{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"NJ\" and year = 2013 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365154", "<span class=\"kicker\">Washington Post editorial</span>'In international abduction cases, quiet diplomacy is not working'", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "SEAN GOLDMAN was 4 years old when his Brazilian-born mother took him from their New Jersey home for what Sean\u2019s father, David Goldman, thought would be a two-week vacation. Five years passed before the father again laid eyes on his son.\n\u201cIt was very painful,\u2019\u2019 David Goldman recalled. \u201cThe first time I saw him after nearly five years, he looked at me and asked me where have I been all this time. . . . He was told that I didn\u2019t love him, that I abandoned him, that I never wanted him.\u201d\u00a0\nThe only unusual feature of this story is that David Goldman eventually regained custody, though even after the boy\u2019s mother died in 2008 her Brazilian family continued to resist his efforts. He succeeded in part because Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.) relentlessly focused attention and pressure on the case. Now a bill written by Mr. Smith, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, has been approved by the House, 398 to 0, and is set for consideration in the Senate. But the State Department doesn\u2019t want the additional diplomatic tools the bill would provide.\nAccording to State, 1,144 children were reported abducted from the United States in 2012. There were 1,367 in 2011 and 1,492 in 2010. State Department officials say they work hard to get those children back \u2014 or at least to get the cases fairly adjudicated \u2014 but they can\u2019t or won\u2019t say how many of those abducted children remain overseas. That raises questions about their claims for success for \u201cquiet diplomacy.\u201d\nIn a letter to Mr. Smith, Robert E. Wallace, executive director of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW), said the abduction of children by a separated spouse is a particular problem for service members, especially in Japan. Mr. Wallace said the service members\u2019 appeals for help \u201care too often met with bad legal advice, misinformation or indifference. . . . It is time for the U.S. government to take concrete action.\u201d An organization of victimized parents said that the result of quiet diplomacy is \u201cthat the Government of Japan has not once assisted in returning a single abducted child.\u201d Japan at least is in the process of acceding to an international treaty on the subject; most countries have not done so.\nThe House bill provides for a series of graduated sanctions against countries that demonstrate a pattern of non-cooperation; it also would encourage the United States to negotiate agreements with countries that have not ratified the treaty. In both cases, the executive branch would act only if it chose to do so; the bill provides for a presidential waiver. Nonetheless, a State Department official told us putting tools in the tool kit would be counterproductive because U.S. officials would face pressure to use them and other countries would resent the implied threat.\nGiven the administration\u2019s inability to quantify its success, or to report any results at all, the argument for the status quo is not persuasive. An aide to Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee, told us that the committee will take the measure up soon. We hope soon means soon. For thousands of parents deprived of the chance even to communicate with their children, quiet diplomacy isn\u2019t getting the job done. \u00a0http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/give-parents-more-tools-in-international-abduction-cases/2013/12/28/2d0a96aa-6c0e-11e3-aecc-85cb037b7236_story.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035637/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-applauds-faa-selection-new-jersey-virginia-partnership-national-test-site", "LoBiondo Applauds FAA Selection of New Jersey-Virginia Partnership for National Test Site of Unmanned Aircraft Systems", "2013-12-30", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "MAYS LANDING, N.J. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today applauded the announcement by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) that the joint application by the states of New Jersey and Virginia has been selected as one of the six national test sites for integrating commercial unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) into the national airspace. LoBiondo, working closely with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, led the New Jersey\u2019s Congressional efforts to secure the designation.\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a GREAT way to kick off the New Year, promising significant economic opportunities in the aviation field particularly for South Jersey,\u201d lauded LoBiondo, chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee. \u201cA years-long effort has been spent on putting forth the strongest application - including forming a solid working partnership with Virginia - to ensure the FAA recognized our existing assets for this project. I appreciate Governor Christie\u2019s unwavering support throughout the process as well as the efforts of my Congressional colleagues and those working on the ground in South Jersey on our proposal.\u201d\nThe states\u2019 joint application was put forth by Virginia Polytechnic Institute (Virginia Tech) and Rutgers University with support from the Governors of New Jersey and Virginia. The other 5 test sites selected by the FAA are in: Alaska-Hawaii-Oregon; Nevada; North Dakota; Texas; and New York. UAS test sites will operate until February 2017 with the first site being operational within 180 days of today\u2019s announcement. There is no federal funding from the FAA for any test site.\nThe William J. Hughes FAA Technical Center will be the lead facilitator of data collected from each of the six test sites, working to safely integrate UAS into the national airspace as mandated by the 2012 FAA Authorization Act \u2013 a provision LoBiondo advocated for inclusion during the bill\u2019s drafting and debate. While each test site will have specific regulations to protect the privacy of surrounding residents and businesses, Congress continues to evaluate further legislative options to address civil liberty concerns.\n\u201cThe outstanding partnership between New Jersey and Virginia, between Governors Christie and McDonnell, between Rutgers and Virginia Tech and various state and private entities made for a winning result. Our cooperative efforts, in conjunction with the FAA Tech Center in Egg Harbor Township, will continue as our test site takes off and commercial unmanned aircraft systems open up new economic opportunities for our states,\u201d concluded LoBiondo.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365091", "<span class=\"kicker\">Trentonian Page 1</span>'Plainsboro mother seeks help from Congress to bring her kidnapped sons home'", "2013-12-24", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Sherrina Navani, The Trentonian - All Bindu Philips wants for Christmas are her two young sons back, and thanks to a new bill passed by the House of Representatives, she may be closer than ever to getting her wish granted.\r\nMembers of the House voted unanimously, in early December, to pass a bill to help bring home American children abducted to overseas destinations. The legislation, dubbed, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013, will help left behind parents of American children abducted to India, Japan, Egypt, India, Brazil, Russia, England and other countries where most are forced to live overseas and never return, according to Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) \u2014 the author of the legislation and chairman of the House congressional panel which oversees human rights. \r\nNot all countries have signed The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the standing international treaty which addresses parental abductions via the justice system. The treaty provides for the quick return of abducted children, and access rights to both parents. Sadly, even Hague signatories, like Brazil, often don\u2019t enforce its provisions. \r\n\u201cWhat we are asking the State Department to do with this bill, is to start accounting for all the children who have been abducted to other countries,\u201d said Jeff Sagnip, District Director for Smith, noting the State Department would be required to issue an annual report. \u201cIf this bill is passed, it cannot force abducting parents who have already taken their children to other countries, to bring them back, however it will start taking account of the thousands of U.S. children who are taken and held overseas. Also, local congressional leaders will become aware of all the children who are being kidnapped from their districts; it will help keep our government\u2019s attention on the cases and work to bring them home.\u201d\r\nThe Plainsboro township mother, Philips, has not seen her five-year-old twin sons, Albert Philip Jacob and Alfred William Jacob, since 2008. Her husband, Sunil Jacob, took the family on an impromptu vacation to India and decided to keep the kids there despite the mother\u2019s wishes. \r\nPhilips believes, her husband Sunil Jacob, was being investigated by the FBI regarding his official role as a Wealth Management Specialist for CitiBank and may have spooked the United States Naturalized Citizen, to run back to his homeland of Kerala India. \r\n\u201cIt was all a big shock to me, I had no idea what was going to happen when we left in December 2008 for the family vacation,\u201d said Phillips. \u201cThrough an investigation the Plainsboro Police and the FBI learned that he had been planning this for months in advance and he even had all of our belongings shipped to India, so when I got home there was nothing left, no car, no clothes, nothing.\u201d \r\nPhilips, whose husband banned her from having any contact with her children shortly after they arrived in India, decided to leave the county in the hopes that the United States legal system would expedite bringing her children back. However, her nightmare, which she believed would only last a month, has turned into a five-year battle that has taken her to the Indian Supreme Court, to her Legislators and now to the State Department. \r\nSmith, the FBI and a slew of lawmakers have listened to Philip\u2019s ordeal and have been champions of the proposed bill, which hopes to circumvent any future abductions. \r\nAs of late, Rep. Rush Holt (D-12th), has reached out to Taranjit Singh Sandhu , Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India in Washington D.C., asking Sandhu to bridge the legal gap between the two countries. \r\nIf passed by the Senate, the law will recommend that the president withhold exchanges with countries that harbor kidnapped children. For example, U.S. development assistance, foreign aid or cultural exchanges may be delayed or withheld if the defiant country does not accept legal initiatives to return the child to their parent, based in the United States. \r\n\u201cI\u2019m completely cut-off from the children, they\u2019ve only seen me for 15 minutes in the last five years,\u201d said Philips as tears began to trickle from her eyes. \u201cBut I refuse to give up hope, I am clinging on, with the hope of being reunited with my children, and I cannot think anything else. I cannot give up on my hope.\u201d Above text was printed Dec. 24, 2013, and edited for clarity.  \r\nOriginal can be read at:  \r\nhttp://www.trentonian.com/government-and-politics/20131223/plainsboro-mother-seeks-help-from-congress-to-bring-her-kidnapped-sons-home", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=365088", "South Sudan Fighting Endangers Many", "2013-12-23", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The expanding fighting in the Republic of South Sudan has killed more than 500 people in recent days and injured four U.S. military personnel who were evacuating Americans and other foreigners from the country. The conflict endangers not only citizens of that country but threatens to negatively impact the country\u2019s neighbors and the international community, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAlready more than 500 people are reported dead,\u201d said Smith. \u201cMore could be killed or injured, and not only in South Sudan\u2014the conflict may spread, threatening people in neighboring countries. The escalating fighting in South Sudan could likely lead to more terrorist activities in an already-volatile region. The Administration\u2019s call for a Christmas season cease-fire must be augmented by intense diplomacy with both sides.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0South Sudan, the world\u2019s newest nation, borders countries already troubled with terrorist activity by the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army (LRA) and various Islamic radical and other militia groups in the Central African Republic, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Analysts fear that a South Sudan distracted and divided by civil war would provide an easier operating ground for terrorist groups. The LRA terrorist group, notorious for kidnapping children and forcing them to serve as child soldiers, still operates in the region and poses a danger to the lives of civilians in all four countries. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Meanwhile, Islamic radicals have infiltrated countries in the region, most notably Somalia, but also Ethiopia and even Uganda. An unstable South Sudan will only further empower them by providing the kind of chaos in which the radicals thrive. The entire Sahel region of north-central Africa has been targeted, with Mali having been torn apart by their violent activities and nations such as Niger, Chad and Central African Republic continuing to be adversely affected by their militant and terroristic actions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Last year\u2019s nine-month oil dispute between South Sudan and Sudan cut oil production from a combined 450,000 barrels per day to what amounted to a mere trickle, and isn\u2019t predicted to return to pre-crisis levels until 2017 at the earliest. The fighting in South Sudan further endangers that timetable as the northern hemisphere heads into winter, and therefore greater oil consumption. Because oil is the only major export for the South Sudanese economy, the economic impact of losing more of its oil production could bring additional suffering to the already-impoverished people of South Sudan.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=788", "Frelinghuysen: Protecting our Emergency Responders", "2013-12-20", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Frelinghuysen Priority: Protecting our Emergency Responders\r\n\r\n\tWashignton, D.C. \u2013 With thousands of volunteer fire departments, first aid squads and emergency medical technicians (EMT) across the nation facing one of the unintended effects of the Affordable Care Act, the new healthcare law, U.S. Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) has written to the new head of the Internal Revenue Service on their behalf.\u00a0 Due to the law\u2019s requirements, fire departments and emergency squads must provide health insurance for volunteers working more than 30 hours a week. The current law stipulates that the \u2018employer mandate\u2019 must apply to organizations that have at least 50 employees, which can include multiple fire houses within one community.\r\n\r\n\tIn December, Frelinghuysen wrote to Acting Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Commissioner Danny Wurfel, \u201cI am deeply concerned that subjecting fire departments and municipalities to this provision will result in services being reduced or eliminated.\u201d\u00a0 He followed up today with a letter to the new Commissioner of the IRS, John Koskinen.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cThe vast majority of volunteers I speak with do not expect to receive health insurance from their departments. Volunteer firefighters and EMS responders do not see their work as a career or a part-time job \u2013 it\u2019s a call to serve the community,\u201d Rodney said. \u201cAnd I know that volunteer fire and EMS departments operate on a shoe-string budget and they and their municipalities won\u2019t have the resources to pay for health insurance for their personnel. Without this new bureaucratic burden, most groups already have difficulty making ends meet.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tRodney has cosponsored legislation that would exempt volunteer fire departments fire aid squads and emergency medical technicians (EMT) from providing health insurance to volunteers. However, until the bill is passed, fire chiefs and municipal leaders must wait to see how the situation will be resolved.\r\n\r\n\tVolunteers are vital in ensuring fire safety in New Jersey and across the nation. The National Volunteer Fire Council reports that there are 783,300 volunteer firefighters in the U.S. comprising 70% of firefighting force, and our nation has 20,050 volunteer departments.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364831", "<span class=\"kicker\">Asbury Park Press page one</span>Sean and David Goldman abduction bill could be approved this week", "2013-12-18", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Susanne Cervenka, Asbury Park Press staff --  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0It could be another Christmas surprise for David Goldman, the former Tinton Falls man whose son, Sean, was returned to him on Christmas Eve four years ago.\r\nThis time, the gift would be the passage of a law named for Goldman and his son that would help other families whose children have been kidnapped to foreign countries.\r\nAfter three years of negotiations, the \u201cSean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act\u201d is headed to the U.S. Senate, where it could be approved as soon as this week, said Rep. Chris Smith, who, along with Goldman, appeared at an editorial board meeting at the Asbury Park Press.\r\nSmith, R-N.J., said the Senate could take up the bill through unanimous consent, a procedure that would expedite the legislation\u2019s path to President Barack Obama\u2019s desk.\r\nSmith said he has not heard yet if Obama would sign the bill, but Goldman said Obama was supportive of his mission when he was a senator and intervened soon after becoming president.\r\nThe legislation would set up a series of sanctions against countries that persistently fail to follow either the Hague Abduction Conventions, a 1980 international treaty that bars parents from fleeing to other countries until custody is decided, or similar agreements the United States would make with countries that haven\u2019t signed on to that treaty.\r\nSean Goldman, now 13, is the only U.S. child so far to be returned under the Hague treaty, which is signed by more than 80 countries, but rarely is enforced.\r\nChildren who have come home do so most often because of an agreement reached between both parents, not because of judicial orders by foreign courts, Goldman said.\r\nThe sanctions, which range from the president making a private appeal to suspending or revoking economic aide, are key to the legislation, which Smith said amps up the Hague treaty by putting political pressure on countries that harbor parents. The law also would require the U.S. Department of State, with the parents\u2019 permission, to notify federal lawmakers, who represent left-behind parents, of the abduction so they can put pressure on their diplomatic counterparts.\r\n\u201cIf you don\u2019t have a penalty phase, enforcing a global human rights standard becomes meaningless,\u201d Smith said. \u201cCountries do not sharpen their response and become responsive unless they know there is a potential penalty phase.\u201d\r\n Sean is in a 'safe place' \r\nThe bill passed the House with a 398-0 vote, a seemingly impossible feat in the increasingly cantankerous Congress.\r\nGoldman, however, sees nothing partisan in bringing American children home to settle custody disputes.\r\nGoldman\u2019s wife, Bruna Bianchi, took Sean, then 4, from New Jersey to Brazil on what Goldman thought was a two-week trip to visit family. Bianchi remarried, then died in childbirth, which set off the high-profile international fight to return Sean home.\r\nGoldman said cases like his, where the children have been living in the United States before one parent takes them abroad, are often wrongly characterized as international custody cases instead of abduction cases.\r\nBut once abroad, the country harboring the parent abductor treat the case as a straight custodial case, where laws often aren\u2019t the same as the United States.\r\nGoldman, 47, incurred upwards of $700,000 in debt for legal bills in both countries, plane tickets, extended hotel stays and translation costs in the fight to bring his son home from Brazil.\r\nThis legislation would help reduce the financial damage families face along with emotional turmoil the separation case inflict by speeding up the children\u2019s return to the United States, he said.\r\n\u201cThe quicker the remedy, the less the costs,\u201d said Goldman, who established the Bring Sean Home Foundation to help other families. He has since moved from his Tinton Falls home, but has not said where he is living now. Goldman has remarried.\r\nSean has visited with his Brazilian grandmother about three or four times since, at least twice in the past year, he said. Those visits occurred here with Sean\u2019s therapist.\r\nThe focus now has been to give Sean as normal of a childhood as possible, Goldman said.\r\nGoldman said he keeps a watchful eye on Sean as any parent would, but no longer fears when his son will be home.\r\nOriginally published at:\r\nhttp://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013312160061", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364712", "Jacob Ostreicher Back in the U.S.A.", "2013-12-17", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Jacob Ostreicher, an American businessman imprisoned without formal charges for 20 months in Bolivia, then detained for\u00a0 nearly other year, is finally back in the United States, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leading human rights advocate in Congress. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe are overjoyed that he is free,\u201d Smith said. \u201cIt has been a long, painful road for Jacob and his family. He needs time to restore his health and rebuild his life, and he needs time with his family. A great injustice has been done to him from which he may never fully recover.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI thank Sean Penn for his tireless work to free Jacob,\u201d said Smith, who held a May 2013 congressional hearing at which Penn testified. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Two and a half years ago, Jacob was imprisoned on unsubstantiated allegations. Bolivian officials employed delay tactics and gave excuses for his continued detention. No evidence has been presented to indicate that Mr. Ostreicher is guilty of any crime. And there is no sign of the $27 million in assets from his rice farming operation that were confiscated.\nPHOTO: Following Smith\u2019s May 20, 2013 congressional hearing on Jacob's plight, Smith and Penn discuss the case.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith visited Ostreicher\u2014whose daughter and grandchildren live in Smith district\u2014twice in Bolivia. Bail was denied for over 18 months, but finally granted in December 2012. Smith visited him in June 2012 in the notorious Palmasano, a prisoner-run prison, and met with Bolivian officials to seek his release. In December 2012, Smith led a bipartisan congressional delegation to continue to press for his freedom, accompanied by Rep. Nydia Vel\u00e1zquez. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Smith has held three congressional hearings on the case. Ostreicher is now especially frail, due in part to his hunger strike to protest his imprisonment. During his confinement, he began treatment for Parkinson\u2019s disease. \n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0During the June 2012 visit, Smith met with the Bolivian Minister of Government, Carlos Romero, to detail Ostreicher\u2019s story of injustice, including repeated court delays and complete lack of evidence against him. Romero told Smith he would investigate Jacob\u2019s treatment.\u00a0 Over the past year, numerous people have been arrested in the case on charges of corruption, including the legal adviser to the Ministry of Government, Fernando Rivera. Smith personally observed Rivera interfering in the June court proceedings. Bolivian media reported that Romero stated he first became interested in the case as a result of his meeting with Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith formally requested that U.S. Assistant Secretary of State of Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson personally intervene on Ostreicher\u2019s behalf.\u00a0 After visiting with Ostreicher at the prison, Smith met with high-ranking Bolivian officials, including Minister of Government Romero, Minister of Justice Cecilia Luisa Ayllon and Vice Foreign Minister Juan Carlos Alurralde, to discuss the case. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In August of 2012, Smith held a second hearing on Ostreicher\u2019s case entitled \u201cSeeking Freedom for American Trapped in Bolivian Prison.\u201d Chairman Smith also introduced \u201cJacob\u2019s Law\u201d (H.R. 1778). Jacob\u2019s Law would prohibit the travel of foreign officials and their families\u2019 to the United States if those officials are known to be complicit in the violation of fundamental human and due process rights of Americans imprisoned in their home country.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364832", "The Record: Returning children", "2013-12-16", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "IT'S RARE to see Congress agree on anything, so it was heartening to see a 398-0 vote Wednesday in the House of Representatives in support of a bill to help parents whose children were abducted by a spouse or other family member to live in another country. -There are existing laws that are supposed to help parents engaged in an international custody battle, such as the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction. But the reality is that they aren't very effective. Rep. Chris Smith, a Republican from Mercer County, authored the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013, which was unanimously approved in the House on Wednesday. It would increase the oversight on child abduction cases and give the State Department more power to help resolve them. David Goldman, of Tinton Falls, spent five years apart from his son, Sean, after the boy's mother took him to Brazil and her parents tried to win custody after the mother died. Smith pressured the State Department and made two trips to Brazil with Goldman. They eventually succeeded in getting Sean back after Sen. Frank Lautenberg said he would block action on a trade bill Brazil wanted. Most \"left-behind parents,\" as they're called, haven't been as fortunate as Goldman. Smith said that each year, more than 1,000 international child abductions are reported to the State Department's Office on Children's Issues. Some of these are military members whose service keeps them from being able to attend legal proceedings in the United States or abroad. Smith said that according to State Department reports, only about half of the children abducted to countries that are part of the Hague Abduction Convention are returned. And the percentage is less than 40 percent when the children are taken to countries without treaty obligations to the U.S. The bill would make it clear that reuniting parents with their children is a priority for the U.S. government. Part of its guidelines would require the State Department to file an annual report on the number of abductions and which countries have shown a pattern of non-cooperation. The bill grants the president the power to authorize an escalating series of actions as deemed necessary to resolve an abduction case. These include: a public condemnation, a delay or canceling of scientific or cultural exchanges, denying or canceling state visits and holding back development or security assistance. The last item in the list of actions allows the president to order U.S. agencies to withhold licenses to export goods or technologies to a country that continues to be uncooperative with efforts to resolve international child abductions. Originally published at: http://www.northjersey.com/news/opinions/235973401_The_Record__Returning_children.html#sthash.6D2WOy53.dpuf", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364361", "<span class=\"kicker\">Asbury Park Press page one</span>'Child abduction bill passes House with no opposition'", "2013-12-14", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Written by Malia Rulon Herman, Gannett News Service -- \r\nThe House voted unanimously on Wednesday to pass legislation from Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey that aims to crack down on countries that harbor children abducted by a parent.\r\nThe bill was named for David Goldman of Tinton Falls, whose five-year fight to get his son back from Brazil drew international attention. Goldman\u2019s son Sean was returned to him on Christmas Eve almost exactly four years ago. \u201cToday, we have hope,\u201d Goldman told reporters shortly before the vote. \u201cOur abducted American children need to be returned.\u201d\r\nSmith\u2019s bill passed 398-0, an impressive show of bipartisan support that Smith says should help the bill attract support in the Senate.\r\nThe bill would give the U.S. government authority to pursue sanctions \u2014 from a public rebuke to trade and credit suspensions \u2014 on countries that refuse to turn over abducted children.\r\nUnder the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, parents are barred from fleeing to another country with their children until a court determines custody. Some 81 countries are signatories, but the treaty is rarely enforced.\r\nSmith, a Republican, said he hopes his legislation creates a system in which countries are held accountable for failing to comply with court orders to return abducted children.\r\nHe was joined by Goldman and six other families who are struggling to get their children back from other countries. In an hour-long news conference that evoked tears from several present, the parents took turns telling their stories.\r\nBindu Philips of Plainsboro, N.J., said she was never apart from her children for more than a day until five years ago, when her ex-husband took them to India and blocked all efforts to have them returned.\r\n\u201cI have done everything I can in this nightmarish situation, and I will never give up,\u201d she said..\r\nBarton Hermer of Plano, Texas, told of struggling to get his daughter back from her mother, who fled with her to the United Kingdom.\r\n\u201cI plead to you, to the media, to the government, please stand behind us,\u201d he said, choking back tears. \u201cThese are our most precious citizens and they need to be brought home immediately.\u201d Goldman\u2019s son, Sean, remains the only U.S. child to be returned under the Hague treaty. He was 9 when he came home in 2009 and is now 13. \r\nAfter taking Sean, who was then 4, to Brazil, Goldman\u2019s wife remarried, then died in childbirth. Her death sparked an international custody battle that ended with Sean\u2019s emotional return to the U.S..\r\nGoldman has remarried and is raising Sean along with his wife\u2019s two young sons. He described Sean as a well-adjusted, 5-foot-10-inch eighth grader who loves to play basketball and go fishing, and has an incredibly messy room.\r\n\u201cHe made the basketball travel team and also the school team,\u201d Goldman gushed, flipping through photos of Sean on his phone before flashing one of Sean holding a fish he caught on a recent deep-sea fishing trip.\r\nGoldman said their years apart couldn\u2019t break the bond between him and his son, but there are lingering effects. He said he\u2019s still in debt after years of legal battles. He described Sean as \u201cwise beyond his years.\u201d\r\n\u201cHe knows what happened,\u201d Goldman said. \u201cWe talk about it.\u201d\r\nAs Christmas Eve approaches, the fourth anniversary of Sean\u2019s return, Goldman said he\u2019s reminded of how lucky he is.\r\nOriginally Dec. 12, 2013 published at:\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0http://www.app.com/article/C0/20131212/NJNEWS10/312120012/Child-abduction-bill-passes-House-no-opposition?nclick_check=1", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364359", "<span class=\"kicker\">Fox News Channel</span>Smith Presses Cases of Americans Held in Iran", "2013-12-13", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "FOX NEWS - \r\nThe wife of an American pastor imprisoned for his faith in Iran said she was shocked to learn the U.S. government had been conducting secret negotiations with Iran even as State Department officials told her they could do little to free her husband because the nations have no diplomatic relations. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Naghmeh Abedini, whose husband, Saeed Abedini, is serving an eight-year prison term in Iran after being arrested more than a year ago while visiting his homeland, told FoxNews.com she felt betrayed when she later learned U.S. diplomats were negotiating a nuclear agreement with Iran even while claiming nothing could be done for her husband. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cInitially, when I went to the U.S. government, they said we don\u2019t have a direct relationship with Iran,\" Naghmeh Abdeini said, moments after telling a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee her husband's health is failing in prison. \"Here we were sitting across table from Iran. It was our best leverage. It should have been a precondition.\"\"Here we were sitting across table from Iran. It was our best leverage. It should have been a precondition.\" \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Here we were sitting across table from Iran. It was our best leverage. It should have been a precondition.\"- Naghmeh Abedini, wife of American imprisoned in Iran. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Boise, Idaho, mother of two said her husband's relatives in Iran have been able to meet with him sporadically, and have given her grim news about his condition. She said the imprisoned American's father saw Abedini 10 days ago and reported that has internal bleeding from repeated beatings at the hands of guards and fellow inmates and was covered with lice. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., who chairs the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, said \"time is running out\" for Abedini, who experts believe would be unlikely to survive eight years in Iran\u2019s brutal prison system.  \r\n\r\nWatch the latest video at video.foxnews.com\r\n  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith said Abedini and two other Americans being held in Iran should have been the first order of business when U.S. and Iranian diplomats sat down for talks, sometime earlier this year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"You begin every conversation with it; it should be center of every conversation and every conversation should end with it,\u201d Smith told FoxNews.com. \u201cHow can we have a discussion with any regime when they are torturing our citizens?\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Earlier, lawmakers on the panel heard the distraught wife detail her fears for her husband and the heartbreak she and their two children feel due to his absence. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"His condition has worsened and the kids and I fear his life,\" she said, before holding up a photograph of her children on their first day of school. \"Tears were streaming down my face as I got the kids ready for school with their father missing.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Abedini \"went to Iran to build an orphanage for Iranian children last year\" and \"remains in an absolute hell-hole prison,\" Smith told the committee. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A U.S. State Department official. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"We continue to have serious concerns about the fate of a dual national U.S.-Iranian detained in Iran Saeed Abedini,\" the official said. \"As we noted previously, President Obama raised Mr. Abedini\u2019s case in his Sept. 27 phone call with President [Hassan] Rouhani and we continue to urge the Iranian government to release Mr. Abedini so that he may be reunited with his family. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"We have been repeatedly clear\u00a0that we are calling on Iran to\u00a0release all detained U.S. citizens and we will continue our efforts until Saeed Abedini, Amir Hekmati, and Robert Levinson all return\u00a0home,\" the official added. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Abedini converted from Islam to Christianity more than a decade ago, and was previously sanctioned for evangelizing in Iran. But the 34-year-old father of two claims he had only returned to his native land to help establish an orphanage when authorities pulled him off a bus in August of 2012 and threw him into the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0He was later sentenced to eight years and has since been moved to Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj, a prison known to house Iran\u2019s most violent criminals. His supporters say he has been beaten and tortured in the prison. According to reports, Rajai Shahr Prison was built to accommodate 5,000 inmates, but at present houses about 22,000, which has led to severe overcrowding and inhumane conditions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0`Hekmati, a U.S. Marine who went to Iran to visit his grandparents, was charged with spying and sentenced to death. Levinson, a former FBI agent who disappeared in March, 2007, while investigating cigarette smuggling on the Kish Islands. Iran has said they are not holding Levinson, but U.S. officials believe otherwise.\r\n\u00a0\r\nLisa Daftari is a Fox News contributor specializing in Middle Eastern affairs.\r\nOriginally Published ar:\r\nhttp://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/12/12/wife-american-pastor-held-in-iran-blasts-obama-administration-for-not-doing/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364230", "Fate of American Pastor Held in Iran Focus of House Hearing", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The plight of imprisoned Iranian-American Saeed Abedini was the topic of a congressional hearing Thursday chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global human rights issues.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAs we speak, Pastor Abedini remains imprisoned in Iran, sharing a cell with violent criminals who have more than once surrounded Pastor Abedini as he tried to sleep, wielding knives and threatening his life,\u201d Smith said. \u201cSaeed Abedini is an American citizen. He went to Iran last year to build an orphanage for Iranian children.\u201d Abedini, who lives in Boise, Idaho with his wife and two children, had been arrested in Iran before, but released and told by the government he could enter and exit the country for humanitarian aid work if he agreed to cease pastoring house churches. Abedini accepted that proposal\u2013but Iran did not uphold its end of the agreement. He was arrested in July 2012, imprisoned, and unjustly tried for sharing his religious beliefs and thereby supposedly undermining the security of Iran. The trial was not public, and he and his attorney were barred from participating in key portions of the trial\u2014following which a judge sentenced him to 8 years in prison. His appeals have been denied. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIn prison, he has been repeatedly beaten, denied medical care, and held in solitary confinement.\u00a0 While nuclear talks played out on the world stage\u2014Iran moved Pastor Abedini to a prison notorious for housing the worst criminals in Iran, Rajai Shahr,\u201d Smith said.Click here to read Smith\u2019s statement. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Despite international diplomacy and negotiations on its nuclear program, the Iranian government transferred him from a prison commonly holding political prisoners, Evin Prison, to the notoriously dangerous Rajai Shahr Prison in Karaj for violent criminals. According to onerecent AP report, \u201cTransfer to Karaj, customarily used to house violent criminals, has all too frequently been a de facto death sentence for political prisoners.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Naghmeh Abedini\u2014wife of Pastor Abedini\u2014testified about the persecution of her husband. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhile I am thankful for President Obama\u2019s willingness to express concern about my husband and the other imprisoned Americans in Iran during his recent phone conversation with Iran\u2019s new president, Hassan Rouhani, I was devastated to learn that the Administration didn\u2019t even ask for my husband\u2019s release when directly seated across the table from the leaders of the government that holds him captive,\u201d she said. \u201cMy husband is suffering because he is a Christian. He is suffering because he is an American. Yet, his own government at least the Executive and diplomatic representatives has abandoned him. Don\u2019t we owe it to him as a nation to stand up for his human rights, for his freedom?\u201d Click here to read her remarks. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rep. Smith and other members also mentioned the U.S. government\u2019s refusal to link the nuclear talks with the release of Pastor Abedini and two other Americans Bob Levinson, and Amir Hekmati, unjustly imprisoned in Iran. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The hearing, \u201cIran\u2019s Persecution of American Pastor Abedini,\u201d was held jointly by the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations (chaired by Rep. Smith) and the Subcommittee Middle East and North Africa. \n\u00a0  \n\u00a0  \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Witnesses, who focused on the plight of the imprisoned cleric and the need to protect religious freedoms, also includedDr. Katrina Lantos Swett, Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; and Jordan Sekulow, Executive Director, American Center for Law and Justice, and; Dr. Daniel Calingaert, Executive Vice President of Freedom House. (Click on the names to read their testimony.) Click here to watch the hearing. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Iranian regime harshly persecutes Christians in particular, but also Sunni and Sufi sects of Muslims, and those of the Baha\u2019i faith, Swett said.  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIran\u2019s abuses against religious freedom and its unrelenting crackdown on religious minorities are deplorable and demand the world\u2019s attention and action,\u201d Swett said. \u201cThis is a matter of great urgency. We are concerned that the Iranian government may use the current interim agreement with the United States and other western nations on the nuclear issue to divert the world\u2019s attention from the increasing mistreatment of Christians and other religious minorities throughout the nation. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIf religious minorities in Iran ever needed a voice to condemn Iran\u2019s abusive practices, it is now,\u201d Swett said. \u201cWe hope that in his continued talks with Iranian President Rouhani, President Obama will lend his voice to the continued plight of Christians and other religious minorities, insisting that Iran demonstrate its commitment to peaceful intentions abroad by ceasing its war at home against its own people and their fundamental rights, including the right of freedom of religion or belief.\u201d  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sekulow said, \u201cThe Islamic Republic of Iran has arbitrarily detained and imprisoned Pastor Saeed \u2013 subjecting him to violence and abuse. Violating both Iranian law and international norms, his trial lacked transparency and due process, and yet, the appeals court in Tehran upheld his conviction and eight year prison sentence. Pastor Saeed has exhausted all legal remedies in Iran to appeal this arbitrary conviction and detention \u2013 his freedom now rests solely on the success of diplomatic efforts by the U.S. government and world leaders dedicated to human rights.\u201d  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Calingaert said, \u201cIn his campaign for the presidency of Iran, Hassan Rouhani repeatedly promised to release all political prisoners and to make a change \u2018in favor of free speech and media freedom. The record of his first four months in office shows otherwise. He has yet to live up to these promises.