url,title,date,year,month,party,chamber,state,member_name,bioguide_id,domain,scraper,source,date_source,text,has_text,collected_at,updated_at https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413475,A Christmas miracle Smith’s $1.95 billion Autism CARES Act signed into law,2024-12-24,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Comprehensive legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to provide robust funding and enhanced support for Americans with autism was signed into law this week. Smith’s Autism CARES Act of 2024 will provide more than $1.95 billion over five years for programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). “At CDC, the funding will support ongoing developmental disability surveillance and research; at HRSA, the funding will cover education, early detection and intervention services; at NIH, the funding will drive research as well as the coordination of autism-related activities, including the Inter Agency Coordinating Committee (IACC),” Smith said during debate on the House Floor on December 16th. “As the prime author of the Autism Cares Act of 2024 and previous iterations of the law in 2011, 2014, and 2019, I know this legislation will help make a huge difference in the lives of the millions of Americans with autism by providing robust funding for durable remedies as well as effective early detection and intervention services to allow them the highest quality of life possible,” Smith said. “According to the CDC, 1 in 36 children in the United States—including 1 in 35 children in my home state of New Jersey—are on the autism spectrum,” said Smith. “My legislation pursues critical research goals and focuses on responsive and effective interventions for the estimated 6.8 million individuals with autism—over 1.8 million, which is 27 percent, of whom are profoundly autistic,” Smith said. Smith’s bill included Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) as the Democrat lead along with 61 other bipartisan cosponsors. “This bipartisan bill will provide vital funding to expand research and care for Americans with autism,” said Dr. Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Through this bill, we continue important work in understanding the causes of autism, the best ways to treat autism, and incorporate the voices of those previously missed by research.” Smith’s legislation has received strong support from the nation’s leading autism advocacy groups, including Autism New Jersey, Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, the Profound Autism Alliance, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024 will: · Direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research issues encountered by individuals and caregivers as they age, mental health concerns, issues related to aging, as well as co-occurring conditions and needs for supports and services, such as care necessary for physical safety and the prevention of self-injurious behavior; · Increase the number of NIH Centers of Excellence to seven and ensure research reflects the entire population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and is designed to address the full range of needs faced by individuals, including to ensure the physical safety and to promote the well-being of all Americans with autism; · Include, for the first time, a professional bypass budget to provide the autism community with a comprehensive budget highlighting priority research areas and resources needed to advance quality of life improvements for all individuals with autism; and · Promote the adoption of assistive communication technologies to improve communications outcomes for those with communication assistance needs. Smith, who has been a steadfast champion for the autism community for decades, said “it all started in September 1997 with Bobbie and Billy Gallagher from Brick Township and their indomitable commitment to help their two children—Austin and Alanna—and everyone else with autism.” “We met several times and invited the CDC to Brick only to realize that federal autism programs were woefully inadequate—almost nonexistent,” said Smith, who noted he continues to plan and strategize with the couple to this day. At Smith’s invitation, federal agencies came to Ocean County for an investigation and found that autism prevalence rates were high not only in Brick, but in nearby communities as well. In response, Smith authored the Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act, which was incorporated as Title I of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, authorizing grants and contracts for the collection, analysis and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413471,In response to request from Monmouth and Ocean County sheriffs Smith introduces legislation to empower highly trained state law enforcement units to detect and stop drones involved in unlawful activities,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today introduced legislation that would empower highly trained state law enforcement units to detect and stop any drones involved in unlawful activities. Smith’s bill—the Law Against Nefarious Drones, Enforcement, Deconfliction (LANDED) Act—comes in response to a request from Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden and Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy for more authorities to respond to potential threats posed by illegal drone activity amid the ongoing unusual drone sightings across New Jersey. “As swarms of unidentified drones have violated our airspace over the past month, our state law enforcement leaders have been precluded by law from taking more decisive action, leaving our highly trained officers—who are on the ground and situationally aware—almost completely hamstrung,” said Smith. “My legislation is critically needed given the huge gaps that exist in our ability to counter unlawful drones which have been exposed by the unusual activity occurring across our state,” said Smith, who announced he was drafting the new bill at a news conference he held in Seaside Heights last Saturday. “We need to ensure that law enforcement has the authorities, training, and capabilities to take quick action if needed to keep local residents safe, especially as drones continue to advance technologically and have the potential to be increasingly lethal,” Smith said. Smith said the Biden Administration’s frustrating lack of response to the month-long unusual drone activity in New Jersey underscores the urgent need to empower state law enforcement to address any potential immediate threats to local communities. “Regrettably, the Biden Administration not only has refused to take decisive action but also has been denying and downplaying the situation that has caused so many New Jersey residents to be understandably concerned and alarmed,” said Smith. “New Jersey residents should not have to live in fear while unidentified drones continue to fly over our critical infrastructure, sensitive military bases, and homes and communities,” said Smith. “Enough is enough.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413472,Smith announces winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for local middle and high school students,2024-12-20,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today announced the winners of the 2024 Congressional App Challenge for the Fourth District of New Jersey. The annual competition hosted by Smith is aimed at promoting Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) skills among middle and high school students. “Congratulations to Katrina Migliore, Ahren Gaikwad, and Cameron Mock from Communications High School in Wall Township for winning this year’s competition with their app “Eco-Scan,” said Smith. The winning team was selected by a panel of judges that evaluated the app submissions from high schools across the Fourth Congressional District. “As the panel of judges noted, their innovative app combines convenience with education to help inform and encourage users to recycle,” Smith said. “By simply scanning a barcode or searching in the app, users instantly have access to a ton of information about how to properly dispose of a particular item to help them make informed decisions when discarding products.” Migliore, Gaikwad, and Mock shared that their inspiration behind developing the app stemmed from their experience with improper product disposal when trying to perform environmentally healthy tasks at home. The three Communications High School seniors pointed out that recycling contaminated products can exacerbate the problem by adding more infected recycling batches to landfills. The Congressional App Challenge—simultaneously held in multiple congressional districts across the United States—is intended for students to showcase their software app-developing skills as part of a nationwide competition administered by Members of Congress. Established in 2014, the challenge has become the largest student computer science competition in the world. Middle and high school students from the Fourth Congressional District who are interested in participating in next year’s contest should contact Congressman Smith’s Toms River Office at 732-504-0567 or Middletown Office at 732-780-3035. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413469,Kirby intentionally misleading? Smith: Biden White House needs to stop changing their story and instead be honest and frank on the drone activity in New Jersey,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today issued the following statement in response to recent comments made by White House National Security spokesman John Kirby regarding the Coast Guard’s reported encounter with drones off the coast of New Jersey: “John Kirby is either profoundly uninformed or intentionally misleading when he asserts that highly trained Coast Guard personnel mistook drones following one of their 47-foot lifeboats for airplanes flying into JFK. The Biden White House needs to stop changing their story and instead be honest and frank with the American people—who deserve the truth and absolute transparency. We tolerate no coverups here. On Sunday, December 8th, I was briefed by a Coast Guard Commanding Officer in Sheriff Mastronardy’s mobile command center for monitoring drone activity on Island Beach State Park. One of my senior aides who was with me took contemporaneous notes during my meeting with the Coast Guard Commanding Officer,” Smith said. According to the officer who briefed me, several drones—between 13 and 30 of them—followed the Coast Guard boat as it travelled along the coast. He told me that the drones were an estimated 100 feet from the vessel and were keeping up with the boat at an estimated cruising speed of 20 knots (or approximately 23 mph),” Smith said. The officer reported that the boat turned to return, and the drones followed. At one point, the drones were flashing their headlights at the boat. He told me that the drones were between four and eight feet in wingspan and appeared between 9-11pm.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413470,Smith secured $30.2 million from federal infrastructure bill Beach replenishment from Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet to begin in January,2024-12-18,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Critical beach replenishment work for Jersey Shore towns in the Fourth Congressional District is scheduled to begin next month, announced Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester). “I am pleased that after several contracting delays, this long-awaited project to restore our beaches that have suffered considerable erosion over the past years is finally moving forward,” said Smith, who secured $30.2 million in federal funding for the project. “We have never let up on securing this long-overdue, unjustly delayed project,” said Smith. “That we have at last received a schedule with real target dates on it gives us great confidence that the desperately needed beach replenishment will finally take place and better protect our beach towns. “Our shore communities will benefit greatly from the federal assistance and partnership to address significant safety concerns from beach erosion and help blunt damaging effects of major storms,” he said. The tentative schedule, which could vary slightly based on weather and sea conditions, entails the following six-to-seven-month construction estimate: · Seaside Heights with taper into Seaside Park: work is estimated to take place in January and February and include 241,000 cubic yards of sand; · Toms River (South): work is estimated to take place in February/March and include 426,000 cubic yards of sand; · Lavallette: work is estimated to take place in March and include 184,000 cubic yards of sand; · Bay Head with taper into Point Pleasant Beach: work is estimated to take place in Spring and include 495,000 cubic yards of sand; · Mantoloking: work is estimated to take place in Spring and include 392,000 cubic yards of sand; · Brick Township: work is estimated to take place in early Summer and include 227,000 cubic yards of sand; and · Toms River (North): work is estimated to take place in Summer and include 135,000 cubic yards of sand. The project, which has faced several setbacks, had been in serious jeopardy before Smith intervened in January 2022 and secured the entire federal share—or approximately half of the $73.5 million total cost—from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. The Army Corps of Engineers awarded the contract in October to Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company of Houston, TX. In total, the contract calls for dredging and placing 2.1 million cubic yards of sand onto Ocean County beaches. Sand will be dredged from three separate approved borrow areas located offshore of the project area in the Atlantic Ocean. The sand will then be pumped onto the beach and graded into an engineered template, which is designed to reduce damage from coastal storm events. Most of the base contract work involves widening the beach in eroded areas. In some areas, dunes, beach access paths/crossovers, and sand fencing will be repaired. Dune grass will be planted in areas that undergo repairs. “I am grateful for the expertise of the Army Corps of Engineers—our nation’s premier builders—for getting this project to the finish line,” said Smith, “as well as to their partners at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Ocean County and the municipalities.” The beach fill project was initially constructed between 2017-2019 and requires periodic “renourishment” to bring it back to its originally constructed specifications. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413462,U.S. Congressman Chris Smith voices concern over reports of U.S. involvement with pro-abortion bill in Sierra Leone,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Global Health and Global Human Rights Subcommittee, today issued the following statement regarding reports of U.S. involvement with efforts to expand abortion in Sierra Leone: “It is deeply disturbing, but not terribly surprising, that we are hearing reports that the Biden Administration is threatening to withhold foreign assistance to Sierra Leone unless legislators there pass the deceptively named ‘Safe Motherhood Act’ legislation that would legalize abortion in Sierra Leone, a country that currently protects unborn life. Let me be clear, abortion is not health care, nor is it an internationally recognized human ‘right.’ The Biden Administration’s pro-abortion bullying tactics and raw attempt at ideological colonialism is unacceptable. Abortion always ends the life of the unborn baby and harms the mother. Pro-life countries should be celebrated and respected for protecting unborn children and their mothers—not penalized by a pro-abortion lame duck Biden Administration. I will work with the incoming Trump Administration to conduct a thorough review of actions by all U.S. agencies, from USAID to the Millennium Challenge Corporation, to determine whether U.S. laws were violated by U.S. government staff through misallocation—or threat of misallocation—of U.S. funding in order to pressure countries to change their prolife laws. Forcing a pro-abortion and woke agenda on financially vulnerable and democratic sovereign nations harms both the U.S. and our allies and is bad diplomacy. It must end.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413467,House votes overwhelming in favor Smith’s $1.95 billion Autism CARES Act heads to President’s desk to be signed into law,2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Comprehensive legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to provide robust funding and enhanced support for Americans with autism is now headed to the President’s desk to be signed into law after winning overwhelming support in a vote (374-15) on the House Floor today. Smith’s Autism CARES Act of 2024—which was approved by the Senate in late November—will provide more than $1.95 billion over five years for programs at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). “At CDC, the funding will support ongoing developmental disability surveillance and research; at HRSA, the funding will cover education, early detection and intervention services; at NIH, the funding will drive research as well as the coordination of autism-related activities, including the Inter Agency Coordinating Committee (IACC),” Smith said during debate on the House Floor. “As the prime author of the Autism Cares Act of 2024 and previous iterations of the law in 2011, 2014, and 2019, I know this legislation will help make a huge difference in the lives of the millions of Americans with autism by providing robust funding for durable remedies as well as effective early detection and intervention services to allow them the highest quality of life possible,” Smith said. “According to the CDC, 1 in 36 children in the United States—including 1 in 35 children in my home state of New Jersey—are on the autism spectrum,” said Smith. “My legislation pursues critical research goals and focuses on responsive and effective interventions for the estimated 6.8 million individuals with autism—27 percent of whom, or over 1.8 million, are profoundly autistic,” Smith said. Smith’s bill—with Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) as the Democrat lead and 61 other bipartisan cosponsors—is expected to become law before the end of the year. “I am pleased to help pass this bipartisan legislation, a bill I championed alongside Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4), and send it to the President's desk. This bipartisan bill will provide vital funding to expand research and care for Americans with autism,” said Dr. Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Through this bill, we continue important work in understanding the causes of autism, the best ways to treat autism, and incorporate the voices of those previously missed by research.” Smith’s legislation has received strong support from the nation’s leading autism advocacy groups, including Autism New Jersey, Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, the Profound Autism Alliance, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. The Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024 will: · Direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research issues encountered by individuals and caregivers as they age, mental health concerns, issues related to aging, as well as co-occurring conditions and needs for supports and services, such as care necessary for physical safety and the prevention of self-injurious behavior; · Increase the number of NIH Centers of Excellence to seven and ensure research reflects the entire population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and is designed to address the full range of needs faced by individuals, including to ensure the physical safety and to promote the well-being of all Americans with autism; · Include, for the first time, a professional bypass budget to provide the autism community with a comprehensive budget highlighting priority research areas and resources needed to advance quality of life improvements for all individuals with autism; and · Promote the adoption of assistive communication technologies to improve communications outcomes for those with communication assistance needs. Smith, who has been a steadfast champion for the autism community for decades, said “it all started in September 1997 with Bobbie and Billy Gallagher from Brick Township and their indomitable commitment to help their two children—Austin and Alanna—and everyone else with autism.” “We met several times and invited the CDC to Brick only to realize that federal autism programs were woefully inadequate—almost nonexistent,” said Smith, who noted he continues to plan and strategize with the couple to this day. At Smith’s invitation, federal agencies came to Ocean County for an investigation and found that autism prevalence rates were high not only in Brick, but in nearby communities as well. In response, Smith authored the Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act, which was incorporated as Title I of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, authorizing grants and contracts for the collection, analysis and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-names-jonah-park-and-arnav-jain-winners-congressional-app-challenge,"Kean Names Jonah Park and Arnav Jain, Winners of the Congressional App Challenge",2024-12-16,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(December 16, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced the NJ-07 winners of the Congressional App Challenge. The top winner of the competition is the team of Jonah Park of Westfield and Arnav Jain of Short Hills, who both attend The Pingry School. The Congressional App Challenge, which received more 3,800 applications nationwide, has become the most prestigious prize in computer science for students and stands as the largest competition of its kind in the country. Park and Jain’s winning entry, Root, “is an educational app focused on teaching kids about the science behind the environment and how change is possible. Kids from third to eighth grade follow a proprietary curriculum through articles, videos, and quizzes. The Explore page is the heart of the Root community and allows kids to apply their knowledge to create real impact."" The team will receive the following as the NJ-07 winner: An Invitation to the #HouseOfCode celebration in DC in April 2025 Winning App eligible to be featured in the Capitol Building and put on House.gov (10 million visitors per year) Waived copyright registration application fees through the ARTS Act Samantha Billig and Vincent Panico, professionals in the technology field, served as judges for this year’s App Challenge. The judges also selected five entries for Honorable Mention recognition: Testify, submitted by Shrenik Rakshit of Annandale who attends Voorhees High School. NourishNest, submitted by Jonathan Chang of Berkeley Heights who attends the Union County Magnet High School. Sustainable Strides, submitted by a team from Warren: Clara Risso and Rebecca Lubeck, who attend Watchung Hills Regional High School and Kayla Peng who attends the Kent Place School. FastLingo, submitted by Dheirya Tyagi of Bernardsville who attends Bernards High School. Billology, submitted by Shiven Das of Bridgewater who attends Bridgewater-Raritan Regional High School. “I am continually inspired by the creativity and innovation demonstrated by our students,” said Congressman Kean. “Jonah and Arnav’s winning entry, Root, is a prime example of how our future leaders are using technology to tackle the most pressing challenges of our time. Root’s focus on educating kids about the science behind the environment and empowering them to create real impact is exactly the kind of initiative we need. It is an incredible tool that will help the next generation become informed, engaged, and ready to make a difference. The Congressional App Challenge is an essential platform for encouraging this kind of innovation, and I am proud to see so many young minds leading the way."" The Congressional App Challenge (CAC) was created because Congress recognized that STEM and computer-based skills are essential for economic growth and innovation and that the U.S. has been falling behind on these fronts. By some estimates, the U.S. may be short by as many as 1 million programmers by 2021. To maintain American competitiveness, it’s crucial that the United States invests in the youth now and help them acquire these valuable skills. The CAC encourages students to pursue those skills and recognizes them for their efforts. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-06T19:07:19Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413459,Smith holds news conference in Seaside Heights on unidentified drone activity in New Jersey,2024-12-14,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) at his news conference today in Seaside Heights, NJ, on the ongoing unidentified drone activity across the state: ""On the large number of drones flying throughout New Jersey and elsewhere that have so far evaded identification, origin, mission or potential threat to Americans, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas shockingly said this week: ‘We haven’t seen anything unusual. We know of no threat.’ What? The massive invasion of drones observed and recorded by many of our citizens including law enforcement and military personnel—many in this room—isn’t unusual? Is he kidding? How does Secretary Mayorkas who infamously told us for years that our southern border was secure and closed—when it was and is not—now insult our intelligence that ‘we haven’t seen anything unusual’? This is usual? And how can he—and others like national security spokesman Admiral John Kirby—say we know of no threat? How can anyone speculate or issue assurances to the thousands of Americans who have witnessed the drones that there is no threat? For weeks, we’ve asked for the truth and action to mitigate any and all threats to people and property. Now we are demanding it. As the sightings increase including by servicemembers at Naval Weapons Station Earle—where several have been seen or by the Coast Guard which had one of its 47-foot rescue boats followed in very close proximity off its stern by numerous drones—why can’t we bag at least one drone and get to the bottom of this? Why can’t we even track a suspect drone to its origin? Have we so little control over our airspace? Remember the feckless response to the Chinese Communist Party Spy balloon? The elusive maneuvering of these drones suggests a major military power sophistication that begs the question whether they have been deployed to test our defense capabilities—or worse—by violent dictatorships including Russia, China, Iran, or North Korea. The Pentagon has already said the drones are not ours. I’ve written Defense Secretary Llyod Austin asking the Pentagon to authorize the use of force to down one or more of these unmanned threats to uncover the mystery of the drones. Knowing how drone warfare has radically changed warfighting in Ukraine and Russia, the Middle East and elsewhere, this is not the time to trivialize or dismiss the threat. Special thanks to both Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden for doing all within their power and authority to aggressively investigate and track drone appearances. They are doing an amazing job. As many of you know, state and local law enforcement is precluded by law from taking more decisive action—which again is why DOD must act now and Congress and the President need to move quickly to expand state and local authorities. Sheriff Golden wrote me a few days ago requesting legislation to empower the state police to seriously protect at risk persons and infrastructure, and if necessary, bring down a dangerous drone or drones. I am drafting that bill now and will introduce it soon.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413461,Fox News segment on Rep. Smith's call for answers on drones:'New Jersey lawmaker urges the Pentagon to address drone sightings',2024-12-14,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ , Dec 14, 2024 Fox News Channel Congressman Chris Smith led a press conference with local officials on growing public concerns about unidentified drones reported across his district and other New Jersey areas. Congressman Smith was joined by State, County and Municipal officials, including law enforcement, who all have heard from their own constituents regarding similar concerns. The event was held Dec. 14, 2024 just off the dunes in the Borough of Seaside Heights, in Ocean County, N.J.. The event was carried live by various media, including Fox News Channel. Click here or on image below to watch: Congressman Chris Smith led a press conference with local officials about concern over drones on Dec. 14, 2024.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413463,"MSNBC News article on Smith's, other officials' concerns:'New Jersey officials call out federal government over response to drone sightings'",2024-12-14,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"1005 Hooper Avenue Toms River, NJ 08753 Phone: (732) 504-0567 *Please call for an appointment.