite emergency department, a 24-bed observation unit, an outpatient surgery center with specialty clinics and imaging services. So why can\u2019t Long Branch include acute inpatient surgery and beds that are ICU adaptable as originally proposed?\n\nAlso, why do the Health Department staff only recommend that the satellite emergency department remains in Long Branch indefinitely? Both our inpatient surgery and operating rooms and beds as well as all the outpatient services specified by the Health Department Staff should be mandated indefinitely, not just for five years. Anything that is mandated for a certain period of time would allow for RWJ Barnabas to transition out that service and close it down.\n\nOur representatives in the state legislature have introduced bills that would require that both the existing inpatient and outpatient surgery services remain in Long Branch. There is no reason why the Health Planning Board can\u2019t do the same.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415146", "Smith-cosponsored bill combats forced labor on Chinese shipsStop Illegal Fishing Act heads to House floor", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Comprehensive legislation cosponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)\u2014the bipartisan Stop Illegal Fishing Act (HR 6338)\u2014was today approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee during their markup session and is now headed to the full House for its consideration.\n\nThe bill, introduced by Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-NY), would impose sanctions upon foreign vessels or individuals that engage in illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing).\n\nDuring the markup, Smith\u2014who, in 2023, chaired a Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) hearing entitled \u201cFrom Bait to Plate\u2014How Forced Labor in China Taints America's Seafood Supply Chain\u201d\u2014spoke in favor of the legislation, describing how China utilizes forced labor on their ships to cheaply and quickly process and package large volumes of seafood for international distribution\u2014including and especially to the United States.\n\nCiting expert testimony from the hearing, Smith recalled Ian Urbina\u2019s four-year investigation, which revealed that 357 of the 751 Chinese squid fleets studied\u2014nearly half\u2014had serious concerns tied to forced labor.\n\n\u201cChina\u2019s fleet is filled to overflowing with forced labor,\u201d said Smith, who has chaired more than 108 congressional hearings on human rights abuses in China. \u201cOn the fishing boats, as well as in the processing plants, China uses forced labor to undersell competitors. They have very, very small amounts of cost associated with the people around the ships.\n\n\u201cOn the open seas, cut off from contact with the land, harsh and very cruel punishment is meted out to laborers, who are treated as slaves\u2014wages are withheld. Captive peoples, especially the Uyghurs, are often conscripted onto these boats,\u201d continued the China policy expert.\n\nSmith then went on to discuss how North Korea exploits its women by forcing them to process the fish caught on Chinese fleets. The North Korean government receives significant compensation from China for these \u201cservices,\u201d which is then used to fund their military machine.\n\nDisturbingly, Smith noted, the United States government has also benefited from China\u2019s IUU fishing: \u201cHere\u2019s the kicker\u2014the United States government has been subsidizing this barbaric behavior.\n\n\u201cOur commissaries are going with the best price, and so often, the fish that lands in those commissaries is tainted with forced labor,\u201d stated the senior lawmaker.\n\n\u201cWe\u2019ve got to stop our complicity in this forced labor, and our purchase and procurement of those products made with forced labor. I, along with my colleagues on the Commission, will continue to write and ask and call that [the Trump administration] stops our complicity in this, and I do hope that this legislation passes,\u201d concluded Smith.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-johnson-introduce-bill-protect-american-ai-chips-strengthening-export", "Kean, Johnson Introduce Bill to Protect American AI Chips, Strengthening Export Control Enforcement", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(December 3, 2025) WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 Today, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (R-NJ) and Julie Johnson (D-TX) announced the introduction of theStop Stealing Our Chips Act, bipartisan legislation designed to prevent the smuggling of American-made artificial intelligence (AI) chips and other sensitive technologies into China. The bill would establish a whistleblower incentive program at the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), thereby strengthening U.S. export control enforcement and encouraging reporting of export control violations.\n\nThe legislation is cosponsored by Chairman John Moolenaar (R-MI) and Ranking Member Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) of the House Select Committee on China, House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-MI), and Representative Josh Harder (D-CA).\n\nCongressman Kean said, \u201cChina and other foreign adversaries are actively working to circumvent U.S. export control laws and illegally obtain advanced American chips and other sensitive technologies. I introduced the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act to help authorities identify and mitigate those threats. By offering robust protections and meaningful financial incentives for whistleblowers with credible information, we can strengthen enforcement, prevent violations before they occur, and protect our national security.\u201d\n\nCongresswoman Johnson said, \u201cAmerica\u2019s technological leadership is one of our greatest strategic advantages \u2014 and we cannot allow foreign adversaries to steal it, risking our national security. This is especially important in my district, home to Texas Instruments headquarters \u2014 one of the top semiconductor companies in the world \u2014 as well as Qorvo, which produces critical components for F-35s and other key defense technologies, and many more. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a commonsense, bipartisan step to protect our most sensitive supply chains and ensure that the innovations powering our economy and safety stay in American hands.\u201d\n\nChairman Moolenaar said, \u201cArtificial intelligence is the defining technology of the new Cold War. Whether the U.S. or China wins this race will be determined in large part by who has more and better chips. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act will encourage those who witness chip smuggling to speak out while shielding them from retaliation. Whistleblowers who protect our national security deserve to be protected by our laws.\u201d\n\nRanking Member Krishnamoorthi said, \u201cI\u2019m proud to join this bipartisan effort to crack down on the smuggling of advanced U.S. chips to the Chinese Communist Party. A strong whistleblower program at BIS will help surface the facts we too often miss and ensure our export-control laws actually carry weight. Effectively enforcing our export controls is essential to protecting our national security.\u201d\n\nChairwoman McClain said, \u201cThe Stop Stealing our Chips Act is about protecting America\u2019s technological edge and holding bad actors accountable. By cracking down on illegal exports and empowering whistleblowers, we will make sure U.S.-made AI chips strengthen our future, not our adversaries.\u201d\n\nCongressman Harder said, \u201cU.S. chip leadership is the product of decades of American innovation and central to our economic and national security. The Stop Stealing Our Chips Act is a common-sense measure to maintain this hard-won advantage and prevent China from using American technology against us.