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035723/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-votes-ryan-murray-bipartisan-budget", "LoBiondo Votes For Ryan-Murray Bipartisan Budget", "2013-12-12", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today issued the following statement after voting in favor of the Ryan-Murray Bipartisan Budget \u2013 agreed to by Representative Paul Ryan (WI-01) and Senator Patty Murray (WA) - which sets discretionary federal spending for fiscal years 2014 and 2015:\n\u201cWhether it was meeting with members of our Chambers of Commerce, visiting local employers or speaking with county and municipal officials, the message I heard for the past couple of years has been the same: the uncertainty coming from Washington stymies economic growth and job creation. This budget provides the long-term stability and fiscal certainty businesses and local governments have pleaded for. It represents a realistic compromise on discretionary spending levels to ensure military readiness and national security while protecting life-saving research and infrastructure investments from additional cuts. And it prevents another government shutdown while demonstrating Congress\u2019 ability to come together on critical issues for Americans and our economy.\n\u201cAs we look to 2014, it is my sincere hope that the bipartisan spirit and results continue to other critical issues such as deficit reduction, preserving Medicare and Social Security, immigration reform and tax reform. We\u2019ve taken a small, but important first step with this bipartisan budget \u2013 I hope we continue to move in the right direction towards increasing economic growth while decreasing the nation\u2019s $17 trillion debt.\u201d\nThe last budget passed by a divided government \u2013 where Republicans control one chamber of Congress while Democrats control the other - was during President Reagan\u2019s tenure in 1986. Today\u2019s bipartisan budget, approved by the House 332 to 94, will now be considered by the Senate.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364038", "\u2018Left-Behind\u2019 Parents to Watch Int\u2019l Child Abduction Vote in House", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Spring Lake, NJ\n      Avon-By-The-Sea, NJ\n      Bay Head, NJ\n      Belmar Marina, NJ\n      Fisherman's Memorial - Point Pleasant, NJ\n      Manasquan Inlet, NJ\n      Monmouth Battlefield State Park, NJ", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364208", "House Debates, Votes 398-0 to Approve Congressman Smith\u2019s International Child Abduction Bill", "2013-12-11", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cLeft-behind\u201d parents came from across the country to watch as Members of the House of Representatives voted to unanimously pass a bill to help bring home American children abducted to overseas destinations, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the author of the legislation and chairman of the House congressional panel which oversees human rights.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe bill gives us continued hope that our elected officials grasp the enormity and the severity of this ongoing injustice and pail inflicted upon these victim families torn apart because their American children have been ripped from their loving arms,\u201d said David Goldman, of Monmouth County, N.J., who waged a five-year battle to get his son back from Brazil. He is one of the lucky parents. H.R. 3212, the \u201cSean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013,\u201d passed 398-0. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith has held several hearings on the heartbreaking cases of\u00a0 left-behind parents of American children abducted to India, Japan, Egypt, India, Brazil, Russia, England and other countries where far too few of the thousands of U.S. kids held wrongfully overseas are returned. Not all countries have signed The Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the standing international treaty to try to address parental abductions via a civil framework that provides for the quick return of abducted children, and access rights to both parents. Sadly, even Hague signatories, like Brazil, often don\u2019t enforce its provisions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMr. Speaker, more than one thousand international child abductions are reported to the State Department\u2019s Office on Children\u2019s Issues\u2014the Central Authority of the United States\u2014each year.\u00a0 Between 2008 and 2012, 7,000 American children were abducted, according to the State Department,\u201d said Smith, who has been pushing for over three years to see the bill brought out of committee and to the House floor for passage. \u201cIn order to ensure that the administration has maximum flexibility in advancing solutions, the President is given generous waiver authorities. The bill also encourages the Secretary of State to seek opportunities to enter into an Memorandum of Understanding with non-Hague Convention countries and establish protocols to identify, locate and effectuate the return of an abducted child as well as access issues. In order to ensure more robust accountability and the potential of successful interventions, the bill significantly beefs up reporting. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI urge passage,\u201d Smith told his colleagues on the House floor. \u201cAbducted children and left-behind parents need this legislation now.\u00a0\u201c Click here to read Smith\u2019s floor remarks. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At a press conference before the vote, parents from across the country spoke out in favor of the bill. Left-behind parents traveled from across the country to watch the debate and the vote, including Goldman; Arvind Chawda, father of two whose children were abducted to India; Paul Toland, father of a daughter abducted to Japan; Cheryl Shirley, grandmother of the four children abducted in Brazil; Bindu Philips, mother of children abducted to India; Barton Hermer, father whose child was abducted to U.K., and; Dennis Burns, father of two children taken to Argentina. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cH.R. 3212 is not [just] a bill, it is a hope for all left-behind parents that they will be reunited with their children someday,\u201d said Chawda of Edison, N.J., who would like to see the Senate act quickly. \u201cI am hoping 100 percent this will be done.\u201d Phillips, whose husband denies her any contact with her two children, has lived with abduction for five years. Until that day in 2008, she had never gone a single day without being with them. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI will never give up,\u201d Phillips said. \u201cI shall always be thankful and grateful to Congressman Smith who has become a champion in seeking justice for the cause of international child abductions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI really hope that this legislation will pass,\u201d she said. \u201cIt means so much to me and all the left- behind parents who are longing to be with our children. I will always love Albert and Alfred. I hope this legislation will reunite us soon.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bill now heads to the Senate.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363902", "Violence in Egypt Is Focus of Hearing on Int\u2019l Human Rights Day", "2013-12-10", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Human rights abuses against Coptic Christians, moderate Muslims and other religious minorities, and the threats to stability and peace in Egypt were among the topics of a congressional hearing held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global human rights issues, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, the anniversary of the founding of International Human Rights Day.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt is fitting that we are holding this hearing today, on International Human Rights Day, because we are witnessing grievous violence and other abuses directed against religious and political minorities, particularly the Copts and other Christians, about which our government and the media has said far too little\u2014which seems to be a pattern world-wide,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAfter President Mubarak resigned in February of 2011, the world hoped for a new Egypt, a just government for all Egyptians, which would not make President Mubarak\u2019s mistakes\u2014but reality has been just the opposite.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith said horrific anti-Christian persecutions have taken place under each of the post-Mubarak governments. \u201cFor some of these abuses, the governments bear the responsibility of inaction.\u00a0 For others they bear direct responsibility.\u00a0 In recent months, undercurrents of abuse and contempt for human dignity long existing in Egypt have turned into flash floods of violence.\u201d Click here\u00a0 to read\u00a0 Chairman Smith\u2019s opening remarks or click here to view video of his opening statement. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHuman Rights Abuses in Egypt,\u201d a joint hearing before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa, offered witnesses on the role of moderate Muslims, the plight of the Coptic minority and the need to protect religious freedoms. Smith\u2019s hearing included testimonies from Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom; Tad Stahnke, Director of Policy and Programs, Human Rights First; Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom; Samuel Tadros, Research Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute, and Dr. Morad Abou-Sabe, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University (Former President of Misr University for Science &amp; Technology). Click on names to read their testimonies. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe events of June 30, 2013 in Egypt, which resulted in the ouster of former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, were in response to the massive and unprecedented protests by the Egyptian People,\u201d said Abou-Sabe. \u201cMorsi\u2019s overthrow was supported and facilitated by the Egyptian Military. Since Morsi\u2019s ouster, the US-Egyptian relations have gone through abrupt changes that threatened and continue to threaten the special relationship between the two countries. Click here to read Abou-Sabe\u2019s testimony. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAs Egyptian Americans, we are keen on seeing Egyptian democracy built on the same values we have in the US, where separation of Church and State is one of the bedrocks of our democracy, we aspire to have that be the system of choice for Egypt and all Egyptians,\u201d Abou-Sabe said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The significance of Human Rights Day and the planned hearing on the day proclaimed in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly as \u2018Human Rights Day\u2019 was not unnoticed by Bishop Angaelos, who is in Washington to testify. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis day was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the tenets of which are at the core of this testimonial statement, and are the entitlement of every Egyptian and every member of our shared humanity,\u201d Bishop Angselos said. \u201cChristians in Egypt have been suffering persecution and marginalisation, even before the uprising. In its aftermath however, this suffering has intensified significantly. The frequency in attacks on Christians and other religious minority groups, their communities and places of worship is increasingly disturbing. Carried out by radical elements in society, these attacks are not merely on individuals but on the Christian and minority presence in its entirety. Those intolerant to religious minorities are partly enabled by the breakdown in law and order and the growing culture of impunity that Egypt has witnessed in previous years. Moreover, the persecution of religious minorities over the past decades has not manifest itself solely in physical attacks, but has frequently been embedded in process and policy, then translated into dealings with citizens on unequal grounds, inevitably having resulted in greater division and marginalisation. It is not only Christians who suffer marginalisation, persecution and attacks, but other religious minorities such as Bah\u00e1\u2019is, Jews and Muslim minorities such as Sufi\u2019s and Shiites.\u201d Click here to read the Bishop\u2019s opening remarks for the hearing.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363857", "Int\u2019l Human Rights Day Tues. Dec 10", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The threats to stability and peace in Egypt will be the topic of a congressional hearing Tuesday chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global human rights issues. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHuman Rights Abuses in Egypt,\u201d is the title of a joint hearing to be held before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations and the Subcommittee Middle East and North Africa. Witnesses will focus on role of moderate Muslims, the plight of the Coptic minority and the need to protect religious freedoms. Who: \u00a0\u00a0Chairman Smith, and other members of the House subcommittees, and witnesses:\u00a0\n \n    Zuhdi Jasser, M.D., Vice Chair, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom\n \n \n    Bishop Angaelos, General Bishop, Coptic Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom\u00a0\n \n \n    Samuel Tadros, Research Fellow, Center for Religious Freedom, Hudson Institute\n \n \n    Dr. Morad Abou-Sabe, Ph.D., Professor Emeritus, Rutgers University (Former President of Misr University for Science &amp; Technology)\n \n \n    Tad Stahnke, Director of Policy and Programs, Human Rights First\n \n\u00a0When: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tues., Dec. 10 at 9 a.m.\n\u00a0Where: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \nRayburn House Office Building, Room 2172 (first floor)\n\u200b\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The significance of Human Rights Day and the planned hearing being held on the day proclaimed in 1950 by the United Nations General Assembly as \"Human Rights Day\" was not unnoticed by Bishop Angaelos, who is Washington to testify.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis day was chosen to commemorate the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the tenets of which are at the core of this testimonial statement, and are the entitlement of every Egyptian and every member of our shared humanity,\u201d Bishop Angselos said. \u201cChristians in Egypt have been suffering persecution and marginalisation, even before the uprising. In its aftermath however, this suffering has intensified significantly. The frequency in attacks on Christians and other religious minority groups, their communities and places of worship is increasingly disturbing. Carried out by radical elements in society, these attacks are not merely on individuals but on the Christian and minority presence in its entirety. Those intolerant to religious minorities are partly enabled by the breakdown in law and order and the growing culture of impunity that Egypt has witnessed in previous years. Moreover, the persecution of religious minorities over the past decades has not manifest itself solely in physical attacks, but has frequently been embedded in process and policy, then translated into dealings with citizens on unequal grounds, inevitably having resulted in greater division and marginalisation. It is not only Christians who suffer marginalisation, persecution and attacks, but other religious minorities such as Bah\u00e1\u2019is, Jews and Muslim minorities such as Sufi\u2019s and Shiites.\u201d Click here to read the Bishop\u2019s opening remarks (EMARGOED UNTIL 9 a.m. Dec. 10), for the hearing. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cTragically, the promise and hope of Egypt\u2019s \u2018Arab Spring\u2019 have not yet brought about basic human rights to the Egyptian people, such as religious freedom, freedom of expression and association, and due process of law,\u201d said Smith (NJ-04).\u00a0\u201cThis hearing will examine human rights violations in Egypt today, and how Christians and other religious minorities, as well as moderate Muslims, continue to be victimized. It is appropriate to hold this hearing on International Human Rights Day.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035801/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-joins-effort-protect-volunteer-fire-companies-negative-consequence-obamacare", "LoBiondo Joins Effort to Protect Volunteer Fire Companies from Negative Consequence of Obamacare", "2013-12-09", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "MAYS LANDING, N.J. \u2013 Facing a serious threat to future operations of volunteer fire departments in South Jersey and across the country by a provision in Obamacare, U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) has petitioned the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) Acting Commissioner Danny Werfel to issue agency guidance that would prevent companies from having to \u201cdissolve or convert to paid departments in order to shift the costs to their municipal government.\u201d\nLoBiondo, a member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, also outlined a possible solution to ensure volunteer emergency personnel and the communities they serve are protected. LoBiondo was made aware of the issue by local municipal officials working with South Jersey fire chiefs to ensure compliance with Obamacare. LoBiondo is looking at legislative options with his colleagues in the event that the IRS does not take corrective action.\nThe full text of LoBiondo\u2019s letter to the Acting IRS Commissioner is as follows:\n\u00a0\nDecember 6, 2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \n\u00a0\nDear Acting Commissioner Werfel:\nIt has come to my attention (as an active member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus) that many of my colleagues are trying to get clarification about the effects of the Employer Shared Responsibility Provisions (ESRP) of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) on our volunteer emergency responders. Therefore, I too would like to be on the record with my serious concern about the unintended consequences this portion of the PPACA may have on a vital segment of our communities.\nIn particular, I have heard from volunteer fire departments in my district that if the PPACA \u201cis interpreted to require that volunteer companies provide health benefits, it would seem that the companies would either have to dissolve or convert to paid departments in order to shift the costs to their municipal government.\u201d I think you would agree that this outcome would be detrimental to those municipalities that rely on these heroes day in and day out to provide services their local governments are unable to afford as full-time paid positions.\nTherefore, I urge you to officially release guidance that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) will recognize these nominally compensated first responders as non-employees of the agencies they are associated with, for the purposes of the ESRP of the PPACA. \nAs others have outlined to you, there is currently a definition within the Fair Labor Standards Act which allows for volunteers to receive \u201cpaid expenses, reasonable benefits, a nominal fee, or any combination thereof, for their service without losing their status as volunteers.\u201d I urge you to consider this as a solution, as it is already a long-standing and widely recognized definition.\nIf you should have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I appreciate your prompt attention to this matter. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Sincerely,\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=364039", "Smith Criticizes U.N. Security Council for Delaying \u2018Truly Effective Action\u2019 on the Central African Republic", "2013-12-06", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The United Nations Security Council yesterday passed a watered down resolution transitioning responsibility of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central Africa Republic (MISCA), to the African Union (AU) while postponing preparations for a United Nations-led Peacekeeping Mission by at least three months, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), who chaired a recent congressional hearing on the crisis in the Central Africa Republic (CAR). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIn effect, the Council has deferred taking truly effective action, the result of which will likely be not only lost time, but also lost lives,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe have been down this road before.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith noted that in August 1997, the Security Council approved an AU-led Mission for the Surveillance of the Bangui Accords, MISAB, coupled with French military support, to restore order in the CAR.\u00a0By January 1998, the mission proved incapable of fulfilling its mandate, France scaled back its presence, and the U.N. was left with the \u201conly viable option\u201d of deploying a half-hearted and poorly-funded U.N. peacekeeping operation. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith called for \u201ca robust effort to get \u2018blue helmets\u2019 \u2013 U.N. peacekeepers with a U.N. Charter mandate \u2013 on the ground in the CAR.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNothing to precludes us from working simultaneously to get this under U.N. auspices while at the same time supporting African forces that are already on the ground,\u201d though he noted that three civil society witnesses at his recent congressional hearing on the troubled nation, including a CAR bishop, believed that the existing forces were ineffective and had called for deployment of U.N. peacekeepers as soon as possible. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIf the international community is serious about its commitment to stop genocide, and \u2018Never Again\u2019 is to be more than a bumper-sticker sentiment, this is the moment to get it right,\u201d Smith said.\u00a0\u201cYes: we must provide rapid and robust support the AU and French mission to ensure their success, but we must also be as prepared as possible should they falter.\u00a0 These efforts are not mutually exclusive.\u00a0 The Security Council should immediately begin preparations for a rapid transition of MISCA into a robust UN peacekeeping operation with the mandate and resources necessary to protect civilians from mass atrocities and restore immediate stability.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith held a Nov. 19 hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs\u2019 Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations entitled \u201cCrisis in the Central African Republic\u201d featured Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert P. Jackson, Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State; Bishop Nestor-D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Nongo-Aziagbia, Bishop of Bossangoa in the CAR; Search for Common Ground, and; Human Rights Watch. Click here to read their testimony. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At the hearing, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jackson cited reports that five to ten women per day are being raped, violence that continues with \u201ctotal impunity\u201d since not one accused rapist has yet to be brought to justice. He also stated concern about the continued activity of the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army (LRA) in southeastern CAR, where in 2013 the LRA has continued to commit attacks against civilians, Jackson said. According to U.N. sources, from January to September 2013, presumed LRA fighters committed 21 attacks, resulting in 33 deaths and 128 abductions in the CAR. An estimated 21,000 Central Africans remain internally-displaced and over 6,000 are living as refugees as a result of the LRA threat. The United States continues to support efforts by the regional forces of the AU Regional Task Force to end the LRA threat and bring its top commanders to justice.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363582", "Daughters Call on Obama/Biden to Seek the Release of Their Fathers", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Amid powerful and often emotional testimony, five young women appealed to Vice President Joe Biden, who is now in China, to bring their unjustly-imprisoned fathers\u2019 plights to the attention of the Chinese government, and seek their release. They spoke passionately at a hearing held by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chair of its subcommittee on global human rights. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI join with my fellow sisters here today to request Vice President Biden to ask Chinese leaders to release our fathers, and to request an Oval Office meeting with President Obama to share our stories,\u201d\u00a0said Lisa Peng, daughter of Peng Ming. \u201cI know that my dream to be reunited with my father and my father\u2019s dream for his country can come true with your support, persistence, and affirmation of the universal and fundamental values of our country: freedom, democracy, and justice.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As a second child to her parents, she dodged the nation\u2019s brutal one-child policy, which forces women to undergo abortions against their will for such reasons as failing to have a birth permit, being an unwed mother-to-be or being a second child. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBecause I was a survivor of the one-child forced abortion policy I was considered a non-entity, couldn\u2019t go to school and even when my mom would drive my brother to school and I was in the car, the government would have four secret police tailgate us and bump into us as we were driving to school,\u201d Peng told the panel. \u201cThere was no future for me in China. The fact that I safely escaped and was accepted by the United States, and respected in classrooms, and my voice was heard in classrooms, and I have opportunities\u2014unimaginable opportunities\u2014to do whatever I want in the future and to give back to the community that has given me so much\u2014that\u2019s what makes me feel so grateful and hopeful every day.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Peng, who came to the U.S. in 2001 as a political refugees with her father, an environmentalist, an economist, author and a human rights activist, said he was lured by eight Chinese secret police to the border of Thailand and Burma and kidnapped in 2004. After nearly 10 years in prison suffering heart attacks, arthritis, malnutrition, and kidney stones with no medical care, her father perseveres and remains hopeful. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Chinese government today is in the business of breaking minds, bodies and hearts,\u201d said Smith. \u201cWhen China bullies, incarcerates, tortures\u2014and even executes\u2014a prisoner of conscience, their entire family and friends suffer an excruciating sense of loss, bewilderment, emotional pain and agony. Often members of the family are themselves subjected to interrogation, mistreatment and house arrest in order to amplify the hurt. In a very real sense, everyone close to a prisoner of conscience goes to jail and lives a seemingly unending nightmare.\u00a0 Every day, family and friends are left to wonder what terrible abuse awaits dad or mom or a brother or sister or child.\u00a0 Every day, the tears flow. Click here to read Chairman Smith\u2019s opening remarks, made at a hearing entitled, \u201cTheir Daughters Appeal to Beijing: \u2018Let Our Fathers Go!\u2019\u201d \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Testifying were Lisa Peng, daughter of Peng Ming; Grace \u201cGeGe\u201d Geng, daughter of Gao Zhisheng; Ti-Anna Wang, daughter of Wang Bingzhang; Bridgette Chen, daughter of Liu Xianming, and; Danielle Wang, daughter of Wang Zhiwen. Also testifying were Bob Fu, Founder and President, ChinaAid Association; Chen Guangfu, in the U.S. from China for the hearing, the brother of blind human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng and father of Chen Kegui, and; Devra Marcus, M.D., physician and activist. Click here to read summary of witness biographies. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Grace \u201cGeGe\u201d Gao, daughter of human rights attorney Gao Zhisheng said she was grateful she has for the past five years been living in the country with the most freedom in the world, but still feels pain in her heart because of her father\u2019s imprisonment. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFreedom has not yet come to my dad, so it still has not genuinely arrived for me and my whole family,\u201d said Grace Gao. \u201cI wish that President Obama and Vice President Biden could mention about my father\u2019s name Gao Zhisheng in public occasions and urge the immediate release of my father without conditions. I wish that staffs from US Embassy in China could go to visit my father in the prison. It has been almost a year now that no family or lawyer visit was allowed to see my father.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gao said policemen took her to school every day, and went in and sat behind her in the classroom. They even went in the restroom with her and did not let her close the door. Her three-year-old brother was escorted to the kindergarten in the police car as well, and his classroom was the only kindergarten room with a surveillance camera.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Gao said she wished people in the world could write postcards to her father. Though he could not see what they say, but the Chinese communist regime \u201cwill hear our voice.\u201d The \u201cconcern and care for my father is the greatest protection over him.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bridgette Liu recalled the plight of her father, Liu Xian Bin, as a daughter and a witness, and asked the Vice President Joe Biden to help. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cMy father has been in prison three times which totals up to 14 years because of his political views,\u201d said Bridgette Liu, noting that when he was temporarily released from prison in 2008, it was so hard for him to believe that she had already grown up. He was again taken away from her life by the policemen in 2010. Liu told the congressional panel, at one point invoking the spirtit of Thomas Jefferson and the Declaration of Independence: \u201cI sincerely ask the U.S. Government, Mr. Biden, and the President to [have] more concern of the families of prisoners of conscience and help us to free our fathers! And I ask for an Oval office meeting with President Obama for a more direct and detailed conversation in order to reunite our families.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ti-Anna Wang, born in 1989 and named after the Tiananmen Square democracy movement and massacre, called attention to the plight of her father, Dr. Wang Bingzhang a political prisoner currently serving a life sentence and in solitary confinement in China. Her father is a New York-based permanent U.S. resident and a prisoner in the 11th\u00a0 year of a life sentence for his prodemocracy activism. He was kidnapped in Vietnam and forced back into China where he was taken into custody by Chinese police and convicted in a sham trial. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI unabashedly ask the leaders of the US government, including President Obama, Vice-President Biden, Secretary of State Kerry, and Ambassador Powers to seize all diplomatic opportunities with China to seek the release of our fathers,\u201d TiAnna Wang said. \u201cI believe high-level diplomacy is our fathers\u2019 best chance for freedom, and their releases must be discussed on occasions such as Vice-President Biden\u2019s recent trip to Beijing. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI ask the Obama administration to meet with the five of us and listen to our first hand experiences as witnesses of China\u2019s human rights abuse,\u201d Ti-Anna Wang said. \u201cI want our stories and our efforts to be heard, acknowledged, and taken into serious consideration when the US devises its foreign policy.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHere in the United States, many families are getting ready to gather for Christmas and New Year\u2019s,\u201d said Danielle Wang, whose father Zhiwen Wang is one of the millions of Falun Dafa practitioners in China under persecution by the Chinese government. \u201cIn China, we would be starting to look forward to Chinese New Year. But this time of year is always bittersweet for me, because of the painful absence in my family since my father\u2019s summary arrest and detention in July of 1999. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cA lot happens in 15 years,\u201d Danielle Wang said. \u201cBeing away from Dad and growing up without him has been so hard. I hope that the decisions I\u2019ve made in my life would make him proud. At my wedding we placed a single rose on his chair to symbolize his presence and celebrate his place in my life. I continue to keep that rose safe and present until the day we meet again and I can hand it to him and tell him the story of how he has always been with me.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Click here to read all the witnesses\u2019 statements. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFar too many of us who live in freedom often fail to exert ourselves in a meaningful way to assist prisoners of conscience and their loved ones\u2014in China and elsewhere,\u201d Smith said, co-chair of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China. \u201cFar too many of us fail to empathize with their plight.\u00a0 Or to see what\u2019s just below the fa\u00e7ade of the purported harmonious society. The repression is systematic, pervasive, unrelenting and unnecessary\u2014the people of China love their nation and deserve better treatment.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363707", "Smith on passing of Nelson Mandela", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Smith on passing of Nelson Mandela \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        Dec 5, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a longtime human rights advocate in Congress, released the following statement on the death of Nelson Mandela:\r\n  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"It is with deep sadness that we mourn the passing of Nelson Mandela,\" Smith said. \"President Mandela waged a long and arduous struggle to end the racist policy of apartheid.\u00a0In prison for 27 years, he chose the path of truth and reconciliation over violence and\u00a0famously said\u00a0that \u2018as I walked out the door toward the gate that would lead to my freedom, I knew if I didn't leave my bitterness and hatred behind, I'd still be in prison.\u2019\"\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee, Smith is chairman of the House\u00a0Africa, Global Health , Global Human Rights\u00a0and International Organizations Subcommittee.  \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/new-years-day-2", "New Years Day - Offices Closed", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "New Years Day - Offices Closed                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  January 1, 2014\n         \t  End: \n         \t    January 1, 2014\n         \t   \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Dec 5, 2013", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/second-session-113th-congress-convenes", "Second Session of 113th Congress Convenes", "2013-12-05", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Second Session of 113th Congress Convenes                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  January 7, 2014 6:30 pm\n         \t  End: \n         \t    January 7, 2014 6:30 pm\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    Location: \n         \t      US Capitol,  Washington, DC\n         \t    \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Dec 5, 2013", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363453", "Daughters of China Plea for Release of their Fathers", "2013-12-04", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The congressional hearing \u201cTheir Daughters Appeal to Beijing: \u2018Let Our Fathers Go!\u2019\u201d will be held by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04), head of the global human rights subcommittee in the House of Representatives, and co-chairman of the U.S. Commission on China. Who:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chairman Smith, (NJ-04) co-chair of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on   \r\nChina, Senior Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and chair of its subcommittee on global human rights; \u00a0other members of the subcommittee, and witnesses: *Lisa Peng, Daughter of Peng Ming  \r\n*Grace Ge Geng, Daughter of Gao Zhisheng  \r\n*Ti-Anna Wang, Daughter of Wang Bingzhang  \r\n*Bridgette Chen, Daughter of Liu Xianming  \r\n*Danielle Wang, Daughter of Wang Zhiwen  \r\n*Bob Fu, Founder and President, ChinaAid Association  \r\n*Chen Guangfu, Brother of Chen Guangcheng and father of Chen Kegui  \r\n*Devra Marcus, M.D., Physician and Activist What: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cTheir Daughters Appeal to Beijing: \u201cLet Our Fathers Go!\u201d\u201d When:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thursday, Dec. 5 at 11 a.m. Where:\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2172 Rayburn House Office Building (first floor).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363743", "Cong. Smith Greets 'Teacher of the Year'", "2013-12-04", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Cong. Smith Greets 'Teacher of the Year' \r\n   \r\n    \r\n      Monmouth County professor one among only 36 across USA to receive honor \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        Dec 4, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n      \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Brookdale Community College\u2019s Linda Wang, Professor of Mathematics (center) was recently honored in a Washington DC ceremony in which she and 36 other teachers across the country were selected for the prestigious Professor of the Year award offered by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).\u00a0 The program salutes \u201cthe most outstanding undergraduate instructors in the country\u2014those who excel as teachers and influence the lives and careers of their students.\u201d\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nominated by her peers and students Professor Wang was selected for both her dedication to the academic success of her students as well as the lasting mark she left on those who she interacted with. In addition to teaching a broad number of math courses at Brookdale\u2014ranging from pre-Algebra to Calculus\u2014Professor Wang also serves as the Faculty Advisor for the Asia Society at Brookdale Community College. Professor Wang is also one of the Founding Members of the Diversity Council at Brookdale which helps to bring awareness of diversity and promote the understanding and respect of individuals\u2019 different cultures and backgrounds.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In her nomination packet, former students noted that Professor Wang made remarkable impacts on their lives. A former student said about Professor Wang\u2019s Math 091 class: \u201cIt was in my math class, where I gained the confidence needed to be a successful student. It was in my math class, where I learned perseverance and never to give up. It was in my math class that I saw the dedication of a teacher, I\u2019ve tried to emulate over the years since I joined the ranks of the teaching profession.\u201d A colleague noted that \u201cLinda exemplifies the community college mission\u2014she is dedicated to teaching excellence. In the early 1990s, Linda took the lead in using links to websites and videos to make her classes more enjoyable\u2026 .\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Following the award ceremony Professor Wang and BCC Math Department Colleague Barbara Tozzi (right) met with Rep. Smith (left) and discussed the importance of higher education\u2014both in the United States and globally\u2014in the function and advancement of civil society. They also discussed ongoing human rights abuses in China including the plight of many jailed dissidents.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith, a senior member of Congress,\u00a0represents large parts of Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean counties including Brookdale Community College\u2019s Main Campus in Lincroft. He is the Dean of the New Jersey Delegation, and is chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee's global human rights subcommittee, and Co-Chairman of the Congressional Executive Commission on China.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20131206021954/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-larsen-applaud-committee-passage-their-sleep-apnea-legislation-ensure-safety", "LoBiondo, Larsen Applaud Committee Passage of Their Sleep Apnea Legislation to Ensure Safety of the Skies", "2013-12-04", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 House Subcommittee on Aviation Chairman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (WA-02) today applauded committee passage of their bipartisan legislation (H.R. 3578) to ensure the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) conducts an open rulemaking process before making changes to medical certification requirements for pilots with sleep disorders.\n\u201cSafety remains my and the subcommittee\u2019s top priority. While sleep apnea has never been identified as a primary cause or contributing factor of an aviation accident, health issues can arise unexpectedly which is why I have always supported reasonable, effective, and proactive efforts to improve aviation safety,\u201d said Chairman LoBiondo.\u00a0\u201cShould a revision to existing policies on sleep disorders be warranted, then the FAA should engage in an open rulemaking process to ensure all viewpoints, including those of medical experts, are heard and carefully considered.\u201d\n\u201cWhen it comes to flying, safety is my top priority,\u201d Ranking Member Larsen said. \u201cThe FAA needs to address the issue of sleep apnea in an open and transparent way that lets all stakeholders and safety experts provide input. I thank Chairman LoBiondo for his leadership on this issue and I look forward to working with the FAA, pilots, airlines and others to continue making flying safer.\u201d\nCurrent FAA requirements dictate a pilot or air traffic controller diagnosed with sleep apnea to report their condition and seek treatment. The Aviation Medical Examiners Guide \u00a0\u2013 a comprehensive document detailing the FAA\u2019s medical certification regulations, dispositions, and protocols \u2013 includes an established process that provides the FAA with the authority to issue or re-issue an airman medical certificate to an applicant that is diagnosed with sleep apnea.\u00a0After a review process, the FAA ultimately decides whether or not to issue a medical certificate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nIn November, FAA officials announced their intent to subject all pilots with a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or more - who might be at risk of having a sleep disorder even in the absence of any clinical evidence - to potentially expensive testing and evaluation.\u00a0The FAA also indicated their intention to eventually broaden this policy to apply to air traffic controllers and possibly to pilots with a lower BMI.\u00a0The LoBiondo-Larsen legislation approved today does not prohibit the FAA from implementing new medical certification requirements for sleep apnea.\u00a0It does, however, require the agency to conduct an open rulemaking process if they choose to propose new sleep disorder requirements.\nModeled after similar legislation (H.R. 3095) signed into law on October 15th affecting commercial truck drivers, H.R. 3578, introduced by LoBiondo and Larsen with Representatives Larry Bucshon (IN-08), Daniel Lipinski (IL-03) and Sam Graves (MO-06) as original cosponsors, was marked up and approved by the House Committee on Transportation &amp; Infrastructure today. It now heads to the full House for consideration.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363333", "Smith Chairs Hearing on State of Victims in Philippines from Typhoon", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The typhoon-ravaged Philippines, the findings of the bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) led by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) to the Philippines from Nov. 22-26, and the responses of U.S. government and international aid organizations were the focus of a hearing on Tuesday before the House global health panel chaired by Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Super-typhoon Haiyan made its first landfall November 8th with wind speeds of 195 mph, making it the strongest storm in history at the time of landfall. An estimated 13.2 million Filipinos have been affected by the catastrophic storm that claimed thousands of lives and leveled homes, towns and entire cities, and 3.4 million people who lived directly in the typhoon\u2019s path are now internally displaced. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI led a congressional delegation to the Philippines to witness the devastation unleashed by Typhoon Haiyan\u2014known locally as Typhoon Yolanda\u2014and to gain a better understanding of the unmet needs going forward,\u201d said Smith, Chairman of the global health subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee. \u201cI met with numerous survivors who told us heartbreaking stories yet radiated a calm and inner peace. One man told us how his father drowned only a few feet from where we stood and how he had stoically carried many waterlogged dead bodies to a mass grave. He said he nearly collapsed emotionally, however, when he carried the lifeless body of a three year-old girl. He said he just broke down, overwhelmed, and felt he could continue no more. Yet amazingly, a few hours later, there he was\u2014determined to rebuild and overcome and full of faith in God. \u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith summed up the morale of the survivors by employing the words of by Archbishop Jose Palma of Cebu who said, \u201cthe Typhoon was the strongest in the world\u2026but our faith in the Lord is even stronger\u2026no calamity or natural devastation can quench the fire of our hope. The Filipino soul is stronger than Yolanda.