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413455,Smith: Americans want real answers on swarm of drones in N.J. not doublespeak from top Biden officials,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today issued the following statement in response to the Biden Administration’s recent comments made by White House National Security spokesman John Kirby and in a DHS/FBI joint statement on the unidentified drone activity across New Jersey: “The Biden Administration continues to be dismissive of New Jersey residents who have witnessed these drones in swarms, including coming from the ocean, following a Coast Guard lifeboat, and flying over extremely sensitive military bases like Naval Weapons Station Earle in my congressional district. Some press reports—including one from the Daily Mail—cite intelligence experts who suggest Russia could be responsible. The American people and our trained local law enforcement officials have rightfully asked for real answers—not doublespeak from top Biden officials who still admit they do not know the origin or intent behind this unidentified drone activity. The Biden Administration has an obligation to the American people to figure out and tell us what is going on immediately. Their lack of decisive action and empty reassurances will only cause increased speculation and continue to escalate the valid concerns that so many people have. Tomorrow, I will be holding a press conference in Seaside Heights, New Jersey with local law enforcement officers, mayors, and state representatives to share updates with the public and lay out our next steps in Congress to demand answers and further address this issue.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413458,"Press conference in Seaside Heights on Saturday, Dec. 14 at 1:30pm Smith, law enforcement officers, mayors and state officials will provide updates on the unidentified drone activity in New Jersey",2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) will be holding a press conference in Seaside Heights, New Jersey on Saturday, December 14th to provide updates to the public on the unidentified drone activity in New Jersey and unveil new federal legislation he will be introducing in Congress to help address the ongoing issue. The news conference will be located at the new standup Command Center established by the Ocean County Sheriff’s Office to bolster local law enforcement’s capabilities to monitor drones. Both Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy and Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden will be in attendance. WHO: · Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) · Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy · Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden · Local mayors and state representatives WHEN: Saturday, December 14th at 1:30pm WHERE: Ocean County Sheriff’s new standup Command Center to monitor drone activity 50 Hiering Avenue, Seaside Heights, NJ RSVP: To attend, please RSVP to Michael Finan at Michael.Finan@mail.house.gov ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-selected-serve-energy-and-commerce-committee-119th-congress,Kean Selected to Serve on Energy and Commerce Committee for the 119th Congress,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(December 13, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) was appointed to serve on the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce for the 119th Congress. The Energy and Commerce Committee is the oldest standing legislative committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. “I am honored to be selected to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee, where I look forward to working with my colleagues to address the critical issues facing our nation's energy future, research and development, and economy,” said Congressman Kean. “Our work will shape the path forward for innovation, sustainability, and opportunity for New Jerseyans and people across our nation.” The committee has responsibility for matters including telecommunications, consumer protection, food and drug safety, public health and research, environmental quality, energy policy, and interstate and foreign commerce, among others. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-statement-house-passage-2025-national-defense-authorization-act-0,Kean Statement on the House Passage of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act,2024-12-13,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(December 13, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) released the following statement after the passage of the Servicemember Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025 in the House of Representatives: “I commend the passage of the 2025 National Defense Authorization Act. This legislation's passage will significantly improve our servicemember’s quality of life while continuing to reinforce the superiority of our nation’s military. This bipartisan legislation continues to invest in our nation’s defense industrial base, support our allies and partners abroad, and, most of all, the American warfighter. The legislation contains increases to the basic allowance for housing, a 14.5% pay raise for junior enlisted personnel, improvements to military housing, and support initiatives for military families. For New Jersey, the bill continues to support the critical research and development work at Picatinny Arsenal and aims to better foster workforce development in the defense space. It also supports the Submarine Industrial Base, which many New Jersey companies are a part of, supporting both the Virginia and Columbia Class Programs.” - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413454,"AP / ABC News article on Smith, other officials' concerns:'What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey?'",2024-12-12,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI -Associated Press- -- A large number of mysterious drones have been reported flying over parts of New Jersey in recent weeks, sparking speculation and concern over who sent them and why. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said a Coast Guard commanding officer told him a dozen drones closely followed a Coast Guard lifeboat near Barnegat Light and Island Beach State Park in Ocean County over the weekend. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy and law enforcement officials have stressed that the drones don’t appear to be a threat to public safety, but many state and municipal lawmakers have nonetheless called for stricter rules about who can fly the unmanned aircraft. Gov. Murphy has said the aircraft do not pose a threat, but has not provided any details to support this. The FBI is among several agencies investigating, and it has asked residents to share videos, photos and other information they may have about the drones. Dozens of witnesses have reported seeing drones in New Jersey starting in November. At first, the drones were spotted flying along the scenic Raritan River, a waterway that feeds the Round Valley Reservoir, the state's largest aquifer, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) west of New York City. The aircraft have also recently been spotted in coastal areas. Assemblywoman Dawn Fantasia, who was briefed by the Department of Homeland Security, said the reported drones have been up to 6 feet (1.8 meters) in diameter and sometimes travel with their lights switched off. This is much larger than those typically flown by drone hobbyists and she said they appear to avoid detection by traditional methods such as helicopter and radio. Officials and experts say some witnesses may actually be seeing planes or helicopters rather than drones, or perhaps are confused about the size of the devices they're seeing. “There are certainly big drones, such as a agricultural drones, but typically they are not the type you see flying around in urban or suburban spaces,” John Duesler, president of the Pennsylvania Drone Association, said Thursday. The organization with about 350 members, is headquartered in Pittston, Pennsylvania. “I wonder a little bit if it’s sort of a type of fish story, as in ‘I caught a fish this big!’ type of a thing,” Deusler added. “At night, it’s hard to see how big the drones are, especially because they can be either closer or further away from you. To get that perspective of how big they are is really difficult.” Authorities say they do not know who is behind the drones. The FBI, Homeland Security and state police are investigating the sightings. Authorities say they don’t know if it is one drone that has been spotted many times or if there are multiple aircraft being flown in a coordinated effort. Two Republican Jersey Shore-area congressmen, Smith and U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, have called on the military to shoot down the drones, citing safety concerns. The Pentagon insists the drones do not represent a threat from abroad. Pentagon spokesperson Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said Thursday that the military’s initial assessment after consulting with the Department of Homeland Security and the National Security Council — that the drones are not of foreign origin — remains unchanged. Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Wednesday that the aircraft are not U.S. military drones. Operators must be FAA certified. Sightings also have been reported in neighboring New York and Pennsylvania. Drones were also spotted last month in the U.K. The U.S. Air Force said several small unmanned aircraft were detected near four military bases in England that are used by American forces. ___ Associated Press reporters Tara Copp in Washington, D.C., and Mark Scolforo in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, contributed. The above excerpted text was contained in an article published on Dec. 12. 2024, and from which was removed advertising graphics and links . It can be found in its original order and form at: What do we know about the mysterious drones reported flying over New Jersey? - ABC News https://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/mysterious-drones-reported-flying-new-jersey-116727996",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413456,"NJ.com news article:'More than a dozen drones spotted off Jersey Shore following Coast Guard boat, lawmaker says'",2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"OCEAN COUNTY, NJ , Dec 11, 2024 NJ. com Everything New Jersey - Powered by Star Ledger By Tina Kelley | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com - Published: Dec. 11, 2024, 12:59 p.m. Between 12 and 30 drones were spotted following a Coast Guard lifeboat off the Jersey Shore Sunday night, a Republican lawmaker said during a Congressional hearing Tuesday on mysterious drone sightings over the last month. A Coast Guard commander in Barnegat Light said during a briefing earlier this week that the drones were spotted following the 47-foot vessel, according to U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th Dist., who spoke during a joint U.S. House of Representatives committee on possible security threats posed by drones. Smith also said an Ocean County Sheriff’s officer saw 50 drones moving over land from the ocean at Island Beach State Park over the weekend. “Maybe it’s China,” Smith told the committee. “Xi Jinping is a monster. Look at what Putin is doing. They’re all capable of doing horrible things to our people.” The Coast Guard did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. The FBI also did not immediately respond to a request to comment. The FBI is continuing to investigate thousands of nighttime drone sightings reported in New Jersey in recent weeks, though it is unclear how many of the reports were really unexplained drones and not airplanes or other objects in the night sky. The agency has asked for the public’s help in collecting video and photo evidence of sightings. Gov. Phil Murphy and some local law enforcement officials have said the drones pose no known threat to the public. Other county and local officials have said the sightings, including some over the state’s largest reservoir, are “concerning.” Ocean County Sheriff Michael G. Mastronardy told NJ Advance Media Wednesday he is “concerned” about the drone sightings. Asked if he considered them a public safety issue he said, “of course.” “I’d like to identify who the people are, or have somebody identify them,” he said. “Ironically, no one has seen them land or take off yet.” During the hearing, Smith asked for the military to use its authority to intercept a drone to investigate its origins. “Just send that capability out to the ocean or to the beach, because they’re coming in every day. Figure out which one it is and bring it down and retrieve it and find out what is going on,” Smith said. In a Tuesday letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III, Smith referred to “numerous instances of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flying over New Jersey, including in close proximity to sensitive sites and critical infrastructure, to include military installations.” Smith said Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey is able “to identify and take down unauthorized unmanned aerial systems and have utilized this capability to address overflights of the installation.” The U.S. Secretary of Defense had not replied to Smith’s letter as of Wednesday, a spokesman for the congressman said. Officials at the Department of Defense and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst did not immediately respond to requests to comment. President Joe Biden has been briefed on the drone reports, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Tuesday. “We are closely tracking the activity and coordinating closely with relevant agencies,” she said, referring to the FBI and Department of Homeland Security. When asked about frustrations expressed by New Jersey officials and the public about the lack of answers about the sightings Jean-Pierre said: “Obviously we hear them, and we understand that we are closely tracking this.” Stories by Tina Kelley FBI, Homeland Security cast doubt on N.J. drone reports, echoing White House statements What are the mystery drones hovering above N.J.? Here’s what 3 experts say. Ban drone flights and declare state of emergency, N.J. lawmaker says This article was published on Dec. 11, 20124 and can be found at: More than a dozen drones spotted off Jersey Shore following Coast Guard boat, lawmaker says - nj.com https://www.nj.com/ocean/2024/12/more-than-a-dozen-drones-spotted-off-jersey-shore-following-coast-guard-boat-lawmaker-says.html",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-urges-ai-companies-tackle-security-risks-amid-rising-threats,Kean Urges AI Companies to Tackle Security Risks Amid Rising Threats,2024-12-11,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(December 11, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) sent several letters to the CEOs of major U.S. artificial intelligence companies to follow up on the voluntary commitments they’ve made, expressing deep concerns over a series of significant security lapses that threaten the safety and security of advanced AI technology. Congressman Kean’s letter calls for immediate Congressional oversight and urges the AI companies to provide a detailed overview of their efforts to prevent security breaches and safeguard AI technologies. Additionally, Congressman Kean seeks clarity on how these companies are fulfilling their commitments to the White House and fostering a culture of security within the industry as a whole. The letter addresses troubling incidents, including allegations of a Google employee leaking sensitive trade secrets to Chinese companies, a hacker gaining unauthorized access to OpenAI’s systems, and Meta’s open-source AI models being used by Chinese firms to advance their own AI capabilities. Congressman Kean emphasized that these breaches could potentially expose U.S. technological breakthroughs to theft by foreign adversaries, particularly the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), amid growing concerns over Chinese espionage efforts on an “unprecedented scale.” Congressman Kean requested a response from each of the companies, detailing the steps they plan to take to increase the security of their products and prioritize transparency. Text of each of the letters can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413447,On Fox News Smith demands answers on unidentified drone activity and calls on Defense Secretary to provide all available capabilities in response to possible threats,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today joined Martha MacCallum on Fox News to discuss his ongoing efforts to get answers about the unidentified drone activity storming New Jersey skies and his call for U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to provide all available capabilities to law enforcement officials to respond to the possible threats:,1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413449,Coast Guard lifeboat followed by swarm of drones in close pursuit Smith urges Defense Secretary to immediately deploy all capabilities to identify and address widespread drone activity across New Jersey,2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In a letter today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) urged U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to immediately provide all capabilities at his disposal to identify and address the widespread drone activity across New Jersey as serious concerns continue to mount over potential threats to the homeland. Smith’s letter comes after he was briefed by a U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) Commanding Officer stationed in Barnegat Light that more than a dozen drones followed a USCG motor lifeboat in close pursuit over the weekend. “As you no doubt are also aware, there have been numerous instances of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) flying over New Jersey, including in close proximity to sensitive sites and critical infrastructure, to include military installations located in my district,” said Smith. “As you know, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) possess capabilities to identify and take down unauthorized unmanned aerial systems and have utilized this capability to address overflights of the installation,” Smith said. “I urgently request all capabilities possessed by the Department of Defense, especially those in use by JBMDL to be immediately deployed to identify and address the potential threats posed by UAS over the state of New Jersey,” said Smith. Smith, who spent hours with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy on Monday evening monitoring the New Jersey sky in the Sheriff’s Mobile Command Center, said he is deeply concerned by the potential threats posed by the drones. “The serious concerns of New Jersey residents need to be put to rest with answers—not empty reassurances,” said Smith. “The time to act is now.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413450,"Washington Times article on Smith, other fed officials' concerns:'New Jersey drones stump FBI; lawmakers furious at federal inaction'",2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Stephen Dinan and Tom Howell Jr. - The Washington Times - Tuesday, December 10, 2024 U.S. officials are not sure what to make of the swarms of drones flying over New Jersey in recent weeks, sparking outrage from lawmakers who said it makes the government look incompetent. Those lawmakers decried the lack of answers — and lack of action. “We can bring one down tomorrow,” said Rep. Christopher Smith, New Jersey Republican. Robert Wheeler Jr., who runs the FBI’s critical incident response group, said no evidence suggests nefarious motives, but he hasn’t ruled that out. “It is concerning,” he told the House Homeland Security Committee on Tuesday. He said the public has provided more than 3,000 tips, and reports are everywhere. Some drones have been fixed-wing aircraft, and others are rotary. Some are larger than the typical commercially available size. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, called the drones “sophisticated” and said they “go dark” once detected. The drones were spotted in the general area of Picatinny Arsenal, an Army research complex, and President-elect Donald Trump’s home at Bedminster. “Why are we not taking action?” Rep. August Pfluger, the Texas Republican who convened Tuesday’s hearing on drone dangers, demanded of FBI and Justice Department officials. Mr. Wheeler offered a bureaucratically intricate response. He said “authority exists to mitigate” a drone while in flight, but he didn’t explain why it hasn’t happened. At the White House, press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said President Biden knew of the New Jersey drones, but she would not comment further. Rep. Anthony D’Esposito, New York Republican, said the lack of answers has become an embarrassment. “The fact that we continue to say we don’t know what they are, we don’t know what they’re doing — the American people are looking at us and think we’re lying to them because they think, ‘How could you not have answers to drones flying over some of the most critical airspace in the country?’” he said. Mr. Smith said he was visiting authorities on Monday. One sheriff said a deputy spotted 50 drones flying over the shore on a recent night. A Coast Guard officer said one of his boats was followed by “between 12 and 30 of these drones.” Paul Schwennesen, co-director of the Global Strategy Decisions Group, said he thinks authorities are “frozen with fear” of the ramifications from collateral damage of taking down a drone, such as debris hitting a house. “People are acting out of a sense of self-restraint here, which is being promoted by our policy environment,” he told lawmakers. Experts noted threats elsewhere. He said the risk is “increasingly rapidly.” “We’re already seeing drug cartels in Mexico use drones to attack the military, police and their rivals,” Mr. Jones said. He said those are potential dangers to the U.S. but the more current threats are smuggling operations that use drones as surveillance platforms. They track U.S. assets and spot holes in defenses so they know when to send high-risk contraband across the border. Drone flights have disrupted operations at U.S. airports and sporting events. Lawmakers seemed comfortable with the federal government’s existing powers to track and destroy drones, though they said that authority must be extended and enhanced. They said the bigger policy holes are at the state and local levels, where most drone incidents are handled. This article was published on Dec. 10, 2024 and can be found online at: New Jersey drones stump FBI; lawmakers furious at federal inaction - Washington Times https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2024/dec/10/new-jersey-drones-stump-fbi-lawmakers-furious-fede/?utm_source=Boomtrain&utm_medium=manual&utm_term=newsletter&utm_content=standard&utm_campaign=morning&bt_ee=w58vP0aUx6OyCxpx2%2BeQ73OR39%2Fu%2By%2FD6nYxshD5rxV4LfKKlwH1CBve8pEBe2uw&bt_ts=1733922620821",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413451,Asbury Park Press 'Rep. Smith: 50 drones came in from ocean; At least a dozen trailed Coast Guard ship',2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Jenna Calderón and Lisa Robyn Kruse - Asbury Park Press More than a dozen drones followed a 47-foot Coast Guard boat Sunday night, while law enforcement tracked another 50 drones coming onto land from the ocean at Island State Park, Rep. Chris Smith said. Meanwhile, an FBI assistant director admitted that the agency doesn’t know who is behind the unidentified drones that are flying over New Jersey. Authorities did confirm that the drones are not coming from local military bases. The mystery of the unidentified drones deepened Tuesday, as federal officials admitted during a congressional hearing that despite repeated assurances from Gov. Murphy and other public officials, they can’t say definitively whether the drones pose a threat. MORE: Ocean County sheriff on hunt for mystery drones; Monmouth releases drone map NJ drones: Here are the post-9/11 rules on how government fights airspace intruders “There is nothing known that would lead me to say that but we just don’t know and that’s the concerning part,” Robert Wheeler, assistant FBI director, said during the congressional hearing. Rep. Christopher Smith said during the hearing, and in an interview on Fox News, that he went drone-hunting at Island Beach State Park on Monday with Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy. He said they went to that beach because the night before, a law enforcement officer had counted 50 drones coming in from the ocean onto land. In addition, he said that he was told by a Coast Guard official that one of their 47-foot ships in the ocean was trailed by 12 to 30 drones. “I think this is a very serious threat,” Smith said. He added that when he asked officials at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst why they couldn’t shoot down the drones, he was told they don’t have the authority to do so. Smith urged officials at the hearing to grant military authorization to shoot down the drones so that their identity and capability could be ascertained. During the congressional hearing, Wheeler said that the FBI doesn’t know the people responsible for the drones that have blanketed New Jersey in recent weeks. Wheeler said that based on verified eyewitness reports, some of the drones are larger than commercial drones, and are both rotary and fixed-wing craft. Drones are not military Picatinny Arsenal and Naval Weapons Station Earle said they are not responsible for the recent scattering of devices in the sky, continuing confusion surrounding the mysterious objects. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst did not immediately respond for comment. Since receiving initial reports of the sightings a few weeks ago, Picatinny Arsenal officials immediately began investigating and increased outreach and coordination with several local, state and federal partner organizations to obtain more information, Lt. Col. Craig A. Bonham II, Picatinny Arsenal Garrison Commander, said. ""While the source and cause of these aircraft operating in our area remain unknown, we can confirm that they are not the result of any Picatinny Arsenal-related activities,” Bonham said. MORE: Mystery drones sighted in Monmouth, Ocean counties: Cops New Jersey has witnessed a startling number of drones since mid-to-late November. The unidentified drone sightings have also been reported in Bergen, Esssex, Hunterdon, Morris, Passaic, Sussex, Somerset, and Warren counties. Some eyewitnesses have reported seeing “car-sized” objects that appear to rise in the sky as the sun sets. They have been hovering over reservoirs, military installations and critical infrastructure. In a joint statement on Dec. 3, the FBI, State Police and the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness said authorities were asking the public to report any information related to the recent sightings of possible drones flying in several areas along the Raritan River According to the Federal Aviation Administration, there are security restrictions over Bedminster from December 6 to 20, as well as over Picatinny Arsenal since November 25. This article was originally published in the Asbury Park Press on Dec. 10, 2024 and can be found online at: https://www.app.com/story/news/local/2024/12/10/50-nj-drones-came-in-from-ocean-12-trailed-coast-guard-ship-congressman-fbi-admits-dont-know-origin/76893631007/",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413452,"Patch article on Smith concerns re: unidentified drones'Drones Coming From Ocean, Tailed Coast Guard Vessel At Jersey Shore, NJ Rep Says'",2024-12-10,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Karen Wall,Patch Staff Posted Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 10:53 am ET|Updated Wed, Dec 11, 2024 at 11:43 am ET — U.S. Rep. Chris Smith is urging the federal Defense Department to take action to identify and address the ""potential threat"" posed by drone activity over New Jersey after being told a U.S. Coast Guard vessel was followed by drones and that dozens of drones were seen flying onshore from the Atlantic Ocean over the weekend. Smith made the demands in a letter to U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin after conversations he had Monday night where he was told about a large number of drones coming onshore from the Atlantic Ocean and about drones following a U.S. Coast Guard boat off Ocean County. Smith told Austin he is very concerned about the proximity of unidentified drone flights over the last several weeks to sensitive sites and critical infrastructure across New Jersey, including Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. The base is part of New Jersey's 4th District, which Smith represents. He told Fox News host Martha MacCallum on Tuesday that he had been with Ocean County Sheriff Michael Mastronardy and the sheriff's office unit that is chronicling drone activity when a U.S. Coast Guard officer told him about the drones following the Coast Guard motor lifeboat. ""One of their 47-foot boats was trailed very closely by more than a dozen of these drones"" off Barnegat Light, Smith said in the interview Tuesday. The drones were very large and close to the stern of the boat, Smith said he was told. In addition, Smith said a member of the sheriff's office told him of seeing 50 drones flying onshore from a boat on Sunday night. Messages left for the sheriff's office and the Coast Guard seeking additional details were not immediately returned Wednesday morning. Smith said he spoke with officials at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and was told the defense department has ""the capability to ascertain who they are and take them down,"" but that the defense department has not been given the authority to shoot one down. Smith, who spent hours with Mastronardy on Monday at the Sheriff’s Mobile Command Center while it was at Island Beach State Park, said he is deeply concerned by the potential threats posed by the drones. ""This is very, not just suspicious, but provocative,"" Smith said in the Fox interview. ""This could be a foreign power whether it be Putin, Xi Jinping or (a country in) the Middle East."" Smith, in his letter to Austin, said he is very concerned about the proximity of flights to Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, along with other sensitive sites and critical infrastructure across New Jersey over the last several weeks. ""As you know, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JBMDL) possess capabilities to identify and take down unauthorized unmanned aerial systems and have utilized this capability to address overflights of the installation,"" Smith said. ""I urgently request all capabilities possessed by the Department of Defense, especially those in use by JBMDL to be immediately deployed to identify and address the potential threats posed by UAS over the state of New Jersey."" Smith, in a news release Tuesday morning, described the response so far by state and federal agencies as ""tepid"" and called it ""totally unacceptable."" ""As we saw with the Chinese spy balloon last year, our fiercest adversaries will stop at nothing to surveil our homeland and threaten our national security,"" he said. ""The serious concerns of New Jersey residents need to be put to rest with answers—not empty reassurances,"" Smith said. ""The time to act is now."" This article was published on Dec. 11, 2024 and can be found online at: https://patch.com/new-jersey/marlboro-coltsneck/s/j23gv/drones-coming-from-ocean-tailed-coast-guard-at-jersey-shore-nj-rep?utm_source=alert-breakingnews&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=alert&user_email=666b17f44f8702d8ab956b9ede12ba559d62bda1a72487c264dbb04d026cda7a",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413446,Smith on Island Beach State Park tonight with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy as part of ongoing efforts to address the unidentified drone activity,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) tonight is on Island Beach State Park with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, who has led efforts to determine the source and possible risks related to the drone activity that has been reported in Ocean County over the last few days. Rep. Smith issued the following statement: “I have been speaking with Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy, Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden, and national security officials located in the area to discuss the widespread reports of unidentified drone activity across my central New Jersey congressional district and across our state. Understandably, New Jersey residents are very alarmed at this significant and reoccurring phenomenon—and the tepid response from our state and federal agencies so far is totally unacceptable. As we saw with the Chinese spy balloon last year, our fiercest adversaries will stop at nothing to surveil our homeland and threaten our national security. While the source of this drone activity is still to be determined, it is clear that the communication channels and proper authorities among local law enforcement and federal partners must be drastically improved in order to work quickly through deconfliction and security challenges as unmanned aerial systems become more prevalent. The people of New Jersey deserve swift and bold action on the part of our state and federal agencies to investigate, assess, and address the situation immediately and to alleviate the growing concerns of our community. I have already made inquiries to various federal agencies regarding their response to these sightings after being briefed by the Governor, the State Police, the Secretary of Homeland Security, and U.S. military personnel over the past week. I will continue working around the clock to ensure law enforcement has all the tools and authorities necessary to identify these unmanned aerial systems and until New Jersey residents have the comprehensive answers they deserve.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-calls-federal-action-address-unexplained-drone-activity,Kean Calls for Federal Action to Address Unexplained Drone Activity,2024-12-09,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(December 9, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) issued a statement urging immediate federal action to address the growing concern over unexplained drone activity in New Jersey: “I join thousands of New Jersey residents in deep frustration regarding the growing concerns over drones operating in our skies. The safety and privacy of our residents must be a top priority, and right now, both are being put at risk. I am calling for the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Aviation Administration, and other appropriate federal agencies to deploy greater resources to investigate and address this escalating issue. Additionally, an in-depth public briefing from authorities should take place immediately. The people of New Jersey deserve answers, and I will continue to demand accountability to ensure their rights and security are fully protected.” - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413438,Rep. Smith's statement on President Biden's pardon of Hunter Biden,2024-12-02,2024,2024-12,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) issued the following statement in response to President Biden’s decision to pardon Hunter Biden: ""President Biden’s 'full and unconditional' pardon of his son Hunter makes an absolute mockery of our justice system. While other Americans are serving time for committing the very same felonies, Hunter Biden will never be held accountable for his crimes—simply because of his last name. Time and time again President Biden said that he would not pardon his son. He also said he never discussed these crimes and activities with Hunter. President Biden has been caught in many lies throughout his political career—which begs the question what else has he said as President and Vice President—and even as a U.S. Senator—that was not true? President Biden has degraded the rule of law.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:13:55Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413399,"Smith cosponsor of legislation House overwhelmingly passes Social Security Fairness Act to remove unjust provisions that penalize police officers, firefighters and teachers",2024-11-12,2024,2024-11,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the House of Representatives today passed (327-75) the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) to repeal two unjust provisions known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) that penalize police officers, firefighters, teachers and other public servants by unfairly reducing their Social Security benefits. “It is egregiously unfair that our fellow Americans who have spent substantial portions of their careers serving their communities are punished by having their benefits cut in this way,” said Smith, a cosponsor of the bill. “This critical legislation will help restore fairness to the retirement program for the millions of Americans who deserve their hard-earned benefits.” Currently, the WEP and GPO reduce the benefits of nearly 3 million Americans who also receive a public pension from a job not covered by Social Security or who have a spouse employed by federal, state, or local government in a job that is not covered by Social Security. In September, Smith signed a discharge petition to advance the bill directly to the House Floor for a vote after the bill stalled in the House Ways and Means Committee despite its overwhelming bipartisan support. The petition, which received the required number of 218 signatories, enabled the bill to move to the House Floor without needing further committee action. “The urgent need to repeal the WEP and GPO completely is why I have been a proud cosponsor of the Social Security Fairness Act since it was first introduced last January and why I signed the discharge petition to ensure it received its well-deserved consideration by the House of Representatives,” Smith said. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T22:07:06Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413397,New BOEM-DOD offshore wind agreement heightens concerns over whether approved projects have been properly vetted by U.S. military,2024-10-30,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today slammed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) and the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to collaborate on offshore wind development, saying the haphazard move “heightens serious concerns over whether projects that have already been approved were thoroughly and properly vetted by the U.S. military for adverse impacts on national security and military readiness.” “It is extremely disconcerting that BOEM is only now deciding to define roles and duties with the Defense Department for offshore wind leasing and project review after 10 projects have already been fully approved by the Biden-Harris Administration with more lined up,” said Smith. “BOEM’s own analysis for the Atlantic Shores South project acknowledges that the offshore wind turbines would specifically interfere with federal and military radar systems, even mentioning Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst by name,” said Smith. “And yet shockingly, BOEM has already issued full federal approval for construction to move forward—even before reaching this new agreement to work with the Defense Department.” According to BOEM, the memorandum of understanding includes calls for BOEM and DOD to: · “Collaborate as early as possible in the offshore wind leasing process”; · “Regularly communicate and exchange information at the staff and leadership levels”; and · “Determine what areas should be deferred from leasing to enable the performance of DOD activities.” “Anyone who has been paying close attention to the shoddy and reckless approval process for these offshore wind projects will not be fooled by this after-the-fact proposal—which is far too little and far too late,” said Smith. “For years, we have been pointing out the lack of serious scrutiny and proper vetting for these projects—especially and including the likely dire impacts on national security and military readiness—but the Biden-Harris Administration has ignored our concerns,” Smith said. “In fact, the implementation of this agreement so late in the process begs the question of what national security threats have been downplayed or neglected by BOEM over the past few years during its reckless, fast-track approval process,” said Smith. In Congress, Smith has been leading efforts to raise the alarm over the serious threats that rapid offshore wind industrialization poses to U.S. national security in addition to other wide-ranging adverse impacts. Last year, Smith introduced legislation—which was passed by the House of Representatives in July 2023—that would require presidential certification that offshore wind projects would not “weaken, degrade, interfere with, or nullify the capability of radar relied upon by the Federal Aviation Administration or the Armed Forces.” Smith’s legislative effort came shortly after BOEM Director Liz Klein failed to offer specific details when pressed by Smith at a congressional hearing on whether offshore wind projects would make military vessel navigation less safe. Their exchange occurred just one week after Bloomberg reported that the Pentagon had deemed several areas off the East Coast as “highly problematic” for offshore wind development due to proximity to military operations. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-highlights-over-11-million-dollars-new-fema-safer-and-afg-grants-local,"Kean Highlights Over $1.1 Million Dollars in New FEMA, SAFER and AFG Grants for Local Fire Departments",2024-10-29,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 29, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) awarded over $1.1 million dollars for local fire departments in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District through the Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) Program and the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) Program. In February of this year, Congressman Kean hosted a FEMA AFG Webinar also wrote letters of support for fire departments to receive a FEMA grant in the 7th Congressional District that requested assistance. Congressman Kean’s Fire Grants and Safety Act was signed into law in July which provided the necessary federal resources through the AFG and SAFER programs. “Every day, firefighters put their lives on the line to protect our communities,” said Congressman Kean. “It is essential that we provide our first responders with the resources they need, and I am grateful to see this funding coming back to the district. Investing in our local fire departments means we are investing in the safety and well-being of our families and neighbors.” ""Our agency is incredibly grateful to be chosen for a 2024 Assistance to Firefighters Grant to purchase new portable radios,” said Matthew Hoffman, Chief of Readington Volunteer Fire Company. “Radio communications are a vital part of our everyday operations and safety of our firefighters as they operate on incidents. These funds will help to take the financial burden off our agency and township in the upgrade process. We appreciate the letter of support from Congressman Kean and his office that was submitted with the application.” “Quakertown Fire Company is thrilled to be receiving a $577,000 FEMA SAFER grant for recruitment and retention,” said Bradley Patkochis, Chief of Quakertown Fire Company. “The importance of AFG and SAFER cannot be understated, particularly the ability for local fire companies to complete critical projects without putting it on the backs of New Jersey taxpayers. Thank you to Congressman Kean for supporting FEMA AFG and SAFER programs through the Fire Grants and Safety Act.” $1,171,231 in total going back to New Jersey’s local fire departments, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) and Assistance to Firefighter Grants (AFG) were distributed as follows: $60,909 for City of Linden $44,788 for Tri-County Fire Co No 1 of Stephensburg (Hackettstown) $53,705 for Alpha Volunteer Fire Co (Phillipsburg) $189,735 for Readington Volunteer Fire Company $244,761 for Chester Township $577,333 for Quakertown Fire Company (Franklin, Hunterdon Co.) Congressman Kean’s Fire Grants and Safety Act authorizes up to $750 million in funding from fiscal years 2024 through 2028, extending the sunset date of these programs to September 30, 2030. Additionally, it increases funding levels for the U.S. Fire Administration to $95 million in order to support initiatives such as the National Emergency Response Information System (NERIS). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413396,Smith measure required report in response to death of Kyle Mullen IG report notes some improvements but admonishes Navy to reassess medical capabilities at Hell Week,2024-10-28,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In a new report mandated by legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General (IG) noted improvements made following Kyle Mullen’s death but admonished the Navy to “reassess” the “medical capabilities” at the Navy SEALs Hell Week training, raising serious questions over whether their medical and communications equipment can “provide the appropriate standard of care” and if their medical staffing requirements “meet clinical demand.” “The new policies following Kyle’s death are welcomed, yet they underscore the grave unnecessary risks that SEAL candidates faced before the critical changes were implemented,” said Smith. “Significantly, the IG report reinforces the findings of the Navy’s May 2023 command investigation into Kyle’s death, which cited ‘failures across multiple systems that led to a number of candidates being at high risk of serious injury,’ including ‘wholly inadequate’ medical monitoring and care during and after Hell Week,” said Smith. “The IG report shows that unnecessary health and safety risks existed and notes that some—but not all—of these failures have been addressed in the wake of the Mullen tragedy.” Proactive Pneumonia Safety Measure. Acute pneumonia was determined to be the cause of Kyle’s death in February 2022. According to the IG, one new policy implemented by the Navy following Kyle’s death was that they now administer prophylactic antibiotics to prevent bacterial infections including cellulitis and pneumonia. Also, one or two medical personnel are now required to be on-site for all Hell Week evolutions. Additionally, the IG reports that “one of the biggest improvements for SEAL candidates” is the Recovery Observation Center (ROC), which it says was established in August 2023 “to provide closer medical oversight of candidates during Hell Week and when Hell Week is complete.” “It is clear as day that there were significant medical shortfalls and lapses when Kyle Mullen and others were training during Hell Week in 2022, and the change is good,” Smith said. “But now, almost three years after Kyle’s death, the IG is still raising significant questions about appropriate standard of care and the Navy’s ability to meet the clinical needs for the brave men who enter this rigorous training program.” The Navy now has 90 days to respond to the proposed recommendations made by the Inspector General following their evaluation. Named the “Kyle Mullen Naval Safety Enhancements,” Smith’s measure was passed by the House of Representatives in July 2022 and incorporated as Section 745 of the final National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117-263). The revised provisions directed the U.S. Department of Defense Inspector General to conduct a comprehensive review and report its recommendations for improved medical care and oversight of Navy SEAL training. Smith said the IG report and the continued push for further improvements would not be possible without Kyle’s mother Regina—a registered nurse—and her dedication to ensuring that no other parent must endure her pain. “Regina’s courageous and relentless advocacy in the face of untold suffering has resulted in direct improvements for those who are training for some of our Nation’s most critical missions,” said Smith. “The incredibly tough, brave young men who step up to serve our great Nation deserve the best medical care and attention we can provide,” Smith said. “Regina’s heroic work will no doubt save other young men from injury and even death.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-fighting-restore-memorial-pond-mount-arlington,Kean Fighting to Restore Memorial Pond in Mount Arlington,2024-10-25,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 25, 2024) BOROUGH OF MOUNT ARLINGTON, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) toured Memorial Pond to gain insight into the critical need for renovations ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion. Congressman Kean is advocating for $560,000 in the FY25 appropriation process to benefit the Borough of Mount Arlington. The funding will be used for data collection and analysis of the sediment, surveying, engineering, regulatory requirements, and dredging of Memorial Pond. The dredging involves pumping the sediment through a pipeline into geotubes. This funding has passed the House Appropriations Committee. ""In our ongoing efforts to both protect and enhance our community’s natural resources, I am advocating for $560,000 in the FY25 appropriations to support vital renovations at Memorial Pond,” said Congressman Kean. “My recent tour and conversations with local stakeholders and leaders reinforced the importance this funding. These resources will be used for data collection, engineering assessments, and the dredging process itself. This project is not just about maintaining a beautiful space; it's about ensuring the ecological health of our environment for future generations. By investing in Memorial Pond, we are making a commitment to the well-being of the Borough of Mount Arlington and fostering a sustainable community."" “This is a fantastic project that will have a positive impact on the quality of the water, not only in Memorial Pond and at our town beach, but in Lake Hopatcong as a whole,” said Michael Stanzilis, Mayor of Mount Arlington Borough. “Congressman Kean has worked hard to protect the environment and the quality of water both in and around Lake Hopatcong and Mount Arlington.” “We are incredibly grateful to Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. for visiting Lake Hopatcong and for his support of projects meant to improve the water quality of our lake, including the vital dredging of Memorial Pond in Mount Arlington,” said Kyle Richter, Executive Director of the Lake Hopatcong Foundation. “His commitment to protecting and preserving our natural resources ensures a healthier future for our community and the generations to come.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413395,Patch News article on Rep. Smith bill:'New VA Clinic To Be Named For Toms River World War 2 Hero Lomell',2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Reps. Chris Smith and Andy Kim promised local officials including then-mayor Maurice Hill to see to it that Lomell was honored with the clinic naming. Smith introduced HR 9997 to do just that. The legislation is cosponsored by Kim, Rep. Jeff Van Drew of the 2nd District, and Rep. Donald Norcross of the 1st District. ""A decorated war hero and upstanding citizen, Bud Lomell sacrificed so much for our country and courageously led his platoon during the D-Day invasion of Normandy,"" Smith said in announcing the legislation ""It is only fitting that the new modern health care facility in Toms River that will serve so many of our Nation’s heroes living in our community be named after one of our very own heroes from Ocean County."" Smith had represented Toms River and Brick for years until a redistricting moved those towns out of the 4th District. He led the fight to build the James J. Howard VA outpatient clinic in Brick in the 1980s. Kim, who represents the 3rd District, had helped fight for the new clinic in Toms River since he was elected in 2018. Toms River and Brick were in the 3rd District until 2023, following the 2022 election when redistricting shifted the two towns (and others) back to Smith's district. Lomell was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor and leadership while scaling the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc in a critical and highly difficult mission to disable an installment of German heavy guns. He later earned a Silver Star for his actions to capture and secure Hill 400 in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, during which he led the Rangers in defending the hilltop against a German counterattack, even after being severely wounded. After serving our nation overseas, Lomell returned home to Ocean County and became President of the Ocean County Bar Association, a director of the First National Bank of Toms River, and a member of the then Dover Township Board of Education. He died of natural causes in 2011 at his Toms River home. The new Toms River clinic is a 68,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility located on Hooper Avenue. It replaces the Howard clinic, which opened in 1990 but can no longer accommodate the large number of veterans in the area.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-advocates-over-16-million-funding-bernards-township-police,Kean Advocates for Over $1.6 Million in Funding for Bernards Township Police,2024-10-22,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 22, 2024) BERNARDS TOWNSHIP, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) toured the Bernards Township Police Department ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into local law enforcement needs and priorities. Congressman Kean is advocating for $1,626,100 in the FY25 appropriation process to benefit Bernards Township. This funding would be used for improving the communications capabilities of the Bernards Police Department and partner emergency response agencies within the Township. “I will continue to advocate for the return of as many federal funds as possible to the Bernards Township Police Department,” said Congressman Kean. “This funding for Bernards Township has already passed the House Appropriations Committee. With these resources, local police officers will be able to upgrade their radio communication system, significantly enhancing their ability to communicate and coordinate deployments. This investment is crucial for ensuring the safety and security of this community.” “Bernards Township is grateful to Congressman Kean's support of our community, especially regarding public safety,” said Jennifer Asay, Mayor of Bernards Township. “In February, he hosted a Crime Roundtable webinar where I was a panelist and learned from my fellow panelists and the Congressman collective concerns and where to partner to develop solutions to protect residents. Additionally, we are honored to be one of the Congressman's 15 submissions for Community Project Funding FY2025. If awarded, this $1.6M grant will upgrade the communications capabilities of the Bernards Township Police Department and partner emergency response agencies within the Township, resulting in enhanced resident safety.” “The Bernards Township Police Department appreciated meeting and speaking with Congressman Tom Kean, Junior,” said Jon Burger, Chief of Bernards Township Police Department. “We appreciate the support he provides the community and law enforcement.