\u201d\n\nBACKGROUND:\n\nAs the United States forges ahead in the global AI race, it is critical that existing export control laws governing the sale and distribution of advanced semiconductor technology are rigorously enforced. However, recent reporting has revealed persistent violations involving diversion of American-made microchips into China, underscoring ongoing enforcement challenges. The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), the agency responsible for ensuring effective export controls and treaty compliance, often lacks timely and credible information needed to identify violations, initiate investigations, and hold violators accountable. Strengthening the mechanisms for reporting and detecting violations is essential to ensuring that competitive U.S. technologies do not end up in the hands of foreign adversaries.\n\nSpecifically, the Stop Stealing Our Chips Act would:\n\nRequire BIS to establish a secure, public portal for whistleblower submissions.\n\nCreate a whistleblower incentive program to reward individuals who submit original and credible information that leads to a formal investigation and the imposition of a fine.\n\nProvide confidentiality protections and anti-retaliation safeguards for whistleblowers who report violations of U.S. export control laws.\n\nBoth U.S. and foreign citizens who provide actionable information leading to fines against violators could receive 10-30% of any resulting penalty, with exclusions for known terrorists and federal employees acting within the scope of their duties.\n\nThe full text of the House bill is available HERE. A companion Senate bill (S.1473) was introduced in April 2025 by Senators Mike Rounds (R-SD) and Mark Warner (D-VA).\n\nIn August 2025, Congressman Kean also co-introduced the BIS IT Modernization Act (H.R.4920), which would update BIS\u2019s outdated information technology systems at the U.S. Department of Commerce, ensuring the United States can meet the demands of modern export control enforcement.\n\nCongressman Tom Kean, Jr. serves on the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the House Energy & Commerce Committee.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-and-omar-lead-effort-to-lower-childcare-costs-and-empower-working-families", "Menendez and Omar Lead Effort to Lower Childcare Costs and Empower Working Families", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representatives Rob Menendez (NJ-08) and Ilhan Omar (MN-05) introduced the Parental Workforce Training Act, legislation establishing a $10 million federal pilot program to help parents afford childcare while enrolled in workforce training. This legislation would provide grants to local workforce development boards under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act to subsidize childcare for training participants.\n\n\u201cExpanding access to affordable childcare and giving parents the ability to pursue workforce training are vital for working families and for our economy,\u201d said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). \u201cAt a time when the Trump Administration is increasing costs for our communities, I\u2019m grateful to Rep. Omar for partnering with me to strengthen early childhood development and support the families and communities that power our nation.\u201d\n\n\u201cAffordable childcare can be the difference between getting trained for a better job and being pushed out of the workforce entirely,\u201d said Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (MN-05). \u201cThis bill gives parents a fighting chance to skill up, re-enter the workforce, and build stability during an incredibly uncertain time. I\u2019m proud to join Rep. Menendez in ensuring working parents aren\u2019t left behind.\u201d\n\n\u201cParents in workforce training shouldn\u2019t have to choose between caring for their child and building a better future for their families,\u201d said Melissa Boteach, Chief Policy Officer at ZERO TO THREE, a national nonprofit dedicated to ensuring babies and toddlers have a strong start in life. \u201cThat\u2019s why we applaud Rep. Menendez and Rep. Omar for introducing the Parental Workforce Training Act, which expands child care access for parents pursuing employment training through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act programs. This bill is a practical, high-impact solution that helps parents complete the education and training they need to succeed in the workforce, while ensuring their young children have the care they need.\u201d\n\nThe Parental Workforce Training Act directs the United States Secretary of Labor to award grants to local workforce boards to help individuals cover the costs of childcare services. It also tasks the Secretary with submitting a report to Congress on the impacts these grants have on enrollment and completion rates in workforce training programs.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez also introduced this legislation during the 118th Congress.\n\nThe legislation was co-sponsored by Reps. Andre Carson (IN-07), Lateefah Simon (CA-12), and Rashida Tlaib (MN-12).\n\nFor full text of the bill, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases/menendez-cosponsors-legislation-to-end-inhumane-conditions-for-detained-immigrants", "Menendez Cosponsors Legislation to End Inhumane Conditions for Detained Immigrants", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Robert Menendez", "M001226", "menendez.house.gov", "menendez", "https://menendez.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Representative Rob Menendez (NJ-08) announced his co-sponsorship of the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, which is led by Representative Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). The legislation would prevent inhumane and cruel conditions for migrants at detention centers and includes significant changes to the current detention system that would keep many migrants out of detention and ensure fair and decent treatment for those who remain detained.\n\n\u201cI am proud to support the Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act, which will phase out the use of private migrant detention centers and hold currently open facilities accountable for unsafe conditions,\u201d said Congressman Rob Menendez (NJ-08). \u201cI have long advocated for the closure of for-profit detention centers, including Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center in New Jersey. Unfortunately, instead of working to improve conditions, the Trump Administration has chosen to illegally block Members of Congress from conducting oversight visits. I will always continue this fight for dignity, accountability, and the ultimate closure of these detention centers through this legislation.\u201d\n\n\u201cUnder the Trump Administration, we have seen a shocking surge in the detention of people who have committed no crimes being locked up in increasingly horrifying conditions,\u201d said Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal (WA-07). \u201cPeople are being held in squalor, largely in private, for-profit detention facilities, all to pad the bottom lines of prison corporations that donate to Donald Trump and Republicans. As Trump has struck down legal pathways and made it nearly impossible to come to or stay in this country, even for those who have been here for decades, this will only continue to get worse. We must pass this legislation to protect dignity and civil rights in America.\u201d\n\nThe Dignity for Detained Immigrants Act would transform the treatment of migrants by the federal government through key reforms including:\n\nRepealing mandatory detention;\n\nProhibiting the detention of families and children in family detention;\n\nPhasing out the use of private detention facilities and jails over a three-year period;\n\nRequire DHS to admit Members of Congress to detention facilities for unannounced inspections;\n\nCreating a presumption of release and impose a higher burden of proof to detain primary caregivers and vulnerable populations, including asylum seekers, pregnant women, LGBTQ individuals, survivors of torture or gender-based violence, and people under age 21;\n\nRequiring the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish civil detention standards that provide, at minimum, the level of protection in the American Bar Association\u2019s Civil Immigration Detention Standards; and\n\nMandating the Inspector General of DHS to conduct unannounced inspections with meaningful penalties for failure to comply with standards.