{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400799", "Smith Bill to Name Belmar Post Office After Local Hero Passes House", "2017-12-12", "2017", "2017-12", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) naming the U.S. post office in Belmar, NJ in honor of Dr. Walter S. McAfee, a distinguished local scientist who helped with the development of radar transmissions into space, passed the House today. \r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cI am thankful that today we are able to honor such a great man and I urge my fellow colleagues to support this bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 Main Street in Belmar, New Jersey, as the \u2018Dr. Walter S. McAfee Post Office Building,\u2019\u201d Smith said on the Floor of the House during consideration of the legislation.  \r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cDr. McAfee was instrumental in the success of Project Diana at U.S. Army Camp Evans, which resulted in the successful transmission of high-frequency radio signals out of the atmosphere, helping to pave the way for the Space Age,\u201d said Smith, who represents Belmar and surrounding towns serviced by the post office on Main Street.  \r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 Smith said that later on, at Fort Monmouth, McAfee worked to develop sensors used to track enemy movements during the Vietnam War. During the Cold War, he also directed a NATO study on surveillance and target acquisition.  \r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cHe was also the first African-American to be promoted to GS-16 \u2018super grade\u2019 civilian status at the U.S. Army Materiel Command (AMC), and was later inducted into the AMC Hall of Fame,\u201d Smith added.  \r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cThroughout his lifetime, his achievements were recognized through the dozens of awards and honors he received for his contributions to science and to the defense of the U.S. and our allies,\u201d Smith said of McAfee.  \r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cDr. McAfee passed away in 1995 in Belmar, New Jersey. He and his wife, Viola, were married for close to 54 years and are survived by their daughters Diane Mercedes McAfee and Marsha Bera-Morris,\u201d Smith said.  \r\n\r\n\u00a0 \u00a0 \u201cHe was known for his love of learning, high ethical standards, and good sense of humor,\u201d Smith said. To read excerpts of Smith\u2019s remarks on the House Floor, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "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"], "primary_key_values": ["http://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=400799"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.1887929867953062, "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"}