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413394,Azerbaijani dissident murdered in France in run-up to UN climate change conference in Baku Smith urges Biden-Harris Administration to establish increased protection for Azerbaijanis in the U.S. threatened by escalating transnational repression,2024-10-21,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In the wake of the reported murder of outspoken Azerbaijani dissident Vidadi Isgandarli who was brutally beaten and stabbed to death in his house in France, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) is urging the Biden-Harris Administration to “establish a U.S. Government effort to provide increased protection to Azerbaijanis living in the United States who may be in danger of escalating transnational repression in the run-up to next month’s COP29 Climate Change Conference in Baku.” “This shocking crime perpetrated against a leading critic of Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev is extremely concerning and has placed Azerbaijanis in the United States on high alert—especially those who are bravely exposing Aliyev’s cruel regime and its egregious human rights violations and large-scale corruption,” said Smith, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. “The Biden-Harris Administration needs to directly address Aliyev’s horrific and heightening transnational repression before it’s too late,” said Smith, the author of the Transnational Repression Policy Act (HR 3654) that would comprehensively enhance the U.S government’s response to foreign governments who target and persecute individuals living in the United States. “If top Biden-Harris officials pretend this murder was not intended to intimidate other outspoken Azerbaijanis, they will be responsible for emboldening the perpetrators and increasing the threat to other Azerbaijanis,” said Smith, who has chaired numerous congressional hearings and has visited Azerbaijan on several human rights trips as part of his longtime efforts to advocate for victims of Azerbaijan’s human rights abuses, including ethnic Azerbaijanis and Armenians. The murder of Isgandarli follows numerous reports detailing Azerbaijani dissidents who have been targeted and attacked in recent years around the world, including in the U.S., France, Germany and Georgia. In 2020, the Institute for Peace and Democracy noted it had been informed of “confidential information from Baku about the plans to neutralize the most active critics of the regime living in the West” and a list of individuals that Azerbaijan planned on targeting. Despite continuing to have one of the most repressive governments in the world, Azerbaijan is slated to host the United Nations’s COP29 Climate Change Conference in November. “It is outrageous that the Biden-Harris Administration is giving credence to Azerbaijan’s propaganda that it is a ‘peacemaker’ and sending a high-level delegation to its COP29 conference while Azerbaijani dissidents in the United States and around the world are being persecuted and even killed for standing up for human rights and democracy,” said Smith, who authored the Azerbaijan Democracy Act in 2015 to promote the rule of law and respect for human rights in the country. “In addition to securing the safety of Azerbaijanis here at home, the Biden-Harris Administration should immediately retract its destructive statements about valuing the dictator’s ‘leadership’ and foolishly saying our countries have ‘aligned our priorities,’” said Smith, referring to comments made earlier this month by John Podesta, Senior Advisor to President Biden for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-advocates-nearly-2-million-funding-readington-police,Kean Advocates for Nearly $2 Million in Funding for Readington Police,2024-10-19,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 19, 2024) READINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – On Thursday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) toured the Readington Township Police Department ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into local law enforcement needs and priorities. Congressman Kean is advocating for $1.9 million in the FY25 appropriation process to benefit Readington Township. This funding would be used to enhance the operational capacity, efficiency, and community engagement of the department through strategic upgrades and expansion efforts. ""As we continue with the FY25 appropriations process, I remain committed to advocating for the $1.9 million in funding that has already passed the House Appropriations Committee,"" said Congressman Kean. ""This critical investment will help modernize infrastructure, upgrade technology, and expand resources, ensuring that our officers have the tools they need to effectively serve and protect the residents of Readington Township."" “As mayor of Readington Township, I am deeply grateful for Congressman Tom Kean’s partnership in securing millions of dollars through the House Appropriations Committee’s community project funding grant,” said Adam Mueller, Mayor of the Readington Township. “This crucial funding will be used for the expansion and modernization of our police department, ensuring they have the resources to serve our community effectively. Congressman Kean has been a devout supporter of our first responders, and his commitment to their safety and success is truly commendable.” “The Readington Township Police Department is grateful for Congressman Kean’s continued support for law enforcement, and his commitment to secure funding that ensures our police officers have the tools they need to deliver the highest quality police service to the residents of Readington Township,” said Jim Curry, Director of Public Safety for the Readington Township Police Department. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413392,Ahead of Tuesday’s opening Smith introduces legislation to name new Toms River veterans clinic after highly-decorated local war hero Bud Lomell,2024-10-18,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the author of more than a dozen laws to help our nation’s veterans and their families, today introduced legislation (HR 9997) to name the new veterans clinic in Toms River after World War II hero and longtime Toms River resident, Second Lieutenant Leonard G. “Bud” Lomell. Smith’s bill, which notes that Lomell is “exceedingly deserving of the posthumous honor,” is already cosponsored by Reps. Donald Norcross (D-NJ), Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ). “A decorated war hero and upstanding citizen, Bud Lomell sacrificed so much for our country and courageously led his platoon during the D-Day invasion of Normandy,” said Smith, who served two terms as Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee. “For his incredible leadership and remarkable bravery, Bud Lomell received a Purple Heart, Silver Star and Bronze Star.” “It is only fitting that the new modern health care facility in Toms River that will serve so many of our Nation’s heroes living in our community be named after one of our very own heroes from Ocean County,” Smith said. Smith’s legislation has received the strong support of the entire Lomell Family—including Bud’s surviving wife, Charlotte Ewart Lomell, who was married to Bud for 63 years. After citing Lomell’s extraordinary heroism, HR 9997 concludes: “As a decorated war hero, model citizen, and dedicated husband and father, Second Lieutenant Lomell is exceedingly deserving of the posthumous honor of having a new and long-awaited Toms River-based Department of Veterans Affairs outpatient clinic named in his honor.” Lomell, who served as a U.S. Army Ranger in World War II through multiple engagements including the Invasion of Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, was recognized by famed historian Stephen Ambrose as “the single individual—other than Dwight Eisenhower—as most responsible for the Allied successes on D-Day.” Lomell was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his valor and leadership while scaling the cliffs of Pointe Du Hoc in a critical and highly difficult mission to disable an installment of German heavy guns. He later earned a Silver Star for his actions to capture and secure Hill 400 in the Battle of Hurtgen Forest, during which he led the Rangers in defending the hilltop against a German counterattack, even after being severely wounded. After serving our nation overseas, Lomell returned home to Ocean County, where he was appointed to serve as the first director of the newly organized Ocean County Veterans Service Bureau to assist veterans with their transition to civilian life. He went on to study law on the GI Bill and also served as President of the Ocean County Bar Association, a director of the First National Bank of Toms River, and a member of the then Dover Township Board of Education. He died of natural causes in 2011 at his Toms River home. The new Toms River clinic—a 68,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility located on Hooper Ave—will replace Ocean County’s Brick clinic that Smith secured in 1991 but can no longer accommodate the large veterans population in the area. As part of his push to establish that clinic, Smith had authored three amendments passed by the House of Representatives to bring a Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient clinic, for the first time, to Ocean County. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413391,Smith secured $30.2 million from federal infrastructure bill Beach replenishment from Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet ready to move forward with new contract awarded,2024-10-17,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Critical beach replenishment for Jersey Shore towns in the Fourth Congressional District is primed to begin after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers officially awarded a contract for the project to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, announced Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester). “After several contracting delays, this long-awaited project to restore our beaches that have suffered considerable erosion over the past years is finally ready to move forward,” said Smith, who secured $30.2 million in federal funding for the project. The project, which has faced several setbacks, had been in serious jeopardy before Smith intervened in January 2022 and secured the entire federal share—or approximately half of the $73.5 million total cost—from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. “We have never let up on securing this long-overdue, unjustly delayed project,” said Smith. “Our shore communities will benefit greatly from the federal assistance and partnership to address significant safety concerns from beach erosion and help blunt damaging effects of major storms.” Smith said that while the work schedule is yet to be finalized, the project will likely be completed over the winter months—or possibly sooner. “I am confident that the Army Corps will work closely with the contract awardee to help see that this important operation, now finally awarded, is not derailed again,” said Smith. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413390,Lufthansa fined $4 million for discriminating against Jewish passengers in antisemitic incident,2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), Co-Chair of the House Task Force for Combating Antisemitism, said the $4 million fine levied against Lufthansa today for discriminating against Jewish passengers—including some from Smith’s congressional district—“sends a strong message that discrimination and antisemitism has absolutely no place in our society and will not be tolerated.” The record fine comes in response to a May 2022 incident when 128 members of the Orthodox Jewish community were denied boarding on a connecting flight in Germany based on the actions of only some of the passengers, even though many did not know each other and were traveling separately. In the wake of the incident, Smith wrote a letter to Lufthansa Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Carsten Spohr expressing his “utter disgust” for the way in which the travelers were treated and requested a meeting with the German airline’s top brass to address “several vexing questions.” At Smith’s request, the Lufthansa CEO met with him and a constituent in Smith’s DC office to hear directly from a victim of the discrimination just two weeks after the antisemitic incident. Lufthansa conducted an investigation, changed policies and continued negotiations with many of the passengers. “The rising tide of antisemitism worldwide cannot be overlooked,” said Smith. “Tragically, Jewish men, women and children continue to suffer bias, cruelty, hate and violence simply because they are Jewish.” “Silence is not an option—nor is inaction,” said Smith. “If our fight against this pernicious form of hatred is to succeed, we must be absolutely clear and bold in word, deed, policies and treatment.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-honors-local-law-enforcement-hometown-heroes-event,Kean Honors Local Law Enforcement at Hometown Heroes Event,2024-10-15,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 15, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Last Friday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) hosted his inaugural Law Enforcement Hometown Heroes event at the Bernardsville Library to recognize and honor outstanding law enforcement officers in the community. In attendance were Bernardsville Council President Al Ribeiro, Bernards Township Mayor Jennifer Asay, the Hometown Heroes, along with their families, friends, and supervisors. Congressman Kean honored 22 Hometown Heroes, who represent all six counties in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Each Hometown Hero was nominated by their chiefs and supervisors for the outstanding work they do every day. “First responders and law enforcement are the backbone of our communities' safety,” said Congressman Kean. “I am fortunate to represent a district filled with some of the most selfless and hard-working people, including those we recognized as Law Enforcement Hometown Heroes. I am grateful to play a small role in recognizing their efforts as a token of appreciation for the difficult responsibilities these men and women have keeping our communities safe.” “I’m grateful to Congressman Kean for choosing to recognize our law enforcement professionals,” said Sergeant Daniel Kern, 2024 Law Enforcement Hometown Hero. “Law enforcement officers are some of the most misunderstood professionals. The vast majority of officers sacrifice a great deal for their communities and do so without the expectation or desire of any recognition. My department is full of officers that could easily be here in my place.” “I am grateful to have been nominated and recognized as part of Congressman Kean’s Hometown Heroes Initiative,” said Sergeant Tracy Baldassare, 2024 Law Enforcement Hometown Hero. “I am proud to represent and serve alongside all of the honorable women and men of the Bernards Township Police Department. Being able to do so in my hometown has been an added privilege, for which I will always be thankful.” Photos of the event can be found HERE. The Honorees are: Honorees That Attended: Captain Miguel Acabou - Clark Police Department Sergeant Tracy Baldassare-Bernards Township Police Department Lieutenant Douglas Baylor- Phillipsburg Police Department Officer Alyse Brown- Sparta Township Police Department Staff Sargeant Brent Hawkswell – NJ State Police Sergeant Daniel Kern-Hopatcong Police Department Captain Michael Jackson- Mountainside Police Department Corporal Gretchen L. Malone -Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office Officer Jarren Mann -Hunterdon County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Thomas Polito- Bedminster Township Police Department Detective Elizabeth Savnik – Westfield Police Department Officer John M. Simonetti Jr.- Mount Olive Police Department Lieutenant Donald Sretenovic -New Providence Police Department Patrolman Peter Zabita-Hopatcong Police Department Honorees That Did Not Attend: Officer Vincent Conti- Scotch Plains Police Department Officer Jessica Gutsick- High Bridge Police Department Corporal Ryan Kamieniecki- Far Hills Police Department Captain Jonathan Rachel – Springfield Police Department Captain Scott Rayack - Rahway Police Department Sergeant Timothy Richard-Bernardsville Police Department Officer Connor Strohm- Readington Township Police Department Officer Nicholas J. Villa- Raritan Township Police Department ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-kean-accepting-applications-spring-2025-internships,Congressman Kean Accepting Applications for Spring 2025 Internships,2024-10-10,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 10, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that his office is now accepting applications for the Spring 2025 Internship Program. This valuable opportunity provides college students with a unique chance to gain hands-on experience in the fast-paced world of public service and legislative affairs. As an integral part of the congressional office, interns will have the chance to work closely with dedicated staff members and contribute to the development and implementation of legislative initiatives. This immersive experience will provide valuable insights into the inner workings of the U.S. Congress and the day-to-day responsibilities of a congressional office. ""We are excited to offer this internship program to students who are passionate about public service,"" said Congressman Kean. ""Our interns play a vital role in supporting our work on behalf of the constituents we serve, and I am proud to provide them with a valuable learning experience."" To apply for the Spring Internship Program for both the DC and the NJ District offices, interested individuals should visit https://kean.house.gov/services/internships and complete the online application. The deadline for applications is Friday, November 15, 2024. Internships are for currently enrolled college students. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413388,In bicameral letter Members of Congress put federal agency on notice for violating the law by allowing congressional health plans to subsidize abortion,2024-10-09,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In a bicameral letter to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today, more than two dozen Members of Congress—led by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Rep. Eric Burlison (R-MO), and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT)—admonished the human resources agency for violating federal law that prohibits congressional health plans from subsidizing elective abortion. “It is a clear violation of the Smith Amendment for health plans available to Members and staff to offer elective abortion,” wrote the 22 House Members and 4 Senators, who noted the provision—which was first authored by Rep. Chris Smith—has been renewed annually for nearly 30 years. The letter comes on the heels of reports that Aetna—currently the sole provider of congressional-eligible plans that comply with the Smith Amendment by excluding coverage of elective abortion—will stop offering health plans on Washington, DC’s Affordable Care Act exchange known as DC Health Link. Congressional Members and staff have been advised that only two plans that do not cover elective abortion will be made available for the upcoming plan year. “Under the Smith Amendment, OPM is prohibited from engaging in administrative activity in connection with any plan that subsidizes elective abortion, let alone almost all of them,” the lawmakers continued. “The severity of OPM’s specious implementation of—or perhaps malicious disregard for—the law must be finally and permanently remedied and brought into compliance with congressional intent,” the lawmakers wrote. As a result of Aetna’s withdrawal from the exchange, Members of Congress and staff enrolled in Aetna plans will be forced to select new health plans during their upcoming “open season,” which is scheduled for November 11 through December 9, 2024. “In Plan Year 2024, Aetna offered eight health plans that did not subsidize elective abortion,” the lawmakers wrote. “The situation has now deteriorated to the point that Members of Congress and their designated staff have only two plans available to them in 2025.” “This outcome is a tragic result of OPM’s illegal policies,” the lawmakers continued. “The fact that plans available to congressional personnel have not properly excluded abortion coverage has been an ongoing well-documented violation of federal law by the Office of Personnel Management.” “We call on you to cease the administration of government contributions for Congressional health insurance plans that illegally cover elective abortion; instead direct the D.C. Health Link and its participating insurers to provide compliant health insurance plans to Members of Congress and their staff,” the lawmakers urged OPM Acting Director Shriver. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-visits-fy25-community-project-funding-site-warren-county,Kean Visits FY25 Community Project Funding Site in Warren County,2024-10-09,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 9, 2024) WARREN COUNTY, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) met with Dr. William Austin, Warren Community College President, along with students, faculty, and deans, ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into the critical need for funding to enhance the Agricultural Education and Training Center’s facilities. Congressman Kean requested $978,625 for Warren Community College in this year’s appropriation process. The funding would be used for improvements to the existing Agricultural Education and Training Center’s facilities to serve as a location for training students on vocational agriculture and culinary studies. “Hands-on experience bridges the gap between classroom learning and practical application, providing opportunities that can be transformed into valuable real-world skills,” said Congressman Kean. “This funding would provide students with the necessary resources and training in vocational agriculture and culinary studies, helping to foster skill development and workforce readiness in these fields. I thank President Austin and his team for taking the time to show me the site today and look forward to getting this funding across the finish line.” “We are honored to welcome Congressman Kean to our Robotics research facility, where we reviewed our past work in precision agriculture and discussed our plans to automate food processing,” said Dr. William Austin, President of Warren Community College. “By collaborating with local farmers and the Congressman, we aim to develop a cutting-edge food science innovation center for Northwest New Jersey.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413385,Patch News article:'500 Rally In Sea Girt Against Offshore Wind Turbines',2024-10-08,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Carly Baldwin,Patch Staff Posted Mon, Oct 7, 2024 at 10:56 am ET|Updated Tue, Oct 8, 2024 at 8:57 am ET — Nearly 500 people rallied in Sea Girt Sunday morning to protest the planned installation of wind turbines off the Jersey Shore. Gov. Phil Murphy drove by the crowd as he entered the National Guard Training Center, located in Sea Girt, where he had to attend an annual military review. Organizers say they planned the protest specifically because they knew Murphy would be in the area. Murphy did not speak to the crowd. ""We wanted him to see us and he did see us, and snuck past us when (NJ Republican governor candidate Jack) Ciattarelli was speaking,"" said one of the organizers, Lynette Viviani of Stop the High-Risk Power Cables.org, a group of Jersey Shore residents that are trying to prevent plans to bring the wind energy ashore in Sea Girt, Manasquan and Wall. 'The rush to install these expensive and expansive offshore wind farms — with industrial cables tearing up towns like Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall and Howell — is a catastrophe in the making... Gov. Murphy’s blatant disregard for the concerns of local residents, the dangers presented by these projects, and the reckless spending in pursuit of them makes no sense whatsoever.' - Congressman Chris Smith (R- Manchester) The wind farm that is currently progressing off the Jersey Shore is Atlantic Shores, which is actually composed of three wind farms, according to the company website, Atlantic Shores Wind: Atlantic Shores North: A wind farm about 9-10 miles off Barnegat Light Atlantic Shores South: 195 turbines 8.7 miles off Atlantic City at its closest point to land Atlantic Shores Bight: A third lease area much farther out to sea, located in an area known as the Atlantic Bight. AtlanticShoresWind.com is a private subsidiary owned by Shell Oil and EDF Renewables. They currently hold the leasing rights to three areas of the Atlantic Ocean on which they plan to build turbines. Energy from Atlantic Shores will be brought ashore in Monmouth County: Underground cables will be built under the ocean floor and make first landfall in Sea Girt. Offshore wind energy will be brought onshore at the Sea Girt military beach and the cables will run underground to the Larrabee Collector Station in Howell, according to this map of the project from the U.S. Bureau of Ocean Management. The high-voltage electric cables will be buried 3.5 to 8 feet underground and run within 35 feet of homes, schools, businesses and recreation areas; they will be buried within 10-15 yards of homes, recreational facilities, schools and underneath the Coast to Capital Bike Trail. The cables will carry up to 6,400 megawatts of power. ""That’s nearly 10x the power of the recently closed Oyster Creek nuclear plant,"" said Viviani. ""Based on the evidence presented by the BPU, no project of this magnitude has been tested or implemented."" According to Viviani, the NJ Board of Public Utilities is expected to award contracts to begin building on-shore infrastructure for the transmission lines at the end of 2024. ""And then the towns and hopefully Monmouth County will have the opportunity to file lawsuits,"" she said. ""That's what we've been told. But they can't file litigation until contracts are awarded. There are still a lot of people in Wall, Manasquan and Sea Girt who don't know these underground power lines are being planned."" If all goes as planned, Atlantic Shores South expects to begin laying cable to connect to land in the first quarter of 2025. Viviani says the transmission lines will be run directly under Sea Girt Avenue, on which she lives. ""The cables will be 30 feet from my living room,"" she said. ""Our whole message is that high-powered cables should not be put anywhere close to residential areas."" On Sept. 24, Howell Mayor Theresa Berger, Sea Girt Mayor Donald Fetzer, Manasquan Mayor Michael Mangan and Wall Twp. Mayor Kevin Orender sent a letter to the NJ Board of Public Utilities, asking the BPU to delay awarding any contracts until environmental and safety reviews can be done. ""Our communities are along the likely route of the project and we and our residents have grave concerns regarding the safety and health hazards of routing up to 6400 MW of high-voltage cables through our neighborhoods,"" read the letter, signed by the four mayors. ""We call upon the BPU to indefinitely defer any award of contracts for this work until the economic, safety, environmental and other issues are resolved and can clearly support moving forward."" The federal government says Atlantic Shores South will generate 2,800 megawatts of electricity, enough to power close to one million homes. President Biden said he has a goal of creating 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy capacity by 2030, an ambition back by Gov. Murphy. Assemblyman Paul Kanitra (R-10) joined Ciattarelli at the protest Sunday. ""As Governor Murphy has relentlessly escalated his offshore wind goals — from 3,500 megawatts in 2018 to a staggering 11,000 megawatts by 2040 — this radical push prioritizes ideology over public health and safety,"" said Kanitra. ""The high-risk power cables proposed for Sea Girt and Manasquan could be placed within 35 feet of homes ... We must stand united to end the industrialization of our beautiful Shore, starting with electing leaders in 2025 who will put a stop to this madness."" “The rush to install these expensive and expansive offshore wind farms — with industrial cables tearing up towns like Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall and Howell — is a catastrophe in the making,” said Congressman Chris Smith (R- Manchester), who was not able to attend Sunday's rally. ""Governor Murphy’s blatant disregard for the concerns of local residents, the dangers presented by these projects, and the reckless spending in pursuit of them makes no sense whatsoever. It’s long past time Governor Murphy tune in and listen to the great residents of our state."" Prior on this topic: Sea Girt Residents Fight Plans To Bring Wind Energy Ashore In Town (August 2024) Energy From Latest Approved NJ Wind Farm Brought Ashore In Sea Girt (July 2024) This article was posted on Oct. 8, 2024 on the Manasquan Patch website and can be found at: https://patch.com/new-jersey/manasquan/500-rally-sea-girt-against-offshore-wind-turbines",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413381,October 7th Commemorating the innocent victims of Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack and ongoing war of hatred against Israel,2024-10-07,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, today issued the following statement marking one year since Hamas’ barbaric terrorist attack on Israel: “Today, we remember with deep sadness the more than 1,200 innocent men, women and children who were mercilessly slaughtered by Hamas terrorists in the most fatal incident of antisemitic violence since the Holocaust. We also continue to grieve with the families of the hostages who were subsequently tortured and killed and those who remain captive and suffering the cruelty of Hamas every day. The United States and the international community cannot let up in the slightest until each and every single hostage is returned home and Israel has all the tools and support it needs to defend itself against Hamas’ ongoing war of hatred—which is fueled and exacerbated by Iran and its other terrorist proxies in the region. Additionally, the deep roots of the terrorists’ support network at the United Nations and other international organizations who perpetuate antisemitic hate for Israel must be completely torn out.