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has been a leader in the House of Representatives on oversight of immigrant detention centers, and earlier this year was present at the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark with Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) and Congresswoman LaMonica McIver (NJ-10) that resulted in national attention to the issue. Congressman Rob Menendez has worked to ban private immigrant detention centers and fought the Trump Administration\u2019s illegal restrictions on oversight of detention centers. He has also conducted several unannounced visits of detention centers including Delaney Hall and the Elizabeth Detention Center and has long advocated for the humane and dignified treatment of migrant detainees.\n\nCongressman Rob Menendez has proudly represented New Jersey\u2019s Eighth Congressional District since 2023. He is a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee and is Vice Chair of Policy for the Congressional Hispanic Caucus.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-introduces-legislation-to-reward-companies-that-share-a-greater-percentage-of-their-profits-with-their-employees", "Rep. Watson Coleman Introduces Legislation to Reward Companies that Share a Greater Percentage of their Profits with their Employees", "2025-12-03", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman reintroduced the Employee Profit-Sharing Encouragement Act of 2025.\n\nThe Employee Profit-Sharing Encouragement Act of 2025 would incentivize large companies to implement an employee profit-sharing plan. This bill would require that any company that makes more than $25 million in earnings must establish an employee profit-sharing plan to provide at least 5 percent of the company\u2019s annual net income as a cash benefit for both full-time and part-time employees who\u2019ve been with the company for one year or more. Qualifying companies that fail to meet these requirements would be prohibited from deducting executive compensation expenses from their federal taxes.\n\n\u201cWe have massive companies boosting salaries for their executives while ignoring the majority of their workers and contributing to the national crisis of wage stagnation that\u2019s keeping people out of the middle class. A greater and greater percentage of profits are going to executives and stockholders instead of hard-working employees. That\u2019s a problem that we have the tools to solve, and encouraging profit-sharing is one way we can do it,\u201d said Watson Coleman. \u201cOur tax code is riddled with giveaways for corporations, everything from letting companies borrow from offshore subsidiaries to deductions for \u2018manufacturing\u2019 claimed for making burgers or grinding coffee, and Republicans have used their tax bills like the One Big Beautiful Bill Act to add even more loopholes. For all the breaks they get, these companies can and should be investing in their workers \u2014 and since so many are unwilling to do so on their own, it\u2019s time for Congress to step in for the people.\u201d\n\nApproximately 51 percent of American workers - about 65.4 million individuals - work for companies with revenue over $25 million and would benefit from profit-sharing. The bill exempts 99.7 percent of American companies to ensure no small businesses are held to an unmanageable standard.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415142", "Supreme Court hears arguments in First Choice Women\u2019s Resource Centers v. PlatkinSmith urges Supreme Court to protect pregnancy centers from 'unconscionable abuse of power' by NJ Governor and Attorney General", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "After the Supreme Court heard oral arguments today in First Choice Women\u2019s Resource Centers v. Platkin, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, issued the following statement on behalf of pro-life pregnancy centers that have been unjustly targeted by the state of New Jersey:\n\nRep. Smith, Dean of New Jersey\u2019s congressional delegation, said, \u201cPregnancy care centers are an oasis of love and support for mothers and their precious children\u2014according to a recent report, in 2024 alone, 2,775 pregnancy centers nationwide provided over $452 million in medical care, support and education services, and material goods.\n\n\u201cYet, in an unconscionable abuse of power, NJ Governor Murphy and Attorney General Matt Platkin have gone to great lengths to strip women of life-affirming support, simply because pregnancy centers refrain from promoting or participating in the killing of unborn children by abortion.\n\n\u201cI urge the Supreme Court to uphold the pregnancy centers\u2019 constitutionally protected freedoms against the bullying and discrimination of the state of New Jersey.\u201d\n\nBackground: First Choice, a faith-based pregnancy center network located in New Jersey, is challenging an unwarranted subpoena issued by the New Jersey Attorney General on the grounds that the subpoena violates the organization\u2019s first amendment rights and that they have been viciously targeted because of their life-affirming mission and religious speech.\n\nSmith, Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX), and 30 other members of the House and Senate filed an amicus brief supporting the pregnancy center. Authored by Chris Murray of the law firm First & Fourteenth, the brief argues that Congress has given First Choice the right to seek immediate redress in federal court, instead of being forced to defend its constitutional rights before a hostile state court. It says that \u201cstates may not deprive citizens of their right to freely associate and then force those citizens to try to vindicate their rights in hostile state forums before they can darken the door of a federal courthouse.\u201d\n\nSmith is the author of the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025 (HR 2226), federal legislation to prohibit federal, state and local governments from discriminating against the over 2,700 pregnancy care centers across the United States. Smith\u2019s bill, which was introduced at a widely attended Capitol Hill press conference in March, will protect the centers by strengthening federal conscience laws, prohibiting states from requiring pregnancy care centers to be complicit in abortion promotion, and identifying mechanisms for relief, including compensatory damages.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415143", "Strengthening survivor-centered protectionsHouse passes the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) and four additional comprehensive laws to combat human trafficking, issued the below statement following the U.S. House of Representatives\u2019 passage of the Trafficking Survivors Relief Act (HR 4323):\n\n\u201cHR 4323\u2014legislation I have cosponsored\u2014provides a critical pathway for vacating or expunging certain non-violent criminal convictions for offenses that trafficking victims\u2014mostly women and children\u2014were forced to commit by their traffickers.\n\n\u201cLargely due to the criminal records tied to their exploitation, many survivors face lifelong barriers to employment, housing, education, and stability. This bill ensures that survivors can no longer be punished for crimes that were the direct result of coercion and control.\n\n\u201cSurvivors should not have to constantly relive the trauma of their trafficking experiences through the unabating reminder of an indelible criminal record\u2014all for actions they were forced to commit against their will. This legislation helps to ensure that survivors have a real chance to rebuild their lives and experience a future free of exploitation.\n\n\u201cThe passage of HR 4323 builds upon the quarter-century of anti-trafficking progress in the United States, initiated through our enactment of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act in 2000 and its subsequent reauthorizations. With this new bill, we will continue to strengthen survivor-centered protections. HR 4323 is another crucial step towards procuring justice and long-overdue relief.