\u201d Click here to read Smith\u2019s opening remarks.\u00a0Click here or on image below to view video of statement\nhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oA195quM2ps&amp;feature=player_embedded\n\n  \nOn the CODEL, Smith was joined by Reps. Trent Franks (AZ-08) and Al Green (TX-09). They met with U.S. military personnel, U.S. government aid leaders, and non-government organizations on the ground. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Philippines is a major American ally and trading partner.\u00a0 There are an estimated 350,000 Americans living in the Philippines, and 4 million Filipinos living in the United States.\u00a0 We have an important stake in seeing that our friends and neighbors in the Philippines can recover from this devastating storm,\u201d Smith said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator from Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), was the lead witness. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThank you also for your continued support for our humanitarian programs around the world, which make a positive difference every day in the lives of millions,\u201d Lindborg said. \u201cI\u2019d also like to especially thank Chairman Smith for leading a Congressional Delegation to visit our response efforts in the Philippines firsthand. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI traveled to the Philippines one week after the storm made landfall. During my visit, I saw staggering devastation, but I also saw the kind of hope and humanity that somehow manages to surface in times of crisis,\u201d Lindborg said. \u201cAnd I saw a comprehensive relief effort in full swing. I arrived on day eight, on a U.S. military C-130 carrying life-saving supplies that were then dispatched from the Tacloban Airport to surrounding areas and loaded on U.S. military Osprey and Black Hawk helicopters to reach locations further afield.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sean Callahan, Chief Operating Officer for Catholic Relief Services (CRS) testified that the CRS presence in the Philippines is its oldest continuously operating country program, prompted by the mass destruction and loss of life in the Philippines during World War II. More recently it responded to the earthquake in the Bohol province in October 2013. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOur assessment found that people\u2019s most urgent needs included shelter, water, hygiene and sanitation, and food, \u201cCallahan said. \u201cAs we meet these needs, large amounts of debris still keep families from returning to their homes, and pose public health threats if not addressed soon.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chris Palusky, Senior Director, Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs at World Vision, thanked Smith for holding the hearing. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFor years you have worked tirelessly on behalf of vulnerable people around the world, especially children,\u201d Palusky said. \u201cYou have led important legislation aimed at protecting children in the United States and around the world, prioritizing initiatives designed to strengthen child protection systems. An essential element has been recognizing that children caught up in emergencies are significantly less vulnerable when responses strive to rebuild the informal and formal systems meant to protect children and their families. Congressional oversight can help strengthen the efforts of the U.S. Government and humanitarian community and Congressional engagement. This hearing offers a timely opportunity to examine how efforts to date address the needs and aspirations of the disaster-affected families in the post-typhoon context.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Click here to read their testimonies or watch the hearing.\u00a0Click here to watch the CSPAN library video.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363344", "Of 112 Obamacare Plans for Congress and Staff, 103 are Pro-Abortion", "2013-12-03", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With a December 9th deadline for Members of Congress and congressional staff \u00a0to sign up for Obamacare health insurance, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) released new evidence of President Obama violating pro-life laws and providing taxpayer funding for insurance plans that include abortion on demand. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIn the run-up to passage of Obamacare, Americans were repeatedly told and reassured by President Obama himself, including in a speech to a joint session of Congress in October 2009, that \u2018under our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion.\u2019\u00a0 Obama even issued the infamous Executive Order that claimed, \u2018the Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to newly created health insurance exchanges,\u2019\u201d said Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOnce again we see those promises ring hollow\u2014what the President said simply isn\u2019t true today.\u00a0 In the most recent example, 103 of the 112 insurance plans that Members of Congress and congressional staff are being directed to INCLUDE ELECTIVE ABORTION coverage. Only nine plans offered exclude elective abortion,\u201d Smith continued. (Click here to view flyer regarding the nine plans.) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Congressional employees have until just Dec. 9, 2013 to sign up for an employer-sponsored insurance plan on the Obamacare exchange offered in the District of Columbia (DC Health Link). Doubtlessly many congressional staff will\u2014knowingly or unknowingly\u2014sign up for these abortion plans marking a distinct departure from the Smith Amendment, a longstanding law prohibiting abortion coverage in plans provided to federal employees. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The amendment offered by Chris Smith three decades ago to ban abortion funding in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Programs is still current law. Like the Hyde Amendment, the Smith Amendment prohibits the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from funding or even engaging in administrative activities in connection with any plan that includes abortion. However, the Obama Administration is now violating the Smith amendment since OPM has begun to administer a system for Members of Congress and their staff to obtain taxpayer-subsidized insurance coverage that pays for the destruction of innocent unborn children. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOnly in response to public pressure did D.C. Health Link release a FAQ explaining how to decipher which plans exclude elective abortion coverage. To date, Secretary Sebelius has failed to provide any information about abortion coverage in plans sold in dozens of states on the Federally Facilitated Marketplace\u2013 even after promising to do so over a month ago,\u201d said Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis failure to disclose is a problem indicative of Obamacare plans nationwide and is why I have introduced the \u2018Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act\u2019 (H.R. 3279), a bill that requires information regarding either inclusion or exclusion of abortion coverage as well as the existence of an abortion surcharge to be \u2018prominently displayed.\u2019 To rid Obamacare of its massive expansion of abortion-on-demand facilitation and funding, I have also introduced the No Taxpayers Funding for Abortion Act, (H.R. 7),\u201d Smith continued. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAbortion isn\u2019t health care \u2014 it kills babies and harms women. We live in an age of ultrasound imaging \u2014 the ultimate window to the womb and the child who resides there. We are in the midst of a fetal health care revolution, an explosion of benign interventions designed to diagnose, treat and cure the youngest patients,\u201d said Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cOnce again it is clear that Obamacare\u2019s abortion mandate violates federal law and makes taxpayers complicit in the culture of death. This is not reform,\u201d said Smith.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363179", "Smith CODEL to Philippines in Wake of Typhoon to Be Focus of House Hearing", "2013-12-02", "2013", "2013-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The findings of the bipartisan congressional delegation led by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) from Nov. 22-26 to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, and the responses of U.S. government and international aid organizations, will be the topic of a congressional hearing on Tuesday before the House global health panel chaired by Smith. \u00a0Who: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Congressman Smith, Chairman of the global health subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee; other Members of the subcommittee and the Smith CODEL and; witnesses: \r\n \r\n    \r\n        \r\n            \r\n                Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Administrator\r\n                Bureau for Democracy, Conflict and Humanitarian Assistance, U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID)\r\n                Sean Callahan, Chief Operating Officer, Catholic Relief Services\r\n                Chris Palusky, Senior Director, Humanitarian and Emergency Affairs, World Vision\r\n            \r\n        \r\n    \r\n \r\nWhat:  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe United States\u2019 Post-Typhoon Response in the Philippines\u201d \r\nWhen:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tuesday, Dec. 3 @ 3 p.m.\r\nWhere: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2172 Rayburn House Office Building on the first floor.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363072", "FEMA OK\u2019s $1.747M for Belmar Marina Facilities Destroyed by Superstorm Sandy", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Sandy-battered community of Belmar will be receiving additional help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is awarding a $1.747 million grant to help pay for marina buildings, bridges, decks and other associated facilities damaged by Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This latest Belmar grant follows previous federal funding totaling over $9 million for replacement of the boardwalk also destroyed as a result of Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0 Both grant awards are authorized under Section 406 of the Robert T. Stafford Act. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAs someone who has been going to Belmar since I was a young boy, I can easily envision how these improvements will change the Belmar waterfront which was nearly unrecognizable to me when I first saw it days after Superstorm Sandy hit,\u201d said Smith.\u00a0 \u201cBoardwalks and marina facilities are the critical for many Jersey Shore towns, and rebuilding them and restoring them is essential to recovery.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The grant will help fund nine construction sites, four of which are completed and the others underway. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe switch from a 75-25 percent federal-local cost share to a 90-10 split will obviously make a huge difference for the people of Belmar and the town\u2019s budget,\u201d Smith said, who earlier this year took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. He later pressed FEMA to fund 90 percent of municipal clean-up and rebuilding costs, instead of the standard 75 percent. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At a June meeting with FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate in Smith\u2019s Washington Office, Smith asked for 90-10 federal share for FEMA funding for Belmar and other towns.\u00a0Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The higher cost share resulted in $290,000 additional aid in this grant.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363073", "FEMA OK\u2019s $2 Million+ Grant for Water Pump Station Destroyed by Superstorm Sandy", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The South Monmouth Regional Sewage Authority (SMRSA) is slated to receive a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help pay for the replacement of the Lake Como Water Pump Station that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0 This new funding follows over $1 million previously received by SMRSA for damages to the Authority\u2019s Pitney Avenue Pump Station, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The grant will provide $2,083,016 in Federal funding to pay for 90 percent of the cost to replace the pump station, allowing it to be permanently relocated from 501 North Boulevard in Lake Como to a new site at 1800 Parkway in Lake Como. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis pumping station has had a long history of flood damages,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThis funding will help move it to a location intended to avoid or minimize future impairments and service disruptions.\u201d The grant award follows a review by FEMA that evaluated potential environmental impacts. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSandy damaged critical infrastructure up-and-down the coast,\u201d said Smith, who toured damage throughout Monmouth and other counties in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. \u201cThis grant undoes a poor location decision made back in the 1970s.\u201d Superstorm Sandy submerged the pump station in five to six feet of water, shutting it down until a temporary bypass system was set up. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith earlier this year took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At a June meeting in Smith\u2019s Washington Office, Smith personally appealed to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve a 90 percent federal share for FEMA funding going to Jersey towns to pay for cleanup costs\u2014instead of the initially planned 75 percent. Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The higher cost ratio will provide the authority with an additional $347,000 for the project.\n  \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority (SMRSA) provides sanitary sewer conveyance and treatment for Monmouth County\u2019s coastal towns of Belmar, Lake Como, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Brielle, and Wall Township.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363075", "<span class=\"kicker\">Star Ledger news article</span>While touring ravaged Philippines, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith's plane diverts for rescue effort", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Darryl Isherwood/NJ.com The Star-Ledger -  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0  \r\nWhile traveling in the Philippines with a congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith's plane was diverted to aid in a helicopter rescue, the representative's spokesman said today.\r\nSmith was traveling in the Philippines, ravaged earlier this month by Typhoon Haiyan, to meet with victims, emergency workers, and U.S. and Filipino government officials.\r\nDuring the trip, the U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules Smith was traveling in was diverted to pick up two survivors of a helicopter crash into Manila Bay. The\u00a0C-130 crew, from Villamor Air Base, found the passengers floating in the water and dropped flotation devices for\u00a0 them.\r\nWhile in the devastated country, Smith toured the devastation in Tacloban City and surrounding areas in Leyte.\r\n\"It's mind numbing and heart numbing,\" Smith said. \"I've been to many places around the world when there have been catastrophic typhoons hurricanes, earthquakes and even more. It is powerful to witness the Filipino people's resiliency in the face of devastation, in the face the loss of life.\"\r\nSmith said he saw the importance of meeting with victims face to face during Hurricane Sandy, which destroyed huge portions of the New Jersey coast as well as inland areas.\r\n\"We saw with Superstorm Sandy in my own state the devastation and the U.S. government\u2014federal government\u2014had our back because we needed it,\" Smith said. \"Friends here in the Philippines, they have to know that we have their backs and I think that's what USAID is doing - Catholic Relief Services and the other non-government organizations - so that's the message I take away from here.\"\r\nThe typhoon that walloped the country earlier this month left behind a death toll of at least 5,200 people, though that number continues to climb. It was the strongest storm - in terms of wind speed - ever recorded at landfall. \r\nSmith was joined on the trip by U.S. Reps. \u00a0Al Green (D-TX), and Trent Franks (R-AZ).\r\nhttp://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2013/11/post_46.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363078", "<span class=\"kicker\">The Trentonian</span>Congressman Chris Smith takes trip to devastated Philippines", "2013-11-27", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Smith, who serves Hamilton and Robbinsville, traveled to the region impacted by Super Typhoon Haiyan, according to a release on Tuesday. \r\n\u201cIts mind numbing and heart numbing,\u201d Smith said, \u201cI\u2019ve been to many places around the world when there have been catastrophic typhoons hurricanes, earthquakes and even more. It is powerful to witness the Filipino people\u2019s resiliency in the face of devastation, in the face the loss of life.\u201d \r\nThe former U.S. territory suffered a direct hit on Nov. 8 by what officials say is one of the strongest storms in history. More than 4,000 people were killed and an estimated 4.4 million people have been displaced. The food supply has been hit hard with the typhoon damaging over 375,000 acres of local agriculture, including staples like rice, corn, and other vegetables. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that one million farmers and fishermen have lost their livelihoods, no longer able to contribute to the food supply, according to the release. \r\nThe congressman joined Reps. Al Green (D-TX-09) and Trent Franks (R-AZ-08), and upon arrival the three met with Filipino Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario. \r\nSmith expressed to him that the U.S would continue working with his government to bring life-saving supplies, the release said. The American and Filipino peoples have had an enormous bond for \u201cwell over a century,\u201d Smith said. \r\nThe delegates assisted in handing out clean water kits and other basic supplies to help mitigate the spread of water borne diseases. \r\n\u201cIt\u2019s all about generosity,\u201d Smith said, \u201cWe saw with Superstorm Sandy in my own state the devastation and the U.S. government had our back because we needed it. Friends here in the Philippines, they have to know that we have their backs.\u201d \r\nAt one point, the aircraft Smith was traveling in was diverted en route to pick up two survivors of a helicopter crash into Manila Bay. The crew located the two passengers of the helicopter floating on the water and dropped flotation devices for them. \r\nAs he was preparing to embark on the trip, Smith said there is value to boots-on-the-ground contact at disaster sites. \r\n\u201cYou listen to the victims and talk directly to the people who are leading the humanitarian response efforts so you can see where there is an unmet need and how federal resources can help,\u201d the congressman said. \r\nAccording to the release, a significant part of the trip was planned to spend time at emergency humanitarian staging areas of Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and other relief agencies that work out the logistics of delivering food, clothing and other essentials to those who need it the most.  http://www.trentonian.com/general-news/20131126/congressman-chris-smith-takes-trip-to-devastated-philippines", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362963", "Rep. Smith Statement on Supreme Court Decision to Hear Religious Freedom Cases", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pro-life Caucus, today released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court\u2019s decision to take up Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood\u2019s Religious Freedom cases. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPresident Obama\u2019s use of the coercive power of the state to force people of faith and people of conscience to violate their fundamental convictions or suffer severe penalty is unconscionable and violates the basic principles of religious freedom that are so central to our Constitution,\u201d Smith said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Supreme Court\u2019s decision to take up the Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood cases gives reason to hope that they will provide much needed relief for family-owned businesses who find themselves in the impossible position of being forced to violate their moral or religious beliefs or face ruinous fines.\u201d \r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363074", "<span class=\"kicker\">Washington Times Op-Ed</span>SMITH: Ensuring that Typhoon Haiyan doesn\u2019t trigger a sex-trafficking epidemic", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Typhoon Haiyan \u2014 perhaps the strongest tropical storm ever to make landfall \u2014 has shifted the international humanitarian-assistance machine into high gear.\r\nOn Nov. 22, I led a bipartisan fact-finding congressional delegation that included Reps. Al Green, Texas Democrat, and Trent Franks, Arizona Republican, and senior staff to the Philippines. We visited storm-ravaged areas, including Tacloban and Ormoc. In Manila, we visited government officials, church representatives and leaders of numerous nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). I plan on chairing a hearing in early December to report on our findings and to hear from experts on the next steps.\r\nThe United Nations has issued a worldwide immediate appeal for $301 million \u2014 an amount that is likely to increase. Emergency shelter, food, water and medicine are being shipped in to meet the needs of the approximately 10 million victims, including at least 4 million who have been displaced.\r\nThe U.S. government has spent or pledged almost $50 million to help. As was the case after the devastating 2004 tsunami, America has deployed an aircraft carrier \u2014 this time, the USS George Washington \u2014 and other military assets to provide emergency assistance.\r\nCatholic Relief Services alone has committed $20 million to \u201cassist people\u2019s immediate needs for survival, and their long-term support for full recovery.\u201d Two Sundays ago, Catholic churches throughout the United States collected funds to aid the victims.\r\nHowever, there are two post-storm dangers that must receive immediate attention as well: the threat of epidemics and rising levels of human trafficking.\r\nIn natural disasters such as a typhoon, epidemics are likely a result of contaminated water systems and the breakdown of medical services. Diseases such as cholera, hepatitis A, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid fever, shigellosis, leptospirosis and polio are often seen. Crowded or other uncertain living conditions contribute to the kind of water contamination that breeds epidemics, and more than 707,000 houses were damaged or destroyed by this megastorm.\r\nThe specter of human trafficking requires serious integration of protection initiatives into both emergency relief and recovery efforts. This must be a very high priority. As the prime author of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, America\u2019s landmark anti-human-trafficking law, I am deeply concerned that vulnerable women and children are at risk of being victimized by traffickers, who prey on the utter desperation of people suddenly placed in life-and-death situations and take advantage of the ensuing post-storm chaos. We\u2019ve all seen the television images of Filipinos begging desperately for help or looting to survive. Many are at risk, especially women and children.\r\nAccording to the current State Department report on human trafficking, the Philippines is a Tier 2 country, meaning it does not fully comply with the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking. It is a source country and, to a lesser extent, a destination and transit country for men, women and children caught in the web of sex trafficking and forced labor.\r\nThe 2013 State Department trafficking report cites an enhanced trafficking danger for Filipino children: \u201cChild sex tourism remained a serious problem in the Philippines, with sex tourists coming from Northeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and North America to engage in the commercial sexual exploitation of children. Increasingly, Filipino children are coerced to perform sex acts for Internet broadcast to paying foreign viewers. An NGO reported an increasing risk of boys becoming victims of commercial sexual exploitation.\u201d\r\nA robust zero-tolerance anti-human-trafficking initiative needs to be fully integrated into relief efforts.\r\nAs we endeavor to meet emergency needs, the world\u2019s response to Typhoon Haiyan must include serious and sustained efforts to combat potential disease epidemics and the cruelty of sex trafficking. The arduous job of post-storm recovery requires no less of a commitment and resources over the longer term.\r\nRep. Christopher H. Smith, a New Jersey Republican, is chairman of the Foreign Affairs\u2019 global health subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363076", "<span class=\"kicker\">NJ.com news article</span>N.J. Congressman tours typhoon-stricken areas in PhilippinesN.J. Congressman tours typhoon-stricken areas in Philippines", "2013-11-26", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After witnessing Hurricane Sandy\u2019s impact on his own district, a New Jersey congressman is surveying a devastating typhoon\u2019s damage half way around the world.\r\nCongressman Chris Smith (R-4th) and his bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to the region impacted by Typhoon Haiyan to meet with victims of the typhoon, emergency workers and U.S. and Filipino government officials.\r\n\u201cYou listen to the victims and talk directly to the people who are leading the humanitarian response efforts so you can see where there is an unmet need and how federal resources can help,\" Smith said in a Tuesday press release.\r\nSmith is no stranger to disaster zones. He gained a working knowledge of on-the-ground disaster relief and response operations domestically and around the world, including during the 2004 Tsunami and most recently in New Jersey when parts of his congressional district were severely damaged by Hurricane Sandy.\r\nSmith, who is joined on the trip by Reps. Al Green (D-TX), and Trent Franks (R-AZ), saw for himself the typhoon's devastation in Tacloban City and surrounding areas in Leyte.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s mind numbing and heart numbing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI\u2019ve been to many places around the world when there have been catastrophic typhoons hurricanes, earthquakes and even more. It is powerful to witness the Filipino people\u2019s resiliency in the face of devastation, in the face the loss of life.\u201d \r\nUpon arrival, the Smith delegation met with Filipino Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario. Smith expressed to him that the U.S would continue working with his government to bring life-saving supplies. The American and Filipino peoples have had an enormous bond for \u201cwell over a century,\" Smith said.\r\nSmith and the delegation toured much of the devastation and at some staging areas assisted in handing out clean water kits and other basic supplies to help mitigate the spread of water borne diseases.\r\n\u201cIt\u2019s all about generosity,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe saw with Superstorm Sandy in my own state the devastation and the U.S. government\u2014federal government\u2014had our back because we needed it. Friends here in the Philippines, they have to know that we have their backs and I think that\u2019s what USAID is doing, CRS (Catholic Relief Services) and the other non-government organizations so that\u2019s the message I take away from here.\u201d\r\nAt one point, the U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules the Smith CODEL was traveling in was diverted en route to pick up two survivors of a helicopter crash into Manila Bay. The C-130 crew, from Villamor Air Base, located the two passengers of the helicopter floating on the water and dropped flotation devices for them.\r\n\u201cI am extremely impressed with U.S. servicemembers performing such critical humanitarian work,\u201d Smith said.\u201cUSAID is doing a wonderful job - this is really a textbook example of how it should be done.\u201d\r\nThe Philippines, a former U.S. territory, and one of the U.S.\u2019s closet allies in the Far East, suffered a direct hit by one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in history on November 8. More than 4,000 people were killed and many more thousands were injured. An estimated 4.4 million people have been displaced. \r\nSmith arrived in thed Philippines Saturday. Last week, he said that the U.N. has called for $301 million in worldwide humanitarian aid and the U.S. is among the donor nations offering assistance. \r\n\u201cThe U.S. government has spent or pledged almost $50 million to help. Emergency shelter, food, water and medicine are being shipped in to meet the needs of the victims, many of whom have immediate relatives in the United States,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAs was the case after the devastating 2004 tsunami, America has deployed an aircraft carrier\u2014this time the USS George Washington\u2014and other military assets to provide emergency assistance.\"\r\nSmith said secondary concerns in the storm\u2019s aftermath are the threat of human trafficking and disease.  \r\n\u00a0  \r\n\u201cHowever, there are two post-storm dangers that must receive immediate attention as well: the threat of epidemics and rising levels of human trafficking,\u201d Smith said. \"The Philippines is a known source country for trafficking victims who are fooled by promises of careers in other countries. Now there is great concern for the protection of adolescent girls from scurrilous sex traffickers who will use the crisis to exploit these young women. \r\nSmith also expressed concern for the added threat of typhoid and cholera and other diseases that can manifest in the storm\u2019s aftermath.\r\n\"I\u2019m hoping that those displaced by the storm will be properly protected from the epidemics that could ensue in the days and weeks that follow such a devastating natural disaster. Epidemics are likely due to contaminated water systems and the breakdown of medical services.\" http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2013/11/nj_congressman_tours_typhoon-stricken_areas_in_philippines.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362842", "Smith Congressional Delegation Meets with Victims of Typhoon, Filipino Gov't", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and his bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) traveled to the region devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally called Typhoon Yolanda, meeting with victims of the typhoon, emergency workers and U.S. and Filipino government officials. \u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s mind numbing and heart numbing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI\u2019ve been to many places around the world when there have been catastrophic typhoons hurricanes, earthquakes and even more. It is powerful to witness the Filipino people\u2019s resiliency in the face of devastation, in the face the loss of life.\u201d\u00a0\n Smith, who is joined on the trip by Reps. Al Green (D-TX-09), and Trent Franks (R-AZ-08), saw for himself the typhoon's devastation in Tacloban City and surrounding areas in Leyte.\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Upon arrival, the Smith delegation met with Filipino Foreign Affairs Sec. Albert del Rosario. Smith expressed to him that the U.S would continue working with his government to bring life-saving supplies. The American and Filipino peoples have had an enormous bond for \u201cwell over a century,\" Smith said.\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith and the delegation toured much of the devastation and at some staging areas assisted in handing out clean water kits and other basic supplies to help mitigate the spread of water borne diseases. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s all about generosity,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe saw with Superstorm Sandy in my own state the devastation and the U.S. government\u2014federal government\u2014had our back because we needed it. Friends here in the Philippines, they have to know that we have their backs and I think that\u2019s what USAID is doing, CRS (Catholic Relief Services) and the other NGOs (non-government organizations) so that\u2019s the message I take away from here.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At one point, the U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules the Smith CODEL was traveling in was diverted en route to pick up two survivors of a helicopter crash into Manila Bay. The C-130 crew, from Villamor Air Base, located the two passengers of the helicopter floating on the water and dropped flotation devices for\u00a0 them. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI am extremely impressed with U.S. servicemembers performing such critical humanitarian work,\u201d said Smith, who also had praise for the U.S. civilian workers.  \n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUSAID is doing a wonderful job,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is really a textbook example of how it should be done.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith has working knowledge of on-the-ground disaster relief and response operations domestically and around the world\u2014including during the 2004 Tsunami and most recently in New Jersey when parts of\u00a0 his congressional district were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0As he was preparing to embark on the trip, Smith said there is value to\u00a0\u201cboots-on-the-ground\u201d\u00a0contact at disaster sites. Smith said, \u201cYou listen to the victims and talk directly to the people who are leading the humanitarian response efforts so you can see where there is an unmet need and how federal resources can help.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A significant part of the trip was planned to spend time at emergency humanitarian staging areas of Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and other relief agencies that work out the logistics of delivering food, clothing and other essentials to those who need it the most. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In addition to his concerns about the threat of health epidemics, Smith is also working to combat an increase in human trafficking which often takes place after a natural disaster.\u00a0 \u00a0Smith, who serves as the chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees global health and is also the author of our nation\u2019s landmark anti-human trafficking legislation, the Trafficking Victim\u2019s Protection Act, said \u201cthere are precautions that can and must be taken immediately to protect young women and children who have been rendered homeless by the typhoon. Tragically, experience shows \u00a0there are thugs and predators who will deceive and coerce victims into life of human trafficking.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The former U.S. territory, and one of the U.S.\u2019s closet allies in the Far East, suffered a direct hit by one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in history on November 8. More than 4,000 people were killed and many more thousands were injured. An estimated 4.4 million people\u00a0 have been\u00a0displaced. The food supply has been\u00a0hit hard\u00a0with the typhoon damaging over 375,000 acres of local agriculture, including staples like rice, corn, and other vegetables. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that one million farmers and fishermen have lost their livelihoods, no longer able to contribute to the food supply.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=363077", "U.S. Marine Corps HQ: Marines rescue downed aviators amid Operation Damayan", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By 1st Lt. Luke Kuper | Headquarters Marine Corps | November 25, 2013 - \r\nMarines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 assisted in rescue efforts of two pilots involved in a civilian helicopter crash Nov. 24 over Manila Bay.A KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to the squadron was returning to Villamor Air Base from Tacloban after delivering relief supplies in support of Operation Damayan, the U.S. military response to Typhoon Haiyan. Maj. Jason Kauffman, a pilot with the squadron, heard a mayday call come through his radio approximately 18 nautical miles northwest of North Harbor.\u00a0 \u201cWe were inbound to approach into Manila \u2026 we heard a mayday call from a helicopter that just crashed into Manila Bay,\u201d said Kauffman. \u201cWe set up in orbit, we got eyes on the survivors, there were two of them in the water.\u201d The crew immediately prepared to deploy a life raft. \u201cThe four crew members in the back got the raft ready to go and cleared all the loose equipment away from the door,\u201d said Sgt. Chris Weins a crew member with the squadron. \u201cOn the aircraft commander\u2019s call, we threw the raft out, and it deployed as it was supposed to about 300 feet away from the (survivors).\u201d The Marines' quick response ensured the pilots did not remain in open water long. \u201cA local fisherman responded 20-30 minutes later,\u201d said Kauffman. \u201cThey came up alongside the raft we kicked out and loaded the two helicopter pilots into the fishing boat.\u201d Representatives with the U.S. Agency for International Development were passengers in the KC-130J, returning from Tacloban to help with relief efforts.\u00a0 \u201c(Operation Damayan) has been a textbook example, it\u2019s a model, of what we can do when we all work together,\u201d said Jeremy Konyndyk, a USAID representative and passenger aboard the Super Hercules. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to learn from what\u2019s gone right.\u201d Also aboard the aircraft were congressmen Trent Franks (Ariz.), Chris Smith (N.J.), and Al Green (TX), who traveled to the Philippines to observe the relief and recovery efforts of the U.S. military. \u201cIn an absolutely amazing example of military precision, (the crew) dropped a life raft to where the people could swim to it,\u201d said Franks. \u201cIt seems like (Kauffman\u2019s) call sign \u2018Rescue\u2019 was emphasized again. I believe that the military (members) of the U.S. are the most noble figures in human society.\u201d The cause of the helicopter crash is under investigation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=770", "The Record: Congress in Class", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Record: Congress in Class\r\n\r\n\tPosted: November 7, 2013\r\n\r\n\tPlease take a look at this article, published by The Record, regarding my visit to Passaic Valley High School!", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=771", "Jackson: Morris County Republican Frelinghuysen is the new guardian of the defense budget", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Home | Site Map| Privacy Policy\n 2306 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515-3011 (202) 225-5034 Open: Mon. - Fri., 9am to 5:30pm\n 30 Schuyler Place, Second Floor Morristown, NJ 07960 (973) 984-0711 Open: Mon. - Fri., 9am to 5pm", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362668", "Smith Leads Bipartisan Congressional Delegation to Philippines", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) is expected to arrive in the Philippines Saturday leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to the region devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The former U.S. territory, and one of the U.S.\u2019s closet allies in the Far East, suffered a direct hit by one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in history on November 8. More than 4,000 people were killed and many more thousands were injured. Basic\u00a0necessities, including food, clean water, housing\u00a0and sanitation,\u00a0have to be provided to thousands\u00a0of the\u00a0estimated 4.4 million people\u00a0who have been\u00a0displaced. The food supply has been\u00a0hit hard\u00a0with the typhoon damaging over 375,000 acres of local agriculture, including staples like rice, corn, and other vegetables. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that one million farmers and fishermen have lost their livelihoods, no longer able to contribute to the food supply. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith noted that the U.N. has called for $301 million in worldwide humanitarian aid and the U.S. is among the donor nations offering assistance, \u201cThe U.S. government has spent or pledged almost $50 million to help.\u00a0 Emergency shelter, food, water and medicine are being shipped in to meet the needs of the victims, many of whom have immediate relatives in the United States.\u00a0 As was the case after the devastating 2004 tsunami,\u00a0 America has deployed an aircraft carrier\u2014this time the USS George Washington\u2014and other military assets to provide emergency assistance.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cHowever, there are two post-storm dangers that must receive immediate attention as well: the threat of epidemics and rising levels of human trafficking,\u201d added Smith, who serves as the chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees global health and is the author of our nation\u2019s landmark anti-human trafficking legislation, the Trafficking Victim\u2019s Protection Act. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The Philippines is a known source country for trafficking victims who are fooled by promises of careers in other countries. Now there is great concern\u00a0for the protection of adolescent girls from scurrilous sex traffickers who will use the crisis to exploit these young women.\u00a0 There is an added threat of a climbing death count attributed to typhoid and cholera and other diseases that manifest after the fact,\u201d said Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"I\u2019m hoping that those displaced by the storm will be\u00a0properly protected from the epidemics that could ensue in the days and weeks that follow such a devastating natural disaster. Epidemics are likely due to contaminated water systems and the breakdown of medical services.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith has\u00a0a working knowledge of on-the-ground disaster relief and response operations domestically and around the world\u2014including during the 2004 Tsunami and most recently in New Jersey when parts of\u00a0 his congressional district were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Commenting on the value of\u00a0boots-on-the-ground\u00a0Smith said, \u201cYou listen to the victims and talk directly to the people who are leading the humanitarian response efforts so you can see where there is an unmet need and how federal resources can help.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWith overseas disasters it\u2019s further complicated by the greater potential for deadly or debilitating diseases\u00a0including cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis A, and polio that often arise, adding to the suffering and to numbers of lives lost. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCrowded or unsanitary living conditions contribute to the kind of water contamination that breeds epidemics. The utter devastation of more than 707,000 houses by this mega storm has created a crisis of enormous size with a dangerous potential for outbreaks of disease not seen in recent times.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A significant part of the trip will be time spent at emergency humanitarian staging areas of Catholic Relief Services, World Vision and other relief agencies that work out the logistics of delivering food, clothing and other essentials to those who need it the most. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCatholic Relief Services alone has committed $20 million to \u2018assist people\u2019s immediate needs for survival, and their long term support for full recovery,\u2019\u201d Smith noted.\u00a0 \u201cLast week Catholic churches throughout New Jersey and the entire United States collected funds to aid the victims. The coordination of\u00a0faith-based and other charitable contributions with federal resources will help ensure the best results\u00a0for those most affected by this\u00a0devastation.