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413384,Smith calls for robust sanctions on ‘the twin butchers of Darfur’ after Sudanese warlord allowed entry into the United States and received by UN Secretary-General,2024-10-07,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In response to Sudanese warlord Abdel Fattah al-Burhan’s recent meeting in New York with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today called on the Biden-Harris Administration to sanction the leaders of both the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) for their gross violations of internationally recognized human rights. “Burhan has blood on his hands and should never have been let into the United States—let alone received by the UN Secretary-General in New York,” said Smith, the Chair of the House Foreign Affairs human rights subcommittee and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. “The United States must exert maximum pressure and place robust sanctions not only on Burhan but also on Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo—known to the world as ‘Hemeti’—for their extensive criminal records and their failure to allow humanitarian aid into Sudan and let civilians evacuate combat zones,” said Smith, who has chaired 15 congressional hearings and markups on Sudan and South Sudan alone. Smith, who noted that more than 18,000 civilians have been killed (though estimates rise as high as 150,000) and over 10 million have been displaced since 2023 alone, said “there will never be peace in Sudan until there is accountability for the atrocities committed by these twin butchers of Darfur.” “Together, these two warlords have ravaged Sudan with utter impunity and brutality, and their bloody records are littered not just with war but with arbitrary killings, detentions, abductions, rapes, repression of fundamental human rights, illicit gold mining, and recruitment of child soldiers,” said Smith, who cited a recent UN report that found the SAF and RSF have committed “an appalling range of harrowing human rights violations and international crimes.” “The U.S. also needs to stem the flow of illicit Sudanese gold—which the RSF smuggles through the United Arab Emirates into global markets—by working with our partners to ensure gold is traced to its source and declared clean before entering the market,” added Smith. “Otherwise, illicit gold mining will continue to fund Hemeti’s atrocities against civilians and perpetuate this bloody conflict.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413386,TAPInto News article:'Communities Stand Together: Rally Against Offshore Transmission Lines and Wind Energy',2024-10-07,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"'Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall Twp, Howell Residents Rally Against Offshore Transmission Lines and Wind Energy Projects' MONMOUTH COUNTY, NJ , Oct 7, 2024 TAPinto By Jim Lonergan SEA GIRT, NJ – On Sunday morning, around 500 residents from Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall Township, and Howell gathered to protest the offshore wind projects and high-risk power cables slated to run through their towns. Organized by the nonprofit group Stop The High-Risk Power Cables, the rally aimed to raise awareness about the impact these transmission lines could have on local communities and draw the attention of Governor Phil Murphy. Protesters assembled outside the New Jersey National Guard training center, where Governor Murphy was attending an annual military review. For two hours, they held signs and voiced their demands, though they didn’t get to speak directly with the governor. However, many believe their message was seen and heard as his caravan passed by—a message that's been growing louder over the past few months. Sea Girt resident Alex Fatenko shared her concerns: ""I live where the line is set to go, just eight feet from my front door. It’s emitting so much energy, and no one has ever had something like this installed so close to a home. It’s outrageous. I want to be here 50 years from now, free from cancer or other health risks it could cause. My home is my biggest investment, and this was pushed through with no regard for the people it impacts."" 'The rush to install these costly offshore wind farms, with industrial cables ripping through towns like Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall, and Howell, is a disaster waiting to happen' - Congressman Smith Photo Credit: Jim Lonergan Photo Credit: Jim Lonergan 2025 Governor candidate Jack Ciattarelli speaking with residentsPhoto Credit: Jim Lonergan Photo Credit: Jim Lonergan Photo Credit: Jim Lonergan Photo Credit: Jim Lonergan NJ Assemblyman Paul Kinitra, a vocal opponent of the plan, also attended the rally. He criticized the Murphy administration, saying, ""The Murphy Administration and DEP don’t care about Sea Girt, Manasquan, or the 10th legislative district. They don’t care how hard you work to live here or how hard your elected officials fight to protect these communities. They see you as elitists and want to take you down a peg."" Kinitra added, ""We recently held a hearing on energy rates in NJ, and they're rising because the NJBPU hasn’t invested in traditional energy infrastructure. Instead, they’re focused on pushing a subsidized industry, ignoring our current energy needs. Just 10 years ago, NJ was a net exporter of energy—now we’re a net importer, mainly from Pennsylvania, with pollution coming from PA. plants, where state boundaries don’t matter."" He also warned about the power cables: ""These cables, with unprecedented energy levels, will run just feet from your homes. We can’t stop them unless we stop the entire project. Over 50% of NJ residents don’t support this, and more than 75% of those living along the Jersey Shore oppose offshore wind."" For more insight on transmission line risk, click HERE ""The data shows that this project will never make economic sense, will be a financial burden to rate payers, and it appears that the BPU forgot to do basic planning by not considering the fact that they would be running the cables through an active Superfund site here in Sea Girt and Manasquan,” said Madeliene McCarthy, Manasquan resident. For more on financial impact on tax and rate payers, click HERE Kimberly Patterson, the spokesperson and co-founder of Stop The High-Risk Power Cables organization shared “we have been at this for 5 months. In the end, we have to ask - where do candidates stand? So we are fortunate today to have someone who is running for Governor, who reached out to us and wanted to let you know where he stands."" Jack Cittarelli, running again for Governor of New Jersey in 2025 said, “I'm down on Long Beach Island, and like you, we're fighting down there. Let's make one thing clear, we are going to stop this project. For those who are here today, you're here on behalf of millions, a majority of New Jersey residents, young or old, male or female, Republican or Democrat, we are going to put a stop to it. I don't know how it is you achieve energy independence when you give a billion dollars of our money to foreign companies to put wind turbines off our Jersey Shore.” ""The rush to install these costly offshore wind farms, with industrial cables ripping through towns like Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall, and Howell, is a disaster waiting to happen,"" said U.S. Congressman Smith. ""Governor Murphy’s disregard for local concerns, the dangers posed by these projects, and the reckless spending behind them is senseless. It's time for him to listen to the great people of our state, including the hundreds at the Make Our Voices Heard Rally, and put an end to this slow-motion train wreck."" This article was published on Oct. 7, 2024 and can be fund at: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/gold-coast/sections/government/articles/communities-stand-together-rally-against-offshore-transmission-lines-and-wind-energy",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413379,News 12 New Jersey reports on Smith's legislation to give local communities more say in planned telecom projects'Spring Lake residents fight Verizon plan to place 5G towers along shoreline',2024-10-04,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Spring Lake, Oct 4, 2024 By Jim Murdoch, News 12 New Jersey. As Verizon makes 5G upgrades along the Jersey Shore, the message is clear in Spring Lake - stay off Ocean Avenue. “Verizon is a big company. They have a lot of money, a lot of power. I feel like they are bullying their way into our town,” says Laura Demeo, a longtime resident of Spring Lake. Demeo is one of more than 150 residents who are fighting Verizon’s plans for a half-dozen 5G poles next to the 2-mile boardwalk after the company submitted an application back in January. Republican Rep. Chris Smith introduced legislation in April to give more power to people like Demeo and towns like Spring Lake to fight big communication companies and come up with alternatives and compromises. “They need to say, ‘Hey, we serve you. You don’t serve us.’ And again, government has to be the same way. They are just rolling over the local population, and that’s a bad neighbor policy,” says Smith. In Spring Lake, there’s already a local ordinance banning such towers along the immediate beachfront. An antenna in Sea Girt already utilizes an existing telephone pole. Spring Lake Borough Manager Bryan Dempsey says Verizon can add its 5G equipment to poles inland. “We made the ordinance that way because of how pristine the beachfront is, knowing there are other areas in town that have telephone poles they could utilize,” says Dempsey. Spring Lake’s mayor and council must now answer Verizon’s application within the next two weeks. In a statement to News 12, a Verizon spokesperson says, “Verizon's network improvements provide crucial connectivity for customers and emergency service providers in the community. With consumers and businesses using increasing amounts of data each year, we continually enhance our network to meet the needs of homeowners, first responders and as vacationers in beach communities. Verizon has installed and now operates similar cell sites in adjacent communities with no negative impact on residents or wildlife. Our Company continually works to ensure we maintain compliance with all relevant and applicable Federal, State and local laws and procedures. That's been the case from the beginning and that process continues today.” This article, which was published online on October 2, 2024, can be found here.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-visits-fy25-community-project-funding-site-mountainside,Kean Visits FY25 Community Project Funding Site in Mountainside,2024-10-04,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(October 4, 2024) MOUNTAINSIDE, NJ – On Wednesday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) met with Mountainside Mayor Paul Mirabelli ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into local law enforcement needs and priorities. Congressman Kean requested $63,250 for Mountainside Borough Hall in this year’s appropriation process. This funding will allow the Borough to purchase and install new security cameras at the Borough Hall and the fire department, as well as a computerized badged locking system. “With the uptick of crime in our neighborhoods, it is crucial that public safety buildings are updated with modern technology to enhance security measures, improve surveillance capabilities, and ensure the safety of residents, visitors, and staff alike,” said Congressman Kean. “Borough Hall contains the police department, senior center, recreation center, building and construction office, tax office, clerk’s office, and municipal court. I will continue to advocate on behalf of Mountainside to get this community the funding they deserve.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413375,"Smith, Jordan, Salazar introduce legislation to stop U.S. taxpayer funds from supporting Brazil’s crackdown on free speech",2024-10-01,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"On the heels of a recent report documenting Biden-Harris Administration support for censorship in Brazil, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Chair of the House Global Human Rights Subcommittee, has introduced legislation to stop U.S. taxpayer funds from flowing to progressive non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that are promoting Brazil’s escalating crackdown on free speech. “The Biden-Harris Administration has weaponized U.S. foreign assistance programs and other means to promote censorship in Brazil and crack down on free speech that would be protected under our U.S. Constitution here at home,” said Rep. Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, who chaired a congressional hearing in May examining Brazil’s extensive human rights abuses. “Free speech is fundamental to democracy,” said Smith, an international human rights leader. “It is unconscionable that the United States is using taxpayer dollars to promote this type of censorship which completely contradicts our entire American constitutional tradition.” Cosponsored by Reps. Jim Jordan and Maria Salazar, Smith’s legislation—the No Funding or Enforcement of Censorship Abroad Act (HR 9850)—would cut off U.S. foreign assistance to any entities that promote censorship and prohibit U.S. law enforcement agencies from cooperating with foreign countries to promote censorship against speech that would otherwise be protected if the speaker was located in the United States. “The House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government have uncovered how the FBI under the Biden-Harris Administration facilitated a foreign government’s censorship requests against Americans,” said Rep. Jordan. “This bill is critical in stopping foreign government censors from using the DOJ or the FBI to silence disfavored views.” “The United States must defend Elon Musk from the attacks of Alexandre de Moraes and the other forces of socialism in Brazil,” said Rep. Salazar. “The United States needs to uphold the principles of its constitution and stand by its citizens whenever they face censorship abroad.” Among its provisions, the No Funding or Enforcement of Censorship Abroad Act would: · Prohibit foreign assistance to entities that promote censorship of speech that would be protected speech in the United States; · Prohibit foreign assistance to entities that back the Brazilian government’s censorship directives to U.S. internet companies; · Prohibit U.S. law enforcement cooperation with foreign countries to “cause, facilitate, or promote online censorship” of political speech; and · Prohibit U.S. law enforcement cooperation with Brazilian government censorship directives against internet companies headquartered in the United States. Smith’s bill—which was informed in part by testimony at the congressional hearing he chaired in May—has already received support from some of the many victims of Brazil’s censorship regime. “Freedom of speech is not a partisan issue; it is the cornerstone of a free and open democratic society,” said Rumble Chairman and CEO Chris Pavlovski. “Unfortunately, free speech is under attack globally. I know that personally because Rumble, which is headquartered in Florida, pulled its services from Brazil following censorship demands from the Brazilian courts. People around the world look to America to protect free speech, and this bill is a step in the right direction.” “The fact that Brazil’s U.S. government-funded censorship has affected Americans directly is itself reason to be alarmed, particularly since Brazil risks being a test case for what censorship advocates want to do globally,” said Michael Shellenberger, the CBR Chair of Politics, Censorship, and Free Speech at the University of Austin and founder and president of Civilization Works. “Perhaps most alarming of all is that the Brazilian government is not just censoring constitutionally-permitted speech, it’s trying to ban independent journalists and politicians from all major social media platforms, which constitutes election interference.” Earlier this year, Smith hosted a news conference on Capitol Hill where Brazilians who had been de-platformed from social media by order of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes shared personal testimonies of government persecution. Smith said he asked de Moraes about those allegations—and additional ones raised during his May hearing—in a letter dated June 21, 2024, but has yet to hear back from the Supreme Court Justice. Smith, a longtime outspoken advocate in Congress for victims of human rights violations, has long had grave concerns about human rights in Brazil under President Lula’s rule. In 2009, Smith traveled to Brazil to successfully fight for the return of a New Jersey child who had been abducted and held there for five years. As part of that effort, Smith authored the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, the landmark law that provides the U.S. State Department with a variety of tools to pressure foreign governments and bring home American children abducted overseas. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413376,Jersey Shore under threat Biden-Harris Administration greenlights catastrophe in the making by approving construction plan for Atlantic Shores South offshore wind project,2024-10-01,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today issued the following statement in response to the Biden-Harris Administration’s approval of the construction and operations plan for the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind proposal: “The Biden-Harris Administration has foolishly greenlighted a catastrophe in the making by approving the construction and operations plan for the Atlantic Shores South offshore wind project. Allowing this project to move forward with construction when other projects have been blatantly unsafe and unviable makes no sense whatsoever. During this past summer, several beaches in Massachusetts were littered with large, sharp fiberglass shards when a blade from a Vineyard Wind turbine failed disastrously. Just last week, the manufacturer of these blades announced they would be laying off as many as 900 workers citing industrywide challenges for offshore wind. Here in New Jersey, another offshore wind project was forced to pause its project at least through December—and potentially longer—because the company in charge of the project could not secure a viable turbine blade manufacturer. To add insult to injury, the approval of each new offshore wind project means higher electricity costs for New Jersey ratepayers. It’s long past time the Biden-Harris Administration and Governor Murphy come to their senses and stop propelling this train wreck in slow motion.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413377,U.S. must stand in absolute solidarity with Israel in the face of Iran’s massive ballistic missile attack,2024-10-01,2024,2024-10,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, issued the following statement in response to the Iranian missile attack launched against Israel: “Make no mistake, the adversaries of Israel are the adversaries of the United States. Now more than ever, we must stand in absolute solidarity with our great U.S. ally—and the only true, stable democracy in the Middle East. All efforts must be made to extend the strongest support possible to the people of Israel—including both defensive weapons systems like Iron Dome, Arrow systems, and David’s Sling and all necessary offensive military capabilities—for as long as it takes to defeat Iran, Hezbollah, and other proxies bent on carrying out radical Islamists’ aggression. It is critical that the United States immediately push for the resumption of sanctions on Iran’s nuclear program, take further efforts to deny sanctuary to Iranian terrorist proxies, and ensure the Tehran regime is unable to use international governing bodies—such as the United Nations and UNRWA—to fund and support its export of antisemitism and terrorism around the globe. Furthermore, the Federal Government must immediately investigate all Iranian-directed campaigns of influence within the United States and provide Congress with a full accounting of all Iranian efforts to influence federal policy as well as their attempts to sow discord through the funding of pro-terrorist protests since October 7th. It is well past time that this threat is addressed in a serious manner. The United States must make explicitly clear that it will no longer tolerate a campaign of destruction against our closest ally in the region, nor will it allow the Iranian regime to hold the world hostage through acts of violence.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:57:20Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413374,Stop kidding yourself Smith: This is who UNRWA is,2024-09-30,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"“This is who UNRWA is,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, in response to confirmed reports that Hamas’ top leader in Lebanon, Fateh al-Sharif—who was killed in an airstrike on Monday—was also employed by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA). “If you were surprised that Hamas’s top leader in Lebanon was also employed by UNRWA, stop kidding yourself,” said Smith, the Chair of the congressional global human rights and international organizations subcommittee. “UNRWA’s deep ties to terrorism—including its employment of hundreds of staffers with terrorist affiliations—have been vastly documented, including by expert witnesses at four congressional hearings I’ve chaired over the past 18 months on UNRWA’s decades-long complicity in the most vicious forms of antisemitic hate,” said Smith. “In an April report, the UN even admitted that it does not vet UNRWA employees for connections or sympathies with Hamas or Islamic Jihad,” Smith said. “UNRWA is an incubator of hatred and a child-soldier factory whose textbooks, curricula, summer camps, and official media all exist to perpetuate conflict,” said Smith. “The United States and all those who are committed to combating terrorism cannot resume any funding for UNRWA and instead should provide humanitarian assistance to an agency that does not promote, espouse, or affiliate with those that support violence, terrorism or antisemitism,” said Smith, the author of legislation that would permanently prohibit any U.S. funding for UNRWA. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-constituent-services-return-over-10-million-nj-07-residents,Kean Constituent Services Return Over $10 Million to NJ-07 Residents,2024-09-26,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 26, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that his casework team has returned more than $10,012,316 to constituents. Since the office opened in January of 2023, Congressman Kean and his team have closed over 2,730 constituent cases, representing over $10,012,316 dollars returned back to New Jerseyans in the 7th Congressional District. From the beginning of Congressman Kean’s term in office, Team Kean has helped constituents save money and obtain benefits from the VA, IRS, Social Security Administration, and other federal agencies. The top three groups of people served are seniors, veterans, and families. “$10,000,000 back to constituents is an incredible milestone that demonstrates the positive impact of the work we do to help our fellow New Jerseyans,” said Congressman Kean. “I am committed to serving my district to ensure every constituent receives the benefits and assistance to which they are entitled."" Below are testaments from constituents who have received assistance from Team Kean with their federal agencies. “The staff was very helpful through the process and they were reassuring. I appreciate the great assistance!!” -Payal from Flemington “Thank you to the Congressman Kean's office for your help with expediting my EAD! It was expedited so quickly and truly appreciate your help. I was also very pleasantly surprised by the customer service on the phone. It was great there were no automated phone systems and I was able to reach a rep right away and they were very courteous. Overall a very positive experience.” -Aparajitha from Somerville “Congressman Keans staff was highly responsive and helpful in resolving my issue. They reached out numerous times and even when the problem was resolved they followed up to ensure all was well. Thank you for all of your help.” -Antonio from Ledgewood “I emailed the office late in the evening after business hours and they responded around 9am the next morning. By 4:00pm that day, the social security worker called me and gave me her direct extension, apologized, and said she would process the application immediately. Congressman Kean's office went above and beyond my expectations and I am truly grateful. It gives me great faith that he will do what he says he will do.” -Amber from Washington Team Kean is always here to help. If you or someone you know needs help with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to contact the office. You can find more information here: https://kean.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency or call (908) 547-3307. Team Kean also hosts frequent Satellite Office Hours, the first week of every month. Make sure to follow Congressman Kean for updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @CongressmanKean. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413370,Arrives in midst of hurricane season Smith secures over $1.2 million in federal funds for major technology upgrades to Monmouth County emergency operations center,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The Emergency Operations Center (EOC) operated by the Monmouth County Sheriff’s Office was awarded $1,241,250 in federal funding for major technology and communications equipment upgrades, announced Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), who personally secured the funds through a congressional earmark. “Monmouth County—under the great leadership of Sheriff Shaun Golden—has provided top-notch and cost-effective emergency services for local residents through this critical law enforcement and first responder unit,” said Rep. Smith. “This significant investment will go a long way to enhance the lifesaving mission of the center, which comprehensively evaluates and works to mitigate the damage of natural disasters, extreme weather, environmental emergencies, and other catastrophic events—before, during and after tragedy strikes,” Smith said. Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden welcomed the funds secured by Smith, which will be supplemented by a local match of $413,750 to cover the project’s total cost of $1,655,000. “The Monmouth County Sheriff's Office - Office of Emergency Management is extremely grateful to Congressman Chris Smith for his ongoing support of emergency operations,” said Sheriff Golden. “Emergency Operations Centers are critical when coordinating, facilitating, and directing during crises situations, and this valuable grant will enable us to remain in the forefront of emergency response,” Golden continued. “It will be utilized to significantly upgrade technology and enhance our ability to respond swiftly and effectively, with the very best resources to ensure the safety and well-being of our communities and residents.” Among the upgrades needed at the EOC are the replacement of an aging video wall; radio communications system upgrades; the replacement of outdated desktop computers and monitors; the purchase of laptops to conduct field assessments; the purchase of tablets to allow for real-time tracking and status of evacuations; seating upgrades to better suit 24/7 operations; and replacement of the EOC’s end of life phone systems. “This state-of-the-art technology is needed to assure the best collection of actionable information and real-time coordination between key officials in multiple departments, agencies, organizations and different municipalities,” said Smith. “These significant enhancements will ensure that leaders from the local, state, and federal levels can make the most informed and timely decisions on how to deploy and manage resources amid such difficult circumstances,” Smith said. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413371,Federal prosecutors use Chris Smith’s landmark law to bring sex trafficking and forced labor charges against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In the recent high-profile indictment and arrest of Sean “Diddy” Combs, federal prosecutors used a landmark law authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) to bring sex trafficking and forced labor charges against the rapper and music mogul. Among other crimes, Combs is accused of leading a criminal enterprise to facilitate his abuse and exploitation of women, protect his reputation, and conceal his conduct for over a decade. Pursuant to Smith’s Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-386), Combs could now face a maximum sentence of life in prison—and a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison—for sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion. At a press conference announcing the charges, Damian Williams, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, credited the severe penalties provided by Smith’s law, specifically noting that “the sex trafficking conduct carries some significant penalties, and we are gratified that we were able to bring that charge.” Smith, who has authored five laws to combat human trafficking to date, said “my Trafficking Victims Protection Act created a new whole-of-government domestic and international strategy to combat sex and labor trafficking and established numerous new programs to protect victims, prosecute traffickers, and to the extent possible, prevent it in the first place.” “The legislation had its naysayers at the time, but the law has proven critical in locking up criminals that abuse and traffic in women and children,” said Smith. “Thousands of human traffickers have been and continue to be prosecuted and jailed pursuant to the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, including several charges brought against Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, all of the charges brought against Jeffrey Epstein, and the infamous convictions involving the ‘Smallville’ actress Allison Mack,” said Smith. Smith noted that the reforms included in his Trafficking Victims Protection Act represented a “sea change” to the criminal code—portions of which are cited by federal prosecutors in their indictment, such as Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591. According to the unsealed indictment, Combs “knowingly recruited, enticed, harbored, transported, provided, obtained, advertised, maintained, patronized, and solicited by any means a person, knowing and in reckless disregard of the fact that means of force, threats of force, fraud, and coercion, as described in Title 18, United States Code, Section 1591(e)(2), and any combination of such means, would be used to cause the person to engage in a commercial sex act” (paragraph 16). “One of the reforms established by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act included treating as a victim—and not a perpetrator of a crime—anyone exploited by a commercial sex act who had not attained the age of 18 and anyone older where there was an element of force, fraud or coercion,” Smith said. “Additionally, my law radically reformed the U.S. criminal code to authorize asset confiscation and jail sentences of up to life imprisonment,” said Smith, who noted that federal prosecutors included the forfeiture of Combs’ property used to commit or facilitate sex trafficking in their indictment (paragraph 19). ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-keans-bill-expedite-flight-training-veterans,House Passes Kean’s Bill to Expedite Flight Training for Veterans,2024-09-25,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 25, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 7323 – Montgomery GI Bill Selected Reserves Tuition Fairness Act of 2024. Included in this package is the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2024, a bipartisan bill led by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) that would expedite the flight training process for veterans by removing the one-year requirement for accessing their GI Bill benefits. Under the current GI Bill, students can access a maximum of $26,000 per academic year for their flight training. Once these funds are exhausted, they must wait until the following academic year to continue their training. Watch Congressman Kean speak on the House floor in support of the bill HERE. This bill was introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and is co-led by Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03). “Veterans should be able to pursue their aviation careers – or any career – without excessive financial burdens and unnecessary delays,” said Congressman Kean. “The current GI bill system needs to be improved and I’m thankful for my House colleagues for passing today’s revised legislation, which included my bill, the Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act, so veteran students can expedite the flight training process.” “Every veteran should be able to use their education benefits however they see fit—and we should be making it easier for them to do so,” said Congressman McGarvey. “Our bill would give veterans the flexibility to use their benefits for flight school without breaking the bank, and I’m thrilled to see it pass through the House of Representatives.” More specifically, this bill would: Cap the flight training fees and tuition to approximately $115,000 for public flight training institutions. Allow student veterans to use their GI Bill throughout the whole year, instead of taking time off or paying out of pocket. Read more about the bill HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-keans-bill-expand-satellite-data-sharing,House Passes Kean’s Bill to Expand Satellite Data Sharing,2024-09-23,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 23, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 6219, the Accessing Satellite Capabilities to Enable New Discoveries Act (ASCEND Act), legislation to permanently authorize the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition program within NASA. Introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Congresswoman Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), this bipartisan bill provides statutory authority for the Commercial SmallSat Data Acquisition Program. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) established the program as a pilot program in 2017 to acquire commercial small-satellite data in support of NASA's earth science research. Congressman Kean spoke on the House floor in support of his bill, watch HERE. ""Passing the ASCEND Act demonstrates our strong commitment to NASA's commercial operators and public-private partnerships,” said Congressman Kean. “These efforts are essential for advancing human exploration and ensuring America’s leadership in space innovation. The ASCEND Act will provide access to data sets and imagery from the commercial space sector, supporting critical scientific research and paving the way for a sustainable future for generations to come. I thank my House colleagues for supporting my bill and look forward to seeing this on the Senate floor soon.” “The bipartisan ASCEND Act is a commonsense solution to help researchers benefit from the vast, high-quality data available from commercial satellites to better understand climate change, natural disasters, and earth sciences,” said Congresswoman Bonamici. “I’m grateful that the House passed this legislation and I will continue advocating with Rep. Kean for the Senate to schedule a vote on the bill.” The ASCEND Act would: Establish CSDA as a permanent program within NASA’s Earth Science Division. Direct NASA to expand procurement licenses to provide federal agencies access to high quality Earth remote sensing datasets and imagery. Promote the acquisition of new datasets for scientific and non-scientific applications. Require an annual report to Congress on the uses and impact of commercial data products and licensing agreements. Read more about the bill HERE. Congressman Kean serves on the House Science, Space and Technology Committee. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413361,Smith chairs congressional hearing on the first anniversary of the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh,2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC), today chaired a congressional hearing highlighting the continued plight of ethnic Armenians on the first anniversary of the fall of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijan. “Azerbaijan’s genocidal blockade and ethnic cleansing of Nagorno-Karabakh last year was a monstrous injustice,” said Smith, who noted that despite its egregious human rights violations, Azerbaijan is slated to host the United Nations international climate change summit COP29 in November. “Ethnic Armenians continue to have a right to live in peace and freedom in Nagorno-Karabakh according to their faith and traditions,” said Smith, who chaired two congressional hearings last year in June and early September as the human rights crisis escalated. “We must defend the human rights of the ethnic Armenians who are now political prisoners or prisoners of war in Nagorno-Karabakh, as well as the cultural heritage of Armenia in Nagorno-Karabakh,” said Smith, who personally met with Azerbaijani dictator Ilham Aliyev in 2015 to press him on his human rights record and noted that many ethnic Azerbaijanis are also suffering under his regime. Smith’s TLHRC hearing—entitled “Human Rights in Azerbaijan Since the Fall of Nagorno-Karabakh”—featured a panel of human rights experts, including Gegham Stepanyan, Human Rights Defender for the Republic of Artsakh; Professor Adam T. Smith, Co-Director of Caucasus Heritage Watch at Cornell University; Kate Watters, Co-Founder and Executive Director of Crude Accountability; and Sharmagh Mardi, Supervising Lawyer at the Center for Truth & Justice; Van Krikorian, Co-Chair of the Armenian Assembly of America; and Andrea J. Prasow, Executive Director of Freedom Now. “The realization that you are leaving your home for good is an inexplicable feeling,” said Stepanyan. “When you realize that you need to leave behind everything that makes up your identity and head towards the unknown, where no one is even waiting for you and you don't know what will happen next—this is the greatest human tragedy. People left their homes, graves, and the Homeland, where they had a happy life, just to save their physical existence.” “The U.S. government and international community have yet to respond to Azerbaijan’s policy of cultural erasure which began in 1997 in the Autonomous Republic of Nakhchivan,” said Cornell Professor Adam Smith, who noted his academic research group has documented the near complete erasure—98 percent—of the region’s Armenian cultural heritage. “Churches and cemeteries across Nagorno-Karabakh have borne the brunt of cultural heritage abuses since 2020,” Professor Smith said. “In Spring 2024 alone, we documented three newly destroyed sites and nine more under immediate threat. The impacts to Armenian cultural heritage continue to arise out of large-scale earth moving conducted as part of regional redevelopment and roadbuilding schemes.” “Azerbaijani social media channels openly issued threats of abuse against civilians, ranging from bounties placed on missing children to the dissemination of images and reports of massacres targeting residents who refused to evacuate their homes, resulting in frantic civilian efforts to flee before the arrival of Azerbaijani military forces,” said Mardi. “Azerbaijan has accelerated its repression as we draw closer to its hosting of the UN climate conference known as COP29 in November,” said Prasow. “At a time when the world’s eyes are on Azerbaijan, and one might imagine the regime has every incentive to present itself as a government that respects the rule of law, democracy, and environmental protection, the Aliyev regime has doubled down on repression,” said Watters. “Its absolute lack of respect for civil society, for independent media, for the rule of law is stunning. Yet, the Azerbaijani government continues to enjoy a place in the international community, hosting COP 29, engaging in trade with Europe, including in natural gas, and participating in international events and meetings.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413367,"HOTEL Act of 2024 Smith, Krishnamoorthi introduce bipartisan legislation aimed at combating human trafficking in hotels",2024-09-19,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-IL) today introduced the HOTEL Act of 2024 (HR 9681)—bipartisan legislation aimed at bolstering federal efforts to combat human trafficking in hotels. “Hotels are hotspots for identifying and responding to sex and labor trafficking,” said Congressman Smith, the author of five major laws to combat human trafficking. “This critical legislation will help empower hotels to train their staff using free online trainings and resources, adopt procedures to regularly educate and report violations, and provide information and resources to potential victims,” Smith said. “We also want to protect employees who report these crimes from any retaliation and ensure proper coordination with local and federal authorities.” “Hotel employees are uniquely positioned to help report and stop human trafficking, but only if they have the knowledge and ability to recognize it,” Congressman Krishnamoorthi said. “By creating a federal employee travel preference for accommodations that voluntarily train their staff to identify human trafficking, the HOTEL Act will help ensure many more hotel staff members are equipped to stop exploitation and help survivors.” Specifically, the Halting of Trafficking and Exploitation in Lodging (HOTEL) Act would ensure that the U.S. Government’s “preferred places of accommodation for hotel and lodging”—where federal agencies host conferences and federal employees stay when they travel—are committed to training staff on how to recognize, prevent, and respond to human trafficking. The HOTEL Act has already received support from some of the nation’s leading anti-trafficking organizations and lodging associations, including the American Hotel and Lodging Association (AHLA), PACT (Protecting All Children from Trafficking), and Hope for Justice. “The HOTEL Act recognizes the crucial role hotels play in the fight against human trafficking, and we are proud to support this important legislation,” said AHLA Interim President and CEO Kevin Carey. “We look forward to working with Reps. Smith and Krishnamoorthi and lawmakers across the House and Senate to pass this legislation. “The HOTEL Act will help to ensure that hotel staff are equipped to identify and safely report suspected human trafficking cases,” said Yvonne Chen, Director of Private Sector Engagement at PACT. “Protect All Children from Trafficking (PACT) stands behind Rep. Smith and Rep. Krishnamoorthi’s bipartisan efforts to provide hotel staff with the proper resources and training that have been informed by survivors and lived-experience experts.” “Hotels are among the most common places where human trafficking takes place and where victims are exploited,” said Tim Nelson, CEO at Hope for Justice. “Employees are also uniquely well-placed to spot the signs of suspicious activity, report it and stop it—but only if they have the training and knowledge in the first place. Parts of the industry have pioneered on this and are making sure this training is available, but it would be transformational for the response to trafficking in hotels for the federal government to make such training a condition of winning government contracts. We strongly endorse the bill, and we thank Rep. Smith and Rep. Krishnamoorthi for all their hard work on this and driving it forward.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413352,Autism CARES Act of 2024 House overwhelmingly passes Smith’s new legislation to provide robust funding and enhanced support for Americans with autism,2024-09-18,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed (402-13) new comprehensive legislation (HR 7213) authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to provide more than $1.95 billion to reauthorize and strengthen the United States’ whole-of-government autism spectrum disorder (ASD) initiative through 2029. Smith’s bill—with Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-TX) as the Democrat lead and 61 other bipartisan cosponsors—now heads to the Senate. Smith, who has authored four major autism laws to date, said his new legislation “will help make a huge difference in the lives of the millions of Americans with autism by providing robust funding for durable remedies as well as effective early detection and intervention services to allow them the highest quality of life possible.” “With substantive input from advocates in the autism community, my legislation will also help advance key research priorities and ensure enhanced collaboration between federal agencies and families and individuals with autism,” Smith said. “This bipartisan bill will provide vital funding to expand research and care for Americans with autism,” said Dr. Cuellar, a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee. “Through this bill, we continue important work in understanding the causes of autism, the best ways to treat autism, and incorporate the voices of those previously missed by research. I would like to thank Representative Chris Smith for his leadership on this important legislation.” Smith’s legislation—which received unanimous approval from the House Energy and Commerce Committee in a vote (42-0) to send the bill to the House Floor earlier this year—has received strong support from the nation’s leading autism advocacy groups, including Autism Speaks, the Autism Society, the Autism Science Foundation, the Arc of the United States, the Profound Autism Alliance, and the Association of University Centers on Disabilities. Specifically, the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (CARES) Act of 2024 would: · Authorize $1.95 billion—including $306 million in annual funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH); $28.1 million in annual funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); and $56.3 million in annual funding for the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA); · Direct the NIH to ensure research reflects the entire population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including the full range of cognitive, communicative, behavioral, and adaptive functioning, as well as co-occurring conditions and needs for supports and services, including and especially care necessary for physical safety; · Increase the number of NIH Centers of Excellence and ensure research reflects the entire population of individuals with autism spectrum disorder and is designed to address the full range of needs faced by individuals, including to ensure the physical safety and to promote the well being of all Americans with autism; · Include, for the first time, a professional bypass budget to provide the autism community with a comprehensive budget highlighting priority research areas and resources needed to advance quality of life improvements for all individuals with autism; · Promote the adoption of assistive communication technologies to improve communications outcomes for those with communication assistance needs; and · Require a report on youth aging out of school-aged services, as well as recommendations to improve mental health outcomes and address related disparities in mental health care for individuals with autism spectrum disorder, including prevention, care coordination, and community-based services. Smith, who has been a steadfast champion for the autism community for decades, stepped up his involvement on autism in 1997 when Bobbie and Billy Gallagher—parents of two small children with autism—from Brick walked into his Ocean County office looking for help, believing their town had a disproportionate number of students with autism. In response, Smith brought federal agencies to Ocean County for an investigation—which found that autism prevalence rates were high not only in Brick, but in nearby communities as well—and authored the Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act, which was incorporated as Title I of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, authorizing grants and contracts for the collection, analysis and reporting of data on autism and pervasive developmental disabilities. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413341,"APP news article; Rep Smith addresses Navy Secretary, vets, 5,000+ attendees at Earle Navy base'The USS New Jersey sub joins the US Navy’s fleet'",2024-09-17,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Juan Carlos Castillo Asbury Park Press USA TODAY NETWORK – NEW JERSEY New Jersey’s Sandy Hook Bay witnessed the commissioning of the most complex warfare machine ever built in the country — the USS New Jersey, now dubbed as the fastest submarine in the U.S. fleet and the first to be designed with gender inclusion in mind. The commissioning ceremony took place Saturday at the Naval Weapon Station Earle in Middletown, where close to 4,000 attendees including veterans, sailor’s family members, and Navy and government officials. “It’s an absolute honor to be here with all of you today in this beautiful state, the birthplace, yes, the birthplace of the United States Submarine Force,” said Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro. Gov. Phil Murphy was present at the event and said he was proud to witness the launch of this Virginia-class submarine, now nicknamed the “Jersey Girl.” “This ceremony is a proud and joyous occasion, but it is also one that marks the beginning of a journey that will take the officers and crew of the USS New Jersey far from home,” Murphy said. “On behalf of your nine-and-a-half million- member New Jersey family, let me say thank you for your service and thank you for your commitment to maintaining peace and freedom in our fragile world,” he added. And the submarine is very Jersey. Besides the nickname given to the vessel by Newport News Shipbuilding President Jennifer Boykin, its interior spaces were decorated with all things Jersey. 'The deterrence that this USS New Jersey helps to procure, makes us safer. Of course, you never want a war, but the way you prevent a war is by having a credible defense and deterrence.' - Rep. Smith The walls of this nuclear-powered, fast-attack submarine feature posters from Rutgers University, New Jersey Devils memorabilia, a guitar gifted by Jon Bon Jovi and more. Members of the crew said they are even considering making the communal eating area look like a New Jersey diner. This is the third naval vessel named after the Garden State. The first two, code-named BB-16 and BB-62, were battleships that contributed to the Navy’s efforts during World War I and World War II respectively. Vessel BB 62, which also participated in the Korean, Vietnam and Persian conflicts, is one of the most decorated ships in the Navy’s history. The new USS New Jersey is prepared to continue the legacy of the ships with the same name that preceded it, being now the most complex warfare machine ever built in the U.S. said the vessel’s commander Steven Halle. Code named SSN 796, this submarine counts with enhanced stealth, special warfare enhancements, and sophisticated surveillance capabilities that can even detect sound waves from sea animals far away. “The deterrence that this USS New Jersey helps to procure, makes us safer,” said Chris Smith, U.S. Congressman for New Jersey’s 4th district. “Of course, you never want a war, but the way you prevent a war is by having a credible defense and deterrence,” Smith added. What is a gender-inclusive submarine? It wasn’t until 2010 when the Navy started allowing women to serve aboard submarines. Since then, some submarines have been modified to accommodate women aboard, however, the USS New Jersey embraced a gender-inclusive design from its inception. That means that bathrooms come with longer stalls, more privacy in shower rooms, and secluded berths for sleeping. “So before, the older submarines, they didn’t have, like, as much privacy. The bathrooms would have spaces in the stalls, and there wasn’t a specific berthing set aside that could be closed off completely,” said Claudia Casillas a sailor on the USS New Jersey. She has trained inside the vessel for about one year. The USS New Jersey has a 131-member crew, 29 of them women, according to the roster of the USS New Jersey. “I think it’s about time. The whole year I’ve been here, it’s been pretty obvious that U.S. females are just capable of just as much, sometimes even more, than the males on this boat,” she said. At the ship, the crew decided to assign some berth rooms for women only, while keeping some co-ed berths, but specifying which beds are exclusively reserved for women. “I think with everything that comes brand new, there’s gonna be struggles. There’s going to be some confusion, some problems, but I think the Jersey has been able to overcome every problem she has had.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413340,U.S. Naval Weapons Station Earle Smith delivers remarks at ceremony to commission new submarine named after New Jersey,2024-09-14,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) joined high-ranking Navy officers and sailors today at U.S. Naval Weapons Station Earle in Middletown to commission the USS New Jersey—the branch’s newest submarine and the third naval vessel named after the state of New Jersey. “Today is a special day for the United States Navy and our country,” said Smith, who has represented three Navy installations during his tenure in Congress—including Naval Weapons Station Earle, Naval Air Warfare Center Trenton and Naval Air Engineering Station Lakehurst (now part of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst). “Once again, a vessel named after the great state of New Jersey will take to sea flying the flag of the United States, venturing to the darkest depths of the ocean to protect the homeland, deter aggression, and safeguard the American way of life,” Smith, the Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, said delivered remarks at the ceremony. A highly advanced and lethal fast attack submarine, the USS New Jersey measures 377 feet long, weighs 7,800 tons, and can remain submerged under water for up to three months. Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, noted that threats to U.S. national security are ubiquitous and said, “the importance of this submarine’s capability and decisiveness in battle cannot be overstated in a world with escalated existential threats from Xi Jinping, Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Iran.” “Deployment of the USS New Jersey and other submarines—especially this Virginia class of nuclear-powered, cruise missile, fast-attack sub—provide the extra level of deterrence and long-range capability to dissuade our enemies,” said Smith. “It’s not lost on us that this ceremony is taking place in the shadow of the Freedom Tower where 23 years ago this week, terrorists unleashed a deadly, coordinated attack on our country and everything we hold dear,” Smith said. Smith—who recognized the significant contributions of Navy Secretary Carlos Del Toro, the submarine’s sponsor Dr. Susan DiMarco, and members of the Commissioning Committee who organized the special occasion—especially thanked the submarine’s skipper, Commander Steven Halle, and the crew who would serve in the years to come on the newly commissioned USS New Jersey. “To the ‘Devils of the Deep,’ the USS New Jersey’s dedicated crew of plankowners—you represent the best America has to offer,” said Smith. “You have answered the nation’s call to serve at a time of distinct and present threat to the U.S. and our allies.” “Know that the people of New Jersey and all Americans are grateful for your tenacity, courage and commitment to our nation, and your commitment to this vessel and its mission,” Smith added. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-hosts-annual-seniors-distinction-event,Kean Hosts Annual Seniors of Distinction Event,2024-09-13,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 13, 2024) BRIDGEWATER, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) hosted his second annual Seniors of Distinction event at the Bridgewater Township Senior Center, to honor outstanding seniors in the community. Congressman Kean honored 29 seniors, who represent all six counties in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. Each senior was nominated by their friends, families, and neighbors and recognized at the event. The seniors who were selected were chosen for their long history of giving back to their community and for continuing to lend their expertise, experience and many talents to helping and supporting others today. Every honoree has a long list of achievements but more important, a long list of professional, philanthropic, charitable, and spiritual activities to which they devote their time and energy to every day. “All the seniors honored dedicate their talents, passions and experience toward enriching the well-being of New Jersey communities,” said Congressman Kean. “Their impressive achievements and extensive involvement in both professional and volunteer activities reflect their dedication and hard work. I extend my warmest congratulations to all the seniors recognized today and thank them for their tireless efforts to uplift our communities.” “What I find particularly moving and positive is that an event like this highlight good community efforts at a time where the world needs that kind of motivation,” said Elisa Sananman of Westfield, 2024 Senior of Distinction Honoree. “It is very affirming to all the work that we are doing. Very personally and professionally motivating. With appreciation that it was originated.” “I knew nothing about this award until I received a letter from the Congressman Kean in the mail,” said Edna Deacon of Mine Hill, 2024 Senior of Distinction Honoree. “I was very impressed. I would like to thank the Congressman for the invitation and Bill Koroski for nominating me.” The honorees are: Honorees That Attended: Eleanor Annis of Mountainside Ida Brown of Hopatcong Brad Chananie of Westfield Edna Deacon of Mine Hill Robert English of Gillette Julie Flynn of Berkley Heights David Gardner of Mount Arlington Dr. D. Michael Hart of Westfield Martin Kane of Mountain Lakes Norma Kania of Clinton Sandra Masklee of Budd Lake Donna Moser of Hopatcong The Hon. Howard Norgalis of Bridgewater Kathleen Piedici of Basking Ridge Anita Rogers of Belvidere Robert Rossi of Landing Dennis Ryan of Berkley Heights Elisa Sananman of Westfield James Smythe of Belvidere The Hon. Victor Sordillo of Warren Sharon Still of Netcong The Hon. Elmer Still of Netcong Harold Willard of Somerville Honorees That Did Not Attend: Harvey Kessler of Budd Lake The Hon. Allen Kurdyla of Bridgewater The Hon. Colleen Labow of Budd Lake Richard Mason of Gillette The Hon. Kenneth Short of Long Valley Robert Wolff of Hardwick ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413336,Smith calls on Brazil’s government to reverse course and to restore free speech and democracy,2024-09-11,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today called on Brazil’s government to reverse its recent decision to block access to X (formerly known as Twitter) and ban its citizens from accessing the popular social media platform. “The government of Brazil has both raised the stakes and hit a new low—it has expanded from persecuting political opposition by removing them from social media to banning one of the biggest social news networks in the world and making it illegal for Brazilians to access it,” said Smith, the Chair of the House Global Human Rights Subcommittee. “Brazil must immediately reverse course,” said Smith. “Threats to free speech are threats to free elections and to democracy itself.” Smith, who has long been an outspoken advocate in Congress for victims of human rights violations, chaired a congressional hearing in May examining Brazil’s extensive human rights abuses. In advance of his hearing, Smith also requested information from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on allegations against the government of Brazil. Earlier this year, Smith also hosted a news conference on Capitol Hill where Brazilians who had been de-platformed from social media by order of Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Alexandre de Moraes shared personal testimonies of government persecution. Smith said he asked de Moraes about the allegations in a letter, but has yet to hear back from the Supreme Court Justice. “On June 21, I sent a letter to Minister Alexandre de Moraes asking for information about allegations regarding de Moraes’s role in widespread human rights violations committed,” said Smith. “Minister de Moraes did not reply—nor did I hear from the Presidents of the Federal Senate and Chamber of Deputies, who also received my letter to de Moraes.” “In order to respond to the crisis de Moraes has created in Brazil, I am now working with colleagues on legislation about the matter,” said Smith, who thanked all the Brazilian patriots who are fighting for freedom and democratic government. Smith, an international human rights leader, has long had grave concerns about human rights in Brazil under President Lula’s rule. In 2009, Smith traveled to Brazil to successfully fight for the return of a New Jersey child who had been abducted and held there for five years. As part of that effort, Smith authored the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, the landmark law that provides the U.S. State Department with a variety of tools to pressure foreign governments and bring home American children abducted overseas. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413337,Smith cosponsor of important bill to protect U.S. sovereignty House passes legislation to prevent the Biden-Harris Administration from approving the WHO pandemic treaty without Senate ratification,2024-09-11,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the House today passed (219-199) legislation that would prevent the Biden-Harris Administration from signing the World Health Organization (WHO) pandemic treaty without prior Senate ratification. “The World Health Organization’s pandemic treaty—which has been drafted through backroom negotiations with no transparency—is an absolute power grab by a troubled U.N. agency that is in the pocket of China’s Communist dictator Xi Jinping,” said Smith, a cosponsor of the No WHO Pandemic Preparedness Treaty Without Senate Approval Act (HR 1425). “From the very start, we have been pressing the Biden-Harris Administration to ensure that our U.S. sovereignty is protected from the unelected bureaucrats at the WHO, but so far, our demands have not been heeded,” said Smith. “This important legislation will help ensure that there is extensive and rigorous review by the American people—who would be forced to foot the bill for any treaty commitments—and sufficient public debate by members of the Senate before any agreement can be made by the Biden-Harris Administration,” Smith said. Specifically, HR 1425 would ensure that any international instrument on pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response agreed to by the World Health Assembly is deemed a treaty and thereby sent to the Senate for advice and consent. Smith, who has been leading the charge in Congress raising a slew of questions and significant issues surrounding the proposed treaty, also hosted a news conference on Capitol Hill in February featuring a panel of experts from a wide-range of backgrounds. “Under no circumstances should our critical health authorities be handed over to WHO bureaucrats,” said Smith. “They cannot be empowered to dictate policies to U.S. medical professionals and U.S. taxpayers when it comes to vaccines, therapeutics and the like.” “Using potential pandemics as a pretext to violate the principles of good governance only serves to erode trust and further undermines international cooperation,” Smith said. “And we most certainly won’t be signing a blank check,” added Smith, who noted that the current WHO proposal that the Biden Administration is working on includes undetermined financial commitments. “The American taxpayer should not be fleeced like this.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/keans-bill-improve-artificial-intelligence-literacy-k-12-passes-committee,Kean's Bill to Improve Artificial Intelligence Literacy for K-12 Passes Committee,2024-09-11,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 11, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Science, Space and Technology Committee passed H.R. 9211, the Literacy in Future Technologies (LIFT) Artificial Intelligence Act, a bill to improve artificial intelligence literacy for K-12. This bill was introduced by Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and is co-led by Congressman Gabe Amo (RI-01). “Early childhood understanding of AI will have positive spillover impacts in our everyday life, work productivity, and social circles,” said Congressman Kean. “Proficient understanding of AI will mitigate negative impacts of this technology, specifically in the AI generated content space. To ensure our children succeed in the field of artificial intelligence, we need to start preparing them early in the classroom. I thank my colleagues on the Science, Space and Technology Committee for supporting my bill and look forward to seeing this on the House Floor.” “The bipartisan LIFT AI Act is about helping the next generation of students be prepared by making sure that they have skills to use artificial intelligence responsibly and effectively, regardless of the career they decide to pursue,” said Congressman Gabe Amo. “I thank Congressman Kean for his leadership and my colleagues on the House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology who voted to advance this legislation today. I look forward to pushing together for it to be passed in the full House of Representatives.” ""Supporting the bipartisan LIFT AI Act is critical to ensuring that every student in America has the opportunity to understand and shape the future. By prioritizing the teaching of computer science and artificial intelligence in K-12 schools, we not only equip students with essential skills for tomorrow's workforce but also empower them to be ethical creators and informed citizens in an AI-driven world."" — Pat Yongpradit, Chief Academic Officer of Code.org. The LIFT AI Act would: Support a grant program within NSF for research and development of AI literacy curriculum and evaluation methods for K-12, ensuring that educational materials are learner-centered, project based, and adaptable. Support professional learning opportunities for educators, principals, and school leaders to enhance their AI literacy and proficiency through courses, mentoring, and best practice development. Promote the creation of hands-on learning tools, the integration of AI literacy into existing curriculums, and the development of evaluation tools to assess AI literacy proficiency. Congressman Kean currently serves on the Science, Space and Technology Committee. Congressman spoke in support of his bill at today’s full committee markup, watch HERE. Full text of the bill can be found HERE.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413328,China Week House overwhelmingly passes Smith’s bill to rescind the immunities and privileges of Hong Kong diplomatic outposts that do the bidding of the Chinese Communist Party within the U.S.,2024-09-10,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"As part of its “China Week” push to counter the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) economic aggression and espionage in America, the House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed (413-3) legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) aimed at rescinding the diplomatic immunities and privileges of Hong Kong Economic and Trade Offices (HKETOs) that do the bidding of the CCP within the United States. Smith’s legislation—the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office (HKETO) Certification Act (HR 1103)—would empower the President to effectively terminate the operations of Hong Kong’s official representative offices in Washington, New York, and San Francisco since the U.S. no longer recognizes Hong Kong as autonomous following the CCP’s imposition of its National Security Law on the people of Hong Kong. “My HKETO Certification Act is a necessary next step in tangibly demonstrating our solidarity with the persecuted citizens of Hong Kong,” said Smith, who is also the prime author of the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, which he first introduced in 2014 to provide strong sanctions and other ramifications in response to the crackdown on democracy activists and egregious human rights abuses in Hong Kong. “Tragically, by the time the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in 2019, it was a day late and a dollar short,” Smith said. Smith, who noted the HKETOs were originally granted diplomatic privileges and immunities under the expectation that Hong Kong would remain free from CCP rule, said the United States must deal with a new reality. “At one time, the HKETOs represented a city whose prosperity was based on its protection of the fundamental human rights and freedom of the Hong Kong people,” Smith said. “But the Hong Kong all of us knew and respected is gone,” said Smith, who noted that Hong Kong unjustly detains political prisoners at a rate only surpassed by a handful of authoritarian countries such as Belarus and Burma. “The city is now governed by Chinese Communist Party puppets who have become as repressive as their masters in Beijing.” “The United States should not be granting diplomatic privileges and immunities to a network of communist spies and propagandists,” said Smith, the Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, who has chaired over 100 congressional hearings exposing the CCP’s horrific human rights abuses. The House passage of Smith’s bill comes on the heels of the jarring arrest of Linda Sun—the former aide to New York Governor Kathy Hochul and former Governor Andrew Cuomo who was charged with acting as an agent of the Chinese Communist regime. “We have all been reminded recently of the Chinese Communist Party’s efforts to corrupt and co-opt American leaders and silence dissenting voices in the United States,” Smith said. “There is absolutely no reason why we should allow China’s Communist regime to have official representative offices in our country.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413332,Tenth anniversary of Smith’s law to combat international child abduction New Jersey adult survivor of international child abduction testifies at Smith’s hearing,2024-09-10,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"A New Jersey adult survivor of international child abduction shared heartbreaking testimony of her immense tribulations growing up in a foreign land and her long and difficult journey to return to the United States at a congressional hearing chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today. Born in Newark, Nafeesah Ali Ismail was only seven years old when she was abducted by her father to a small village in Northern Egypt, where everything was foreign to her. “I was only seven, and I didn’t really understand that when I left New Jersey, I was leaving my family, my language, and all that I had known in my young life,” Ali Ismail testified. “My expectation as a child was that everything was going to be okay because I was with my dad,” she continued. “But it was not okay, at all. I was a seven-year-old American in an Egyptian village surrounded by people who did not want to understand me; people who saw and treated me as ‘less than’ simply because I did not have the same skin color and hair texture.” “When I wasn’t in school, I mainly stayed in my room—imagining someone from the United States government would knock on the door and ask for me,” she shared. “I know other survivors like me also had this silly dream. I became depressed, lost hope that I would return to the United States, and attempted suicide multiple times.” Back home, Nafeesah’s mother appealed to the U.S. State Department to bring her back, but to no avail. “The heartbreaking reality is that hundreds of American children are still abducted every year—illegally kidnapped by one of their parents to a foreign land,” said Rep. Smith. “They are subjected to what amounts to a form of child abuse—with devastating psychological and even physical consequences for them and their families left behind.” Smith’s hearing, which marked the 10-year anniversary of his Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Act, examined the U.S. State Department’s implementation of the groundbreaking law since its enactment in 2014. It featured testimony from top officials at the State Department, including Michelle Bernier-Toth, the Special Advisor for Children’s Issues; and Robert Koepcke, the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Japan, Korea, and Mongolia. “The Goldman Act empowers the State Department to use the full range of diplomatic tools to seek the return of abducted American children—from a demarche or public condemnation to delay or cancellation of a bilateral visits or an extradition request,” Smith said. “Annual appropriations language also authorizes the Department to withhold bilateral assistance funds for the governments of countries that are not taking appropriate steps to comply on child abduction issues.” “Yet the State Department consistently fails to apply these Goldman tools,” said Smith. “In 10 years, it has only ever used an action that exceeded a demarche once—even as many countries still do not comply with their treaty obligations under the Hague Convention.” Also testifying at Smith’s hearing was Jeffery Morehouse, the founder of Bring Abducted Children Home, who shared his own experience as a left-behind parent: “Over the past 14 years of advocacy for others and in my own personal efforts to locate and reunite with my kidnapped son, ‘Mochi’ Atomu Imoto Morehouse, I have been told when our children are adults, they will be free to contact their seeking parent. I understand those in the general public and government are trying to offer kind words of support. These are naive words that dismiss the opportunity to engage and do more for the 30,000 U.S. children kidnapped to a foreign country since 1994.” “We can and must do more to work to bring our abducted children home,” said Smith, who introduced new legislation earlier this year to strengthen key aspects of the Goldman Act by requiring additional data and increased transparency from the State Department and providing critical funding for research into the lifelong trauma caused by international parental abduction. “In a sense, I rescued myself from abduction, with the help of others,” said Ali Ismail, who finally returned home three years ago with the help of advocates like Dr. Noelle Hunter from the iStand Survivor Network. “Now, I want to help rescue other abducted children and help them have the soft landing and long-term reunification support that they need when they come home.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413327,Smith leads the House of Representatives in a moment of silence honoring the late Bill Pascrell Jr.,2024-09-09,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The following are excerpts of remarks delivered on the House Floor by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, while leading the House of Representatives in a moment of silence to honor the late Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-NJ): “Mr. Speaker, my colleagues and I rise to convey our deepest sorrow on the passing of our longtime friend and 14-term New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell Jr. of the 9th District in New Jersey. We offer our prayers and heartfelt condolences to his wife Elsie and his three sons Bill III, David and Glenn. Bill’s life was marked by exemplary service, having served in the U.S. Army and as a high school history teacher and adjunct professor before becoming a state assemblyman, mayor, and congressman. He was dedicated to New Jersey families and an outspoken advocate for our law enforcement community, our firefighters, and our Nation’s veterans. His Firefighter Investment and Response Enhancement (FIRE) Act created the groundbreaking Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program, which provides funding for protective equipment, emergency vehicles, training and other crucial support to aid firefighters in their lifesaving mission. Since its creation in 2001, this incredible program has awarded over $10 billion to fire departments across the country—including more than $198 million to those in New Jersey. As co-chair and founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Bill also helped lead the charge to advance brain health. His bipartisan Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2018 provided critical funding to help patients with brain injuries and their families, enhance breakthrough research, and for the first time ever, create a national concussion surveillance system to improve prevention, care and recovery efforts for traumatic brain injuries. Bill was also devoted to preserving New Jersey’s beautiful natural resources and led efforts to designate Paterson Great Falls—the stunning 77-foot-tall waterfall on the Passaic River—as a national historic park. Bill served five terms in the New Jersey General Assembly and two terms as mayor of Paterson. He will be missed.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413380,"'My good friend and a trailblazer for Lyme Disease patients' Pat Smith's transformational, extraordinary work",2024-09-06,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The following are remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) submitted in the Congressional Record in honor of his good friend and remarkable Lyme disease advocate, Pat Smith of Wall, New Jersey, who passed away peacefully on August 17, 2024:",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413342,Asbury Park Press article on project psuhed by Smith'Manasquan Inlet shoal dug away',2024-09-05,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"POINT PLEASANT BEACH - The dangerous shoal is all but gone. In the end, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dug enough sand out of Manasquan Inlet to fill 13½ Olympic-size swimming pools. There is still some mop-up work to be done later this month, but the Corps finished the great majority of the job on Aug. 25, roughly 2½ weeks after it started dredging the inlet to rid the shoal which formed on the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet. The final tally was approximately 45,000 cubic yards, Army Corps' Philadelphia District spokesman Stephen Rochette told the Asbury Park Press. An Olympic pool is 50 meters long by 25 meters wide, or roughly 164 feet by 82 feet, and usually three meters deep, or just shy of 10 feet. In terms of the weight in wet sand, that figure equals about 121.5 million pounds. The Army Corps received several calls at the start of August for help from stakeholders, including U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., after the shoaling in the Manasquan Inlet returned to the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet for the second time in three years. The last time was 2022. Fishing boat captains, who use the inlet daily to enter the Atlantic Ocean, said the shoal was larger this time. Capt. William Egerter Jr. of the Dauntless party fishing boat compared it to a ""beach"" in the inlet; one that drew body boarders, surfers and beachgoers despite the warnings from public officials to stay off it. How it was going halfway through:Over 60 million pounds of sand dug from Manasquan Inlet shoal The Corps used the Murden, a 156-foot split hull hopper dredge with a capacity of 500 cubic yards, to vacuum up the sand. The vessel was redeployed to the Shark River on Aug. 26, but will return to the Manasquan Inlet later this month to finish the final small piece. View of the bay taken away by sand: JakeaBob's in Union Beach needs NJ, federal help to get it back The likely cause of the shoal were the persistent south wind and swells this summer, which pushes the sand in, according to the Army Corps. It was the same dynamic that likely caused the shoaling in 2022, the Corps said. Rochette previously told the Asbury Park Press that in ""time periods with persistent southerlies, the sand can move quickly into the inlet."" What's taking so long?Ortley Beach, other Ocean County towns badly need new beach sand Critics of beach replenishment say those projects have resulted in excess sand drifting north. The Corps last completed beach replenishment south of Manasquan Inlet in 2019, according to the Corps. That project ended one mile south of Manasquan Inlet, Rochette previously told the Asbury Park Press. He said the majority of the sand was placed south of what the Corps called the ""nodal zone,"" where the dominant transport of sand shifts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-introduces-bill-provide-extended-care-services-spouses-veterans,Kean Introduces Bill to Provide Extended Care Services to Spouses of Veterans,2024-09-03,2024,2024-09,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(September 3, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) has introduced the Home Health Aides for Veterans’ Spouses Act, a bill that would allow veterans who are over the age of 75 to defer their home health aide benefits to their spouses in extenuating circumstances. This legislation was inspired by a 92-year-old Berkeley Heights veteran, Mr. John O’Connor, who requested that a VA home health aide assist his wife. The VA would not permit this and rejected this veteran’s appeal numerous times despite his pleas. Spouses of veterans can only obtain VA home health aide benefits upon the passing of their veteran spouse. This issue leaves some with limited to no access to home health aide services. “Just as veterans have given so much in service to our country, their spouses have given just as much in support and sacrifice,” said Congressman Kean. “This commonsense legislation was a direct response to Mr. O’Connor’s concern. He was informed by the VA that the only way he would be able to pass these benefits on to his wife were to pass away himself. The VA should have the leeway to share these benefits with veterans’ spouses if the need arises. I appreciate Mr. O’Connor reaching out to my office and sharing his story.” “I am interested in other veterans who are faced with the same issues I have and are really in difficult situation,” said Mr. John O’Connor. “They are unable to adequately take care of their spouse, either financially or socially. No one is the VA was going to fight for us. Only Congressman Kean made that effort. We both appreciate it.” Other key efforts Congressman Kean has taken to support veterans: Sponsored H.R.4171 - Driving Veterans Success Act, which requires that at least 10% of the funds under specified infrastructure programs are expended through Veteran owned small businesses. Sponsored H.R.7613 - Veterans Flight Training Responsibility Act of 2024 to provide for a limitation on the amount of entitlement to educational assistance payable for flight training under the Post-9/11 Educational Assistance Program of the Department of Veterans Affairs. Co-Sponsored Rep. Levin's H.R.984 - Commitment to Veteran Support and Outreach Act, which authorizes the Department of Veteran's Affairs to provide grants to states to implement programs that improve outreach and assistance to veterans and their families. Focusing first on areas with high rates of suicide among veterans, and high rates of referrals to the Veterans Crisis Line. Co-Sponsored Rep. Mast's H.R.562 - Improving Veterans Access to Congressional Services Act of 2023, which creates new ways for Veterans to access their Congressional Representatives to most effectively receive the assistance they deserve. Co-Sponsored Rep. Sherrill's H.R.733 - Vet CENTERS for Mental Health Act of 2023 which sets a minimum number of Vet Centers in each state, ensuring Veterans and their families access to any social or psychological service they may need. Full text of the bill can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:43:57Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-constituent-services-return-over-8-million-nj-07-residents,Kean Constituent Services Return Over $8 Million to NJ-07 Residents,2024-08-30,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 30, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) announced that his casework team has returned more than $8,652,279 to constituents. Since the office opened in January of 2023, Congressman Kean and his team have closed over 2,641 constituent cases, representing over $8,652,279 dollars returned back to New Jerseyans in the 7th District. From the beginning of Congressman Kean’s term in office, Team Kean has helped constituents save money and obtain benefits from the VA, IRS, Social Security Administration, and other federal agencies. The top three groups of people served are seniors, veterans, and families.“I am excited to share that our constituent service team has returned over $8 million dollars back to constituents through our casework services,” said Congressman Kean. “This achievement underscores our commitment to serving New Jerseyans and ensuring they receive the benefits and assistance they’re entitled to. This is a testament to the hard work of my team and our unwavering commitment to addressing the needs of every individual we represent.” In a recent case that conveys the impact of dedicated constituent services, a Clark resident and her husband faced a challenging situation regarding their Medicare Part B enrollment. The couple, who had private insurance through the husband’s union, sought to enroll in Medicare Part B under the Special Enrollment Period due to the impending termination of their private coverage. Despite their eligibility for special enrollment, they were initially advised by a Social Security representative that they could not enroll until the next open enrollment period and would face a late enrollment penalty. Undeterred, the constituent reached out to our office for assistance. With proof of their private health coverage in hand, our office took immediate action, contacting the Social Security Administration (SSA) to provide the necessary documentation. This intervention ensured that the couple was enrolled in Medicare Part B without incurring any late enrollment penalties. In expressing their gratitude, the Clark resident wrote, “Alleluia! Praise the Lord! Burden lifted!! From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your intervention in this situation.” This casework highlights the vital role of constituent services in addressing and resolving issues affecting local residents, ensuring they receive the benefits and support they are entitled to. Team Kean is always here to help. If you or someone you know needs help with a federal agency, please do not hesitate to contact the office. You can find more information here: https://kean.house.gov/services/help-federal-agency or call (908) 547-3307. Team Kean also hosts frequent Satellite Office Hours, the first week of every month. Make sure to follow Congressman Kean for updates on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @CongressmanKean.