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415145", "House Committee on Appropriations press release'Appropriators, Lawmakers Investigate Religious Persecution of Nigerians with Joint Briefing'", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "Press Release by the House Committee on Appropriations\n\nPublished Tuesday, December 2, 2025\n\nWashington, D.C. \u2013 House Appropriations Vice Chair and National Security Subcommittee Chairman Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL)\u2014alongside Appropriators Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL) and Rep. Riley Moore (R-WV)\u2014led a joint briefing with the House Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the escalating violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria with religious freedom and foreign relations experts.\n\nThis roundtable follows President Donald J. Trump\u2019s October 31st directive to the House Appropriations Committee to investigate the slaughter of Christians in Nigeria and report back with their findings.\n\nParticipants included:\n\nRep. Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL), House Appropriations Committee Vice Chair and National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Subcommittee Chairman\n\nRep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL), Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman and Values Action Team (VAT) Chair\n\nRep. Riley Moore (R-WV), House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair and leading religious liberty advocate\n\nRep. Brian Mast (R-FL), House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee Chairman\n\nHonorable Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair\n\nSean Nelson, Alliance Defending Freedom International\n\nDr. Ebenezer Obadare, Council on Foreign Relations\n\nRep. Mario D\u00edaz-Balart (R-FL)\n\nSubcommittee Chairman D\u00edaz-Balart said, \"No one should live in fear because of how they worship. Defending religious liberty worldwide is both a moral duty and a vital American interest. As Chairman of the subcommittee that funds U.S. national security interests and foreign policy priorities, I remain committed to advancing policies that protect the freedom to live according to one\u2019s faith without fear of violence and retribution. I address this issue in my FY26 funding bill, and I intend to strengthen these efforts by passing a full-year funding measure, which is essential to advancing an America First agenda.\"\n\nRep. Robert Aderholt (R-AL)\n\nCongressman Aderholt said, \u201cThe rising violence and targeted persecution of Christians in Nigeria is a crisis that can\u2019t be ignored. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked to protect the most vulnerable, including those whose lives and liberties are threatened simply because of their faith. We must stand firmly with Nigeria\u2019s Christian communities and all persecuted believers worldwide, and I commend our collaborative efforts to provide the President with the information needed to confront this growing tragedy.\u201d\n\nRep. Riley Moore (R-WV)\n\nCongressman Moore said, \"Our brothers and sisters in Christ are being persecuted and slaughtered in Nigeria simply for professing their faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. That\u2019s why President Trump designated Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern, and why he asked me, along with the House Committee on Appropriations, to look into the horrific persecution of Christians in Nigeria. I\u2019m grateful to Chairman D\u00edaz-Balart for convening this critical discussion to receive expert testimony and engage in an important dialogue to ensure we have a full picture of the ongoing crisis Nigerian Christians face every day. The world will no longer turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.\"\n\nRep. Brian Mast (R-FL)\n\nChairman Mast said, \u201cThis is not merely 'inter-communal violence' or a 'resource conflict,' as many claim. This is a targeted campaign of religious cleansing. Whether it is Boko Haram, Islamic State West Africa Province, or radicalized nomadic Fulani militants, the objective is to drive Christians out of their ancestral lands in the Middle Belt and impose a radical Islamist ideology, as has already happened across the northern states, where blasphemy laws are used to oppress. As Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I firmly stand with President Trump in his decision to redesignate Nigeria as a Country of Particular Concern. We must demand that the Nigerian government disarm these militias, return displaced families to their homes, and bring the perpetrators to justice.\u201d\n\nRep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)\n\nCongressman Smith said, \"To be a Christian\u2014or moderate Muslim\u2014living in Nigeria means to be living under the constant threat of murder, rape, and torture by radical Islamist groups, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists. The most brutal and murderous anti-Christian persecution in the world\u2014as well as the systemic targeting and killing of moderate Muslims who speak out against radical Islamists or refuse to conform with their extreme ideals\u2014occurs in Nigeria, the ground zero of religious violence. The Nigerian government has a fundamental, constitutional obligation to protect its citizens; however, the perpetrators of this persecution operate with complete impunity. The United States is committed to standing firmly with the persecuted, no matter where in the world. Under the strong leadership of President Trump, I am confident that the United States will hold the Nigerian government accountable for its complicity in the rampant religious persecution occurring within its borders. The Nigerian government is trying to run out the clock; we cannot allow this to happen. We must act quickly and decisively to save more lives.\"\n\nExpert witnesses provided key insight into the ongoing conflict in Nigeria and discussed ways Congress can support the Trump Administration\u2019s efforts to help vulnerable religious groups in Nigeria and around the world.\n\nHonorable Vicky Hartzler, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom Chair, illustrated the real and viable threat to religious freedom and the very lives of innocent people in Nigeria that is happening right now.\n\nHonorable Vicky Hartzler\n\nHon. Hartzler said, \"Religious freedom in Nigeria has been under siege in 2025 and, unfortunately, it seems to be getting worse. Just a few days ago, on November 22\u207f\u1d48, 303 children and 12 teachers were abducted in an attack on St. Mary's School, a Catholic institution in Niger State. A few days earlier in Kwara State, gunmen besieged a church and kidnapped several innocent people, including a pastor, and killed two others. Muslims, too, fall victim to such violence: in August, bandits abducted over 100 individuals, mostly women and children, from a mosque in Zamfara State and killed 27 worshipers in a mosque in Katsina State... No matter the group perpetrating the violence, we must be clear: religious freedom violations are rampant. They are horrible, egregious, violent, and Christians are the predominant victims. But no matter the religion of the victim, all killings must be stopped, and the government must take decisive action now to prevent any further killings.\"\n\nHartzler detailed the importance of President Trump's action designating Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC), a distinction reiterated in our Fiscal Year 2026 National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs Appropriations bill, and conveyed further steps the U.S. can take to encourage solutions in the region.