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Joining Smith on the trip are Reps. Al Green (D-TX-09), and Trent Franks (R-AZ-08). Smith is a 33-year member of the House, and a senior member of the Foreign Affairs Committee. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe will meet with\u00a0government officials, church representatives and leaders of numerous non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who are delivering aid and working to ensure the protection of children who have become separated from their families to learn what is working and what still needs to be done, \" Smith said. \u201cUpon return, I plan on chairing a hearing in early December to report on our findings and to hear from experts on next steps.\u201d\u00a0\n ###\u00a0\nAdded historical note: The United States has deployed the USS George Washington aircraft carrier to the archipelago near the Leyte region, an area close to the location\u00a0where\u00a0U.S. Gen. Douglas MacArthur's forces landed on Oct. 20, 1944. In one of the Allies\u2019 most storied victories of World War II, MacArthur fulfilled his famed vow \"I shall return,\" more than two years\u00a0after he had been forced to leave the Philippines to avoid capture by Japanese invasion forces.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362786", "Smith Introduces Legislation to Promote Extradition of Fugitives Back to U.S.", "2013-11-22", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After decades of elusive justice and failed U.S. government efforts to extradite the convicted murderers of a New Jersey State trooper and a World War II veteran, as well as other fugitives, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Rep. Albio Sires (NJ-08) today unveiled the \u201cWalter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act\u201d (H.R. 3585). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe bill is named after Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster because they were both brutally murdered by people who have been convicted, escaped prison and simply moved abroad, where they live with no consequences or accountability and taunt the surviving relatives and friends of the people they killed. Despite some efforts, our government has failed to bring back the criminals in either case,\u201d said Smith. \u201cThese are two of the most egregious cases, but it\u2019s clear that there are many others. Passage of H.R. 3585 would enable us to properly assess the information on actions taken across various federal agencies, reevaluate our efforts and ultimately make policy changes aimed at bringing back criminals who have fled the U.S. justice system. The surviving family members and friends deserve no less.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bill, sponsored by Smith, would require the executive branch to report to Congress on the number of fugitives which our government is seeking to extradite, the efforts it has undertaken to secure their return, how often it is successful, and factors that have prevented their return. The information would allow Congress to evaluate and strengthen the executive branch\u2019s efforts to extradite fugitives. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Walter Patterson was murdered by George Wright at Patterson\u2019s gas station in Wall, N.J., during a Nov. 23, 1962 robbery and convicted. In 1970 Wright escaped from the New Jersey state prison in Leesburg, N.J., later hijacking a plane and fleeing the country. Due to cold case work initiated by FBI investigator R.J. Gallagher, in 2011 Wright was discovered living in a coastal resort area of Portugal, but the Portuguese government refuses to extradite him. (Click here to read about Rep. Smith\u2019s 2012 hearing on the Wright case.) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Trooper Foerster was murdered by Joanne Chesimard on the New Jersey Turnpike on May 2, 1973. Chesimard escaped from a New Jersey state prison near Clinton, N.J. in 1979 and made her way to Cuba, which has supported her at Cuban government expense. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rep. Sires, the lead Democratic co-sponsor of the bipartisan legislation, said, \u201cMy thoughts and prayers remain with the families of Trooper Werner Foerster and Walter Patterson whose pain and suffering have only been exacerbated by the inability to bring the killers of their loved ones to justice.\u00a0It has been 40 years since Joanne Chesimard murdered New Jersey State Trooper, Werner Foerster. I stand with the brave men and women of the New Jersey State Police who remain committed in bringing Joanne Chesimard to justice. It is unconscionable albeit not surprising that the Castro regime, suppressors of the freedom loving people of Cuba, will allow a convicted killer to walk freely and enjoy the liberties it denies its own people while knowingly persecuting and imprisoning Cubans advocating for basic human rights and the freedom to speak freely, worship and assemble without reprisal.\u00a0This bill honors the lives of Werner Foerster and Walter Patterson in its aim to have Congress ensure that our government remains steadfast in its efforts to retrieve Joanne Chesimard, George Wright, and the countless other fugitives eluding justice abroad.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ann Patterson, of Monmouth County, N.J., the daughter of Walter Patterson, said, \u201cOnce again as the calendar reminds me of that dreadful night, November 23, 1962, I remember the heartbreaking events that mark the 51st anniversary of my father, Walter Patterson\u2019s brutal beating and murder. George Wright, who administered the beating, has not paid his debt to society, nor to the Patterson family as he escaped from prison, hijacked a plane, held 86 passengers as hostages, and threatened others with bodily harm and death. The family of Walter Patterson has not given up hope that the United States government, both the State Department and the Department of Justice, will pursue all avenues so that justice will be served and we will have some measure of closure.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chris Burgos, President of the State Troopers Fraternal Association of New Jersey, said, \u201cThis piece of legislation is a clear reminder that we will not forget the brutal cold-blooded murder of Trooper Foerster over 40 years ago, and that we will not relent on seeking justice done for those responsible. We applaud Congressman Smith on his efforts.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Walter Patterson\u2019s granddaughter, Jackie, added: \u201cAs the anniversary of my grandfather\u2019s death approaches, I think about the holidays George Wright is able to spend with his family while my family will once again be missing a family member.\u00a0 Having this bill passed in honor of my grandfather is a step towards obtaining justice for the Patterson family.\u00a0 We continue to hope that one day George Wright will serve the remainder of his sentence, but in the meantime, we will continue to honor my grandfather by setting up a scholarship in his name.\u00a0 Hopefully this bill will prevent other families from experiencing the disappointment that our family has faced.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Terry, another granddaughter, said Wright should serve out the rest of his sentence: \u201cWhere he decides to hide out for 40 years, or the amount of time that has passed does not erase the crimes committed, nor does it erase the fact that he is a convicted criminal who has not fulfilled his sentencing. The amazing part of the story is that after 40 years, and who knows how many aliases later, the FBI agents and U.S. Marshalls tracked down this murderer.\u00a0 The more amazing part of the story is that after they invested numerous hours and resources, the murderer is still living as a free man.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Terry said that Wright\u2019s dodging his debt to society sends the wrong message about the U.S. criminal justice system. \u201cIf anything positive comes out of the murder of my grandfather, I can only hope that other criminals are brought to justice, no matter where they decide to try to hide, or what country they flee to.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith added, \u201cIn 2012, when it became clear that our government\u2019s efforts to extradite George Wright from Portugal had failed, I held meetings with the Portuguese ambassador and the Department of Justice, and chaired a hearing on the Wright case and the extradition process. It was apparent right away that the process is failing far too many people\u2013above all for those who see people who have killed their loved ones living openly abroad, apparently outside of our government\u2019s reach. It was also apparent that, while our government has certainly taken the Wright and Chesimard cases very seriously, there are experts currently outside our government who have ideas for a more vigorous, creative pursuit of these criminals. This bill will give Congress the relevant facts with which to jump-start new approaches to extradition.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For more information on the case of George Wright: http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/the-hunt-for-mr-wright/  AP article http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/02/nyregion/george-wright-fugitive-us-killer-avoids-extradition-from-portugal.html?_r=0 http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/nyregion/george-wright-tells-story-of-hijacking-from-portugal.html. For more information on the case of Joanne Chesimard, who in May of this year was added to the FBI\u2019s \u201cMost Wanted Terrorist\u201d list: http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2013/may/joanne-chesimard-first-woman-named-most-wanted-terrorists-list.  http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2013/05/02/joanne-chesimard-fugitive-living-in-cuba-named-to-fbi-most-wanted-terrorists-list  Officers Down Memorial Page NJLAWMAN.com\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362547", "Smith Chairs Congressional Hearing on Alzheimer's Crisis in the U.S. & World", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The national epidemic and potential world pandemic of Alzheimer\u2019s Disease was the topic of a congressional hearing today before the House global health panel chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who also co-chairs the bipartisan Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer\u2019s Disease. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Over five million Americans suffer from the debilitating disease. Some experts estimate that Alzheimer\u2019s costs Americans over $180 billion annually, which could rise to over $1 trillion a year by 2050. Next month at the G-8 Dementia Summit in the United Kingdom, health ministers from G-8 countries will discuss strategies to address the global challenge of Alzheimer\u2019s and other forms of dementia. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cCurrently, more than 35 million people worldwide live with some form of dementia,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBy 2050, this population is projected to triple and affect more than 115 million people. As populations age across the globe, today's crisis may become tomorrow's catastrophe.\u201d Click here to read Congressman Smith\u2019s opening remarks or here to watch. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe struggle to meet the challenge of HIV-AIDS has been tremendous, but it is one we have made great strides in addressing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWe must do no less in the struggle against Alzheimer\u2019s and other forms of dementia.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Testifying at Smith\u2019s hearing were: Matthew Baumgart, Senior Director of Public Policy, Alzheimer\u2019s Association; Andrea Pfeifer, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, of Switzerland-based AC Immune, and; George Vradenburg, Chairman and Founder, USAgainstAlzheimer\u2019s.  \r\n  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Baumgart drew attention to the bipartisan National Alzheimer\u2019s Project Act (NAPA) (P.L. 111-375) \u2013co-authored by Smith and former Rep. Ed-Markey of Mass\u2014which passed Congress unanimously in 2010. The Act requires the creation of an annually-updated strategic National Alzheimer\u2019s Plan to help those with the disease and their families today and to change the trajectory of the disease for the future, \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBecause of the Plan, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) finally has created a blueprint for Alzheimer\u2019s research that includes a timeline and milestones toward the goal of preventing and effectively treating Alzheimer\u2019s by 2025,\u201d Baumgart said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe health ministers from the G8 nations will meet the first ever global summit on dementia to help improve management of the disease and accelerate the development of new treatments under the leadership of the UK government,\u201d Pfiffer said. \u201cThe high-level summit, which is to be held in London on December 11, will host discussion to shape an effective international solution to dementia, including looking for effective therapies and responses to slow dementia\u2019s impact... . The G8 have a unique chance to help people manage dementia better, lead healthier lives and deliver real improvements in care and substantial economic savings.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI encourage this subcommittee to continue doing what you are doing in conducting invaluable oversight of U.S. and global efforts to address the Alzheimer\u2019s crisis,\u201d Vradenburg said. \u201cI also urge you to consider opportunities to work with a growing body of parliamentarians in other nations\u2013particularly the UK, the European Union, and Japan\u2013who are also deeply interested in stopping Alzheimer\u2019s and dementia and willing to engage in dialogue with fellow parliamentarians on this topic.\u201d\r\nClick here to watch the hearing or read the statements of the witnesses.\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362789", "Rep. Smith\u2019s Bill on Boosting U.S. Exports to Africa Approved by Committee", "2013-11-21", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cThe Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act\u201d \u2014legislation to support American jobs by growing U.S. exports to Africa\u2014was passed Thurday by the full House Foreign Affairs Committee, which voted unanimously\u00a0 to pass the bill, written by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees African issues.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H.R. 1777, \u201cThe Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2013,\u201d was passed as an amendment in the form of a substitute. Click here to read the final bill. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cImproving the competitiveness of U.S. business in Africa is in America\u2019s interests as well, since more prosperous Africans can afford U.S. manufactured goods,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThis legislation focuses on increasing exports of U.S. goods and services to Africa by 200 percent in real dollar value within 10 years. According to the department of commerce every 1 billion in US exports creates some 6000 jobs in this country.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In 2012, Smith held a hearing on the legislation with U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Johnnie Carson, U.S. Assistant Trade Representative for Africa Florizelle Liser, and advocate and former star of ABC\u2019s Grey\u2019s Anatomy, was Isaiah Washington. The hearing was held before the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, chaired by Smith. Smith is author of the bill, and Rep. Bobby Rush (IL-01) is the coauthor. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0H.R. 1777 encourages members of the African Diaspora to increase their involvement in U.S.-Africa trade. Small and medium-sized businesses in the United States accounted for 60 percent of U.S. exports in 2010, and traditional and recent members of the African Diaspora are most evident in these categories. The legislation calls for not less than 25 percent of existing available trade financing be used for U.S.-Africa projects, especially small and medium-sized businesses. The legislation is intended to stimulate U.S. bilateral trade with Africa and boost American exports to Africa by 200 percent within 10 years. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0African officials have long encouraged American entrepreneurs to sell more of their products to Africa, such as irrigation equipment and other agricultural equipment and supplies.\u00a0Such sales would not only increase jobs in the United States by expanding production for an expanding market, but it would allow African agricultural producers, for example, to become more efficient and productive. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0According to the U.S. International Trade Administration, the United States is the world\u2019s largest importer of African goods, receiving 20.2 percent of the continent\u2019s total global exports. However, U.S. exports fell sharply during the height of the global recession. From 2008 to 2009, U.S. exports to Africa dropped 45 percent from $78.3 billion to $42.8 billion. According to estimates by the U.S. Trade Representative Office and the U.S. Department of Commerce, every $1 billion in exports supports more than 6,000 jobs. If the legislation\u2019s goal of raising U.S. exports to Africa by 200 percent with 10 years (from $21 billion in 2011 to $63 billion) is achieved, the creation of over a quarter of a million new U.S. jobs could be realized.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362418", "Smith a Leader in Effort Calling on Iranian Gov\u2019t to Free American Pastor", "2013-11-20", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today led an effort in the House Foreign Affairs committee calling on the Government of Iran to release a U.S. citizen, Pastor Saeed Abedini, or face additional sanctions. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0By unanimously consent, the full committee accepted Smith\u2019s amendment to broaden and revise pending legislation, H.Res. 147, introduced by Rep. Bill Cassidy back in April.\u00a0 The updated provisions, which Cassidy supports, reflect new and more serious dangers the unjustly imprisoned pastor faces and help ready the bill for consideration by the full House of Representatives. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPastor Abedini has endured beatings, psychological torture and worse because he will not deny his Christian faith,\u201d said Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Smith noted with alarm that Abedini was recently transferred from a prison for political and non-violent inmates to a notorious prison housing hardened criminals, including murderers and rapists.\u00a0 \u201cHe is now in a prison where we are very fearful for his life.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The resolution which calls for the release of Abedini, an Iranian-American and resident of Idaho who has been imprisoned for more than a year, also calls on the United States Government to work aggressively for the quick release of Abedini by designating additional Iranian officials, as appropriate, for human rights abuses pursuant to section 105 of the Comprehensive Iran Sanctions, Accountability, and Divestment Act of 2010. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith quoted extensively from testimony given by the pastor\u2019s wife, Naghmeh Abedini, also an America Citizen, at a March 2013 hearing in which she stated their two American-born children, ages 6 and 4, are deeply hurting from their father\u2019s imprisonment: \u201cA day does not go by that they do not long for him. Most nights they cry themselves to sleep, wanting daddy home\u2026\u00a0 it is unfortunate that Christians are the number one persecuted people in the world, but not much attention and effort is taken to protect their religious liberty\u2026 because of his love for the Iranian people, including the least of these\u2014the orphans and the widows\u2014Saeed sought new ways to serve the people of Iran.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith noted that Naghmeh had testified in March that she was disappointed that the U.S. government was not doing more to help her husband. \u201cI must tell you that I am disappointed in my government. I am disappointed that our President and our State Department have not fully engaged this case\u2014disappointed that this great country is not doing more to free my husband, a U.S. citizen. Yes, we are both proud to be American citizens. And I expect more from our government.\u201d Smith said the State Department must keep up the pressure to release Abedini. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pastor Abedini, an American citizen, went to Iran in 2012, on a routine humanitarian mission to complete an orphanage for Iranian children. Pastor Abedini had previously been arrested in Iran, but released and allowed to enter and exit the country for humanitarian aid work if he agreed to cease pastoring house churches. Pastor Abedini upheld his end of but bargain, but was suddenly arrested in September 2012\u2014and put on trial for sharing his religious beliefs and allegedly undermining the security of Iran. During the non-public trial, he and his attorney were barred from participating in key portions of the proceedings\u2014following which a judge sentenced him to eight years in prison. Pastor Abedini\u2019s appeals have been denied.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The resolution also calls on the Government of Iran, including the Ayatollah Ali Khameini in particular, to act consistently with their word and commitments. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Government of Iran\u2019s actions toward Pastor Abedini violates its promise of safe passage to him in his humanitarian work,\u201d Smith said. \u201cBut it also violates Iran\u2019s official international commitment to respect religious freedom and due process of law, as enshrined in the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights-- when Iran signs something, Iran should live up to it.\u201d \r\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362114", "Crisis in the Central African Republic Focus of Congressional Hearing", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR), where the notorious criminal Joseph Kony roams and abducts and forces children to serve as his soldiers, and where foreign Islamic radical fighters of the group called Seleka are wreaking death and destruction, was the focus of a hearing held Tuesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith said that even since the committee first decided months ago to hold a hearing to spotlight the human rights situation in the CAR, the situation has rapidly deteriorated. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cToday the country is on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe,\u201d Smith said. \u201cAnd if that is not bad enough, elsewhere, the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army, or LRA, under the psychotic leader Joseph Kony is also loose in the Central African Republic.\u00a0 Both the LRA and Seleka are said to kidnap children to serve as soldiers, and UNICEF estimates that there are now as many as 3,500 child soldiers affiliated with armed groups in the country.\u201d Click here to read Chairman Smith\u2019s full statement. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs\u2019s Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations entitled \u201cCrisis in the Central African Republic\u201d featured Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Robert P. Jackson, Bureau of African Affairs at the U.S. Department of State; Bishop Nestor-D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Nongo-Aziagbia, Bishop of Bossangoa in the CAR; Search for Common Ground Senior Programme Manager for Africa, Mike Jobbins, and; Human Rights Watch\u2019s United Nations Director, Philippe Bolopion. Click here to read their testimony. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Bishop Nongo-Aziagbia, whose diocese includes 623,000 people including\u00a0 360,000 Catholics, said 35,000 people have taken refuge in his diocesan compound alone to escape violence, and there are as many as 440,000 refugees in a country of about 4.5 million. One in four are at serious risk of running out of food, he said. He urged the U.S. to rally the international community in the CAR\u2019s moment of need. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cVillagers have fled to escape the attacks, mass killings, rape, and plundering perpetrated by the roaming groups of Seleka militia,\u201d said Nongo-Aziagbia. \u201cCentral Africans look up to the United States as the leader of the community of nations. You are a country and a people who many years ago fought to establish your own freedom from a foreign power. You endured a brutal civil war and reunited as one nation to rise to the world power that you are.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Jackson cited reports that five to ten women per day are being raped, violence that continues with \u201ctotal impunity\u201d since not one accused rapist has yet to be brought to justice. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe remain concerned about the continued activity of the Lord\u2019s Resistance Army (LRA) in southeastern CAR,\u201d where in 2013 the LRA has continued to commit attacks against civilians, Jackson said. According to U.N. sources, from January to September 2013, presumed LRA fighters committed 21 attacks, resulting in 33 deaths and 128 abductions in the CAR. \u201cAn estimated 21,000 Central Africans remain internally-displaced and over 6,000 are living as refugees as a result of the LRA threat. The United States continues to support efforts by the regional forces of the AU [African Union] Regional Task Force to end the LRA threat and bring its top commanders to justice.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/chamber-commerce-southern-new-jerseys-congressional-action-committee-breakfast", "Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey's Congressional Action Committee Breakfast", "2013-11-19", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Start: \n         \t  December 6, 2013 9:00 am\n\n         \t  \nEnd: \n         \t    December 6, 2013 10:30 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    \nLocation: \n         \t       Pittsgrove, New Jersey", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361882", "Smith Guest on BBC to Discuss China's Draconian One-Child Policy & Its Announced Modifications", "2013-11-18", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chair of the House global human rights subcommittee and co-chair of the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, was a guest on BBC to discussed China's brutal One Child Policy and the limited impact of the so-called revised one-child policy announced by China Nov. 15.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe announced minimal change in China\u2019s one-child policy is grossly inadequate in light of the coercion they have employed for three decades against women and children,\u201d Smith said.\u00a0 \u201cLeft unchanged is the Chinese government\u2019s strangle-hold on deciding who can have children, when they can have children and how many children a family can have.  \n\nClick on image above or here to watch the interview\u00a0the interview.\n  \n\u00a0   \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThe policy does nothing to address the regular use of forced abortion, when women are dragged into clinics where their children are then killed.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cUntil the Chinese government abolishes all coercion in their population control program, until they eliminate once and for all the use of forced abortion, its program will still be the most draconian in the world,\u201d he said.  \n\u00a0  \n\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith cited reports indicating that it was not new-found respect for fundamental human rights that brought the minimal change, but rather the government\u2019s desire to bolster its own economy and power.  \n\u00a0  \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cPerhaps motivated by the tens of millions fewer girls than boys as well as the ticking social time bomb of an aging population with fewer new workers and family members to care for the elderly, the token policy change now only allows a second child to live if that child has an urban-dwelling parent who is from a one child family.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0  \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThis is currently allowed for rural families and does little to address the brutality of the program and the grave injustices Chinese women and families face if they seek to have children without government permission,\u201d Smith said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361777", "Reps. Smith & Waters Commemorate National Memory Screening Day", "2013-11-16", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Reps. Smith &amp; Waters Commemorate National Memory Screening Day\r\n            Bipartisan House Alzheimer\u2019s Caucus and the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation Call Attention to No-Cost Screenings on Nov. 19 \r\n            WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-N.J.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), House co-Chairs of the Bipartisan, Bicameral Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, today encouraged participation in the 11th annual National Memory Screening Day on Nov. 19.\r\n             \u201cHaving worked with the dedicated men and women of the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation of America (AFA) for many years, I am grateful for their consistent workin raising Alzheimer\u2019s awareness and the benefits of early detection and memory screenings. Their lead in a coordinated, organized effort helps ensure that Americans have access to the safe evaluation tools that can indicate if further evaluation is warranted,\u201d said Smith. \r\n            \u201cNational Memory Screening Day is a wonderful opportunity for individuals with memory concerns to get free and confidential screenings for Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other problems affecting memory,\u201d said Waters. \u201cIt is also an opportunity to raise awareness of Alzheimer\u2019s disease and promote the value of memory screening and early detection.\u201d\r\n            \u00a0AFA initiated the first National Memory Screening Day in 2003 and holds the event in collaboration with local organizations and healthcare professionals each November during National Alzheimer\u2019s Disease Awareness Month.\r\n            \u00a0Alzheimer\u2019s disease is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and affects more than 5.4 million Americans, one in eight seniors. The disease, which is characterized by steadily deteriorating loss of thinking, reasoning and memory skills, has a devastating impact on those with the disease but can also take an enormous toll on the 15 million family members and others who act as caregivers to those in need.\r\n            \u00a0In New Jersey, an estimated 150,000 individuals over 65 have Alzheimer\u2019s, and nearly 430,000 caregivers provide unpaid care. In California, over 600,000 have Alzheimer\u2019s disease with 1.2 million family members providing care.\r\n            \u00a0If left unaddressed, the national AD population is projected to triple to 16 million by 2050. It is important to ensure all Americans understand the disease and check out memory problems and memory screenings are an important tool to do so.\r\n            \u00a0On Nov. 19th, local sites are offering free, confidential memory screenings to the public and distribute educational materials about memory concerns, dementia, caregiving and successful aging. Find a site by entering a zip code here: http://www.afascreenings.org/.\r\n            \u00a0Last year, an estimated 85,000 people participated at more than 2,300 sites on National Memory Screening Day. This November, more than 7,000 sites nationwide are participating on November 19 itself or throughout the month.\r\n            \u00a0\u201cJust like people are concerned about the health of their bodies, they should also be concerned about the health of their brains. Likewise, just like doctors regularly test for conditions like heart disease, cancer and diabetes, so should they monitor a person\u2019s memory,\u201d said Carol Steinberg, AFA\u2019s president. \u201cThere is a lot to be said about being proactive when it comes to your memory.\u201d\r\n            \u00a0Memory screenings are a safe and cost-effective intervention leading individuals to seek appropriate clinical resources, thus reducing the costs of long-term care or hospitalization resulting from undiagnosed complications. A memory screening is not used to diagnose any illness but is used as an indicator to determine whether a person might benefit from further examination by a qualified physician. Screenings also greatly benefit those with normal scores, by allaying fears, providing a baseline for future screenings, and promoting chronic disease prevention and successful aging.\r\n            \u00a0\u201cWe know that early diagnosis, treatment and access to support services have demonstrable benefits for an individual\u2019s health and can lower the cost of long-term treatment,\u201d said Smith. \u201cTuesday, you can learn more about memory problems and brain health, and get screened locally, at no cost. Everyone should sign up for this opportunity.\u201d \r\n            \u00a0\u201cEarly detection of Alzheimer\u2019s disease improves treatment and helps individuals and families plan for their future,\u201d said Waters. \u201cI congratulate the Alzheimer\u2019s Foundation of America for organizing the 11th annual National Memory Screening Day.\u201d\r\n            \u00a0For additional information on Alzheimer\u2019s disease and memory screenings, visit:\r\n            www.nationalmemoryscreening.org.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362005", "Hearing on Central African Republic Crisis Set for Nov. 19", "2013-11-16", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Hearing on Central African Republic Crisis Set for Nov. 19 \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        Nov 16, 2013\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The ongoing humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic will be the subject of a hearing to be held Tuesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The hearing of the Committee on Foreign Affairs\u2019s Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations will be held in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The hearing, entitled \u201cCrisis in the Central African Republic\u201d will feature the highest Administration official on African policy and a human rights leader.\r\n\u00a0Who: \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Rep. Smith, and other members of the House Africa subcommittee, and witnesses:\r\n \r\n    The Honorable Robert P. Jackson, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State\r\n    The Most Reverend Nestor-D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Nongo-Aziagbia, Roman Catholic Bishop of Bossangoa, Central African Republic\r\n    Mike Jobbins, Senior Programme Manager, Africa, Search for Common Ground\r\n    Philippe Bolopion, United Nations Director, Human Rights Watch\r\n \r\nWhen: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 10 a.m.\r\n\u00a0Where: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172 (first floor)\r\n\u00a0\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361775", "China\u2019s 'Eased' One-Child Policy Still the Most Draconian in the World", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House human rights subcommittee and co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China raised serious questions about the limited impact of the so-called revised one-child policy announced by China today.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s be clear, nothing in today\u2019s announcement changes the brutal, abusive elements of China\u2019s population control program in which women\u2019s cycles are monitored by the government.\u00a0Women must still get a birth permit before they can have a child, and fines and penalties will continue for anyone who has a child without government permission. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe announced minimal change in China\u2019s one-child policy is grossly inadequate in light of the coercion they have employed for three decades against women and children,\u201d Smith said.\u00a0 \u201cLeft unchanged is the Chinese government\u2019s strangle-hold on deciding who can have children, when they can have children and how many children a family can have. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe policy does nothing to address the regular use of forced abortion, when women are dragged into clinics where their children are then killed. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cUntil the Chinese government abolishes all coercion in their population control program, until they eliminate once and for all the use of forced abortion, its program will still be the most draconian in the world,\u201d he said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith cited reports indicating that it was not new-found respect for fundamental human rights that brought the minimal change, but rather the government\u2019s desire to bolster its own economy and power. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cPerhaps motivated by the tens of millions fewer girls than boys as well as the ticking social time bomb of an aging population with fewer new workers and family members to care for the elderly, the token policy change now only allows a second child to live if that child has an urban-dwelling parent who is from a one child family. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis is currently allowed for rural families and does little to address the brutality of the program and the grave injustices Chinese women and families face if they seek to have children without government permission,\u201d Smith said.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=767", "Frelinghuysen Statement: Department of Defense Resources Track Philippines Storm Relief Efforts", "2013-11-15", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "DOD Resources Track Philippines Storm Relief Efforts\r\n\r\n\tWashington, DC --\u00a0The U.S. Department of Defense has launched web sources of updated information for residents interested in ongoing typhoon relief efforts in the Philippines Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) has announced.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cOur hearts go out to the many Filipino-Americans living in New Jersey who have lost loved ones or been otherwise affected by Super Typhoon Haiyan,\u201d Frelinghuysen said.\u00a0 \u201cIn keeping with our finest humanitarian traditions, the United States is leading the way in to providing timely emergency assistance and relief.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe government of the Philippines requested relief from the U.S. in the wake of one of the worst storms in that country\u2019s history. The U.S. Marine Corps estimates 4.2 million people have been affected. The death toll has reportedly reached 2,275.\u00a0 That figure is expected to rise, perhaps significantly, when accurate information is collected from the entire disaster zone, which spreads over a wide area of the eastern and central Philippines.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe United States Navy, Marine Corps and the Agency for International Development are providing humanitarian relief efforts.\r\n\r\n\tTo assist, the Navy has dispatched the George Washington Strike Group which consists of the aircraft carrier USS George Washington, cruisers USS Cowpens and USS Antietam, guided-missile destroyers USS Lassen and USS Mustin and cargo ship USNS Charles Drew, oceanographic survey ship USNS Bowditch, and submarine tender USS Emory S. Land.\r\n\r\n\tAbout 300 U.S. Marines are currently on the ground aiding relief efforts in the Philippines. Another 900 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit based on Okinawa are deploying aboard the dock landing ships USS Germantown and USS Ashland, and are expected to arrive in the Philippines next week. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft have been flying missions in the Philippines, and more of those aircraft are on the way.\r\n\r\n\tResidents can keep track of U.S. military efforts to help the people of the Philippines here.\r\n\r\n\tIn addition, the Navy is coordinating relief and emergency assistance with partner navies such as Japan, Australia, United Kingdom, and Norway.\r\n\r\n\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361344", "<span class=\"kicker\">Associated Press Article</span>2 Nigerian networks designated as terrorist groups", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By DEB RIECHMANN - Associated Press -\u00a0  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Lawmakers who had long pushed for U.S. action against Nigerian Islamic extremists welcomed the State Department's decision on Wednesday to designate two militant groups as foreign terrorist organizations blamed for the deaths of thousands of people in Africa's most populous nation.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Ansaru and Boko Haram, which have links to al-Qaida, are waging a brutal campaign against military, government and civilian targets, including Christians like Habila Adamu, who delivered emotional congressional testimony about being shot in the face because he refused to renounce his faith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Adamu recounted how masked gunmen came to his home in Yobe state around 11 p.m. on Nov. 28, 2012. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"I told them 'I'm ready to die as a Christian.' Before I closed my mouth, one of them fired at me with an AK-47. It passed through my nose,\" Adamu said, holding up photographs taken of the entry wound on his nose and exit wound on the side of his neck. \"I fell down. ... Blood is rushing everywhere. One of them followed me, stepped on me two times to confirm whether I am still alive or I am dead.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When they assumed he was dead, they shouted \"Allah akbar,\" which means \"Allah is great.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Even his wife thought he was dead. When she learned he was alive, she rushed to find help, only to learn that their neighbors, who also were Christians, had been killed. About seven hours later, Adamu was taken for medical treatment and survived. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Today, he has a message for anyone who will hear his story: \"Do everything that you can to end this ruthless, religious persecution in northern Nigeria.\" Adamu testified at a joint hearing of two House Foreign Affairs' subcommittees, on Africa and terrorism. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith, who chaired the hearing, said Boko Haram also is targeting their fellow Muslims who do not agree with their extremist views, Muslim religious leaders who criticize violence and people affiliated with the Nigerian government, which they see as corrupt and unjust. Smith said the two groups also participate in the global Islamic extremist movement. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boko Haram was responsible for a suicide bombing of the United Nations building in the capital, Abuja, in August 2011, which killed 21 people. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In addition to being labeled foreign terrorist organizations, Boko Haram and Ansaru also were named to a list of specially designated global terrorist groups under federal law. The two designations mean that business and financial transactions with the organizations are blocked. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"By cutting these terrorist organizations off from U.S. financial institutions and enabling banks to freeze assets held in the United States, these designations demonstrate our strong support for Nigeria's fight against terrorism and its efforts to address security challenges in the north,\" Lisa Monaco, President Barack Obama's top counterterrorism adviser, said in a statement. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Linda Thomas-Greenfield, assistant secretary of state for African affairs, told the lawmakers that the government of Nigeria needs to not only stop Boko Haram's attacks, but address long-standing complaints about government corruption and unfairness that attracts disaffected youth in northern Nigeria to the militant groups. Both citizens and security forces have been attacked, yet she said the U.S. remains concerned that some heavy-handed Nigerian security forces have committed human rights violations in response to Boko Haram. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Obama administration has urged Nigeria to develop a comprehensive approach to address the threat by creating a more professional security force, meeting the economic needs of the people in northern Nigeria, adhering to rule of law and government accountability. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Nigerian Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke said in a statement that the U.S. action will \"assist this nation to deal with these renegades.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But Bashir Muhammad, who works with a non-governmental organization in Kano, worried that the U.S. action could embolden over-zealous Nigerian security officers to arrest noncombatants. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"I am in support of the action taken by the Department of State,\" he said. \"My fear is that may be innocent people can be victims of this action.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222035932/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-applauds-new-air-service-acy", "LoBiondo Applauds New Air Service at ACY", "2013-11-14", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), Chairman of the House Aviation Subcommittee, today applauded the announcement that United Airlines will now fly in and out of Atlantic City International Airport (ACY) from their hubs in Chicago and Houston. The announcement was made this morning by New Jersey Governor Chris Christie with representatives from United Airlines, the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA) at Newark Liberty Airport, a hub for United Airlines.\n\u201cToday\u2019s announcement is a win-win for South Jersey and United Airlines. I\u2019ve long said that ACY is an attractive option for additional commercial carrier service, with its updated facilities, proximity to Atlantic City and the Jersey Shore as well as its convenience to the Philadelphia metropolitan region. Starting in 2014, United Airlines will capitalize on what ACY has to offer while giving South Jersey consumers and businesses greater access to the nation\u2019s vast aviation network,\u201d said LoBiondo. \u201cFor our tourism-based economy, connecting additional regions of the country to South Jersey is critical and will bring additional economic opportunities and the potential for new jobs.\u201d\nOn July 1st, an agreement between the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey and the STJA took affect with the Port Authority providing general management services, including overseeing the daily business operations of ACY. The SJTA maintains operations and direction over the airport. At that time the Port Authority stated the goal of bringing additional commercial carrier services to ACY. Spirit Airlines is currently the only commercial service at ACY.\n\u201cI applaud Governor Christie, Sam Donelson at the SJTA, and the leadership at the Port of New York/New Jersey for recognizing the untapped potential at ACY and working in unison to increase commercial air service to our region. I look forward to formally welcoming United Airlines to ACY next year,\u201d concluded LoBiondo. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361289", "Smith Welcomes Designation of Boko Haram as Terrorist Organization", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "At the Nov. 13 joint hearing by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations and the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, the Obama Administration announced its long-awaited decision to designate the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram and its breakaway faction known as Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This designation was the subject of H.R. 3209, introduced by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations in September. He has been joined as co-sponsors by Reps. Patrick Meehan, Ted Poe and Randy Weber. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chairman Smith led a Congressional delegation to Nigeria in September to examine the Boko Haram threat. \u201cI saw numerous victims of Boko Haram, who told my delegation of the horrific violence these terrorists have used on Christians and Muslims in pursuit of a perverted version of Islam,\u201d Smith said. \u201cWhat these murderers have brought to Nigeria and surrounding countries is misery and death.\u201d (click here to read Chairman's statement) \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 One of Boko Haram\u2019s victims, Habila Adamu of Yobe State, presented testimony at today\u2019s hearing on his chilling encounter with Islamist terrorist. Adamu said he was challenged to renounce his Christian faith, but when he refused to do so, he was shot in the head and left for dead.\u00a0 He was the only adult male Christian survivor of that attack. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cMr. Adamu\u2019s testimony on the one hand is a terrifying example of the ruthlessness of Boko Haram, but on the other hand, it is one of the most inspiring examples of faith I have ever heard,\u201d Smith said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cThen they asked me, \u2018Habila, are you ready to die as a Christian?\u2019\u201d Adamu told the panel. \u201cI told them \u2018I am ready to die as a Christian.\u2019 For the second time, they asked me, \u201cAre you ready to die as a Christian?\u201d and I told them, \u201cI am ready,\u201d but before I closed my mouth, they have fired me through my noise (the entering point) and the bullet came out through the back. I fell on the ground. The gunmen thought I was already dead because they stomped on me two times and discovered I was dead, and cried out \u2018Allah Akbar\u2019 (God is Great).\u201d Click here to read Mr. Adamu\u2019s powerful testimony about his story of survival.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In her testimony announcing the Administration\u2019s Foreign Terrorist Organization designation, Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, said the action will provide U.S. law enforcement and the U.S. Treasury Department additional tools with which to investigate and prosecute those who provide financing and other assistance to Boko Haram and Ansaru. She added that the Administration intended to continue and expand its efforts to provide training and other assistance to the Nigerian military and security forces to combat the terrorist threat in that country. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Smith Congressional delegation was told that Boko Haram and Ansaru have numerous weapons, uniforms and explosives, and while much of their support is from foreign sources, there are domestic Nigerian supporters of their activities. This year alone, 53 Christian churches have been attacked, and 216 people were murdered by terrorists in them. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Also testifying at the Nov. 13 joint congressional hearing of both the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade were: Emmanuel Ogebe, Managing Partner, U.S.-Nigeria Law Group\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \n \n    Khalid Aliyu, Secretary General, Jama\u2019atu Nasril Islam (planned to be submitted for record)\n    Habila Adamu, survivor of violence by Boko Haram\n    Jacob Zenn, Research Analyst, The Jamestown Foundation\n    Dr. Guy Nkem Nzeribe, Ph.D, Partner, Guy Nzeribe Associates\n \nClick here to read or listen to the testimony.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361312", "Rep. Smith says Obamacare Massively Violates Hyde Amendment, but Notes Most 'Multi-State Plans' Exclude Abortion", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201cRollout of the Obamacare exchanges revealed that many health insurance plans throughout the nation will subsidize abortion on demand\u2014even late term abortions,\u201d said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pro-life Caucus. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBillions of taxpayers\u2019 dollars will now be handed out as credits to buy pro-abortion health insurance\u2014a clear violation of the Hyde Amendment\u2019s fundamental principle of restricting funds to abortion subsidizing health insurance plans.\u00a0At its core, the Hyde Amendment has two parts.\u00a0It prohibits funding for abortion and funding for any insurance plan that includes abortion except in the case of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother,\u201d Smith said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cObamacare further breaks with longstanding law by establishing new abortion surcharges and an unseemly marketing secrecy clause. The new law requires premium payers to be assessed an abortion surcharge every month to pay for abortions.\u00a0But many pro-life Americans may unwittingly purchase pro-abortion plans because of a marketing secrecy clause,\u201d said Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFor pro-life individuals seeking health insurance on the exchange in the states with Multi-State Plans available, it will be a relief to know that with only two exceptions, any of the Blue Cross Blue Shield plans with \u2018Multi-State\u2019 in their title will exclude elective abortion,\u201d Smith said.\u00a0He also noted that \u201cin many cases Blue Cross Blue Shield Plans that do not include the words \u2018Multi-State\u2019 in their title will include elective abortion.\u00a0 Since abortion coverage is not clearly identified on the exchange websites, consumers may have difficulty identifying which plans exclude abortion.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In response to a letter spearheaded by Rep. Smith (R-NJ), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has confirmed that all but two of the plans with \u201cMulti-State Plan\u201d in their title and sold on the Obamacare exchanges exclude elective abortion coverage. In a letter, OPM made this important clarification regarding Multi-State Plans, which constitute a small segment of just over 150 of the plans sold under Obamacare. Which of the thousands of other Obamacare plans cover abortion remains unknown.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhen searching the many more plans available on their state\u2019s exchange pro-life Americans remain unable to ascertain which plans, if any, exclude abortion.\u00a0It is an outrage that Members of Congress had to write to OPM just to learn whether abortion is included in the currently available multi-state plans, which are just a small subset of plans.\u00a0While it is a step in the right direction to have information about this one set of plans, Americans continue to be left in the dark regarding the thousands of other plans sold on the federally facilitated marketplace and the state-run exchanges,\u201d said Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The OPM letter also specifies that only the States and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services can control whether abortion benefit information is displayed to consumers shopping in the Marketplace. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt is up to President Obama to direct HHS to inform consumers about abortion coverage in Obamacare plans.\u00a0His law already breaks with the decades old Hyde Amendment by allowing federal subsidies for plans that include abortion, now he won\u2019t even give consumers the ability to make an informed choice,\u201d Smith said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The \u201cAbortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act,\u201d (H.R. 3279) was introduced by Smith to require prominent, transparent disclosure of abortion coverage for each plan offered on an exchange.\u00a0 It also requires that the amount of the abortion surcharge be clearly identified for each plan that includes elective abortion.\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361364", "<span class=\"kicker\">Agence France-Presse</span>US blacklists Nigeria's Boko Haram as terror group", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The United States on Wednesday designated Nigeria's radical Islamist Boko Haram network and an offshoot known as Ansaru as terror groups, bowing to months of pressure to act.\r\nBoth groups have spread terror in northeastern and central Nigeria and are blamed for thousands of deaths as they battle to set up an Islamic state.\r\n\"These designations are an important and appropriate step, but only one tool in what must be a comprehensive approach by the Nigerian government to counter these groups ... to help root out violent extremism,\" the State Department said.\r\nThe Islamist insurgency by the shadowy group has claimed scores of lives since 2009 and triggered concern over its potential to spread across the porous borders in the region.\r\n\"By cutting these terrorist organizations off from US financial institutions and enabling banks to freeze assets held in the United States, these designations demonstrate our strong support for Nigeria's fight against terrorism and its efforts to address security challenges in the north,\" White House homeland security advisor Lisa Monaco said.\r\nNigeria welcomed the decision and hoped that the United States would step up intelligence cooperation.\r\n\"We salute the US government for its effort in partnering with Nigeria to rout out terrorism,\" Justice Minister Mohammed Adoke told AFP in Nigeria.\r\n\"We hope that with this development that the Boko Haram menace will soon become a thing of the past,\" he said.\r\nIn July, the State Department offered a $7 million reward for information leading to the arrest of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, but raised eyebrows by stopping short of designating the group as a foreign terrorist organization.\r\nWhile Washington believes that Boko Haram and Ansaru remain \"primarily\" Nigerian organizations, \"both these groups have links to AQIM,\" a senior State Department official told reporters, referring to Al-Qaeda's north and west African affiliate.\r\n\"Our assessment is that AQIM has helped provide some training to the groups and has provided some limited financing.\"\r\nEmergency rule in the northeast has largely pushed Boko Haram fighters from urban areas into the countryside over the last six months, but attacks have continued unabated.\r\nThe three Nigerian states under special measures -- Yobe, Borno and Adamawa -- share frontiers with Niger, Chad and Cameroon and the military has said that insurgents have struck in Nigeria, then fled across the borders.\r\nDespite Abuja's welcome for the designations, Washington has also voiced concern about a heavy-handed crackdown by Nigerian military forces.\r\n\"All of our assistance to Nigeria stresses the importance of protecting civilians and ensuring that human rights are respected,\" the State Department said.\r\n 'Western education is sin' \r\nBoth groups were officially designated as Foreign Terrorist Organizations which bars any Americans from assisting them as well as freezing any assets in the United States.\r\nPresident Barack Obama met Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan in September on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and urged him \"to pursue a comprehensive counterterrorism approach,\" Monaco said.\r\nRoughly translated, Boko Haram means \"Western education is sin,\" and the insurgents have been blamed for a series of bloody attacks on schools, killing dozens of children.\r\nAn earlier version of the group -- known then in local reports as the \"Nigerian Taliban\" -- was formed in 2004 and is now believed to have a number of different factions, with differing aims.\r\nLocal and Western analysts have long argued that improving living conditions in the mainly Muslim north holds the key to curbing the insurgency.\r\nBoko Haram is blamed for indiscriminate attacks in Benisheikh, Nigeria in September 2012 in which some 160 people were killed, and was also said to be behind the suicide bombing of a UN building in Abuja in August 2011.\r\nAnsaru has focused attacks on Nigerian military and Western targets, kidnapping several foreigners. They are believed to have been behind the kidnapping of a French family seized on the border of Cameroon and Nigeria in February and released in April.\r\nRepresentative Chris Smith, who chaired a hearing Wednesday on Boko Haram, welcomed the designation which US lawmakers have long sought.\r\n\"What these murderers have brought to Nigeria and surrounding countries is misery and death with no redeeming outcome,\" he said.\r\nhttp://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/news/afp/131113/us-blacklists-nigerias-boko-haram-terror-group-3", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=766", "Frelinghuysen Statement: Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Chairmanship", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Frelinghuysen is New Chairman of House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee\r\n\r\n\tWashington, D.C. \u2013 Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11) has been named the new Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.\u00a0 He succeeds the late Rep. C.W. Bill Young, who passed away last month.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI am grateful to Chairman Rogers and the House Leadership for giving me this responsibility. The security and budget challenges we face are real and dramatic. The job before us is to provide for a strong national defense and support the men and women who provide for that defense each and every day.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe announcement was made today by the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, Rep. Hal Rogers (KY).\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cRodney is a thoughtful, steady, and strong leader, is staunchly dedicated to doing what is best for the country and his district, and has a determined focus that allows him to rise above politics to get things done. He has an unwavering devotion to the safety and security of our nation, and to the care and protection of our men and women in uniform, and I know he will be a great leader of the Defense subcommittee,\u201d Chairman Rogers said.\r\n\r\n\tFrelinghuysen has served on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee since 1999.\u00a0 Most recently he served as the panel\u2019s Vice-Chairman. \u00a0\u00a0The Subcommittee is charged each year with producing legislation that provides funding for critical national security needs and the resources needed to continue the nation\u2019s military efforts abroad. In addition, the bill provides essential funding for health and quality of life programs for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families.\r\n\r\n\t-30-", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040013/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-introduces-permanent-moratorium-fines-incidental-discharges-commercial", "LoBiondo Introduces Permanent Moratorium on Fines for Incidental Discharges from Commercial Fishing Vessels", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02), a senior member of the House Transportation &amp; Infrastructure Committee, has introduced a permanent moratorium from Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), state regulations and fines governing incidental discharges from commercial fishing vessels and all other commercial vessels less than 79 feet. The \u201cCommercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2013\u201d is the latest effort by LoBiondo to protect South Jersey\u2019s critical commercial fishing industry.\n\u201cStarting in December 2014, commercial fishermen, charter and tour boat operators, and owners of other commercial vessels less than 79 feet will have to apply for and receive individual permits from the EPA to discharge from their vessels such things as deck wash, bilge water, and the condensation from air conditioning units. Vessels that operate without these permits could be subject to citizen lawsuits and daily fines that exceed $32,000 per violation. Furthermore, the EPA has informed Congress that they do not have the resources to process more than 135,000 permits that would be required,\u201d said LoBiondo. \u201cWith our stagnant economy, the government must not enact federal penalties which could discourage economic growth and job creation. The fines that are scheduled to be levied against our commercial fishermen for incidental charges will be devastating to local South Jersey businesses.\u201d\nIn 2006, a federal court in California ruled that the EPA had to regulate the release of ballast water, bilge water, deck wash, rain water runoff and other incidental discharges from vessels under the Clean Water Act. Two (2) federal agencies and over 28 states have added additional and often contradictory regulations on top of the federal standard.\u00a0\n\"This is welcome news to our party, charter boat and private fleets. Frank has fought off the demons every time\u00a0this issue came up. Now let\u2019s hope we can make this permanent and we can carry on our day to day activities without this burden,\u201d Jim Donofrio, Executive Director of the Recreational Fishing Alliance.\nWhile chair of the House Coast Guard &amp; Maritime Transportation Subcommittee, LoBiondo secured the current temporary moratorium expiring in December 2014 in the hopes of brokering a permanent solution to establish a single, nationwide standard for ballast water and incidental discharges. Recognizing current political realities, LoBiondo is seeking a permanent moratorium to this issue. Commercial vessels (except fishing) over 79 feet will still need to comply with the EPA standards and all recreational vessels, regardless of size, are permanently exempt from the regulations.\n\u201cSouth Jersey has the second biggest fishing port on the East Coast with the Port of Cape May. In fact, it is the fourth in the nation, landing over 11 million pounds of seafood worth tens of millions of dollars annually. This industry supports thousands of jobs up and down the Jersey Shore, but like all industry, this one has had stiff challenges as its weathered the storm of the recent recession,\u201d continued LoBiondo. \u201cCongress must not allow EPA and the states to threaten fishermen with tens of thousands in daily fines if they fail to control rain water runoff from their decks and condensation from cabin air conditioners.\u201d\u00a0\nAccording to Jeff Reichle, president of Lund's Fisheries in Cape May, \u201cthis legislation is tremendously important to commercial fishermen in New Jersey and all other coastal states, making permanent an exemption from a regulation that would have crippled our fishing industries. Congressman LoBiondo has once again earned the thanks of all of us whose businesses depend on the reasonable regulation of vessels using our coastal waters. We hope other coastal legislators will join Congressman LoBiondo in supporting this vital moratorium.\u201d\n\u201cThis is tremendously important for the town of Barnegat Light and our fishermen. I appreciate and thank Frank for his common-sense approach on this and other issues that are important to our fishermen.\u00a0It's the right thing to do, and I'd like everyone to support Frank in these efforts,\u201d said Kirk Larson, Mayor of Barnegat Light.\nThe \u201cCommercial Vessel Discharges Reform Act of 2013\u201d (H.R. 3464) has been assigned to the House Transportation &amp; Infrastructure Committee for review.\n\u00a0\n# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040057/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-applauds-disaster-declaration-south-jersey-counties-affected-excessive", "LoBiondo Applauds Disaster Declaration for South Jersey Counties Affected by Excessive Weather This Past Summer", "2013-11-13", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today announced that significant agricultural production losses in Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean and Salem have warranted a Secretarial disaster declaration by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). The declaration cites the combined effects of excessive rain, related flooding, high winds and hail that occurred from May 2013 through September 24th.\n\u201cThe sheer amount of rain, flooding and extreme weather that South Jersey experienced this past summer was far beyond what our farms and crops could handle. It was appropriate to request federal assistance and I\u2019m pleased USDA Secretary Vilsack has granted a Secretarial disaster declaration across the region,\u201d said LoBiondo. \u201cWith this declaration, farm operators will have access to emergency loans through the Farm Service Agency to recoup their losses and rebuild their operations. I appreciate Governor Christie\u2019s efforts to ensure the critically-important agricultural sector of our state \u2013 and the backbone of South Jersey \u2013 was not forgotten.\u201d\nLoBiondo supported multiple applications for disaster declarations for South Jersey farmers due to various extreme weather conditions in the past few years. Mercer and Monmouth Counties were also included as contiguous disaster counties in today\u2019s Secretarial disaster designation. The official USDA letter to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is attached.\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/christmas-0", "Christmas", "2013-11-12", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Christmas - Offices Closed                        \n         \t  Start: \n         \t  December 25, 2013\n         \t  End: \n         \t    December 25, 2013\n         \t   \n         \t           \t\n                                          \n              Nov 12, 2013", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361123", "Terror Group \u2018Boko Haram\u2019 Focus of Joint House Hearing", "2013-11-11", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The notorious terror group called Boko Haram will be the topic of a joint hearing to be held on Wednesday, Nov. 13.\u00a0 U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) will chair the hearing on an organization dedicated to terrorism, and why the group should be declared a foreign terrorist organization.\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBoko Haram, even given the breakaway group known as Ansaru, clearly is an organization dedicated to terrorizing Nigerians and now even foreigners,\u201d Chairman Smith said. \u201cThe group should be declared a Foreign Terrorist organization as they fit the entire definition, and our hearing is intended to demonstrate why this declaration has become imperative for our government to confirm.\u201d\r\n\r\n\r\nWHAT: Joint congressional hearing of both the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, and the Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade. Entitled \u201cThe Continuing Threat of Boko Haram,\u201d the joint hearing will feature key Administration and human rights organizations witnesses.\r\n\r\nWHO: \r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n    Linda Thomas-Greenfield, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of African Affairs, U.S. Department of State\r\n    Emmanuel Ogebe, Managing Partner, U.S.-Nigeria Law Group\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \r\n    Khalid Aliyu, Secretary General, Jama\u2019atu Nasril Islam (via videoconference)\r\n    Habila Adamu, survivor of violence by Boko Haram\r\n    Jacob Zenn, Research Analyst, The Jamestown Foundation\r\n \r\nWHEN: Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m.\r\nWHERE: Room 2200 in the Rayburn House Office Building (second floor).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361121", "<span class=\"kicker\">Associated Press Article</span>$25M beach replenishment work starts in Manasquan", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By The Associated Press \u00a0WAYNE PARRY (AP) -- Wider beaches are on the way for some Jersey shore towns whose coast took a pounding during Superstorm Sandy as a $25 million beach replenishment project led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins Friday in Manasquan.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"Right after Superstorm Sandy, I remember seeing the devastation,\" said U.S Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican who represents some of the affected towns. \"We've got to replenish, we've got to rebuild the dunes because they did mitigate the loss. The damage would have been far worse had the Army Corps projects not been in place.\"\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But the project that will widen beaches from Manasquan north to Belmar will not include restoring dunes that washed away during Sandy last year. That would have to be done under a separate project, possibly funded by state and local governments\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The work is among several beach restoration projects that were done this year, or that will begin next spring or summer. Work on the northern Monmouth County shoreline including Sea Bright was done earlier this year, as were projects in three towns on Long Beach Island in Ocean County. Additional projects in Ocean, Atlantic and Cape May counties could get underway next spring or early summer, said Ed Voigt, a spokesman for the Army Corps.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Those projects include the southern end of Ocean City, along with Strathmere and Sea Isle City, and additional towns on Long Beach Island. Beach replenishment should be completed by December in Ventnor, he said.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The work will widen beaches, some of which have eroded to just 75 feet wide, to a width of 150 to 250 feet.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Normally, the Army Corps would be authorized to return the beaches only to their pre-storm condition. But special authorization after last year's devastating storm gave the Corps permission to restore the beaches to their fully-built design condition, a state last achieved in 1997, according to Anthony Ciorra, a Superstorm Sandy project manager for the Army Corps.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Much of Manasquan's beachfront was devastated by the storm on Oct. 29, 2012. It washed away tons of sand, smashed and washed away half the borough's asphalt beach walk, and destroyed numerous beachfront houses.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Beach replenishment works by sucking sand from the sea floor, carrying it through a network of submerged pipes, and shooting it through a huge basket-type filter onto the shoreline. Originally published: November 7, 2013 4:18 PM http://www.newsday.com/news/region-state/25m-beach-replenishment-work-starts-in-manasquan-1.6400058  \r\nhttp://www.burlingtoncountytimes.com/news/state/nj/m-beach-replenishment-work-starts-in-manasquan/article_e01c431c-7ffe-5c33-a96b-c070b3789495.html \u00a0Updated: November 7, 2013 7:42 PM\r\nBy The Associated Press \u00a0WAYNE PARRY (Associated Press) \r\nWayne Parry can be reached at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC\r\nCopyright 2013 The Associated Press.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=361127", "$25M beach replenishment project to start Friday in Manasquan", "2013-11-08", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "A $25 million federally funded project aimed at replenishing the beaches from Manasquan to Belmar will start on Friday, officials said.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Anthony Ciorra, sandy coastal recovery program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, said 1.5 million cubic yards of sand would be placed on the beach. That sand is part of a total of 8 million cubic yards being placed from Sea Bright to Manasquan.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Corps of Engineers mission is primarily coastal flood risk reduction ensuring that these projects and these beaches are in place to reduce the risk to flooding to the highly populated, densely developed coastal communities along this project,\u201d Ciorra said. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Contractors will use hydraulics to pump sand from nearly 1.5 miles offshore of Sandy Hook, Ciorra said. The existing beach at its narrowest point is approximately 75 feet and the beaches will ultimately be 150 to 250 feet wide, restoring it to the conditions in 1997, he said. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0But more important than beach width, officials said, is the height of the beach, which will be raised six to eight feet on average. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) said the restorative project had previously been approved but there was never funding available. He said he was in Manasquan right after Hurricane Sandy hit the area and it has come a long way.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWhen we walked along this frontal area to the beach, the smell of gas \u2026 was overwhelming. There were gas leaks. Most of the first floors were just filled with sand and what a difference a year makes,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe reparative efforts that have been made over the course of the last year have been monumental and transformational. People are back.\u201d \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith praised the mayor, council and emergency management team for assisting residents after the storm, despite their own home damage. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt is really a testament to leadership and the resilience of the people,\u201d Smith said. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith said he and others from the New Jersey delegation lobbied aggressively after Hurricane Sandy for the project. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Manasquan Mayor George Dempsey thanked Smith for his efforts in getting the project to fruition and said that it will help protect the houses that are adjacent to the beach. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI hate to say he [Smith] did a good job, but he was one of the first ones that came down after the storm, he and Assemblyman Rible,\u201d Dempsey said. \u201cHe went right to work on getting us funds.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Before the congressman\u2019s efforts, Dempsey said, the project was originally only going to restore the beach to the pre-Sandy condition. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s a big step for Manasquan to get this replenishment,\u201d Dempsey said. \u201cI can\u2019t thank the congressman enough, he did a tremendous job for us.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Dempsey said the next step will be getting dunes in place, however, that is not part of the current project. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Approximately 1,000 to 2,000 feet of beach will be closed at a time while it is being replenished for safety reasons. Once those areas are completed and the contractor moves down the beach, the newly replenished areas will be reopened. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The project is a 24-hours a day, seven days a week operation and is expected to be completed in April or May. Click here to see original article, including photo series: http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2013/11/25m_beach_replenishment_project_to_start_friday_in_manasquan.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=360623", "U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Breaks Ground on $25M Project to Repair Southern Monmouth Beaches", "2013-11-07", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The long-awaited $25 million beach southern Monmouth County replenishment project kicked off today with a ground-breaking ceremony on Manasquan Beach. Hurricane Sandy caused severe beach erosion along the five-mile stretch of the project. The massive beach re-nourishment work to repair and restore the beach to better than pre-Sandy conditions starts tomorrow. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI was here on this very beach in the days after the storm with Mayor Dempsey and his team and it was a near unimaginable scene of destroyed homes, broken gas lines and crumbled debris,\u201d Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said. \u201cThe beach was gone. Today and over the next four months of this project, the Corps will rebuild these beaches and the lives of the people from Manasquan, as well as Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Belmar.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Joining the Congressman on the beach was Anthony Ciorra,\u00a0Chief of Coastal Restoration &amp; Special Projects Branch, and Paul Jalowski, Project Engineer, both of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers from the USACE Region II (New York District). Present from the Borough of Manasquan were Mayor George Dempsey, Council President Ed Donovan, Councilman Owen McCarthy, Councilman Joe Bossone, Councilman Gregg Olivera, Councilman Mike Sinneck\u00a0\u00a0and Borough Attorney Mark Kitrick. Also present was J.C. Krause, Division Manager of The Dutra Group of San Rafael, Ca., the contracting company which has been putting in place heavy construction equipment over the past several days. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The total cost of the project is $25,254,400.\u00a0 The project is funded 100 percent by the federal government through the Army Corps\u2019 Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies (FCCE) account.\u00a0 Dredging will take approximately 125 days to complete.\u00a0 The project will pump roughly 1,500,000 cubic yards of sand onto Manasquan, Sea Girt, Spring Lake and Belmar beaches. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe reconstruction of this project will provide our shore communities and the families who reside along the shore with critical storm, surge and flood protection in the event of future storms,\u201d Smith said. \u201cNew Jersey\u2019s almost 130 miles of coastline was battered by the severe wind, high waves and rising ocean.\u00a0 But we know that in most areas where the Army Corps of Engineers implemented beach re-nourishment projects, there was less damage than those where they did not. Where the Corps built higher berms, they held back the water. Where there were low dunes, the water came flooding in.\u00a0 The damage to houses, businesses and other infrastructure was significantly less that in towns where similar re-nourishment efforts have not yet begun.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Corps projects proved themselves extremely worthwhile and we need to continue its work and rebuild where feasible.\u00a0 It is not only the right thing for New Jersey\u2019s recovery, it is prudent federal policy,\u201d Smith said. \u201cPreventing flooded homes and businesses is cheaper and more efficient that repairing them after a water breach.\u00a0 As such, it is necessary, cost-effective and justified for the federal government to provide the Corps with emergency funding to finish beach replenishment and flood protection projects.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040133/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-statement-retirement-new-jersey-rep-jon-runyan", "LoBiondo Statement on Retirement of New Jersey Rep. Jon Runyan", "2013-11-06", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "MAYS LANDING, N.J. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today released the following statement upon the news of fellow New Jersey Representative Jon Runyan\u2019s (NJ-03) decision not to seek re-election:\n\"I respect the choice Congressman Runyan made for himself and his family. It has been an honor to serve with him, working on critical issues that affect both our South Jersey districts. His voice on both veterans and military issues will be greatly missed. I wish Jon the best going forward.\"\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/upper-deerfield-townships-annual-veterans-day-ceremony-0", "Upper Deerfield Township's Annual Veterans' Day Ceremony", "2013-11-04", "2013", "2013-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Start: \n         \t  November 9, 2013 10:00 am\n\n         \t  \nEnd: \n         \t    November 9, 2013 11:00 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    \nLocation: \n         \t      Veterans Monument - Route 77 ,  Seabrook, New Jersey", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359966", "FEMA OK\u2019s $1 Million for Sewer Station Heavily Damaged by Superstorm Sandy", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The South Monmouth Regional Sewage Authority (SMRSA) received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has awarded more than $1 million to help pay to undo extensive Superstorm Sandy-related damage to the Authority\u2019s Pitney Avenue Pump Station, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said Thursday.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The grant will provide $1,081,285 in Federal funding to pay for 90 percent of the $1,201,428 cost to rebuild the pump station. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cSandy damaged critical infrastructure up-and-down the coast,\u201d said Smith, who toured damage throughout Monmouth and other counties in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. \u201cThis grant will help replace a pump station located in Spring Lake that was essentially destroyed and has been bypassed for the past year.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith earlier this year took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At a June meeting in Smith\u2019s Washington Office, Smith personally appealed to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve a 90 percent federal share for FEMA funding going to Jersey towns to pay for cleanup costs\u2014instead of the initially planned 75 percent. Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The higher cost ratio will provide the authority with an additional $180,000 for the project. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0During the storm, the Pitney Avenue pump station\u2019s electrical and mechanical equipment was severely damaged and rendered inoperable as a result of flooding from storm surge and Lake Como, which breeched its bank. Through this grant, the existing pump station building will be demolished and replaced with a mobile-enclosure concept. The new design will have the same capacity and function while mitigating potential damages from future flooding. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0According to SMRSA Executive Director Michael Ruppel, the authority is not rebuilding the facility the same way, but rather incorporating a state-of-the-art approach that will create a high degree of resiliency into new pump station to much more resistant to weather events. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When a flood event is predicted, the new trailer can be disconnected from the station and moved to higher ground to prevent equipment damage. A sacrificial generator or diesel driven pump will be left behind in order to maintain sewage pumping during a flood event. Once flood waters recede, the mobile enclosure will be returned to operation within a matter of hours. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This mobile enclosure concept has been utilized successfully at the SMRSA\u2019s Sea Girt pump station, which was operational two hours after Sandy. Ruppel said these two mobile concept facilities, developed here in Monmouth County, are the only two in the world. He added that due to their success in mitigating damages, the concept is being considered by FEMA as a nation-wide Best Management Practice (BMP) for mitigation of potential damages to equipment as a result of a flood event. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The South Monmouth Regional Sewerage Authority (SMRSA) provides sanitary sewer conveyance and treatment for Monmouth County\u2019s coastal towns Belmar, Lake Como, Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Sea Girt, Manasquan, Brielle, Wall Township.\u00a0 Much of the SMRSA conveyance system is located in low lying areas in or/adjacent to the flood plains, and are susceptible to damage from flooding. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The funding is being provided by FEMA under authority the Robert T. Stafford Act.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040217/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-announces-open-application-period-assistance-firefighters-grants-program", "LoBiondo Announces Open Application Period for Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program", "2013-10-31", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 After hosting two fire grant workshops for 2nd Congressional District fire and rescue departments in August, U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today announced the open period to apply for federal funding under the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s Assistance to Firefighters Grants Program (AFGP). The application period will begin on Monday and will run through Friday, December 6th with awards being announced in 2014.\n\u201cDay in and day out, the men and women of our fire and rescue units are the first responders to emergency events in our communities. In addition to our deep gratitude, they deserve our support and available federal resources to assist them in their efforts to keep us safe,\u201d said LoBiondo, a member of the Congressional Fire Caucus. \u201cParticularly in these difficult economic times, I strongly encourage the fire and rescue departments of South Jersey to take advantage of this critical funding source.\u201d\nAFGP competitive funding is used by the nation\u2019s fire and rescue departments to increase the effectiveness of firefighting and emergency response operations and to improve personnel health and safety programs. The Fiscal Year 2013 program will distribute nearly $321 million to first responder organizations across the country.