\n\nHon. Hartzler continued, \"The U.S. government should also work directly with the government of Nigeria to vastly improve its accountability and transparency, while better leveraging relevant U.S. security assistance such as police training and reform, and conflict mediation. Resources could also be invested in using early warning systems to reduce community violence, and the U.S. government should insist Nigerian government officials respond when there is an early warning. Too many times, local villagers learn of an impending attack and reach out for protection, only to have their cries for help ignored to their ultimate demise. Worse yet, there are stories of law enforcement being called during an attack, and yet no help is sent. This is unacceptable!... Washington has always seen Nigeria as the linchpin to West African economic prosperity, and the U.S. government should continue to work with the Nigerian government to provide technical expertise and other forms of assistance to train, support, and counter violent insurgent groups so the entire region can prosper. After all, peace not only promotes religious freedom but secures trade and markets so Nigeria can be more self-sufficient and achieve the great potential it has long sought.\"\n\nSean Nelson, Senior Counsel, Global Religious Freedom for the Alliance Defending Freedom International, spoke to firsthand accounts from Christians in Nigeria he\u2019s worked with of the violence and terror the Christian communities face, with no help from the government.\n\nSean Nelson\n\nNelson said, \u201cOur cases have involved Christians unjustly imprisoned by Sharia courts, false allegations of crimes merely for evangelism or protecting Christian converts or operating charities, Christians kidnapped and tortured, girls taken from their parents and forced into marriages and forcefully converted to Islam, and both Christians and minority Muslims charged with blasphemy accusations. I have met with clients who have shared their heartbreaking testimony directly with me, many of whom barely escaped being murdered by extremists or even people that they knew within their communities. I have visited with villages directly attacked by Fulani militants and witnessed the aftermath of pastors beheaded, mass graves, widows and orphans, churches and homes torched, destroyed farmlands, and the pains of mass displacement and the constant sense that Christians are defenseless against these religiously-motivated attacks, and that the government has regularly failed to protect them.\u201d\n\nNelson explained the Nigerian government\u2019s failure to protect Christian communities, often leaving them to fend for themselves against heavily armed militant bands of terrorists.\n\nNelson continued, \u201cOfficials in Nigeria dismiss any consideration that religion plays a role in these attacks, and have put very few resources into the areas where Christians have been hit hardest, in the Middle Belt. When Christians report imminent attacks, their pleas are often ignored by law enforcement and officials, leading to tragic results. Nigeria also maintains and enforces one of the most draconian blasphemy laws in the world. In the 12 northern Sharia states, a person can be sentenced to death for alleged blasphemy, one of only seven places in the world with such a law. These laws inspire terrible mob violence, including against Christians like Deborah Yakubu and Rhoda Jatau.\u201d\n\nEbenezer Obadare, the Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, spoke to the root cause of the violence: unchecked jihadist terror groups, chief among them Boko Haram.\n\nDr. Ebenezer Obadare\n\nObadare said, \u201cThe deadliest and most serious threat confronting the Nigerian state today is jihadist terror, perpetrated by the Islamist group Boko Haram. Boko Haram translates to \u2018Western education is forbidden.\u2019 Boko Haram\u2019s barbarous and implacable campaign to overthrow the Nigerian state and establish an Islamic caliphate in its stead is the source of Nigeria\u2019s present discontents. Every proposal to solve the Nigerian crisis that does not take seriously the need to radically degrade and ultimately eliminate Boko Haram as a fighting force is a non-starter.\u201d\n\nObadare also laid out an effective strategy to combat the terror groups, including pressuring the Nigerian government with incentives.\n\nObadare continued, \u201cAs recent events have shown, the Nigerian authorities are not impervious to incentives. Since the country\u2019s Country of Particular Concern (CPC) designation and President Trump\u2019s threat of unilateral military action against Boko Haram, President Tinubu has made several moves, including ordering air strikes against Boko Haram targets, the recruitment of an additional 30,000 policemen, and, most recently, declaring a national security emergency in the country. Washington must keep up the pressure. The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralize Boko Haram. Second, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to (1) make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states where they have been adopted since 2000 and (2) disband the various Hisbah groups across northern states seeking to enforce and impose Islamic law on all citizens regardless of their religious identity.\u201d\n\nThe House Appropriations Committee continues to work closely with the Trump Administration to combat religious persecution around the world. Appropriators have been investigating the massacre of Christians in Nigeria, per the President\u2019s directive, and are preparing a comprehensive report to present to President Trump on ways Congress can support the White House\u2019s efforts.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415147", "Channels Television article on House Appropriations-Foreign Affairs joint briefing re: Nigeria'Insecurity: US Lawmakers Accuse Nigerian Govt Of Failing To Stop Killings'", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Emmanuel Egobiambu\n\nPublished December 2, 2025\n\nUS lawmakers have accused the Nigerian government of not doing enough to address the rising insecurity and killings in the country.\n\nThe lawmakers spoke on Tuesday during the United States House Appropriations Committee joint congressional briefing on the alleged persecution of Christians in Nigeria.\n\nAt the event, the lawmakers took turns to address the situation in the wake of President Donald Trump\u2019s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern and his threat of military action.\n\n\u201cThe Nigerian government has a fundamental, constitutional obligation to protect its citizens; however, the perpetrators of this persecution operate with complete impunity,\u201d Congressman Chris Smith told the gathering.\n\nAccording to the Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, the US will hold the Nigerian government to account over the killings.\n\n\u201cThe Nigerian government is trying to run out the clock; we cannot allow this to happen. We must act quickly and decisively to save more lives,\u201d he said.\n\nThe lawmakers took turns to address the situation in the wake of President Donald Trump\u2019s designation of Nigeria as a country of particular concern and his threat of military action.\n\nRep. Brian Mast echoed a similar sentiment, backing President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to redesignate Nigeria as a country of particular concern.\n\nHe said the US \u201cmust demand that the Nigerian government disarm these militias, return displaced families to their homes, and bring the perpetrators to justice.\u201d\n\nAt the event, Riley Moore, the House Appropriations Legislative Branch Subcommittee Vice Chair and leading religious liberty advocate, doubled down on his allegation of persecution of Christians in Nigeria.\n\nThe Congressman alleged: \u201cThe world will no longer turn a blind eye to the persecution of Christians in Nigeria.\u201d\n\nLawmakers were not the only ones at the briefing. The Chair of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, Vicky Hartzler, said that despite early warnings, Nigerian authorities do little to forestall attacks.\n\nWhile calling for more support for Nigeria in the fight against insecurity, Hartzler said: \u201cResources could also be invested in using early warning systems to reduce community violence, and the U.S. government should insist that Nigerian government officials respond when there is an early warning.\n\n\u201cToo many times, local villagers learn of an impending attack and reach out for protection, only to have their cries for help ignored to their ultimate demise. Worse yet, there are stories of law enforcement being called during an attack, and yet no help is sent. This is unacceptable!\u201d\n\nA Douglas Dillon Senior Fellow for Africa Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, Ebenezer Obadare, said Nigeria\u2019s insecurity can be traced to jihadist terror gangs, especially Boko Haram.\n\nHe said Trump\u2019s move has piled pressure on the Nigerian government, citing calls for the recruitment of more security operatives and the declaration of a national security emergency, among other measures, as dividends.\n\n\u201cWashington must keep up the pressure. The policy goal should be two-fold: first, work with the Nigerian military to neutralize Boko Haram,\u201d Obadare said.\n\n\u201cSecond, the United States should put pressure on President Tinubu to (1) make Sharia law unconstitutional in the twelve northern states where they has been adopted since 2000 and (2) disband the various Hisbah groups across northern states seeking to enforce and impose Islamic law on all citizens regardless of their religious identity.\u201d\n\nOn November 20, there was also a US Congressional hearing to examine the escalating violence in Nigeria and Trump\u2019s declaration of Nigeria as a CPC.\n\nTrump first designated Nigeria as a CPC in 2020, but it was removed from the list by his successor, President Joe Biden.\n\nHowever, the US president, on October 31, redesignated Nigeria as a CPC over religious freedom violations.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-trump-admin-punished-fema-whistleblowers-twice-telling-truth", "Pallone: Trump Admin Punished FEMA Whistleblowers Twice for Telling the Truth", "2025-12-02", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) today condemned the Trump Administration for abruptly re-suspending 14 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) employees who had been briefly reinstated after sounding the alarm about the collapse of the nation\u2019s disaster response system.\n\n\u201cThis is retaliation in plain sight. These FEMA professionals warned Congress that Trump and Noem are tearing down the agency that protects Americans in a crisis and his administration punished them twice for telling the truth. It shows an administration that is more interested in silencing experts than preparing for the next disaster. And it puts every coastal state, including New Jersey, at real risk. FEMA can\u2019t function when political loyalty matters more than saving lives. These workers should be back on the job immediately and DHS needs to explain this mess,\u201d said Pallone.\n\nThe 14 workers were suspended in August after signing a letter to Congress known as the Katrina Declaration. The letter warned President Trump\u2019s and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem\u2019s policies were gutting critical reforms to FEMA\u2019s ability to respond to emergencies put in place by Congress after Hurricane Katrina in 2006. Last week, FEMA notified the employees that they were cleared to return to work. Senior political appointees at the Department of Homeland Security reversed that decision once the reinstatements became public.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-kean-joins-secretary-driscoll-latest-picatinny-arsenal-visit", "Congressman Kean Joins Secretary Driscoll at Latest Picatinny Arsenal Visit", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(December 1, 2025) PICATINNY ARSENAL, NJ \u2013 Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) accompanied U.S. Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll during his most recent visit to Picatinny Arsenal. While in Morris County, the two leaders received detailed briefings on the installation\u2019s contributions to Army modernization and discussed its growing role in strengthening America\u2019s warfighting capabilities.\n\nThroughout the visit, Secretary Driscoll and Congressman Kean observed Picatinny's latest advancements in counter-UAS (Unmanned Aerial Systems) technology and next-generation munitions. Members of the base demonstrated a range of emerging capabilities, including net-based drone capture, enhanced explosives, and electromagnetic tools synced to defense systems. Secretary Driscoll and Picatinny\u2019s top commander, Major General John Reim, also had a productive discussion on the Army\u2019s efforts to accelerate drone acquisition and production.\n\nSecretary Driscoll personally recognized the Arsenal's military and civilian workforce during the visit. Taking the time to praise their exemplary work, the Secretary presented challenge coins to numerous members at the Arsenal. He also discussed opportunities for continued Army investment at the installation.\n\n\u201cI want to thank Secretary Driscoll for his leadership and commitment to strengthening America\u2019s security,\u201d said Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. \u201cDuring our visit to Picatinny Arsenal, we met with the installation\u2019s exceptional workforce whose innovation ensures our military remains the envy of the world. Picatinny continues to step up, delivering groundbreaking technology that directly supports our servicemembers on the battlefield. The talent and expertise here cannot be overstated, and I will always support Picatinny, its workforce, and its mission.\"\n\nOn October 31, 2025, Congressman Kean and Representative Elise Stefanik (NY-21) sent a joint letter to Secretary Driscoll expressing their strong support of the U.S. Army\u2019s proposal to establish a Close Combat Innovation Cell (CCIC) in partnership with Picatinny Arsenal, NJ and the 10th Mountain Infantry Division out of Fort Drum, NY. The CCIC plans to develop new systems that \u201censure the technologies it develops are useful to the warfighter in complex battlefield environments.\u201d\n\nAs detailed in the letter, one of CCIC\u2019s first innovation projects, Project STARLING, seeks to produce up to 100 3D-printed small unmanned aerial systems (sUAS) for use within a light infantry brigade combat team. The initiative would empower Picatinny and Fort Drum to fabricate sUAS systems and develop both offensive and defensive swarm capabilities with integrated lethality.\n\nCongressman Kean and Congresswoman Stefanik also advocated for allocating $20 million of Congress\u2019s recent reconciliation package to support counter-UAS development. Counter-UAS remains one of Picatinny\u2019s core capabilities and is a central focus of its research & development mission.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases/pallone-statement-third-circuit-decision-confirming-alina-habba-was-unlawfully", "Pallone Statement on Third Circuit Decision Confirming Alina Habba Was Unlawfully Installed as NJ\u2019s U.S. Attorney", "2025-12-01", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Frank Pallone, Jr.", "P000034", "pallone.house.gov", "pallone", "https://pallone.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (NJ-06) released the following statement after the Third Circuit affirmed that Alina Habba was never legally serving as Acting U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey:\n\n\u201cToday\u2019s ruling is exactly why I helped pass the Preserving United States Attorney Independence Act. The law is simple: U.S. Attorneys must answer to the Constitution, not to political pressure from the White House. With this decision the Third Circuit has made it clear that Alina Habba was never the Acting U.S. Attorney. The Trump Administration broke the law when it tried to reinstall her anyway.\n\n\u201cHabba\u2019s illegal appointment caused real problems in New Jersey -- from delayed trials to confusion in our federal courts. I joined this brief to protect the law we wrote and to make sure New Jersey gets a U.S. Attorney chosen through a lawful process. Today\u2019s decision restores that process and reinforces the checks and balances that keep politics out of our justice system.\u201d\n\nIn October, Pallone joined an amicus brief urging the Third Circuit to uphold the law. The court\u2019s ruling confirms that Habba was never legally serving as Acting U.S. Attorney.