\nSince the program began in 2001, 123 of New Jersey\u2019s 2nd Congressional District fire organizations have received more than $22 million under AFGP. Grant guidance will be available at www.grants.gov, and at www.fema.gov/firegrants/afggrants/index.shtm.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=359804", "Cong. Smith's Syrian War Crimes Tribunal Bill Topic of Joint House Hearing", "2013-10-30", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The establishment of a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal was the topic of a joint hearing today of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith chaired the hearing.\r\n\u201cThe two-year-old Syrian civil war has produced increasingly horrific human rights violations, including summary executions, torture and rape,\u201d said Smith, author of a bill to support the creation of a tribunal. \u201cSince the Syrian civil war began, more than 100,000 people have been killed and nearly seven million people have been forced to leave their homes. \r\n\u201cThose who have perpetrated human rights violations among the Syrian government, the rebels and the foreign fighters on both sides of this conflict must be shown that their actions will have serious consequences,\u201d Smith said. \r\nSmith\u2019s legislation, H. Con. Res. 51, introduced on Sept. 9, calls for the creation of an international tribunal that would be more flexible and efficient than the International Criminal Court to ensure accountability for human rights violations committed by all sides.\u00a0 \r\nThe hearing, entitled \u201cEstablishing a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal,\u201d included witnesses: David M. Crane, former Chief Prosecutor, United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone; Dr. Alan White, former Chief Investigator, United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone; Jeremy Rabkin, Professor of Law,\u00a0 George Mason University School of Law; Stephen G. Rademaker, National Security Project Advisor at the Bipartisan Policy Center, and; Richard Dicker, Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch. Click here to read their statements.\r\n\u00a0\r\nCrane said that Basir Al Assad, accused of using sarin gas in his own capital of Damascus in August 2013, could be prosecuted for international crimes similar to former Liberian President Charles Taylor.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u201cOver the past 20 years, the international community, in most instances led by the United States, has developed what I call the modern criminal law system,\u201d Crane said. \u201cThrough trial and in some cases error, mankind has finally resolved to punish dictators, tyrants, and thugs who murder, rape, maim, and mutilate their own citizens.\u201d He noted that the two ad-hoc tribunals for Yugoslavia and Rwanda, created sound procedures and rules of evident to deal with war crimes.\r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u201cIt is alleged that President Assad has taken evil to the next level by employing the use of chemical weapons, killing thousands of defenseless women and children,\u201d White said. \u201cUnfortunately, he is protected by his staunchest ally, Russia, which will undoubtedly block any formal referral from the United Nations Security Council to the International Criminal Court, allowing Assad to escape accountability with no justice for the victims. Most would agree, an immediate alternative needs to be aggressively pursued.\u201d White cited the need for an independent criminal court, such as the one Smith proposes, to ensure that Assad and others alleged to be committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Syria, face justice.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=357068", "Blind Human Rights Activist Chen, Family of Jailed Writer Focus on Plight of Guo at Congressional Hearing", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Blind Human Rights Activist Chen, Family of Jailed Writer Focus on Plight of Guo at Congressional Hearing\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      Human rights leader remains imprisoned by Chinese Gov't\r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        Oct 29, 2013 | \r\n      Jeff Sagnip\r\n      ((202) 225-3765) \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n      \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      The re-arrest of writer and human rights defender Guo Feixiong in China was the focus of a press conference and hearing held today by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) of the House global human rights subcommittee and co-chairman of the U.S. Congressional-Executive China Commission, along with other Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Guo's wife and daughter and other hearing witnesses tried to bring attention to Guo\u2019s plight.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Testifying at a hearing entitled \u201cGuo Feixiong and Freedom of Expression in China,\u201d were Chen Guangcheng, the blind human rights lawyer and ex-political prisoner of the Chinese government who escaped from house arrest in 2012 amid an international furor, reached the U.S. Embassy in Bejing, and eventually settled in the U.S.; Zhang Qing, wife of Guo Feixiong and Yang \u201cSara\u201d Tianjiao, his daughter; Pastor Bob Fu, Founder and President, ChinaAid Association, and; T. Kumar of Amnesty International (AI).\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Guo\u2019s daughter, Tianjiao \u201cSara\u201d Yang, told reporters and the congressional panel she was grateful to have opportunity to speak about her father whom she last saw seven years ago in 2006 when she was only 10. She recounted how he bought her a video game, and how they played it almost every day during that summer. But on Sept. 14, 2006 when she came back from school, he was gone.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI have not seen him since that day,\u201d she said. \u201cI did not even have a chance to say \u2018bye\u2019 or \u2018I love you\u2019 to him. Over the past seven years, I have dreamed about him a lot. I dreamed that he would play that video game with me again so we could pass level five together. But they were only dreams. The next day I always found myself in tears.\u201d\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith said Guo\u2019s detention appears to be reprisal for his support of government transparency and calls for accountability. In recent months, Beijing has cracked down harshly on dozens of similar-minded advocates seeking political reforms.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThese detentions signify Chinese citizens\u2019 growing resolve and Beijing\u2019s growing fears,\u201d Smith said. \u201cGuo, and many others throughout China, want change. They want accountability, they want transparency, and they want justice. And, increasingly, they are willing to endure great risks and willing to sacrifice their own personal security to speak freely.\u201d Click here to read chairman\u2019s statement.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chen, who appeared via Skype, called on the controlling Communist Central Party (CCP) to stop persecuting religious believers and respect religious freedom. He noted over 120 Tibetan monks have set themselves on fire. Some fighting against tyranny have been shot one and he recounted \u201cindescribable persecution\u201d of Falun Gong practitioners.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI call on lawyers and legal experts of the United States and the American Bar Association to advocate for the human rights lawyers of China and make joint efforts to provide them with some specific legal support and assistance,\u201d Chen said.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chen, who served years in prison for accepting court cases of women fighting forced abortions, also called to end China\u2019s one-child policy and forcible abortion \u201cbecause forcing women to abort their babies is a violation of universal human rights. It tramples on women\u2019s rights, the right of free choice, and also the sacred right of life.\u201d The policy also results in a severe imbalance in gender ratio and a rapidly aging population.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Zhang Qing thanked the panel for the opportunity to describe her husband Guo Feixiong personally, as well as his legal case and activities in defending human rights.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIn China today, human rights conditions continue to deteriorate,\u201d she said. \u201cIn a new round of government crackdowns on civil movements this summer, my husband, Guo Feixiong, was detained again. This is his fourth time in prison within two years since he was released on September 13, 2011, after serving five years in prison on a false conviction.\u201d\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0She said her husband was charged with \u201cgathering a mob to disrupt the order of a public site.\u201d It was speculated that his detention was caused by his support of the newspaper The Southern Weekly, and a speech he delivered in public challenging China\u2019s system of censorship on books and newspapers.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A former novelist and businessman, Guo (whose real name is Yang Maodong but is far better known by his pen-name Guo Feixiong) became widely known in 2005 for organizing protests of land seizures on the outskirts of Guangzhou city. In 2007, a Chinese court sentenced Guo to five years\u2019 imprisonment on trumped up charges of illegal publishing.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAmnesty International considers Guo Feixiong a prisoner of conscience, who should be immediately and unconditionally released,\u201d said Kumar, AI\u2019s Director of International Advocacy.\u00a0\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0To watch video of the hearing or to read Chen\u2019s, Guo\u2019s family\u2019s and Amnesty International\u2019s statements, hit control and click here.\u00a0\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=357074", "Syrian War Crimes Tribunal Bill Topic of Joint House Hearing Oct. 30", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The establishment of a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal will be the topic of a joint hearing Wednesday by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building:WHEN:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:30 p.m. WHAT:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Establishing a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal WHERE:\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2172 Rayburn House Office Building WHO:\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Chairman Chris Smith, author of legislation to create a Syrian\u00a0War Crimes Tribunal, and Chairwoman Ros-Lehtin, and witnesses: \r\n    David M. Crane,\u00a0Professor of Practice, Syracuse University College of Law (Former Chief Prosecutor, United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone)\r\n    Alan White, Ph.D., President, AW Associates\u00a0(Former Chief Investigator, United Nations Special Court for Sierra Leone)The Honorable Jeremy Rabkin, Professor of Law,\u00a0 George Mason University School of Law\r\n     The Honorable Stephen G. Rademaker, National Security Project Advisor, Bipartisan Policy Center\r\n    Richard Dicker, Director, International Justice Program, Human Rights Watch", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/sandy-one-year-later-where-we-succeeded-where-we-still-fight", "Sandy One Year Later: Where We Succeeded & Where We Still Fight", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tonight residents of New Jersey will publicly gather with their neighbors or privately with their families to mark the anniversary of a day we'd all rather forget. One year later, the physical, emotional and financial scars of Hurricane Sandy remain visible in many communities. No one questions the challenges and setbacks New Jersey has faced since Sandy, just as no one doubts our resilience and determination to rebuild stronger and smarter. It is critical at this junction to recognize where we have succeeded in our recovery and where we still must fight.\nIn the past year, New Jersey and other Sandy-affected states have had to rightly justify each federal dollar of emergency aid requested. New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo were thoughtful, comprehensive and responsible in their requests, identifying projects such as mass transit repairs, shore and flood protection efforts and public infrastructure systems that required immediate attention. They also sought to mitigate potential destruction from future storms by making long-term, strategic decisions during rebuilding, including shore protection measures up and down the coast. While adding weeks to the rebuilding process, necessary Federal Emergency Management Agency reforms better protected taxpayers following the billions of wasted dollars in response to Hurricane Katrina.\n\n \n\nWe will not soon forget the intentional delays by some in Congress in approving the $51 billion Sandy Emergency Supplemental Aid package, unnecessarily creating a disaster in dealing with a disaster. However, we also did not turn vengeful when states such as Colorado and Oklahoma requested federal aid in the aftermath of their deadly floods and tornadoes. We stood strong in solidarity and support in their time of need. Throughout the past year, we've proven why being \"Jersey Strong\" does not mean sacrificing our compassion and commitment to our fellow Americans.\nIn other areas, the fight goes on. The effort continues to secure equitable treatment for South Jersey residents and other affected communities. One key piece is the \"Hurricane Sandy Tax Relief Act,\" which would provide tax relief for affected individuals, businesses and municipalities. This bipartisan legislation is modeled after a similar law passed in the wake of Katrina and would be an asset in getting our families and businesses, already struggling due to a stagnant economy, back on their feet.\nPending flood insurance premium rate increases continue to be a significant concern for many residents and communities. While we've seen the initial advisory flood maps scaled back to reflect the accurate topography of South Jersey and the best available scientific data, the proposed premium changes will still weigh heavy on those living in seaside and bayshore communities who seek to move forward with their lives. Scheduled rate increases mandated by law prior to Sandy are compounding the emotional and financial strain on policyholders and negatively impacting the local real estate market. In addition to legislation I've previously introduced to reduce the impact of these rate changes, I am working in partnership with my congressional colleagues and local officials to find a positive solution on both of these issues.\nOutreach to affected homeowners and businesses is ongoing, ensuring they are aware of state and federal funding opportunities such as the low-interest loans from the Small Business Administration, housing grants and financial counseling. I've sought to facilitate constant communication and coordination between hard-hit communities, state agencies and the federal Sandy Rebuilding Task Force, an effort that is critical to minimizing delays and cutting red tape. Just this week, we received word of another $1.4 billion in federal aid being transferred to the state for rebuilding efforts. As additional programs come online or application deadlines are extended, my office will ensure that our mayors, chambers of commerce, public assistance groups and long-term recovery groups are kept abreast of developments and stand ready to assist in the weeks and months ahead.\nOct. 29, 2012, is a day that will never be forgotten by South Jersey residents. It is a day countless lives were abruptly, violently and forever changed. But it is also a day that demonstrated how the strength of our state's spirit shines brightest as first-responders worked tirelessly to ensure safety and order, communities banded together to endure and neighbors helped each other and strangers all caught up in Sandy's wrath. Our region has come a long way toward normalcy in the past 365 days. For too many, there remains a long way still to go. I am convinced, however, that the legacy of Sandy will not be the extent of her destruction, but our shared resolve to recover and rebuild in her aftermath.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040257/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/bipartisan-coalition-more-50-introduces-legislation-address-flood-insurance-rate", "Bipartisan Coalition of More Than 50 Introduces Legislation to Address Flood Insurance Rate Increases", "2013-10-29", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2013 On the one year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy, a broad, bipartisan coalition of 55 members of the House of Representatives have introduced a legislative solution to fix the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and ensure changes are implemented affordably.\nThe legislation, led by Representatives Maxine Waters (D-CA), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Cedric Richmond (D-LA) and Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), calls for a four-year delay to the program, requires the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to complete an affordability study and propose a framework that addresses affordability issues. A companion measure has been introduced in the U.S. Senate by Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Johnny Isakson (R-GA).\nSpecifically, the legislation will accomplish the following:\n Imposes a delay likely to total four years for the most vulnerable properties, by delaying implementation of rate increases until two years after FEMA completes an affordability study, which was mandated in Biggert-Waters but not undertaken. FEMA has estimated it will take 2 years to complete the affordability study. It would then take up to an additional 2 years for FEMA to submit an affordability framework to Congress and for Congress to review the framework. This means rate increases would be delayed for 4 years in total. The delay applies to: primary, non-repetitive loss residences that are currently grandfathered; all properties sold after July 6, 2012; and all properties that purchased a new policy after July 6, 2012.\u00a0\nRequires FEMA to propose an affordability framework that addresses the identified affordability issues within 18 months after the completion of the study and provides 6 months for Congressional review.\nAllows FEMA to utilize National Flood Insurance Funds to reimburse policyholders who successfully appeal a map determination.\nEliminates the 50 percent cap on state and local contributions to levee construction and reconstruction.\nProtects the so-called \u201cbasement exception,\u201d which allows the lowest proofed opening in a home to be used for determining flood insurance rates.\nEstablishes a Flood Insurance Rate Map Advocate within FEMA to answer current and prospective policyholder questions about the flood mapping process.\nRequires FEMA to certify that the agency has fully adopted a modernized risk-based approach to analyzing flood risk.\n Original Cosponsors of the legislation include: Representatives Michael Grimm (R-NY); Maxine Waters (D-CA); Cedric Richmond (D-LA); Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ); Pete Olson (R-TX); Steven Palazzo (R-MS); Patrick Murphy (D-FL); Bill Cassidy (R-LA); Doris Matsui (D-CA); Kevin Cramer (R-ND); William Keating (D-MA); Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL); Corrine Brown (D-FL); Rub\u00e9n\u00a0Hinojosa (D-TX); Gregory Meeks (D-NY); Mike McIntyre (D-NC);\u00a0 Jerrold Nadler (D-NY); Richard Nugent (R-FL); Bobby Scott (D-VA); Jim Langevin (D-RI); Joseph Crowley (D-NY); Gwen Moore (D-WI); Glenn Thompson (R-PA); Walter Jones (R- NC); Peter Welch (D- VT); William Enyart (D- IL); Stephen Lynch (D-MA); John Carney (D-DL); John Culberson (R-TX); Kathy Castor (D-FL); Joe Garcia (D-FL); Lois Frankel (D-FL); Nydia Velazquez (D-NY); Jan Schakowsky (D-IL); Peter King (R-NY); Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ); Carolyn Maloney (D-NY); Frederica Wilson (D-FL); Filemon Vela; (D- TX); Rodney Davis (R-IL); John Tierney (D-MA); Ed Perlmutter (D - CO); Keith Ellison (D-MN); Ted Deutch (D-FL); Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY); Mario\u00a0 Diaz-Balart (R-FL); Jerry McNerney (D-CA); Charles Boustany (D-LA); William Lacy Clay (D-MO); Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO); Steve Scalise (R \u2013LA); Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY); John Garamendi (D-CA) and Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX).\n\u201cThe Biggert-Waters legislation was designed to address a $24 billion deficit and ensure millions of American homeowners could continue to purchase flood insurance. But FEMA\u2019s poor implementation, inaccurate mapping and incomplete data has led to unreasonable and unimaginable increases in premiums. From the moment I learned of the unintended consequences of the Biggert-Waters legislation, I have made clear that I would lead the effort to resolve the problems that have resulted,\u201d said Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Ranking Member of the House Financial Services Committee. \u201cToday we have reached bipartisan, bicameral agreement on the best way to repair the National Flood Insurance Program. This legislation would ensure FEMA undertakes program changes in a way that will not cause harm, by delaying implementation until it provides Congress the facts on how rate increases will affect homeowners. It will also give us the information we need to go through the program piece-by-piece and fix any outstanding affordability issues.\u201d\n\u00a0\u201cHomeowners across the nation have been hit with skyrocketing flood insurance rates, which they simply cannot afford,\u201d said Rep. Michael Grimm. \u201cOn Staten Island, this is an unbearable blow that further victimizes those who are still struggling to recover from Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0 I am proud to be part of bipartisan, bicameral solution to delay the rate hikes, while improving the Biggert-Waters Act in ways that protect homeowners from financial burdens and maintain the solvency of the National Flood Insurance Program.\u201d\n\u201cToday, I join my House and Senate colleagues to continue the fight to make flood insurance affordable. We cannot leave our neighbors, families and friends in our respective states to grapple with this burden alone,\u201d Congressman Cedric Richmond said. \u201cFlood insurance increases have sent shockwaves up and down the coastal regions and through the heartland of our country. I\u2019m a proud that there is now legislation in both houses of Congress that provides a sustainable, long-term solution that will allow people to buy and sell homes without penalty. This effort transcends party affiliation and reaches down to the core of our purpose in Congress, which is to draft legislation that protects our constituents. For Louisiana\u2019s communities bearing the brunt of these insurance hikes, especially the River Parishes, today is a big step toward a solution.\u201d\n\u201cSince Sandy pummeled homes and businesses in my district and across New Jersey and New York, I\u2019ve worked with my colleagues to find a common-sense solution to ease in full-risk coverage without further burdening existing homeowners and commercial properties. This bipartisan legislation balances the goal of making the NFIP solvent with the real financial concerns of those facing steep premium increases and protecting the taxpayers\u2019 interest,\u201d Rep. Frank LoBiondo said.\n\u00a0\n###\n**NOTE: A section-by-section breakdown of the legislation is available here. **", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356884", "<span class=\"kicker\">Rep. Smith Speaks w/ NBC\u2019s Andrea Mitchell on Sandy Anniversary</span>Pushes for Senate Action on Unfinished Sandy Work", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On the eve of the first anniversary of the most powerful natural disaster to hit the Northeast, U.S. Cong. Chris Smith told MSNBC\u2019s Andrea Mitchell the time has come for the U.S. Senate to act on a bipartisan bill passed by the House in February to help put houses of worship\u2014many of which were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy and yet continued to serve ravaged coastal communities\u2014on the same playing field with other non-profit organizations seeking disaster assistance. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith has pointed out that \u201cone bottleneck that still separates families, slammed by Superstorm Sandy from homecoming plans is a final flood insurance settlement.\u201d Numerous homeowners are still finding that their offered insurance settlement is nowhere large enough to cover repairs and home contents lost while some appear to be the victim of poorly trained adjusters. Smith has sought legislative initiatives to delay the implantation of higher flood insurance rates as FEMA and will continue legislative and other solutions aimed at making flood insurance affordable.  \n \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Many homeowners have complained that adjusters have been overlooking many unavoidable costs required for restoring someone\u2019s home such as the New Jersey 7 percent sales tax.\u00a0 Others have mentioned that along with inaccurate construction assessments, estimates were sometimes given for the wrong heating system or the incorrect type of replacement tile, and numerous seemingly small items that adjusters failed to notice. So while perhaps individually minor, when put together such unnoticed and unreported factors can add up to thousands of dollars and can alter someone\u2019s rebuilding decision. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith, who took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims, wrote a bill, H.R. 592, called the \"Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act of 2013.\"\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFEMA has done some good things and Governor Chris Christie has stepped up to the plate, but the problem has been that houses of worship and community and faith-based organizations have been excluded in very large measure from any kind of or community help,\u201d Smith said. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Federal Disaster Assistance Nonprofit Fairness Act did pass the House of Representatives by a vote of 354 \u2013 72 on February 13, 2013, but has not been acted on in the Senate.\u00a0 The bill would ensure that nonprofit faith-based facilities damaged in Sandy and future storms receive federal funds in the same manner as any other private nonprofit facility providing public service as was the base in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. There are 126 buildings in the Trenton Catholic Diocese alone that sustained significant damage as a result of Sandy. While Smith\u2019s legislation would provide aid for faith based facilities, it could also be done administratively FEMA and the Obama Administration. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Supported by original cosponsors Reps. Grace Meng (D-NY-06), and Peter King (R-NY-02), and cosponsors Eliot Engel (D-NY-16), Trent Franks (R-AZ-08), Michael Grimm (R-NY-11), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ-02), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY-04) and Bill Pascrell Jr.(D-NJ-09), the bill passed 354-72. The legislation stipulates that the Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, which funds the Federal Emergency Management Agency\u2019s (FEMA) disaster relief program, is a general government program under which federal assistance following a natural disaster can be rendered using criteria that are neutral with regard to religion. Congress has previously enacted laws providing financial assistance to religious nonprofit institutions, including houses of worship, on terms equal to other eligible nonprofit organizations. The bill has been stalled in the Senate. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0There are precedents for federal aid to disaster-damaged houses of worship. After the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995, Congress overruled FEMA\u2019s refusal to provide assistance to the damaged churches. In 2002, after an earthquake in Seattle, the Justice Department intervened to order FEMA to assist religious organizations damaged by the quake. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The bill has been endorsed by numerous organization and individuals, including:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/cape-may-county-veterans-day-ceremony-0", "Cape May County Veterans' Day Ceremony", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Start: \n         \t  November 11, 2013 2:00 pm\n\n         \t  \nEnd: \n         \t    November 11, 2013 3:00 pm\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    \nLocation: \n         \t      Cape May County Cemetery on Moore Road,  Cape May Court House, New Jersey", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040337/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-seeks-additional-sandy-aid-bayshore-communities", "LoBiondo Seeks Additional Sandy Aid for Bayshore Communities", "2013-10-28", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ-02) today sent a letter to New Jersey Governor Chris Christie seeking additional state aid from the $1.46 billion in federal Superstorm Sandy funds just released by the U.S. Department of Housing &amp; Urban Development for the Bayshore communities of Cumberland County. While experiencing significant destruction to four Townships along the Delaware Bay, the level of damage across the county did not meet the federal threshold to qualify Cumberland County with the nine (9) hardest hit counties including Atlantic, Cape May and Ocean counties.\nThe full text of the letter to Governor Christie is as follows:\nOctober 28, 2013\nDear Governor Christie:\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 As our state receives the next portion of relief money from Washington in response to Superstorm Sandy, I wanted to contact you directly about an area of concern that I have with recovery assistance needed in the Bayshore communities of Cumberland County.\u00a0 As I explained in my August letter to Marc-Philip Ferzan in your office of Recovery and Rebuilding, several smaller communities \u2013 namely the Townships of Commercial, Downe, Maurice River, and Lawrence - were hit hard by the storm and have struggled with their recovery efforts during the last year.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hundreds of homeowners in these communities have been unable to get help from federal funds obligated to New Jersey due to the rules in place limiting assistance to residents in the nine most damaged counties.\u00a0 However, as you well know, Sandy\u2019s impact on these Bayshore residents was just as devastating as the damage suffered by other New Jerseyans in many Jersey Shore communities.\u00a0 We appreciate the state\u2019s efforts to date to assist them but, the impacted communities along the Bayshore are still reeling from the storm and the slow recovery and are in need of your commitment to help rebuild and recover alongside their coastal neighbors.\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 I would urge you and your Administration to continue to explore every possible option to help speed financial assistance from this new infusion of money from Washington to the Delaware Bayshore communities. This assistance will help them recover in the same fashion as the coastal communities and to ensure that every corner of New Jersey can rebuild, recover, and rise together.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Additionally, I understand that the federal government is still engaged in discussions with your Administration over access to and restrictions on use of the recovery money.\u00a0 I would be happy to continue to work with you and members of your Administration to help lend support for actions to free up resources for the recovery and to ensure that New Jersey has the full benefits from the money that I and the other members of our delegation fought for in the weeks after Sandy\u2019s impact. \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thank you for your help in this matter and I look forward to continue working with you to bring about New Jersey\u2019s full recovery.\nSincerely,\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356494", "<span class=\"kicker\">Star Ledger/NJ.com article</span>Wall Township reimbursed $1.6 million for Hurricane Sandy cleanup", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Though it does not directly border the Atlantic Ocean, this Monmouth County Township has an expensive Hurricane Sandy cleanup.\r\nWall Township received approval for a $1.6 million FEMA grant award to help pay for the extensive cleanup resulting from Hurricane Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said in a Monday press release.\r\n\u201cNearly a year ago Wall was among the towns hit hard by Sandy,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe human costs in terms of disruption of homelife, community and commerce was near immeasurable, and for many people, catastrophic. But local workers rolled up their sleeves and went to work to reopen their town and get back on track to normalcy. Meanwhile, municipal governments incurred never-before-seen expenses added to their town budgets. This funding will help offset the financial impact on the township\u2019s budget and local taxes.\u201d\r\nWall\u2019s borders extend along both the Shark River Inlet to the north and the Manasquan Inlet to the south, leaving sections of the township vulnerable to the storm surge.\r\nWall Mayor Todd Luttman said the FEMA funds will reimburse 90 percent of the town\u2019s cleanup expenses.\r\n\u201cWe are delighted that FEMA is reimbursing Wall Township over $1.6 million for damages we incurred during Sandy, and we really appreciate all the help that Congressman Smith\u2019s office has given us in getting resolution on this,\u201d Luttman said. \u201cThis award reimburses the Township for work that was done on behalf of Wall residents by our Township employees.\r\nAt a meeting in his Washington Office over the summer, Smith personally appealed to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve a 90 percent federal share for FEMA funding going to Jersey towns to pay for cleanup costs\u2014instead of the initially planned 75 percent. Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later.\r\n\u201cFortunately, Wall is expected to receive federal government assistance covering 90 percent of the cost of this clean-up, with the town\u2019s cost share set at 10 percent,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe increase in the federal cost-share will save the township an additional estimated $280,000.\u201d\r\nThe award pays for the loading, hauling, and disposal of almost 80,000 cubic yards of debris. The Township utilized its own Department of Public Works workforce and equipment to remove 31,251 cubic yards of debris. The total cost of removal was $1,871,659. This article ran on Oct. 23, 2013:  \r\nhttp://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2013/10/wall_township_reimbursed_16_million_for_hurricane_sandy_cleanup.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356495", "<span class=\"kicker\">Tri-Town News article</span>Lakewood Airport receives federal grant to help improve safety", "2013-10-24", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has announced the awarding of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant for the Lakewood Airport, Lakewood.\r\nThe $220,500 grant will be used for the removal of obstructions both on and off airport property that now interfere with runway 6/24, according to a press release from the congressman.\r\n\u201cThese federal dollars designated for debris removal will significantly improve Lakewood Airport operations, allowing planes to more safely use the facility, which serves as a key attribute for the Lakewood Office Industrial Park and helps area economic activity,\u201d Smith said.\r\nAccording to the press release, it has been estimated that after tree and other debris removal, the usable runway length will be about 3,100 feet. The airport, which is in the heart of Lakewood\u2019s Office Industrial Park, is less than 40 minutes\u2019 flying time from numerous East Coast metropolitan international airports.\r\n\u201cThe runway improvements will allow safer and more efficient operations at the Lakewood Airport and provide greater surety for future economic activity, including the basing of aircraft at the airport,\u201d Smith said.\r\nFuture plans include a hangar project and other enhancements that will make the airport more attractive for basing aircraft there, and keeping the facility businessfriendly for airport users, according to the press release.\r\nSpecifically, the grant will fund the trimming and removal of trees and the elimination of debris identified as an obstruction by a study supplied to the FAA. The FAA will oversee the project, which is now in its third and final phase, to ensure the work is properly completed. Lakewood Airport is a general aviation facility.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=356205", "FEMA Awards Bradley Beach $1M Grant", "2013-10-23", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Bradley Beach Borough in Monmouth County has received preliminary approval for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The borough was awarded over $1 million to help pay for the extensive repairs that resulted from Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This award provides $1,076,541 to Bradley Beach to help pay for a project repairing the boardwalk, bulkheads, dune fencing and recreation equipment along the\u00a0beach which were damaged by Superstorm Sandy.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cBradley Beach took a direct hit from Sandy,\u201d said Smith who took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. \u201cThe damage to the boardwalk and the beach facilities was extensive. But local workers and officials labored long and hard to reopen their town to visitors for the summer season. Of course, for municipal governments and property tax payers, who could have been looking at unprecedented repair costs, this federal assistance will help offset the financial impact of Sandy.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At a meeting in his Washington Office over the summer, Smith personally appealed to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve a 90 percent federal share for FEMA funding going to Jersey towns to pay for cleanup costs\u2014instead of the initially planned 75 percent. Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The total costs to repair the damage was $1,196,157, and the federal government will pay for 90 percent of the costs. The increase in the federal cost-share will save the borough an additional estimated $180,000. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt is the result of a lot of hard work by our emergency coordinators,\u201d said Mayor Gary Engelstad, noting the borough\u2019s beaches are in \u201cgreat\u201d shape. \u201cThere is a great deal of required paperwork that makes this happen. Without the attention to details and the cooperation of state and federal folks, this couldn\u2019t have happened. The bulk of the credit goes to our emergency coordinators and our elected officials who made this happen.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The repairs will address damages to 21 sites located in the beach area. Repair work has begun at nine of the sites.  The work completed includes:\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 repair of sidewalks;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 curbs and masonry walls; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of playground equipment;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 retaining wall and fence;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 block wall and pavers; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of 5,400 square feet of boardwalk; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of 44 parking meter posts; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of three sets of beach access stairs, and;\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 one beach access ramp. \n\u00a0\nThe work to be completed at the remaining 12 sites includes:\u00a0\n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of 15,789 feet of fencing; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 repair of the treated pine bulkhead; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of 3,004 feet of aluminum pipe railing; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 repair of the fountain; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of three gazebos; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replacement of 220 concrete and wood benches; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 repair of the parking lot; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 repair 12 shower units and replace 3,700 feet of PVC pipe; \n\u00b7\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 replace damaged curb and sidewalk. \n\u00a0\u00a0According to the mayor, this FEMA grant approval is in addition to $300,000 already received, which will bring the total to $1.4 million.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://lobiondo.house.gov/event/press-conference-us-secretary-interior-jewell-us-fish-and-wildlife-service", "Press Conference with U.S. Secretary of the Interior & the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service", "2013-10-22", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "lobiondo.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Start: \n         \t  October 24, 2013 10:30 am\n\n         \t  \nEnd: \n         \t    October 24, 2013 11:00 am\n         \t   \n         \t           \t    \nLocation: \n         \t      Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge,  Galloway, New Jersey", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355999", "FEMA OK's $1.6M for Monmouth Town", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Wall Township in Monmouth County has received preliminary approval for a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has awarded nearly $1.7 million to help pay for the extensive clean-up that resulted from Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said Monday.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The award provides $1,684,493.01 in Federal funding to Wall to pay for the loading, hauling, and disposal of debris as a result of Superstom Sandy.\u00a0The Township utilized its own Department of Public Works workforce and equipment to remove 31,251 cubic yards of debris. Three temporary staging areas were used to store the debris until final disposal was done by the contractors. The township also rented equipment, purchased materials and hired contractors to remove 48,028 cubic yards of debris. The contractors hauled the debris to the Lertch Recycling Center, Belmar Boulevard, Wall, for final disposal. The total quantity of debris removed was 79,279 cubic yards, and cost of removal was $1,871,659. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cNearly a year ago Wall was among the towns hit hard by Sandy,\u201d said Smith, who toured damage in Wall and other shore towns following the superstorm and who took a lead role in obtaining $60 billion in federal disaster relief funding for Superstorm Sandy victims. \u201cThe human costs in terms of disruption of homelife, community and commerce was near immeasurable, and for many people, catastrophic. But local workers rolled up their sleeves and went to work to reopen their town and get back on track to normalcy. Meanwhile, municipal governments incurred never-before-seen expenses added to their town budgets. This funding will help offset the financial impact on the township\u2019s budget and local taxes.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe are delighted that FEMA is reimbursing Wall Township over $1.6 million for damages we incurred during Sandy, and we really appreciate all the help that Congressman Smith\u2019s office has given us in getting resolution on this,\u201d said Wall Mayor Todd Luttman. \u201cThis award reimburses the Township for work that was done on behalf of Wall residents by our Township employees.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0At a meeting in his Washington Office over the summer, Smith personally appealed to FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to approve a 90 percent federal share for FEMA funding going to Jersey towns to pay for cleanup costs\u2014instead of the initially planned 75 percent. Fugate approved the 90 percent ratio several weeks later. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cFortunately, Wall is expected to receive federal government assistance covering 90 percent of the cost of this clean-up, with the town\u2019s cost share set at 10 percent,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe increase in the federal cost-share will save the township an additional estimated $280,000.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=755", "Rep. Frelinghuysen Statement: White House Tours Resume", "2013-10-21", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The Obama Administration has announced that it will be reopening the White House for limited public tours of the East Wing and Executive Residence, beginning November 5. However, instead of tours 5 days a week, they will only be offered 3 days a week.