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415134", "LifeSiteNews article on Smith-Harshbarger letter to Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary'170+ Republican members of Congress urge Trump admin to immediately ban mailing abortion pills'", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Calvin Freiburger\n\nPublished Wednesday, November 26, 2025 at 3:25 PM EST\n\nWASHINGTON, D.C. (LifeSiteNews) \u2014 More than 170 congressional Republicans have signed a new letter calling on the Trump administration to immediately restore the requirement that abortion pills be dispensed in-person and pick up the pace of its promised review of the data on the drugs\u2019 dangers.\n\nUnder the Biden administration, health officials eliminated the requirement that abortion pills be dispensed in person, and the Biden Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel declared that a provision of the 1873 Comstock Act making it illegal for the United States Postal Service to deliver any \u201carticle, instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing which is advertised or described in a manner calculated to lead another to use or apply it for producing abortion,\u201d did not mean what it said, and abortion pills could be freely mailed, delivered, and received \u201cwhere the sender lacks the intent that the recipient of the drugs will use them unlawfully,\u201d with unlawful intent essentially declared unknowable.\n\nThe U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear a challenge to that decision on standing grounds, and the Trump campaign declared that President Donald Trump would not restore Comstock if elected. After returning to office, Trump took a number of pro-life actions that caused pro-lifers to relax, primarily in the area of taxpayer funding. Pro-lifers hoped that a strengthening of his abortion pill position would eventually follow, bolstered by promises from U.S. Health & Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (another formerly pro-abortion figure who \u201cmoderated\u201d during his own presidential bid) promised in May a \u201ccomplete review\u201d of the medical risks of abortion pills, though no conclusions or timetable have yet been announced.\n\nThe November 20 letter, led by Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Diana Harshbarger, (R-TN) and addressed to Kennedy and U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Marty Makary, asks that the \u201cdeleterious and grossly underreported effects on women of the drug mifepristone be aggressively investigated and decisive action taken to protect women from harm\u201d and urges \u201cimmediate action be taken to, at a minimum, reinstate the in-person dispensing requirement for mifepristone.\u201d\n\nHouse Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republican leaders have added their names to the letter.\n\nIt highlights an April analysis by the Ethics and Public Policy Center (EPPC), which concluded that almost 11 percent of women suffer sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or other major conditions after taking mifepristone, according to insurance data, plus similar findings by the Restoration of America Foundation, as part of a \u201cgrowing body of evidence indicating that the health risks associated with mifepristone abortions are severe, widespread, and significantly underreported.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe dangerous Biden mail-order scheme was designed to give abortion activists license to mail drugs everywhere, even into states like [abortion coercion victim Rosalie] Markezich\u2019s home state of Louisiana that have pro-life protections for pregnant mothers and their unborn babies,\u201d the letter says. \u201cThese drugs are sent across state lines with no physician oversight, and without appropriate screening to ensure that bad actors are not secretly poisoning women without their knowledge or forcing women to take abortion drugs against their will\u2014a clear indication that radical pro-abortion activists care more about protecting abortion access than about upholding women\u2019s health and safety.\u201d\n\nUltimately, it notes, almost two-thirds of all U.S. abortions are now done via drugs.\n\n\u201cUnder your leadership, HHS and FDA can reverse this wrong,\u201d the letter concludes. \u201cWe urge you to immediately reinstate the REMS requiring in-person dispensing of mifepristone and to expedite the promised review by the FDA into the dangers of abortion drugs.\u201d\n\nAbortion pills have become arguably the most important part of the abortion lobby\u2019s business, and the ability to mail them across state lines to be taken in complete privacy is nearly impossible for pro-life states to prevent, effectively undermining Trump\u2019s own stated desire for every state to decide abortion policy for itself.\n\nIn November 2022, Operation Rescue reported that a net decrease of 36 abortion facilities in 2022 led to the lowest number in almost 50 years, yet the chemical abortion business \u201csurged\u201d with 64 percent of new facilities built specializing in dispensing mifepristone and misoprostol. Citing data from the pro-abortion Guttmacher Institute, STAT says mifepristone \u201caccounts for roughly half of all abortions in the U.S.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415135", "Catholic Standard article on Smith-Harshbarger letter to Secretary Kennedy and Commissioner Makary'175 lawmakers demand \"robust\" investigation on risks of abortion pill'", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Our Sunday Visitor\n\nPublished November 26, 2025\n\nCongressional Republicans are demanding a \u201crobust\u201d investigation of federal safety standards and health risks connected to mifepristone, a pill commonly, but not exclusively, used for early abortion.\n\nThe letter, dated Nov. 20 and co-signed by 175 Republican lawmakers, asks Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Martin Makary to investigate the \u201cdeleterious and grossly underreported effects\u201d of mifepristone on women, prohibit mail shipment of the drug, and immediately \u201creinstate the in-person dispensing requirement.\u201d\n\nReleased Nov. 24, the letter also condemned the Biden administration\u2019s \u201cegregious action to remove critical safeguards that once applied to abortion drugs.\u201d In addition to urging an end to the mailing of the drugs, the letter objected to \u201cthe FDA\u2019s approval\u201d in September of a new generic form of mifepristone and urged the Trump administration to provide more information about that approval.\n\nA box containing a mifepristone tablet is pictured Feb. 28, 2023. In November 2025, more than 170 Republican lawmakers, including the entire House GOP leadership, released a new letter to the HHS secretary and FDA commissioner urging \u201crobust FDA investigation and review\u201d of the safety standards and health risks associated with mifepristone as used in chemical abortions. (OSV News photo/Callaghan O\u2019Hare, via Reuters)\n\nSigners of the letter include House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, both of Louisiana; Majority Whip Tom Emmer of Minnesota; and Rep. Lisa C. McClain, R-Mich, Republican Conference chairwoman.\n\n\u201cThe Biden-Harris administration\u2019s blatant disregard for the innumerable health risks and complications caused by mifepristone \u2013 the baby poison pill \u2013 has been the status quo for far too long,\u201d Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said in a statement accompanying release of the letter. \u201cThe carelessness of Biden\u2019s FDA has taken and harmed thousands of lives, the unborn and their mothers alike.\u201d\n\n\u201cRecent findings raise real questions about the safety of chemical abortion pills like mifepristone, and Americans deserve straight answers about the risks involved,\u201d Rep. Diana Harshbarger, R-Tenn., said in a statement. A licensed pharmacist, she is vice chair of the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health.\n\n\u201cNo medication with known complications should be handed out without proper medical oversight and follow-up care,\u201d she added.\n\nFirst approved by the FDA for early abortion in 2000, mifepristone \u2013 the first of two drugs used in a medication-based abortion \u2013 gained the moniker \u201cthe abortion pill.\u201d However, the same drug combination has become used sometimes in recent years for miscarriage care, where an unborn child has already died, a situation that Catholic teaching would hold as morally licit use.