\r\n\r\n\tUnfortunately, the White House says it is unable to reschedule any tours that were canceled due to budget sequestration.\r\n\r\n\tTo request a new tour, contact Congressman Frelinghuysen\u2019s office (202-225-5034 or 973-984-0711) at the very least 6 weeks prior to the requested day and up to six months in advance. Note: the White House requires that we include security information with your request so please be ready to provide your full name, including middle initial, social security number, gender, city and state of current residence and birth-date.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tWe encourage you to submit your request as early as possible since a very limited number of tours are available. All White House tours are free of charge. For the most current tour information, please call the 24-hour line at 202-456-7041. Please note that White House tours may be subject to last minute cancellation.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=753", "Rep. Frelinghuysen Statement: Government Re-Opening & Raising the Debt Ceiling", "2013-10-17", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Statement of\r\n\r\n\tRep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11)\r\n\r\n\tLegislation to Re-Open the Federal Government and Lift Debt Ceiling\r\n\r\n\t\u201cI voted to support compromise legislation to re-open the federal government and lift the debt ceiling in order to pay America\u2019s existing debts. \u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\u201cBoth of these actions will now be followed by bipartisan negotiations to attack our debt and deficit crisis.\u00a0 Reduced Washington spending, pro-growth tax reform and preserving and protecting Social Security and Medicare are worthy goals, if acted upon.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040425/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-statement-vote-end-government-shutdown-prevent-potential-us-default", "LoBiondo Statement on Vote to End Government Shutdown, Prevent Potential U.S. Default", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Congressman Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today issued the following statement upon the Senate-brokered bipartisan deal to end the 16 day partial federal government shutdown and prevent potential U.S. default:\n\u201cFrom the first day of the shutdown, I\u2019ve reached out and worked with all colleagues \u2013 Democrats and Republicans alike \u2013 to find a compromise to end the impasse. While my staunch opposition to Obamacare has not changed, allowing veterans to go without their disability payments, our seniors to go without their Social Security checks, and thousands of federal employees, contractors and their families to continue to be held in limbo is not the responsible way to govern the greatest nation on earth.\n\u201cThe Senate plan being considered tonight is surely not a long-term fix to the critical fiscal challenges facing our country. It is, however, a solid short-term patch to get good-faith negotiations going on all sides. The President, the Senate and the House must come to the table, present their realistic ideas to each other and the American people that will grow our economy, protect Social Security and Medicare, reform our tax code and reduce our $17 trillion debt. For the good of America and her future, we must take this opportunity to come together, break this economically-destructive cycle that both political parties created, and solve the issues we\u2019ve been sent here to address.\u201d \u00a0\nThe Senate deal is expected to be considered by the full House later this evening. LoBiondo will be voting YES.\n\u00a0\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 # # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040508/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-bipartisan-working-group-statement-deal-avert-default-end-government-shutdown", "LoBiondo, Bipartisan Working Group Statement on Deal to Avert Default, End Government Shutdown", "2013-10-16", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. \u2013 The House bipartisan working group spearheading the effort to resolve the fiscal impasse in Washington issued the following statement in response to the announcement of a deal to reopen the government and avoid a default on the nation\u2019s debts:\n\u201cOn day one of the government shutdown, we joined together not as Democrats, not as Republicans, but as Americans deeply committed to resolving this impasse and avoiding a self-inflicted economic wound that would devastate families across the country. As it became clear that partisanship \u2013 and not problem solving \u2013 would dominate the discussion in Washington, we were joined by pragmatic, like-minded leaders on both sides of the aisle. In informal talks, we were able to put our differences aside and develop a potential solution. \nWe applaud our Senate colleagues for working together to come up with a solution.\u00a0 Now it is time for Congress to act to get the government open and avoid further roiling the markets. We look forward to continuing our bipartisan discussions with the goal of putting forth a long-term deficit reduction agreement to get our fiscal house in order and finding other areas of cooperation.\u201d\nRep. Ron Kind (WI-03) and Rep. Charlie Dent (PA-15) announced the formation of a House bipartisan working group with 18 of their colleagues on Thursday, October 3. Since that announcement, the working group has expanded and continued to work to break the impasse. Members of the working group endorsing the above statement include:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355404", "<span class=\"kicker\">Asbury Park Press article focuses on:</span>Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction and Prevention and Return Act Approved by House Committee", "2013-10-11", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Asbury Park Press reporter Stephanie Loder - David Goldman of Tinton Falls was among the parents ofAmerican children abducted and wrongfully held at overseas locations who came to Washington Thursday to watch and listen as child abduction and prevention legislation was unanimously approved by the full Foreign Affairs Committee.\r\n H.R. 3212, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013, was written by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees human rights.\r\nSmith\u2019s bill would order the State Department to make an annual report on the status of children taken from the U.S. and whether countries are meeting their obligations to return them. It would also have to designate officials to help parents and notify Congressional representatives. It also says if the country where the child has been taken refuses to cooperate, the president must take steps such as denying future state visits or cultural and scientific exchanges or cutting various forms of U.S. aid.\r\nParents such as Goldman of Tinton Falls, whose son was returned only after a five-year battle with Brazilian courts, support the legislation. Goldman\u2019s son Sean was taken to Brazil by his Brazilian mother, Bruna Bianchi, for a two-week vacation in 2004, but she refused to return to the United States, and later filed for divorce from David Goldman. She remarried, but died in 2008. Her family fought to keep Sean in Brazil. Eventually, after work by Smith and the State Department, Sean was returned to his father in 2009.\r\n\u201cIt was David Goldman\u2019s unrelenting effort to bring his son, Sean, home from Brazil that first alerted me to the epidemic of international parental child abduction in this country,\u201d said Smith, who has traveled to Brazil and Japan in efforts to assist left-behind parents. \u201cThis bill enjoys strong bipartisan support \u2014 almost every member of the House of Representatives has constituents affected by the tragedy of international parental child abduction.\r\nDavid Feimster, of Jackson, who worked with his daughter and Smith\u2019s office in 2011 to bring his grandchildren back from Tunisia to the United States, said he hopes his case gives hope to other left-behind parents who haven\u2019t been as fortunate.\r\n\u201cWe have our children, but many others don\u2019t,\u201d Feimster said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I came to Washington today, to support the other families. Some day, some other families\u2019 children will be taken away. It\u2019s extremely difficult for anyone to go through. No parent or grandparent should have to go through this. This bill is definitely what we need to do. It gives parents one more piece to the puzzle.\u201d\r\nAccording to the state Department, there were over 4,800 international abduction cases involving more than 7,000 American children between 2008 and 2012. http://www.app.com/article/20131010/njnews/310100100/tinton-falls-david-goldman-among-parents-who-attended-child-abduction-bill-vote", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355425", "<span class=\"kicker\">Washington Times Op-Ed</span>SMITH: Making the taxpayer an accessory to the abortion trade", "2013-10-11", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Agree or disagree with public funding of abortion \u2014 a significant majority of Americans oppose subsidizing abortion \u2014 but no one likes to be misled, fooled, deceived or defrauded.\r\nIn the run-up to passage of Obamacare, Americans were repeatedly told and reassured by President Obama himself, including in a speech to a joint session of Congress in October 2009, that \u201cunder our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion.\u201d\r\nIn an 11th-hour ploy to garner the votes of a remnant of pro-life congressional Democrats absolutely needed for passage in the House, the president issued an executive order that said \u201d the Act maintains current Hyde Amendment restrictions governing abortion policy and extends those restrictions to newly created health insurance exchanges.\u201d\r\nIt turns out those promises have not been kept. Americans woke up to the launch of the Obamacare exchanges on Oct. 1 only to discover that we\u2019ve been misled and deceived.\r\nAs with Mr. Obama\u2019s promise that Americans can keep their current health insurance policy if they like it, implementation in the Obamacare exchanges of massive public funding of abortion undermines the president\u2019s credibility and word. As a direct result, hundreds of thousands of unborn babies will needlessly die from dismemberment in surgical abortion or from chemical poisoning and forced expulsion from the womb.\r\nAccording to the Charlotte Lozier Institute, the new Obamacare abortion coverage may lead to between 71,000 and 111,500 more publicly funded abortions each year.\r\nObamacare not only violates the landmark Hyde Amendment with impunity, but violates a lesser known policy I authored in 1983 \u2014 the Smith Amendment \u2014 which prohibits abortion funding in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program.\r\nAt its core, the Hyde Amendment has two parts. It prohibits funding for abortion and funding for any insurance plan that includes abortion except in the case of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother.\r\nRollout of the Obamacare exchanges reveals that many health insurance plans throughout the nation will subsidize abortion on demand \u2014 even late-term abortions. For example, the preliminary data suggests that every insurance plan on the Connecticut and Rhode Island exchanges will pay for abortion on demand.\r\nBillions of taxpayers\u2019 dollars will now be handed out as credits to buy pro-abortion health insurance \u2014 a clear violation of the Hyde Amendment\u2019s fundamental principle of restricting funds to abortion-subsidizing health insurance plans.\r\nObamacare further breaks with long-standing law by establishing new abortion surcharges and an unseemly marketing secrecy clause.\r\nThe new law requires premium payers to be assessed an abortion surcharge every month to pay for abortions. However, many pro-life Americans may unwittingly purchase pro-abortion plans because of a marketing secrecy clause embedded in Obamacare, which stipulates that the surcharge be minimally disclosed only at the time of enrollment. In other words, bury it in the fine print.\r\nTo overcome this highly deceptive practice, I\u2019ve introduced the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, a bill that requires information regarding either inclusion or exclusion of abortion coverage as well as the existence of an abortion surcharge to be \u201cprominently displayed.\u201d (To rid Obamacare of its massive expansion of abortion-on-demand facilitation and funding, 136 bipartisan co-sponsors and I have also introduced the No Taxpayers Funding for Abortion Act, H.R. 7).\r\nThe amendment I offered three decades ago to ban abortion funding in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Programs is still current law. Like the Hyde Amendment, the Smith Amendment prohibits the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) from funding or even providing monies to administer any plan that includes abortion. Under Obamacare, OPM administers the new multistate health plans, one of which by law must be pro-life. That raises the question: What about the others?\r\nMaking matters worse, the Office of Personnel Management issued a regulation a few days ago concerning health insurance coverage for members of Congress and their staffs that violates the Smith Amendment. Pursuant to the regulation, OPM is poised to administer and make payments to insurance plans that include abortion.\r\nAbortion isn\u2019t health care \u2014 it kills babies and harms women. We live in an age of ultrasound imaging \u2014 the ultimate window to the womb and the child who resides there. We are in the midst of a fetal health care revolution, an explosion of benign interventions designed to diagnose, treat and cure the youngest patients.\r\nObamacare\u2019s abortion mandate violates federal law and makes taxpayers complicit in the culture of death. This is not reform.\u00a0\r\n(Rep. Chris Smith is a New Jersey Republican currently in his 17th term.) Originally published 10/9/13 at:\r\n  \r\nhttp://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2013/oct/9/smith-making-the-taxpayer-an-accessory-to-the-abor/", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355279", "\u2018Left-Behind\u2019 Parents Watch as Int'l Child Abduction Bill Is Passed by House Foreign Affairs Committee", "2013-10-10", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Parents of American children abducted and wrongfully held at overseas locations came to Washington today to watch and listen as legislation authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees human rights, was unanimously approved in a chorus of yays by the full Foreign Affairs Committee. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Left behind parents like Iraqi War veteran ex-Marine Sgt. Mike Elias; David Goldman, whose son was returned only after a 5-year long battle with Brazilian courts; and other \u201cleft behind\u201d parents of American children abducted to India, Japan, Egypt, Tunisia and Brazil and other countries, support the legislation, H.R. 3212, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013, which is also backed by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cIt was David Goldman's unrelenting effort to bring his son, Sean, home from Brazil that first alerted me to the epidemic of international parental child abduction in this country,\u201d said Smith, who has travelled to Brazil and Japan in efforts to assist left behind parents.\u00a0 \u201cThis bill enjoys strong bipartisan support\u2014almost every Member of the House of Representatives has constituents affected by the tragedy of international parental child abduction.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAt a time of contention and division, the Goldman Act is a shining example of Congress putting aside party differences and working together to do the right thing for our constituents, for members of the Armed Services and for parents across the United States and their abducted children across the globe who seek reunion and healing,\u201d Smith said. \u201cI am proud to sponsor this legislation along with so many concerned members from both parties.\u201d Click here to read Smith\u2019s opening statement at the markup.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0More than 1,000 children are abducted out of the country every year, and less than half are returned within a year\u2014and many never return. According to the U.S. Department of State, between the years 2008 and 2012, bereaved, left\u2011behind parents like Elias and Goldman reported over 4,800 abduction cases involving more than 7,000 children.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For a summary of the bill click here ;\u00a0 Click here for a section by section summary. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Even in countries that have signed the Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction, the international treaty to handle the legal aspects of child abduction, parents face an extremely expensive, uphill battle with foreign courts, endless appeals to delay justice, exploitation of the safeguards in the convention, and prejudice against foreigners. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith\u2019s bill would also encourage the Secretary of State to enter into Memoranda of Understanding with non-Hague Convention countries\u2014like Japan\u2014for the quick and orderly return of American children who have been abducted to countries that are not signatories to the Convention, including the children of U.S. servicemen and women who are kidnapped from parents serving overseas. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In May, Smith held a hearing called \u201cResolving International Parental Child Abductions to Non-Hague Convention Countries,\u201d which was held before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations chaired by Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Full Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Smith, and other members of the Foreign Affairs Committee spoke in in favor of the bill. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cEvery year, more than one thousand American families are confronted with the nightmare of their child being abducted to a foreign country by one parent, in violation of legal custody and access rights, out of reach of U.S. courts and law enforcement,\" said Royce. \"This unilateral and illegal severing of the tie between the child and the left-behind American mother or father is a tragedy.\u00a0 Today\u2019s legislation strengthens the incentives and the tools that the Department of State has to address unresolved abduction cases.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A number of left behind family members attended, including:\n \n    Paul Toland, of Maryland, father of child abducted to Japan\n    Michael Elias, of New Jersey, father of children abducted to Japan\n    Barton Hermer, of Texas, father of child abducted to the U.K.\n    David Goldman, of New Jersey, father of child abducted to Brazil, one of the few cases brought back to U.S. after a 5-year abduction\n    David Feimster, of New Jersey, grandfather of two children held in Tunisia, but returned in 2011.\n \n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Elias\u2019s mother, Nancy Elias of Rutherford, grandmother of Michael, also came to support her son, and the bill.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m really happy that it was marked-up by the committee today,\u201d she said. \u201cI can\u2019t wait until it gets passed, for the sake of these cases and future cases, and puts families back together again.\" \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Tolland hasn\u2019t seen his daughter since she was an infant, now held in Japan for nearly 10 years. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m very pleased with the bill and am grateful to Congressman Smith and the whole Committee trying to help us, and all the children abducted everywhere,\u201d Tolland said after the hearing. \u201cHopefully, the bill will stir the government to action help bring our kids home.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Feimster, of Jackson, N.J., who worked with his daughter and Smith\u2019s office in 2011 to bring his grandchildren back to the United States, said he hopes his case gives hope to other left behind parents who haven\u2019t been as fortunate. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cWe have our children, but many other\u2019s don\u2019t,\u201d Feimster said. \u201cThat\u2019s why I came to Washington today, to support the other families. Some day, some other families\u2019 children will be taken away. It\u2019s extremely difficult for anyone to go through. No parent or grandparent should have to go through this. This bill is definitely what we need to do. It gives parents one more piece to the puzzle.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI am not the primary victim here,\u201d said Hermer, hoping the bill would be passed. \u201cThe immediate victims are my daughter Alessia, shared equally by the thousands of international children who have already been, or will be, separated from their families by the wrongful removal or retention of another parent. The decision you make on this bill today will have a direct effect on them tomorrow.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=355422", "AFP article: 'US lawmakers seek accords on abducted children'", "2013-10-10", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Agence France-Presse - A congressional committee called Thursday for the United States to reach legal agreements with Japan and other countries to help resolve hundreds of cases of children abducted by estranged parents.\r\nThe House Foreign Affairs Committee approved a bill to require the US secretary of state to reach memoranda of understanding with all nations not party to the 1980 Hague Convention, which requires the return of kidnapped children to wherever they usually live.\r\nThe bill, which needs approval of the full House of Representatives and Senate, would seek to establish a mechanism with each country so that children would be returned within six weeks of an abduction report.\r\n\"Parental child abduction is child abuse. These victims are American citizens who need the help of their government when normal legal processes are unavailable or fail,\" Representative Chris Smith, the sponsor of the bill, said at a hearing which took place despite a partial government shutdown.\r\nSmith named the bill after David Goldman, who succeeded in bringing his son Sean back to the United States after a five-year fight with Brazilian courts.\r\nThe largest number of US cases involve Japan, whose courts virtually never grant custody to foreign parents, even if the Japanese mother has died.\r\nPaul Toland, who attended the hearing, said he has not seen his daughter Erika since she was an infant in 2003. After the death of her mother, Erika has been in custody of her maternal grandmother.\r\n\"Hopefully, this bill will stir the government to action to help bring our kids home,\" said Toland, who served in Japan in the US Navy.\r\nPrime Minister Shinzo Abe, like his predecessor, has voiced support for Japan's entrance into the Hague Convention.\r\nBut parents have voiced concern that, even if Japan's parliament ratifies the treaty, it would only apply to future cases.\r\nThe State Department has said that it puts a top priority on resolving abductions, although it has stopped short of supporting moves by lawmakers to impose sanctions over the issue. Published at: http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5h8DfJITvoUPLtisLsIaYBqQDw0yw?docId=900f4653-3bfd-4a15-96e4-f736176befa5", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=353542", "<span class=\"kicker\">Members speak out on broken promise</span> As Obamacare Rolls Out, Exchanges Hide Info on Abortion Coverage, Mandatory Abortion Surcharge", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With the exchanges of the \u201cAffordable Care Act\u201d (AKA \u201cObamacare\u201d) activated this month, it has become evident that it is nearly impossible for individuals to try to determine which exchange plans on their state exchange, if any, exclude abortion, said a group of lawmakers at a bipartisan press conference today. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) unveiled his legislation, H.R. 3279, the \u201cAbortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act\u201d \u2014cosponsored by 70 other Members of the House\u2014to ensure full disclosure of abortion coverage, requiring prominent and transparent disclosure of abortion coverage for each plan offered on an exchange. This is crucial information for millions of Americans since the many plans that include elective abortion are required by law to impose a monthly mandatory abortion surcharge. Many Americans object to paying a surcharge into a fund to be used solely for the purpose of aborting unborn babies. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Smith said the inauguration of the Obamacare exchanges reveals that many health insurance plans throughout the nation will include abortion on demand\u2014even late term abortions. Smith recalled that in October 2009, President Obama said in a speech to a joint session of Congress that, \u201cunder our plan, no federal dollars will be used to fund abortion\u2026 .\u201d A week after the Obamacare rollout, many are now discovering that\u2014contrary to solemn promises made by the President himself\u2014Obamacare violates the Hyde Amendment by funding plans that include abortion. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe new law requires premium payers to be assessed an abortion surcharge every month to pay for abortions,\u201d said Rep. Smith. \u201cBut many pro-life Americans may unwittingly purchase pro-abortion plans because of a marketing secrecy clause embedded in Obamacare which stipulates that the surcharge be minimally disclosed only at the time of enrollment.\u00a0 In other words, bury it in the fine print. This is a Right to Know bill. Americans have a right to know upfront and with full transparency when they are purchasing a plan that subsidizes the killing of unborn children. Even the most ardent advocate of abortion should embrace full disclosure.\u201d\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Joining Smith and Dan Lipinksi (D-IL), co-chairs of the Pro-Life Caucus, were Reps. Joe Pitts (PA-16) and Diane Black (TN-06), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04) and Trent Franks (AZ-08). \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cAmericans buying their insurance through the new healthcare exchanges shouldn't have to spend hours trying to figure out if the money they pay for premiums will be spent to provide abortions. This bill will give the American people the transparency they need to make informed decisions that are in line with their religious and moral beliefs,\" Rep. Dan Lipinski said. \"None of this would be a problem if we pass the 'No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act.' There is a longstanding principle in our country that the federal government does not subsidize abortions. Yet under Obamacare, taxpayer money under the guise of federal subsidies will be paying for insurance that covers elective abortion. This needs to stop.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe President tells Americans that they can go online, find the plan that covers what they need, and make a selection,\u201d said Rep. Joe Pitts. \u201cIf Obamacare is all about choice, then why is the administration making it so difficult for people to find out about whether a plan pays for abortion? It\u2019s time that we got some truth in advertising.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThe Obamacare exchange launch has been an unmitigated disaster,\u201d said Congressman Diane Black. \u201cOne of the most troubling problems is that many consumers are unclear as to what exactly will be covered by the plans they purchase online. Clearly Americans who are pro-life would object to paying for a health care plan that included abortion coverage and then be forced to pay an abortion surcharge into a fund that is meant to be used solely for the purposes of destroying human life.\u00a0 And this is equally problematic for the millions of Americans who simply don\u2019t believe the federal government should be subsidizing abortions. The Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act would simply require that all plans on the exchanges disclose whether or not the plan includes abortion coverage. This is not a partisan issue\u2014this is commonsense.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0I support the legislation that Rep.\u00a0 Chris Smith has put forward, and I adamantly believe that we need to lift the veil of secrecy from Obamacare while ensuring transparent policies,\u201d said Rep. Vicky Hartzler. \u201cI commend every member that has signed on to this bill, and I also encourage members of both parties and the Senate to vote for this common-sense legislation. We must eliminate the \u201csecrecy clauses\u201d and \u201cabortion fees\u201d from current taxpayer subsidized insurance plans and fight to restore individual religious liberty and moral conscience to our medical decisions.\u201d\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=749", "House Approves Frelinghuysen Measure to Protect \"Families of the Fallen\"", "2013-10-09", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Approves Frelinghuysen Measure to Protect \u201cFamilies of the Fallen\u201d\r\n\r\n\tWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 The U.S. House of Representatives has unanimously passed legislation, introduced by Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), designed to ensure that the families of military servicemembers who have died for the country receive government benefits they deserve.\r\n\r\n\t\u201cOur government has no greater responsibility than to take care of the families of our brave men and women who have fought and died for\u00a0our\u00a0country,\u201d said Frelinghuysen, the Vice-Chair of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. \u201cThis bipartisan legislation provides continuing appropriations to ensure that if troops are killed serving our country, our government will honor its obligations to them and their families without delay.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThe bipartisan bill was quickly developed after the Pentagon said it could no longer make \"death gratuity\" payments to families after the beginning of the new fiscal year on October 1 because of the government shutdown. The legislation approved by the House today:\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tProvides for payment of death gratuities and other benefits, such as military housing allowance, to the families of fallen soldiers;\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tProvides for authorized funeral and burial services for servicemembers and their families;\r\n \r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tWould also pay for families to travel to meet the remains of their loved ones returning home from the battlefield;\r\n \r\n\r\n\tDuring debate on House Joint Resolution 91, Frelinghuysen declared, \u201cOur men and women serving in uniform serving in dangerous places all over the globe deserve the peace of mind of knowing that, during the worst of times, their families will receive the benefits they deserve immediately.\u00a0 This bill removes any ambiguity on this point.\u201d\r\n\r\n\tThis is the second time the House has voted to protect these benefits.\u00a0 House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (CA) stated yesterday that Congress passed the \"Pay Our Military Act\u201c with the express intent that all military pay and allowances would be dispersed during a government shutdown.\u201d Frelinghuysen\u2019s bill, passed by the House unanimously today, makes that authority explicit.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=353541", "\u2018Left-Behind\u2019 Parents Head to Washington as Child Abduction Bill Taken Up by House Committee", "2013-10-08", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Efforts to bring home American children abducted to overseas destinations and wrongfully held, will take a big step forward Thursday as\u00a0 legislation authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees human rights, will be brought before the full Foreign Affairs Committee for a vote. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Left behind parents like Iraqi War veteran Marine Sgt. Mike Elias; David Goldman, whose son was returned only after a 5-year abduction; and other \u201cleft behind\u201d parents of American children abducted to India, Japan, Egypt and Brazil and other countries, support the legislation, H.R. 3212, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2013. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0More than 1,000 children are abducted out of the country every year, and less than half are returned within a year, and many never return. According to the U.S. Department of State, between the years 2008 and 2012, bereaved, left\u2011behind parents like Elias and Goldman reported over 4,800 abduction cases involving more than 7,000 children. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0In May, Smith held a hearing called \u201cResolving International Parental Child Abductions to Non-Hague Convention Countries,\u201d before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations chaired by Smith. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Who: \u00a0\u00a0Full Committee Chairman Ed Royce, Smith, and other members of the Foreign Affairs Committee; left behind family members, including former congressional witnesses:\u00a0\r\n \r\n    Paul Toland, of Maryland, father of child abducted to Japan\r\n    Michael Elias, of New Jersey, father of children abducted to Japan\r\n    Barton Hermer, of Texas, father of child abducted to the U.K.\r\n    David Goldman, of New Jersey, father of child abducted to Brazil, one of the few cases brought back to U.S. after a 5-year abduction \r\n \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0When: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Thursday, Oct. at 10 a.m.\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Where: \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=352390", "<span class=\"kicker\">Star Ledger/NJ.com article</span>Monmouth Congressmen: Final beach replenishment contract awarded, work to begin soon", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The final contract for the world\u2019s largest beach replenishment project was awarded last week, area congressmen said.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers awarded the fourth contract to replenish Hurricane Sandy-ravaged beaches from Sea Bright to the Manasquan Inlet in Monmouth County, Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th) said in a Friday press release. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis project will help restore and protect our beaches with suitably engineered dunes, which will have the added benefit to better protect homes, businesses and public property,\u201d Smith said. \u201cThe beaches are also the lifeblood of the local economy, and the main reason why tourists visit the shore. This project is an important part of the overall recovery.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The $18,332,500 contract to replenish the beaches between Asbury Park and Avon-by-the-Sea, part of the \u201cSea Bright to Manasquan Beach Erosion Control Project,\u201d was awarded to the Great Lakes Dredge &amp; Dock Company LLC, of Oak Brook, Ill. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cI\u2019m pleased that the Army Corps is moving forward with this important investment that will help to protect homes and businesses from future flooding, as well as repair the destruction caused by Sandy,\u201d Rep. Frank Pallone (D-6th) said in a Friday press release. \u201cOur beaches are a fundamental part of life here on the shore, both for residents to enjoy and also to drive tourism. I have fought for this and other beach replenishment projects for years because I know how important they are to protect some of our most fragile coastal infrastructure.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Corps said Friday it expects to issue a notice to proceed in about a week, after the winning bidder submits required information. Construction will be underway this fall and completed in the spring.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sand will be dredged by the contractor from an offshore borrow area, located about four miles offshore of Sea Bright. The work will create a 100-feet-wide, 12-feet-tall beach berm. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Over one million cubic yards of sand will be moved along a nine-mile stretch under the. The Corps plan calls for maintenance work about every six years. The communities along Monmouth County\u2019s portion of the Jersey Shore, , continually experience significant beach erosion. In 1962, the Ash Wednesday Storm caused $56 million in damages in 1992 dollars. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Due to Superstorm Sandy the beaches in the project area lost roughly 5 million cubic yards of sand. Work encompasses both replacing the sand lost during the storm as well as restoring the project to its original design profile. About eight million cubic yards of sandwill be moved when the restoration is complete. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The overall Sea Bright to Manasquan Project covers 21 miles of the New Jersey shoreline and is the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Corps of Engineers. In terms of sheer volume it is the largest beach fill project in the world, according to the Corps. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The first contract, for Sea Bright and Monmouth Beach, was awarded in June and is nearing completion.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0A Long Branch contract was awarded in August with work set to begin in November.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Work will begin for the Belmar to Manasquan portion of the project in late October. The Army Corps of Engineers expects to complete the entire project by mid-2014. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0This spring, local officials complained that the beach replenishment projects should have taken place before Hurricane Sandy's October 2012 landfall. \r\nOriginally published at: http://www.nj.com/monmouth/index.ssf/2013/10/monmouth_congressmen_final_beach_replenishment_contract_awarded_work_to_begin_soon.html", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=746", "FAQ: Government Shutdown", "2013-10-04", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Frelinghuysen Statement: Government Shutdown\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tFrequently Asked Questions about the Government Shutdown\r\n\r\n\tQ: What does a \u201cgovernment shutdown\u201d mean?\r\n\r\n\tA Government Shutdown means that there is a lapse in the funds appropriated to keep the federal government running.\u00a0\u00a0 This occurred on October 1. As a result, portions of the federal government have \u201cshut down.\u201d\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tQ: What services will continue?\r\n\r\n\tServices that are deemed essential for the safety of human life and the protection of property will continue. This includes the Armed Forces, border patrol, law enforcement, fire fighting, and federal workers who provide medical care on the job. The Postal Service and the Federal Reserve, which are both self-funded, will also continue to operate.\r\n\r\n\tQ: What will be the impact of a shutdown?\r\n\r\n\tAll national parks and federal wildlife refuges would be closed for the duration of the shutdown, the Interior Department said Friday. About 9 million visitors were turned away from parks, museums and monuments run by the National Park Service in the mid-1990s, the last time the government shut down temporarily.\r\n\r\n\tAbout 40 percent of the nation's 2 million federal workers would be furloughed. Though Congress has approved restoring lost pay retroactively in the past, there's no guarantee lawmakers will do that this time.\r\n\r\n\tAbout 1.4 million active-duty military personnel must remain on the job but won't get paid until a new deal is signed into law. Active National Guard units also must continue to work. Most civilian employees of the Defense Department face furloughs.\r\n\r\n\tSome other possibilities: Delays in processing tens of thousands of passport and visa applications, issuing gun permits, continuing U.S. bankruptcy court cases and approving mortgage applications.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will federal employees continue to be paid?\r\n\r\n\tIn the event of a shutdown, each federal agency is required to determine which employees are \u201cessential\u201d and which are \u201cnon-essential.\u201d Essential personnel are required to report for work as usual, while non-essential personnel will be put in \u201cnon-pay\u201d status, or \u201cfurloughed.\u201d\u00a0 Neither group, however, will receive any pay until at least the shutdown ends and maybe not even then.\u00a0 Neither group is guaranteed back pay when the shutdown ends, although this has occurred in the past.\u00a0 The compromise legislation that ends the shutdown will determine whether federal employees receive back pay.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will air travel be affected?\u00a0 Will air traffic controllers and airport security officers be on duty?\r\n\r\n\tAir travel will not be affected.\u00a0 Air traffic controllers and transportation security officers are considered essential personnel.\u00a0 They will be on duty, but will not be paid until the government shutdown ends.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will military personnel be paid?\r\n\r\n\tYes. Congress approved and President Obama signed into law an order that ensures active duty military and select \"essential\" civilian personnel are paid on-time despite the shutdown. The 1998 guidance on a shutdown directs that \"All military personnel shall continue to report for duty.\" Not all units will continue to operate, however, and military personnel may be assigned to other than their regular duties.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will Social Security checks still go out?\r\n\r\n\tYes, however new Social Security claims may not be processed.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will I still be able to see a doctor if I am covered by Medicare, Medicaid, or another federal health care plan? \r\n\r\n\tYes.\u00a0 Doctors will still see you and the various federal health care systems will continue to reimburse doctors.\r\n\r\n\tQ - Will I still receive Medicare and Medicaid benefits?\r\n\r\n\tAccording to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), current Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries and providers should not be affected by a government shutdown.\u00a0 Medicare has 30 days to pay providers and payments.\u00a0 For new enrollees, they will likely not be processed or able to enroll in Medicare.\u00a0 Since Medicaid is a state-run program, and the funds are paid in advance to the states by the federal government, new enrollment would likely continue.\u00a0 CRS did detail that the agencies have considerable discretion when it comes to how it will continue to run.\r\n\r\n\tQ: How about veterans medical services?\r\n\r\n\tThe Veterans Adminstration\u2019s medical services, medical facilities, and medical support &amp; compliance accounts will not have a disruption in their services. However, other services including VA call centers and hotlines, decisions on claims appeals or motions by the Board of Veterans Appeals, recruiting and hiring of veteran job applicants and outreach and public awareness activities will be impacted.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will veterans\u2019 benefits continue?\r\n\r\n\tVA hospitals will remain open.\u00a0 The VA has excepted VBA claims processors so that it can continue to process claims and beneficiaries will continue to receive their payments.\u00a0 In the event of a prolonged shutdown, VA will continue to review and update its plan in conjunction with the applicable legal requirements and circumstances.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will I get my unemployment check?\r\n\r\n\tThe federal government provides money to the states to finance unemployment insurance.\u00a0 Depending on the length of the shutdown, the states may run out of money, which would require the state to step in and advance the money to keep their programs running. Otherwise, benefits could be stopped.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will federal retirees continue to receive their pensions?\r\n\r\n\tMost federal pension checks are issued electronically on the first of the month.\u00a0 The pension payments for October have already been authorized and will go out as planned.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will I still get my mail?\r\n\r\n\tYes. The U.S. Postal Service isn't funded by taxpayers. Independently financed agencies like the Postal Service won't be affected.\r\n\r\n\tQ: I am planning to visit Washington, DC.\u00a0 Will the tourist destinations in Washington, DC be open?\r\n\r\n\tUnfortunately, many tourist destinations will be closed.\u00a0\r\n \r\n\t\r\n\t\tThe various monuments and memorials in Washington are outdoors, are not gated, and are open 24 hours a day.\u00a0 This should not change.\u00a0 However, National Park Rangers will not be on duty to give docent talks.