\n\nThe Catholic Church opposes direct abortion. It teaches that all human life is sacred from conception to natural death, and as such, opposes direct abortion.\n\nThe lawmakers\u2019 Nov. 20 letter follows an Oct. 29 pledge by Sens. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Bill Cassidy, R-La., and Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America national to push the Trump administration for more information regarding the FDA approval of the new generic form of mifepristone.\n\nIn a related development regarding mifepristone, Students for Life Action hailed the introduction Nov. 24 of the Clean Water for All Life Act in the Wisconsin Legislature. Other states considering the same legislation include Arizona, Idaho, Maine, West Virginia and Wyoming.\n\nThe measure is co-sponsored by Republican Reps. Lindee Brill and Nate Gustafson and Republican Sen. Andre Jacque.\n\nThe bill would require doctors who prescribe abortion pills to make patients collect and return their expelled fetus in medical waste bags for disposal. It\u2019s intended to keep abortion pill chemicals from entering public water supplies.\n\nPreviously, the FDA has rejected the idea, issuing a response to a Students for Life petition that the agency require prescribers to include a \u201cmedical waste bag and catch-kit\u201d with all mifepristone prescriptions.\n\nThe petition, the agency said, \u201coffers only conjecture that remnants of mifepristone in the nation\u2019s water system are \u2018causing unknown harm to citizens and animals alike,\u2019\u201d and that Students for Life \u201cprovides no evidence showing that bodily fluid from patients who have used mifepristone (a one-time, single-dose product) is causing harm to the nation\u2019s aquatic environment.\u201d\n\nWater treatment processes handle many forms of medications, including birth control pills, in trace amounts.\n\nIn a Nov. 21 statement, Student for Life president Kristan Hawkins called mifepristone \u201cthe abortion industry\u2019s dirty little secret. Hospitals and medical clinics can\u2019t legally flush chemically tainted blood, placenta tissue, and human remains, but the Biden administration gave a de facto permit to pollute in allowing chemical abortion pill pushers to supersize their markets with \u2026 online sales and delivery by mail. It\u2019s up to the Trump administration to finally do the environmental testing that\u2019s been ignored and to go back to the drawing board on chemical abortion pills.\u201d\n\nThe Students for Life effort began in 2024, when, as part of a coalition of pro-life groups, it demanded that the EPA track the \u201cforever chemicals\u201d in mifepristone.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-introduces-bill-protect-children-online-adding-new-parental-controls", "Kean Introduces Bill to Protect Children Online, Adding New Parental Controls to Video Games", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Thomas H. Kean, Jr.", "K000398", "kean.house.gov", "kean", "https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "(November 26, 2025) WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced the introduction of the Safer GAMING Act, legislation that would require online video game providers to embed safeguards that help parents better protect minors from harmful interactions on gaming platforms.\n\nThe Safer GAMING Act sets new requirements for interactive online video games, which are defined as games that connect to the internet and allow users to communicate with others across the platform. It requires video game creators to offer parents tools to disable communication between a minor and other users of the game. The bill applies to video games accessible through websites, mobile applications, or other online means, and tasks the Federal Trade Commission with carrying out enforcement.\n\n\u201cMany parents are highly cognizant of the fact that online video games can open the door to inappropriate content and malicious actors targeting children,\u201d said Congressman Kean. \"Without video game creators embedding protective tools, it can be challenging for families to manage these risks and safeguard their children. My new bill would add critical parental controls, giving parents the option to turn off chat functions and prevent unsafe interactions with adults and strangers.\u201d\n\nCongressman Tom Kean, Jr. serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee.\n\nThe House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade will hold a hearing entitled \u201cLegislative Solutions to Protect Children and Teens Online\u201d on December 2, 2025. The hearing will examine several proposed measures, including the Safer GAMING Act, focused on improving online safety and reducing risk for adolescents interacting with social media, video games, chatbots, and more.\n\nA copy of the bill text is available HERE.\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/rep-watson-coleman-mourns-the-passing-of-bishop-reginald-t-jackson", "Rep. Watson Coleman Mourns the Passing of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Today, Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement mourning the passing of Bishop Reginald T. Jackson:", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"], ["https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases/watson-coleman-statement-on-shooting-of-national-guardsmen-near-white-house", "Watson Coleman Statement on Shooting of National Guardsmen Near White House", "2025-11-26", "2025", "2025-11", "Democrat", "House", "NJ", "Bonnie Watson Coleman", "W000822", "watsoncoleman.house.gov", "watsoncoleman", "https://watsoncoleman.house.gov/newsroom/press-releases", "scraper", "Congresswoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) released the following statement in response to reports of two National Guardsmen being shot near the White House:\n\n\"I\u2019m horrified and heartbroken to learn that two members of the West Virginia National Guard were shot near the White House today.\n\n\"My prayers are with the victims and their families during this very painful time. A shooting is devastating for families under any circumstances; to have two families endure this crisis on the eve of Thanksgiving is especially heartbreaking.\n\n\"Early news reports indicate the Guardsmen may have been targeted. While we wait for further information, it appears the President\u2019s unwarranted decision to deploy National Guard troops to DC unwittingly put these troops in danger. I again call on the President to end his needless deployment of troops in our cities and to personally apologize to the Guardsmen and their families.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 990, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"chamber\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "House", "p1": "NJ", "p2": "2025"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "Democrat", "label": "Democrat", "count": 569, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025&party=Democrat", "selected": false}, {"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 421, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025&party=Republican", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 990, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NJ&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "NJ", "label": "NJ", "count": 990, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&year=2025", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025", "results": [{"value": "2025", "label": "2025", "count": 990, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2025-11-26,https~3A~2F~2Fwatsoncoleman~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fwatson-coleman-statement-on-shooting-of-national-guardsmen-near-white-house", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?chamber=House&state=NJ&year=2025&_next=2025-11-26%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fwatsoncoleman~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnewsroom~2Fpress-releases~2Fwatson-coleman-statement-on-shooting-of-national-guardsmen-near-white-house&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 351.8764488399029, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}