\u00a0\r\n\t\r\n\t\tThe Capitol Visitor Center will be closed and all Capitol tour guides will be furloughed.\u00a0 Tours of the Capitol Building will not be available.\u00a0 However, the House and Senate Galleries will remain publicly accessible whenever the House and Senate are in session.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tThe Library of Congress will be closed; no tours will be available.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tThe Smithsonian Institution will be closed.\u00a0 The Smithsonian includes 19 museums and galleries (most of the major museums in DC), the National Zoo, and several research facilities.\r\n\t\r\n\t\tAs you will recall, the President suspended White House tours earlier this year.\r\n \r\n\r\n\tQ: Will passports and visas continue to be processed?\r\n\r\n\tNo.\u00a0 The State Department employees responsible for these activities will be furloughed.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will federal courts continue to operate?\r\n\r\n\tIt depends on the length of the shutdown.\u00a0 During past government shutdowns, courts continued to operate using funds from court fees and funds leftover from previous years.\u00a0 Some courts declined to start new civil trials during the shutdown.\u00a0 However, if there is a prolonged shutdown, the courts may run out of funds and be forced to close.\r\n\r\n\tQ - Will Congressman Frelinghuysen\u2019s offices in New Jersey and Washington be open?\r\n\r\n\tWhile there will be \u201cessential\u201d staff on hand at both offices per guidance by the U.S. House of Representatives, their abilities to assist 11th Congressional District residents with issues relating to the federal government will be significantly limited due to the shutdown.\r\n\r\n\tUnfortunately, the few remaining \u201cunfurloughed\u201d personnel on my New Jersey staff will be unable to staff our Walk-In Offices in Wayne and Nutley.\u00a0 However, please feel free to call our office at 973-984-0711 for assistance.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Will government websites have current information despite the federal shutdown?\r\n\r\n\tProbably not. As federal departments and agencies will be shutdown, information available on their respective websites will not be the most current available. Individuals needing information are encouraged to call 1-800-FED-INFO (1-800-333-4636)\u00a0where information specialists are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST to answer questions. This call center will be open despite the shutdown.\r\n\r\n\tQ: Has the government been shut down in the past?\r\n\r\n\tYes. The last one lasted 21 days from Dec. 15, 1995, to Jan. 6, 1996, according to a report by the Congressional Research Service. It came soon after a five-day shutdown that lasted from Nov. 13-19, 1995. A disagreement over tax cuts between then-President Bill Clinton and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, (GA), precipitated those shutdowns.\r\n\r\n\tSince 1976, there have been 17 shutdowns, though before the 1980s the government continued operating at reduced levels without furloughing workers.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=352107", "<span class=\"kicker\">Huffington Post article on Lyme Disease</span>The Global Search for Education: The Guidelines - Ticks", "2013-10-02", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"The current IDSA guidelines provide the best scientific, evidence-based medical practices for the treatment of Lyme disease including early and late forms.\" -- Dr. Paul Auwaerter \r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Around the world, the Infectious Diseases Society of America's guidelines are used by doctors, governments and health insurance companies to determine a patient's diagnosis and treatment for Lyme disease. These guidelines have been controversial. Much of the disagreement centers on how to treat patients who experience debilitating and long lasting symptoms (known as chronic Lyme disease) when the disease is caught late. The 2006 IDSA guidelines were challenged by then Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, but after review by a selected panel of experts in 2010, none of the 69 original recommendations were changed. The guidelines continue to set doctor against doctor and scientist against scientist. The real losers in the Lyme debate are the patients who just get sicker while the most important questions of all -- Why can't they get better? and What can we do to help them? -- remain unanswered. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Times may be changing. Innovative research is presenting clues to Lyme persistence. Efforts have begun to share knowledge with international doctors and scientists concerned about the dramatic growth of Lyme and tick-borne illnesses in Asia, Europe, South America, Australia and Canada. Ecologists have published studies on the emergence and spread of the disease. Further, the CDC reported an increase in 2012 of 1500% in annual incidence in the US alone, raising Lyme disease visibility globally and supporting the need for a comprehensive prevention campaign. It is troubling to imagine what the 300,000 estimate might exclude given the arguments of poor surveillance for Lyme in less endemic states and the fact that doctors rely on diagnostic tests which experts globally agree are just not sensitive enough. Even with the surveillance methods used historically, Lyme disease tripled between 1992 and 2009. \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0How can we move forward? I asked Dr. Paul Auwaerter from the Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), Senator Richard Blumenthal, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand and Congressman Chris Smith to join in the worldwide discussion in Part 12 of my global series, \"Ticks\".\r\n   \"It is a matter of public health that these guidelines be thoroughly reviewed as is required by the National Guidelines Clearinghouse.\" -- Senator Kirsten Gillibrand \r\n\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The CDC's astonishing increase in 2012 of 1500% in the annual incidence of Lyme disease to 300,000 raises the visibility of Lyme disease to doctors, patients and health insurance providers. Do you believe the current IDSA guidelines cover all the 300,000 cases?\r\nDr. Auwaerter: This study gives an estimate of annual cases. Historically, any \"reported\" infection to the CDC has been typically only 10% of actual, so this study comports with those for venereal diseases, food borne infections, etc. That said, Lyme disease has increased in numbers over the past decade and is slowly spreading regionally from initial focus in Upper Midwest and coastal/riparian New England. Regardless of the number of cases, the current IDSA guidelines provide the best scientific, evidence-based medical practices for the treatment of Lyme disease including early and late forms.\r\nCongressman Smith: Not an increase, just the real number validated. We have known for some time that only 10 percent of Lyme disease cases have been reported and the new CDC numbers confirm this fact. The real number of Lyme disease patients was misrepresented for so long, and so too was the reality of \"chronic Lyme.\" It's why the disease is known as the \"great pretender.\"\r\nWe haven't seen any efforts on the part of government agencies to review guidelines or revisit contrarian research denying chronic Lyme disease but we have again asked CDC to update its guidelines to assist individuals suffering from Lyme.\r\nSenator Gillibrand: Lyme and tick-borne diseases are a pervasive and pernicious concern to our nation's public health, and it is critical that we have accurate diagnosis and treatment guidelines. Earlier this year, I sent a letter to the Emergency Care Research Institute (ECRI) urging for transparency in the methodology used to review the Infectious Diseases Society of America's (IDSA) Lyme disease guidelines. It is a matter of public health that these guidelines be thoroughly reviewed as is required by the National Guidelines Clearinghouse.\r\nSenator Blumenthal: Lyme is an insidious, devastating disease that is difficult to both diagnose and treat. It has spread over the past decade, with alarming rates of infection in Connecticut causing life-long harm to children and adults. I have long been an advocate for a comprehensive national strategy to combat and conquer Lyme, which is why I have introduced the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act to provide additional resources to support, evaluate, and advance diagnoses and treatment as well as prevention. The statistics from CDC highlight the need for more research in this area.\r\n   \"We do not have a good grasp on the complexities of Lyme, much less the myriad co-infections that greatly compound and confound diagnosis and treatment. I have introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 610, to establish a Tick-Borne Disease Advisory Committee.\" -- Congressman Chris Smith  \r\n\u00a0\r\nDr. Auwaerter: Do the guidelines allow for antibiotic treatment in the event of typical Lyme disease symptoms without either of the EM rash or positive Western blot test?\r\nI am not sure what you mean, but Lyme disease should be treated if someone has acute symptoms and the typical rash. In patients who are acutely ill and have fever, this is non-specific, but we often treat empirically with doxycycline for tick-borne infections if patients have a risk of acquisition. Your answer for patients with long-term symptoms (not acute) would be no, we need to see laboratory evidence of infection in patients with problems that could be attributable to Lyme disease.\r\nDr. Auwaerter: If victims do not have chronic Lyme how do you explain the ongoing symptoms in patients who remain ill long after they have been treated?\r\nChronic Lyme disease is an indistinct term. I prefer to use terms such as late Lyme disease (for example with an active infection needing antibiotics such as a swollen knee arthritis due to B. burgdorferi) or post-treatment Lyme disease syndrome for those symptoms that persist after antibiotics that often resemble fibromyalgia, or chronic fatigue. The post-infectious syndrome cause is not known and hence why we use the term syndrome. It is more common in women and in those who have had untreated infection for longer periods of time.\r\nDr. Auwaerter: There are a number of newer studies (animal models and human models) that indicate the Lyme bacteria can hide in protective structures from antibiotics. Can you comment on this research?\r\nThere are no high quality human studies to back up this comment. For animal models, other than occasional antibiotic treatment failure, what most of these animal studies have found is evidence by PCR methodology of DNA for B. burgdorferi - but not cultivable, viable bacteria. The significance of this is unclear, and many bacterial and viral infections have evidence of DNA debris in both animals and humans that persist after resolution of infection.\r\n   \"All appropriate avenues of research should be undertaken by scientists and medical professionals - supported by relevant government agencies.\"  -- Senator Richard Blumenthal \r\n\u00a0\r\nDr. Auwaerter: What do you say to patients around the world who believe long term antibiotics for Lyme disease made them better?\r\nFour randomized, placebo-controlled trials have failed to find that long-term antibiotics provide durable benefit of symptoms that persist after initial antibiotic therapy for Lyme disease. In fact, about one third of placebo recipients improved, suggesting that people who have fatigue, migratory muscle and joint pains as well as disturbed sleep and brain fog do improve over time. It's without any solid merit that advocates of long-term therapy have provided any evidence their patients do better than placebo.\r\nDr. Auwaerter: Doctors around the world claim they are seeing more patients with co-infections. Might this be the reason why patients with Lyme disease continue to feel unwell?\r\nAuthentic co-infection is rare. Over the last 15 years, I have never verified a co-infection (Babesia, Ehrlichia, RMSF, Bartonella) that was diagnosed by so-called Lyme experts (LLMD). Co-infection, much like Lyme disease, is over diagnosed as an explanation for chronic symptoms of fatigue, un-wellness.\r\n   \"I agree more research would be helpful.\" -- Dr. Paul Auwaerter  \r\n\u00a0\r\nGiven the newly acknowledged level of incidence, is it now advisable for government health agencies to delve into the possible links to Lyme disease with degenerative neurological diseases, blood bank quality and long-term persistent illness?\r\nSenator Gillibrand: There is much more that needs to be done to support the individuals afflicted with these crippling diseases and their families. I have met with researchers and analysts from various microbiology and infectious disease programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to express my support for additional research. I am also a co-sponsor of the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act, which would assist patients afflicted by these diseases by creating a national advisory committee to bring together key stakeholders, support the development of improved diagnostic tools and treatments, promote education, awareness, and prevention, and improve data reporting.\r\nAnother alarming factor in the growth of these diseases is their place in our blood supply. The American Red Cross has now confirmed at least 12 deaths nationwide from the tick-borne disease Babesiosis after it was transmitted by transfused blood. We need to ensure that our donor supply is thoroughly tested and free of disease to put a stop to these infections.\r\nCongressman Smith: We do not have a good grasp on the complexities of Lyme, much less the myriad co-infections that greatly compound and confound diagnosis and treatment. It's certainly advisable to explore any links to other diseases that share symptoms with Lyme. There may be new technologies which can be looked into to search for such links. I have introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 610, to establish a Tick-Borne Disease Advisory Committee to bring together experts from across the spectrum without any agendas. \r\nSenator Blumenthal: All appropriate avenues of research should be undertaken by scientists and medical professionals - supported by relevant government agencies. Scientists and medical professionals should make such research decisions based on facts and evidence.\r\n   \"I have introduced the Lyme and Tick-Borne Disease Prevention, Education, and Research Act to provide additional resources to support, evaluate, and advance diagnoses and treatment as well as prevention.\" -- Senator Richard Blumenthal \r\n\u00a0\r\n300,000 new cases of Lyme disease in the US alone plus a rise in incidence in other international nations - is a significant increase in research funding called for to address the range of issues?\r\nSenator Gillibrand: The CDC has singled out Lyme disease as the most common and fastest growing vector-borne, infectious disease in the country affecting hundreds of thousands of Americans. Given how quickly this extremely incapacitating disease is growing, we must continue to invest in research and develop treatment and therapies for these diseases.\r\nDr. Auwaerter: I agree more research would be helpful and should be prioritized as follows:\r\n1) Active tick epidemiology studies to understand what ticks carry in regions so MD's may be aware of which infections to consider. This is not a well-funded arena.\r\n2) Improved diagnostics for Lyme disease for early infections. Current testing is excellent to diagnose Lyme disease of 3-4 weeks duration.\r\n3) Study of post-infectious fatigue syndrome to understand the basis as well as improved treatments.\r\n4) Additional studies of long-term antibiotics would be a lower priority since studies to date have not provided a signal regarding benefit.\r\nCongressman Smith: International collaboration to fight the spread of Lyme and tick-borne diseases needs to be pursued. Cooperation would be useful and efficacious.\r\nSenator Blumenthal: As I have long advocated, increased Lyme research and funding are critical and urgent.\r\nWe are seeing growing problems with Lyme and tick borne diseases in countries such as Germany, China, The Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Finland and Norway among others. Given the global magnitude, should collaborative international funding be pursued?\r\nSenator Blumenthal: Collaboration and increased awareness are important for understanding the global scope of this insidious, spreading disease.\r\nCongressman Smith: Lyme disease is the most common tick borne illness in the U.S. and is also endemic in areas of Europe and Asia, and recently has been confirmed to be endemic in South America in the Amazon region. Surveillance studies have described growing problems in Australia and Canada as well. Some advocates in the U.K. have been part of an effort to foster collaboration to address Lyme disease in Europe, and frankly I would like to see more of that type of cooperation here in the United States.\r\nSenator Gillibrand: The difficult economic climate we face has put great strains on federal funding to pursue public health research. We should certainly work collaboratively to tackle this important issue.\r\n  C. M. Rubin, Richard Blumenthal, Chris Smith, Kirsten Gillibrand, Paul Auwaerter\r\n\u00a0Photos are courtesy of CDC, Sharon Whiteman, Lyme Disease Action and the Richard Ostfeld Laboratory.\r\nIn The Global Search for Education, join me and globally renowned thought leaders including Sir Michael Barber (UK), Dr. Michael Block (U.S.), Dr. Leon Botstein (U.S.), Professor Clay Christensen (U.S.), Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond (U.S.), Dr. Madhav Chavan (India), Professor Michael Fullan (Canada), Professor Howard Gardner (U.S.), Professor Andy Hargreaves (U.S.), Professor Yvonne Hellman (The Netherlands), Professor Kristin Helstad (Norway), Jean Hendrickson (U.S.), Professor Rose Hipkins (New Zealand), Professor Cornelia Hoogland (Canada), Honourable Jeff Johnson (Canada), Mme. Chantal Kaufmann (Belgium), Dr. Eija Kauppinen (Finland), State Secretary Tapio Kosunen (Finland), Professor Dominique Lafontaine (Belgium), Professor Hugh Lauder (UK), Professor Ben Levin (Canada), Lord Ken Macdonald (UK), Professor Barry McGaw (Australia), Shiv Nadar (India), Professor R. Natarajan (India), Dr. Pak Tee Ng (Singapore), Dr. Denise Pope (US), Sridhar Rajagopalan (India), Dr. Diane Ravitch (U.S.), Richard Wilson Riley (U.S.), Sir Ken Robinson (UK), Professor Pasi Sahlberg (Finland), Professor Manabu Sato (Japan), Andreas Schleicher (PISA, OECD), Dr. Anthony Seldon (UK), Dr. David Shaffer (U.S.), Dr. Kirsten Sivesind (Norway), Chancellor Stephen Spahn (U.S.), Yves Theze (Lycee Francais U.S.), Professor Charles Ungerleider (Canada), Professor Tony Wagner (U.S.), Sir David Watson (UK), Professor Dylan Wiliam (UK), Dr. Mark Wormald (UK), Professor Theo Wubbels (The Netherlands), Professor Michael Young (UK), and Professor Minxuan Zhang (China) as they explore the big picture education questions that all nations face today.   \r\nThe Global Search for Education Community Page\r\nC. M. Rubin is the author of two widely read online series for which she received a 2011 Upton Sinclair award, \"The Global Search for Education\" and \"How Will We Read?\" She is also the author of three bestselling books, including The Real Alice in Wonderland.\u00a0\r\n Follow C. M. Rubin on Twitter:  www.twitter.com/@cmrubinworld  This article was originally published at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/c-m-rubin/the-global-search-for-edu_b_4014231.html#es_share_ended", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=351672", "Congressman Smith Speaks on House Floor in Favor of Embassy Security Act", "2013-09-28", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Rep. Chris Smith\u00a0 (NJ-04) today spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about the Embassy Security Act (the 2014 State Dept. authorization), which includes provisions of his International Megan's Law legislation to limit to one year the length of U.S. passports for convicted sex offenders.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The following are excerpts of his remarks on the Floor, September 28, 2013:\r\n  \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"On Tuesday of this week, my subcommittee staff director Greg Simpkins and I returned from a four-day trip to Nigeria, including the city of Jos, \u00a0the scene of recent fire bombings of Christian churches by Boko Haram, a terrorist organization that has killed thousands of Nigerian Christians and some Muslims as well.\u00a0 Boko Haram\u2014like al Shabaab, the cowards who slaughtered Kenyans in a shopping center in Nairobi last week\u2014poses serious and escalating threats to indigenous Africans and American personnel overseas. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The Embassy Security Act\u2014like the Secure Embassy Construction and Counterterrorism Act of 1999 that I authored\u2014is designed to significantly enhance protection at our missions abroad.\u00a0 Significantly, the law that I authored a dozen years ago came to the floor on the heels of al Qaeda bombings in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998.\u00a0 I chaired the hearings following that tragic loss of life, but it is clear that the promised action following those earlier attacks has not been fully implemented\u2014there are significant security gaps that must be remedied\u2014more than a decade later.\u00a0 We seem to have failed to learn the lesson from earlier terror attacks, even after the latest in Benghazi. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"The bill before us today contains a number of important provisions, most especially very serious and necessary security upgrades for our embassies and consulates abroad.\u00a0 Our embassy in Abuja, Nigeria, was constructed with the upgrades recommended by earlier legislation\u2014I saw that firsthand this week\u2014but so many older facilities do not meet those high standards including lifesaving setbacks from roads and thoroughfares.\u00a0 Chairman Royce\u2019s bill will address the remaining gaps in essential security features at our overseas posts. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"This bill also addresses the designation of high-risk, high threat posts with contingency plans for more effectively meeting those threats.\u00a0 It calls for a strategic review of the Bureau of Diplomatic Security so that life-and-death decisions are made with more deliberation and care.\u00a0 We cannot continue to take the kind of chances and make the kind of flawed decisions that unnecessarily resulted in the death of four Americans in Benghazi consulate last September. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"I am especially appreciative that the Committee accepted my amendment to limit to 1 year, or such time as the Secretary of State shall determine appropriate, the period of validity of a passport issued to a convicted sex offender.\u00a0 In 2008, the General Accountability Office found that some 4,500 U.S. passports were issued to known registered sex offenders each year.\u00a0 That gave these predators 10 years to travel to places like Bangkok, and other sex tourist destinations to abuse innocent little children.\u00a0 Poverty worldwide has increased the number of places these convicted pedophiles can frequent, but this bill will give the Secretary of State the authority to mitigate their travel. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\"I would hope that when the International Megan\u2019s Law is reintroduced, it will gain the support of this House because it would provide even more tools to prevent these criminals from exporting their reprehensible activity abroad.\u00a0 Megan\u2019s Law provided a national database of convicted pedophiles, and combining that with the enhanced authorities to limit passports in the bill we consider today, our government will have the ability to more effectively prevent these predators from circumventing our domestic surveillance by taking advantage of children in other countries.\" The relevant language in the bill:\r\n SEC. 213. AUTHORITY TO RESTRICT PASSPORTS. \r\n(a) In General- The Secretary of State is authorized to--\r\n(1) limit to one year or such period of time as the Secretary of State shall determine appropriate the period of validity of a passport issued to a sex offender; and\r\n(2) revoke the passport or passport card of an individual who has been convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction in a foreign country of a sex offense.\r\n(b) Limitation for Return to United States- Notwithstanding subsection (a), in no case shall a United States citizen convicted by a court of competent jurisdiction in a foreign country of a sex offense be precluded from entering the United States due to a passport revocation under such subsection.\r\n(c) Reapplication- An individual whose passport or passport card was revoked pursuant to subsection (a)(2) may reapply for a passport or passport card at any time after such individual has returned to the United States.\r\n(d) Definitions- For purposes of this section:\r\n(1) SEX OFFENDER- The term `sex offender' means an individual who is listed on the National Sex Offender Registry established pursuant to section 119 of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16915).\r\n(2) SEX OFFENSE- The term `sex offense' means a sex offense as defined in section 111(5) of the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act (42 U.S.C. 16915).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=351634", "USACE Awards Bid, Beach Replenishment Project Moves Closer to Completion", "2013-09-27", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers this morning announced it has awarded the fourth and final contract to replenish Sandy-ravaged beaches from Sea Bright to the Manasquan Inlet in Monmouth County, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said Friday. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0For the beaches between Asbury Park\u00a0and\u00a0Avon-by-the-Sea, this phase of the \u201cSea Bright to Manasquan Beach Erosion Control Project\u201d was awarded to the Great Lakes Dredge &amp; Dock Company LLC, of Oak Brook, Ill., in the amount of $18,332,500. It was the lower of two bids. The second was $22.9 million from Manson Construction Co. of Seattle. The work will be fully funded by the federal government. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u201cThis project will help restore and protect our beaches with suitably engineered dunes, which will have the added benefit to better protect homes, businesses and public property,\u201d said Smith, a long-time advocate of beach replenishment and protection projects. \u201cThe beaches are also the lifeblood of the local economy, and the main reason why tourists visit the shore. This project is an important part of the overall recovery.\u201d \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The Corps said today it expects to issue a notice to proceed (NTP) in about a week, after the winning bidder submits required information. The construction duration is estimated to be 210 days, and is expected to be underway this fall and completed in the spring. Sand will be dredged by the contractor from an offshore borrow area, located about four miles offshore of Sea Bright. The work consists of a 100 foot wide beach berm at an elevation of 12 feet.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Over one million cubic yards of sand will be moved along a nine-mile stretch under the contract, the fourth and final contract to restore the Sea Bright to Manasquan Beach Erosion Control Project to its former state as it was when completed in 2001. The Corps plan calls for maintenance work about every six years. Click here for a description of the contract awarded today. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Due to Superstorm Sandy the beaches in the project area lost roughly 5 million cubic yards of sand. The Corps of Engineers is repairing and restoring the project through the Flood Control and Coastal Emergencies Act (Public Law84-99) and the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 (the Sandy Relief Bill, or Public Law 113-2). The work encompasses both replacing the sand lost during the storm as well as restoring the project to its original design profile. About eight million cubic yards will be moved when the restoration is complete. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The overall Sea Bright to Manasquan Project covers 21 miles of the New Jersey shoreline and is the largest beach nourishment project ever undertaken by the Corps of Engineers. In terms of sheer volume it is the largest beachfill project in the world, according to the Corps. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0The densely populated communities along the Jersey Shore, from the Town of Sea Bright to the Manasquan Inlet in Monmouth County, continually experience significant beach erosion. In 1962, the Ash Wednesday Storm caused $56 million in damages (1992 dollars). \r\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040552/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/new-jersey-new-york-members-urge-fema-extend-deadline-flood-insurance-claims-sandy", "New Jersey, New York Members Urge FEMA to Extend Deadline for Flood Insurance Claims for Sandy Homeowners", "2013-09-27", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC \u2013 Today, a bipartisan group of Senators and House Members from New Jersey and New York urged FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate to grant a six-month extension for thousands of Sandy-impacted homeowners to file flood insurance claims. Under the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) managed by FEMA, Sandy-impacted homeowners must file a Proof of Loss (POL) form, a statement on the amount that the homeowner is claiming under his or her flood insurance policy, by October 29th in order to be eligible for coverage for flood damage. Many families, however, are unable to meet this deadline in time because they are still waiting for repair work to begin on their homes or only recently become aware of additional expenses as they start to repair and rebuild. Federal officials requested an immediate extension to ensure that all homeowners have a fair process when it comes to filing their flood insurance claims and receiving the full benefits they are entitled to.\nLed by New York Senators Kirsten Gillibrand and Charles Schumer, the letter was co-signed by Senators Charles Schumer (D-NY), Robert Menendez (D-NJ), and Jeff Chiesa (R-NJ), and Representatives Charles Rangel (D-NY), Grace Meng (D-NY), Michael Grimm (R-NY), Steve Israel (D-NY), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Eliot Engel (D-NY),\u00a0 Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Timothy Bishop (D-NY), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY),\u00a0 Chris Smith (D-NY), Jon Runyan (R-NJ), Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), and Bill Pascrell, Jr. (D-NJ), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Peter King (R-NY), and Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-NJ).\nThe officials applauded FEMA\u2019s efforts to extend the Proof of Loss requirement from the traditional 60 days to a full year, but noted that 11 months after Superstorm Sandy devastated communities across New York and New Jersey, a minimum of a six-month extension is not only warranted but necessary.\nMany proof of loss filings are made as homeowners become aware of additional expenses through their contractors as work begins on their home and were not factored into the initial inspections. Even \u201cclosed\u201d FEMA claims could be contested if homeowners provide the necessary documentation. These hidden costs, officials pointed out, should not be denied coverage based on bureaucracy.\nFull text of the letter is below:\nDear Administrator Fugate,\nWe are writing to bring your attention to an urgent matter affecting thousands of individuals in Superstorm Sandy-ravaged communities who are in the midst of recovery. Our offices are aware of many families who are still waiting for work to begin on their homes. These families could be left homeless indefinitely if they are not able to meet the proof of loss deadline for National Flood Insurance Program claims. As you know, this deadline is a little over a month away and we strongly request that it be extended an additional six months to accommodate the ongoing recovery needs of our constituents.\u00a0 \nSuperstorm Sandy was an unprecedented storm that left thousands of residents homeless and many communities destroyed. Because of the magnitude of the storm and the number of affected individuals and homes, the recovery process has been long and arduous. Families have had to navigate this rebuilding process, which involves multiple steps and layers of bureaucracy, without any previous experience or institutional knowledge. \nDue to these circumstances, we applauded FEMA when it issued a conditional and partial waiver of the Proof of Loss requirement in the Standard Flood Insurance Policy (SFIP) from the traditional 60 days to a full year. However, as we continue to assess rebuilding conditions and the progress that has been made in 11 months, it is clear that another extension is not only warranted but very necessary. \nAs our constituents piece together what resources are currently available to them from the States, FEMA, non-profits and their insurance companies, it is important for them to keep as many options available to them as possible. As you know, many of the proof of loss filings are made as homeowners become aware of additional expenses through their contractors as work begins on their home and were not quantified on initial visual inspections. Even \u201cclosed\u201d FEMA claims could be contested if homeowners provide documentation warranting the release of additional funds. These hidden costs, if deemed legitimate, should not be denied coverage based on bureaucracy.\nWhile we are aware that FEMA has the authority to approve on a case-by-case basis claims submitted after the one year deadline, we believe that a blanket extension for every homeowner should be in place to ensure a fair and proper process for everyone. To deny these claims based purely on the timing of their paperwork pulls the rug out from underneath homeowners who are relying on their flood insurance policies to repair and rebuild their homes.\u00a0 \nThank you for your attention to this urgent request.\u00a0 \n\u00a0\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://frelinghuysen.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=2&itemid=742", "Frelinghuysen continues annual Superfund tour", "2013-09-26", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Rodney Frelinghuysen", "F000372", "frelinghuysen.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"Keeping an Eye on Morris County's Superfund Sites\"\r\n\r\n\tBy: Cindy Forrest\r\n\r\n\tPublished in the September 25, 2013 edition of the Neighbor News (Denville Edition)\r\n\r\n\t\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tOn Oct. 14, 1947, Chuck Yeager wowed the world by breaking the sound barrier. Today, almost 66 years later, New Jersey residents are still paying a part of the price - financially and environmentally - for the events on that momentous occasion.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tIn Rockaway Township, the engine and propellant used by Yeager to achieve Mach 1 speed were produced on a 263-acre property off Lake Denmark Road.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tFrom the 1940s up through 1972, activities at the site included the testing and development of rocket engines and propellants, including the ones used by Yeager. Since 1972, operations at that location have included radiation sterilization, production of architectural products, and production of and finishes for hardwood flooring.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tGiven the materials being used at the site, concerns about possible environmental impacts led the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) and the Rockaway Township Health Department to conduct numerous inspections beginning in the early 1980s.\r\n\r\n\tThe inspections revealed that toxins, including benzene, carbon tetrachloride and trichloroethylene, were improperly stored and disposed of resulting in contamination of soil and surface water And so in 1983 after decades of toxic chemicals and solvents being stored and used on the property, the site was proposed for inclusion on the Superfund and the Environmental Protection Agency's National Priorities List (NPL). It was placed on the list on Sept. 21, 1984.\r\n\r\n\tSuperfund is the name given to the federal government's environmental program established to address abandoned hazardous waste sites. It is also the name of the fund established by the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980. This law was enacted in the wake of the discovery of toxic waste dumps such as Love Canal and Times Beach in the 1970s. It allows the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to clean up such sites and to compel responsible parties to perform cleanups or reimburse the government for EPA-led cleanups.\r\n\r\n\tThe Superfund cleanup process is complex. It involves the steps taken to assess sites, place them on the National Priorities List, and establish and implement appropriate clean-up plans.\r\n\r\n\tNew Jersey has led the nation in the number of Superfund sites, with more locations than any other state.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tIn the 11th Congressional District, the tracking and mediation status review of the five Superfund sites has been an annual event for the past 25 years. It began when the late Congressman Dean Gallo represented the 11th District and has continued under the leadership of Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe only year that the annual review had to be cancelled was 2010 when Frelinghuysen was called back to Washington, DC, because the House of Representatives was called into session.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\"It is important for me to personally visit Superfund sites to assess the progress being made,\" said Frelinghuysen. \"New Jersey has more Superfund sites than any other state in the nation (147) but considerable progress has been made. Since 1980 when the Superfund program began, 33 sites in New Jersey have been removed from the National Priority List.\"\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tRemediation at the Radiant Technology site has been ongoing since it was placed on the NPL list and continues today. According to EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck, 75 rusting and leaking drums of toxins were removed from the site between January and March of this year.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\t\"No state benefits more from EPA's Superfund program than New Jersey,\" said Enck, \"where the program is protecting people's health by removing the contamination left behind by the state's industrial past.\"\r\n\r\n\tEPA Project Manager Brian Quinn explained that the cost for the clean-up work performed so far has been about $4.3 million.\r\n\r\n\tThe Radiation Technology site and two others on the tour, a well field on Enterprise Road in Rockaway Township and a well field on Union Street in Rockaway Borough, are connected, according Quinn.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe source of the contamination from volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found at these two locations was linked to rocket motors that were built at the Lake Denmark site then loaded with the chemical compounds and tested in the borough. The EPA identified six parties potentially responsible for the contamination and in the end a settlement was reached with Cordant Technologies (formerly know as Thiokol Corporation and now a part of Alliant Techsystems).\r\n\r\n\tThe two-square-mile well field contamination site on Enterprise Road contains a cluster of three municipal wells within 100 feet of each other. The area is contaminated with various volatile organic chemicals from nearby industrial buildings.\r\n\r\n\tAn NJDEP clean-up plan called for the treatment of the contaminated ground water and the replacement of the existing air stripper, which forces air through polluted ground water to remove harmful chemicals. The air causes the chemicals to change from a liquid to a gas that is then collected and cleaned.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tOnly one of the three wells is in operation. As recently as 2010, samplings revealed elevated concentrations of VOCs below several buildings on the site indicating the potential for vapor intrusion. Remediation was performed and samplings continue to be taken. The EPA has prepared a five-year review plan to ensure the remedy is effective.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tThe Rockaway Borough well field site includes three municipal water supply wells that supply drinking water to 11,000 people.\r\n\r\n\tIn 1985, the NJDEP investigated the site and concluded that contamination of the municipal water supply was coming from multiple source areas within the borough.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\tBased on these findings, EPA initiated a follow-up investigation to identify the sources of contamination, determine the extent of it, and evaluate potential clean-up methods.\r\n\r\n\tThe EPA's investigation revealed that the contaminated area encompassed nearby businesses including dry cleaners, auto body/service repair shops, banks, hardware stores, hairdressers, convenience stores, and food establishments. The borough police and fire departments, Memorial Park, and municipal parking lots were also within the investigation area.\r\n\r\n\tThe investigation further confirmed the presence of volatile organic compounds, including perchloroethylene. The source of the contamination was a facility belonging to a company, Klockner and Klockner, which was responsible for presence in the soil of tetrachloroethene, a commonly used industrial solvent.\r\n\r\n\tOver the years progress has been made.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140222040632/http://lobiondo.house.gov/press-release/lobiondo-announces-fire-grant-hammonton-fire-department", "LoBiondo Announces Fire Grant to Hammonton Fire Department", "2013-09-25", "2013", "2013-09", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Frank LoBiondo", "L000554", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 U.S. Representative Frank A. LoBiondo (NJ-02) today announced a $17,100 federal award from the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program to the Hammonton Fire Department. In total, 123 organizations in the 2nd Congressional district have been awarded more than $22 million since the program began in 2001.\n\u201cThis is welcome news for the men and women of the Hammonton Fire Department, who protect the residents of Hammonton day in and day out,\u201d said LoBiondo, a member of the Congressional Fire Caucus. \u201cGiven tight budgets at many of our municipalities, the AFG program remains a critical resource for our local first responders and an important program I am proud to support.\u201d\nThe Hammonton Fire Department previously received AFG awards in the amounts of $166,963 (2005) and $94,881 (2007).\nThe Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program awards grants directly to fire departments and emergency services to support their efforts to protect the communities they serve. The Fiscal Year 2012 program will award approximately $337.5 million in competitive grants to first responder organizations across the country to obtain critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources required to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.\nThe Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) administers the program. For the last nine years, Congressman LoBiondo\u2019s office has hosted local seminars for area fire departments to highlight the benefits of this grant program and assist with the application process. The Fiscal Year 2012 program received 12,000 applications nationwide. More information can be found at www.fema.gov/firegrants/\n\u00a0\n\u00a0# # #", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 222, "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 \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "NJ", "p2": "2013"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 222, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=NJ&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 222, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ&year=2013&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "NJ", "label": "NJ", "count": 222, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2013", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ&year=2013", "results": [{"value": "2013", "label": "2013", "count": 222, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2013-09-25,https~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20140222040632~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Flobiondo~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fpress-release~2Flobiondo-announces-fire-grant-hammonton-fire-department", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=NJ&year=2013&_next=2013-09-25%2Chttps~3A~2F~2Fweb~2Earchive~2Eorg~2Fweb~2F20140222040632~2Fhttp~3A~2F~2Flobiondo~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fpress-release~2Flobiondo-announces-fire-grant-hammonton-fire-department&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 419.17479410767555, "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"}