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413325,"TAPInto news article on Smith, community efforts:'Jersey Shore: Over 1,000 Residents Rally Against Offshore Wind Project, Unite to Expose Hidden Risks'",2024-08-28,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Hughes continued ""as it relates to the questions raised by many - levels of radiation and what are known as Extremely Low Frequency Electric Magnetic Fields (ELF/EMF) - there's been a number of reports out there about the impact of radiation, but most reports are around cell phones which put out 5 watts of energy. As a comparison, the scale of this transmission line we're talking about is 5,720 MW which is actually 5.7 billion watts. The bottom line on the studies and the safety - first of all, this has never been done before, so that would challenge any study, so you will not find a study giving you an answer and nor has the NJBPU."" ""The offshore wind energy project, with so many risks, is not a partisan issue, said Hughes."" There are over 200 homes along the power cable route. Many of the homes are 10-15 yards away, some less than 10. It will run adjacent to 3 schools, a daycare center, playgrounds, an athletic field, and it will run through superfund site right on Sea Girt Ave."" 3. Highly unified group to fight the industrialization of the Ocean Mayor Mangan of Manasquan said ""Manasquan's position is we are against the industrialization of the ocean, and as a town dependent on the ocean for tourism and our healthy fishing industry. Mayor Mangan thanked the citizens group and Assemblyman Kanitra ""who has been a true partner"" and Congressman Chris Smith who has supported us at the Federal level."" Mayor Fetzer of Sea Girt challenged 40-CFR35 (state and local environmental protection) with 3 key facts: ""For a project to get the blessing of the EPA it needs to be cost-effective; environmentally sound; Implementable. I dare anyone in this room to point to any of those 3 things and how this is satisfied by this project. The subsidies can't possibly cover the cost of this project. In fact, I think you are going to see the cost/benefit ratio less than one. The project is not economically feasible."" Ocean expert Cindy Zepf of Clean Ocean Action, a key player in restoring our ocean from its days as a dumping ground, emphasized the renewed fight against the massive push to industrialize the ocean. ""While our organization isn’t opposed to offshore wind, the scope, scale, and magnitude of this project are beyond reckless. In my experience, no industrialization has ever benefited the environment."" When asked how she viewed the event, organizer and founding member Kimberly Patterson of StopTheHighRiskPowerCables.org responded ""Our goal was to end the secrecy and shed a light on what is planned for our community. We believe that residents and businesses have a right to understand the risks and rewards of a major infrastructure project that runs through our neighborhoods and will significantly impact our community. The meeting was beyond our wildest expectations with more than 1,000 participants and people actually hosting Zoom “watch parties.” The level of interest shown during the prime vacation weeks of summer tells you how passionate people are about stopping this project. Our efforts are just beginning.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413440,APP news article:'5G poles coming down in Point Pleasant Beach after settlement',2024-08-28,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Mike Davis Asbury Park Press The 5G wireless poles under construction across the borough will be removed under the terms of a settlement announced Tuesday. In a Facebook post, Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Doug Vitale said the borough would pay ""limited compensation"" to developer Munisite Networks, who began construction on 5G wireless poles earlier this year. The poles were approved as part of a 2021 agreement with the borough, which allowed Munisite to construct wireless poles at as many as 74 locations across the borough. (Vitale has maintained that it was unlikely all 74 sites would be used.) In April, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., introduced a bill in Congress that would nullify the effects of those regulations on municipalities. The bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee but has yet to receive a hearing. That agreement was terminated as part of the settlement, Vitale said. The financial terms of the settlement were not immediately available, but are expected to be prepared for approval by the Point Pleasant Beach Borough Council at its Sept. 3 meeting. Negotiations between Munisite and Point Pleasant Beach had been ongoing for most of the summer. Construction was halted, at the borough's request, after neighbors complained about the aesthetic designs and potential health impacts of the wireless poles. The borough's special counsel demanded the poles be removed in a July 8 letter. The settlement between Point Pleasant Beach and Munisite doesn't mean 5G wireless poles aren't coming to the borough. Instead, they will simply be subject to more stringent regulation by borough officials. On Aug. 20, the council adopted an ordinance that requires the developer of any ""small wireless facilities"" in the public right-of-way lawn to go before the planning board, which will hold a public hearing, and reach a right-of-way agreement with the borough council, which will also be voted on in public. In 2018, the Federal Communications Commission ruled that municipalities can regulate certain standards involving 5G poles but cannot outright ban them or dictate their location. In April, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., introduced a bill in Congress that would nullify the effects of those regulations on municipalities. The bill was referred to the House Energy and Commerce Committee but has yet to receive a hearing. Mike Davis has spent the last decade covering New Jersey local news, marijuana legalization, transportation and a little bit of everything else. He's won a few awards that make his parents very proud. Contact him at mdavis@gannettnj.com or @byMikeDavis on Twitter.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-and-scholten-introduce-bill-ban-members-congress-profiting-american,Kean and Scholten Introduce Bill to Ban Members of Congress from Profiting Off American Adversaries,2024-08-27,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 27, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Last Friday, Representatives Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) and Hillary Scholten (MI-03) introduced the Foreign Adversary Investment Prohibition Act, a bill to prohibit Members of Congress from conducting financial transactions involving certain foreign adversaries of the United States. This bipartisan bill would mandate that any disclosed financial transaction, directly or indirectly, that benefits a foreign adversary (or company that is designated by the US State Department as a foreign entity and adverse to the US) by a Member of Congress or Senator is accompanied by a fine to the affect of $5,000 for the first offense, $10,000 for the second offense, and $15,000 for subsequent offenses. “The public servants who represent our country should not be profiting off other countries who wish to do us harm,” said Congressman Kean. “We cannot tolerate politicians who prioritize personal gain over what is best for the American people. Republicans and Democrats need to come together to ensure honesty and transparency in government.” ""Effective leadership starts with ethical leadership; and we cannot count on elected officials to act in America's best interest if their finances are tied up in an adversarial nation’s economy,” said Congresswoman Scholten. “Today, I am proud to co-lead the Foreign Adversary Investment Prohibition Act to hold our nation's leaders to a higher ethical standard ensuring we always put America first."" Full text of the bill can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413323,"Coast Star article on Smith, community opposition'Opponents call ocean wind plan ‘ill thought out’'",2024-08-23,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"After gaining traction in the local community since the group’s formation, the group held the meeting before a virtual audience of over 1,000 attendees about a proposed turbine plan off the East Coast. The meeting was attended by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Assemblyman Paul Kanitra and six other panel members, including an environmentalist, local mayors and citizen advocates who shared their opinions and called for project transparency. “Our goal was to end the secrecy and shed a light on what is planned for our communities. We believe that residents and businesses have a right to understand the risks and rewards of a major infrastructure project that runs through our neighborhoods and will significantly impact our quality of life,” said Kimberly Paterson, one of the organizers of the meeting. She continued, “The meeting was beyond our wildest expectations with more than 1,000 participants and people actually hosting Zoom watch parties. The level of interest shown during prime vacation weeks of summer tells you how passionate people are about stopping this project. Our efforts are just beginning.” Stop The High-Risk Power Cables describes itself as a bipartisan, grassroots, self-funded group of residents who oppose the underground cable that would be part of the Atlantic Shores Offshore Winds South Project. Assemblyman Kanitra said his office invited the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (BPU), which is the government agency overseeing offshore wind development. However, according to Kanitra, the BPU declined to attend. While the meeting featured a panel of politicians, environmentalists and advocates who oppose the proposed turbine projects, several other environmental coalitions have been at the forefront supporting Gov. Murphy’s push for renewable energy, including the National Wildlife Federation, New Jersey Sustainable Business Council and the New Jersey Audubon Society, to name a few. In a May 28 BPU press release, Gov. Murphy said, “Offshore wind development remains a once-in-a-generation opportunity that will result in significant economic and environmental benefits throughout the Garden State. At this pivotal inflection point for the industry both in New Jersey and across the nation, it’s critical that we remain committed to delivering on the promise of thousands of family-sustaining, union jobs and cleaner air for generations to come.” The proposed plan by Atlantic Shores LLC would result in the construction of hundreds of wind turbines off the coast of Atlantic City. The project would include a 40-mile-long cable export corridor carrying a minimum of 5,720 megawatts that would make landfall at the New Jersey National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, according to the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). After making landfall at the federal property, the proposed power cables would travel under residential streets in Sea Girt, Manasquan, Wall Township and ultimately end at the Larrabee Substation in Howell Township, according to the BPU. Group formed to oppose power cable According to organizers Lynette Viviani and Paterson, Stop the High-Risk Power Cables organized the meeting as an effort to inform their neighbors about what is proposed to go on in their front yards. “We can’t find an example anywhere in the world where this much power is landing on a beach and running within 15 to 20 yards of homes, schools and recreation areas,” said Paterson. After publicizing the meeting for just over two weeks, the group found the response slightly more than they anticipated. The meeting was originally scheduled to be held at the Manasquan Community Senior Center; however, after registration numbers continued to climb, the group was forced to relocate the meeting. Viviani and Paterson settled on the Spring Lake Manor in Spring Lake Heights, until yet again they were forced to relocate due to the exceeding number of attendees. Ultimately, the group decided to host a panel in person at the Community Senior Center and stream the meeting over Zoom for the more than 1,000 registered attendees. The meeting was moderated by Sea Girt resident Fred Marziano, who provided a brief introduction for all eight members of the panel before they spoke to the audience about the proposed turbine plan. To open the night, Marziano stated “We demand a halt to this project until the risks are objectively evaluated and health, well-being and safety can be assured.” First panel speaker of the evening, Mayor Mike Mangan said, “Manasquan stands staunchly opposed to the issue overall, in particular with regards to the transmission. We are urging the BPU to host a public education meeting and to provide a clear method of feedback so that those members of the public could have their questions answered and their opinions heard.” U.S. REP. CHRIS SMITH U.S. Rep. Smith represents the 4th Congressional District, which includes Wall Township, Sea Girt, Manasquan and Howell Township. Rep. Smith said, “Unfortunately, many of the people have closed their eyes and blocked their ears from hearing the very, very inconvenient truth that this whole push for ocean wind has been very ill thought out.” Rep. Smith has opposed the proposed offshore wind projects in the House of Representatives. He said he has led the effort for offshore wind project transparency on the federal level; however has found trouble with several amendments regarding radar implications that were blocked in the Senate. “So far, I have passed three policy amendments, after vigorous debates on the House floor. One of them is for the GAO report… to say look, don’t play games. We want to know exact answers to the best of your ability to these pertinent questions about the proposed projects.” Rep. Smith said he spearheaded an effort that resulted in an independent investigation from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to examine the proposed wind turbine projects and their impact on the environment, commercial and recreational fishing, tourism, national security and radar navigation, as well as the impact hurricanes and severe weather patterns will have on the turbines. According to Rep. Smith, the investigation is ongoing and is expected to be completed this fall. “I have never seen anything in 44 years in Congress so ill thought out, and then the idea that nobody wants to answer the questions. Where is the governor? He should be holding forums, meeting with all the mayors and the elected people and above all meeting with the people, who pay the taxes. We are a country that thrives on consent of the governed. Is that happening here? Not at all, and I think that’s a catastrophe and I think it’s appalling.” Rep. Smith’s office displayed a chunk of debris from Vineyard Wind’s broken turbine that washed up on the beaches of Nantucket, Massachusetts, after a blade failure on July 13. The recent blade failure that came from a single turbine was repeatedly mentioned by panel speakers, resulting in the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement issuing a suspension order halting Vineyard Winds power production operations or new construction activity. Rep. Smith stated, “I’m not going to quit until we win this and you’re not going to quit… We fight with facts. We do not engage in hyperbole. We want real answers and again, I’m sick and tired of being shown the door and being told you need not apply for those answers.” SEA GIRT MAYOR DON FETZER Also on the panel was Sea Girt Mayor Don Fetzer, who described a lack of communication between the BPU and the borough he represents. According to Fetzer, the BPU held discussions with National Guard Training Center officials; however, the borough was not involved or invited to participate in that conversation. In addition, Mayor Fetzer discussed his views on the proposed power cables that would be constructed under the streets of Sea Girt. Mayor Fetzer stated the battle against the industrialization of the borough started long before that. “Sea Girt has been following these events for the last 15 years. It’s hard to believe, but the Army Camp has always been in play…first, they were going to sell it for real estate, then they were going to build their own 400-foot turbine. There was a little bit of a lull, and now here we are, being a landing point for this massive cable,” he said. Mayor Fetzer, who has decades of experience as a civil and environmental engineer, made it clear that Sea Girt opposes the power cables that would be constructed 15 to 20 feet from houses, schools and a day care center in Sea Girt. Additionally, among other project factors Mayor Fetzer described 40% tax credits provided to project purveyors, a lack of fair and open method of procurement by state and federal officials and argued that the proposed project doesn’t satisfy the three key facts of Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Water Act for project blessings; cost effectiveness, environmentally sound, and implementation and maintenance plan. ASSEMBLYMAN PAUL KANITRA When Assemblyman Paul Kanitra of District 10 arrived at the podium, he first addressed the over 1,000 people who watched the educational meeting remotely, giving kudos to the citizens he said showed up and cared to learn about the proposed wind turbine projects. Additionally, he spoke to others he said may have been watching the meeting, including staff from the Board of Public Utilities (BPU), Department of Environmental Protection and the Governor’s Office. Kanitra said, “I want to mention to you all that we are going to stop this no matter what it takes.” He then stated “money always drives an issue. This whole project stinks because of money, and you need to follow the money. The reason that it’s getting fast tracked, just go look at the campaign donations. Look at who the governors got campaign donations from, look at who in the majority that has been supporting this all along who they have gotten campaign donations from.” Kanitra recalled his time as mayor of Point Pleasant Beach and how initiatives and actions against turbine projects began when whales began washing up on beaches across the East Coast. Kanitra said, “What you see with the whale is so directly related to what’s happening to us humans. The burden shouldn’t be on us to prove that there are no detrimental effects to something. The whales shouldn’t have to prove that they are running into boats because their sonar is getting messed up and what you see from the government is just dismissal without any kind of facts whatsoever. They just say ‘oh no that’s absurd’ when we’ve seen a massive uptick in what’s happening with the whales in the grounds and the beaching and the boat strikes.” ENVIRONMENTALIST CINDY ZIPF Cindy Zipf, founder and executive director of Clean Ocean Action (COA) provided her analysis of the proposed project and the impact it would have on the marine ecosystems on the East Coast. While Zipf’s organization doesn’t oppose offshore wind. However, of the proposed projects she stated “the scope, scale and magnitude is beyond reckless.” Since founding COA in 1984, Zipf has spent the last 40 years protecting the coast of New York and New Jersey. She warned that the “alarm bell should be going off in everyone’s mind” with the proposed industrialization of the East Coast. “The scale scope of what we are doing to the environment, both offshore and onshore, is unbelievable… What few studies that have been done are insufficient and they don’t even begin to understand the consequences to the marine ecosystem,” Zipf stated. Zipf stated that both state and federal agencies are using strategies to push offshore wind development, including Fast 41 a program that expedites federal permitting. “All of these processes that should be carefully reviewed are being streamlined. In short, there’s a general lack of good governance in all stages of approval. It’s clear that ocean wind is getting a pass and that’s unacceptable.” Additionally, Zipf highlighted COA’s full-time policy attorney on staff and the trouble the nonprofit runs into attempting to follow project descriptions, further stating “You can be a full time at Clean Ocean Action and still have a heck of a time working your way through the system and the public really doesn’t stand a chance.” CITIZEN ADVOCATES Three citizen advocates representing separate groups concerned over the proposed projects sat on the panel and shared insight into their findings and experiences. Mike Dean, representing Save the East Coast, a nonprofit ocean environmental advocacy group, described the scope of the projects currently slated to line the East Coast from New England down to North Carolina. Dean provided numbers into the coastal industrialization that he referred to as the “the largest attempt at transforming our coastal ecosystem ever.” While Dean spoke, the presentation displayed an aerial graphic of the East Coast, lined with proposed wind turbine projects at various permitting, surveying and construction phases that would result in the industrialization of the coast. Dean stated, “There are 27 active lease areas right now that we are monitoring. There’s upwards of 37 projects that are active from Southern New England down to North Carolina.” He grouped the coastal waters into three water sections; Southern New England, New York and New Jersey and the remaining area from south of Cape May to North Carolina. He provided insight into the status of the proposed projects and the five major stages that are required to complete a project, which vary in different circumstances. The stages include lease assignments, construction and operation plans, federal environmental permitting process, obtaining a power contract and lastly the construction of the project. “We are getting close, status wise here in New Jersey. The BPU and DEP have granted permits to Atlantic Shores South and federal agencies have as well, so that project is fully permitted and is the furthest one along,” Dean stated. After Dean provided insight into the many proposed projects off the East Coast, Keith Moore who represented Defend Our Beaches New Jersey, said he has had success in the past fighting wind turbines and provided insight in his experiences. Previously, Moore fought against Orsted in 2022 in its proposed offshore wind off the coast of Brigantine Beach. He serves as the director of government affairs and external relations at Defend Our Beaches New Jersey. According to Moore, his organization has appealed to Gov. Murphy, testified in Trenton at the state Senate and Assembly and has held peaceful protests and continues to work opposing offshore wind. “I’ve been asked to talk about how we won the battle against offshore wind. I’d like to think we won the battle against Orsted… but now it’s time to win the war.” Moore provided a three-prong approach to “winning the war” against offshore wind. The first prong mentioned by Moore is that elected officials in local municipalities and coastal counties work collectively to oppose offshore wind through resolutions and citizen involvement. Next, Moore stated to “stop the bailout” by pursuing litigation against corporations attempting to industrialize the coast. The final prong Moore referred to was challenging state and federal officials on the violations of environmental laws that protect the ocean. Glenn Hughes, a Sea Girt resident and a founding member of Stop The High-Risk Cables, spoke about what he said was the magnitude and potential dangers of power cables that are proposed to travel under residential streets in Sea Girt, Manasquan and Wall Township. According to Hughes, of the two proposed routes, over 200 residential homes would lie within 10 to 15 yards to where the power line will go, and the power line will travel adjacent to three schools, a day care center, athletic fields and playgrounds. He stated the proposed power that would travel through Sea Girt and out to Howell would at a minimum carry 5,720 megawatts of power, which Hughes compared to the disaster at Three Mile Island, which carried 800 megawatts of power. Paterson concluded the meeting by calling upon residents to continue to fight against the proposed offshore wind plan and to not lose faith in the process. “Can we stop this? The answer is yes we can. My question of you is, are you going to stop it? Because we can’t do it alone, we need lots of people engaged in this process… The only way they can get away with what they are doing is if we sit back and let them.” stated Paterson. The meeting in its entirety could be found on YouTube, youtube.com/live/8qWGHwJnXRI?si=oBExKLxM-dGGYuxp.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413324,Brick Times article on Smith efforts to get dangerous Manasquan Inlet sand dredged'Dredging Begins On Manasquan Inlet To Remove Built-Up Sand',2024-08-22,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The two-mile-long manmade channel is located within the boundaries of Point Pleasant Borough and became navigable in 1926. The waterway connects the Manasquan River and the Barnegat Bay. Crews from the Corps started dredging the waterway on August 6, with a goal to remove the sand built-up on the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet, Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th). Smith had sent a letter to Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman, Commander, urging them to take immediate action as the inlet has become a hazard to vessels. “The build-up of sand on the Point Pleasant side of the inlet against the jetty has reached unprecedented proportions. As you know, this is not only a grounding hazard to vessels, but the waves created inside the inlet as a result of this shoaling are enough to capsize boats that regularly traverse the channel,” Smith said. Point Pleasant Beach Mayor Doug Vitale was also in contact with the Corps and addressed the safety concerns of the dangerous shoaling. “I am aware of the sand shoaling on the south side of the inside of the Manasquan Inlet due in large part to the southerly wind we’ve been having. I trust the U.S. Coast Guard is monitoring and will ensure safety of the Inlet,” Vitale said. “I am monitoring the situation as well and understand the gravity of the situation: safety, navigability, and the blockage it causes for our fishing industry.” “I am aware that Manasquan Inlet is categorized as a dynamic inlet with constantly shifting sands created by the currents, but this inlet beach is highly dangerous to navigation during the busiest boating time of the year on the Jersey Shore,” Smith added. On August 6, the Dredge Murden conducted two dredging cycles at Manasquan Inlet, the Corps said. They also noted that they will return soon for more dredging. During this time, residents and beachgoers are asked to remain off the sand bar at all times while work is being performed. “It’s important to note that the Manasquan inlet is dynamic and conditions within the inlet can rapidly change. Significant shoaling has frequently occurred within the Inlet and often dissipates due to changing wind/wave conditions,” the Corps said in a statement. “Mariners should heed all warnings from the U.S. Coast Guard and proceed with caution. Additionally, people should avoid walking/recreating on the shoal given the dynamic nature of the inlet and sea conditions.”",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-hosts-annual-eagle-scout-award-event,Kean Hosts Annual Eagle Scout Award Event,2024-08-22,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 22, 2024) BERNARDSVILLE, NJ – Last Friday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) held his second annual Eagle Scout Award Event ceremony. Scouts from New Jersey's 7th Congressional District who have achieved or will achieve the rank of Eagle Scout between July 2023 and the end of 2024 were invited to attend. Additionally, parents, Scoutmasters and other adult scout leaders from across the district were also welcomed to join the celebration with their Scouts. An Eagle Scout title is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouts of America organization. To become an Eagle Scout, one must earn a total of 21 merit badges and demonstrate Scout spirit, service, and leadership. This includes an extensive service project that scouts plan, organize, lead, and manage. “I am incredibly impressed by the talent and dedication of the Eagle Scouts in our district,” said Congressman Kean. “Earning the title of Eagle Scout is no easy feat, and these young adults have every reason to be proud of their achievement. They are natural leaders with bright futures ahead of them. Congratulations to all the Eagle Scouts!” “This is a really nice event,” said Lily Harness of Summit. “It’s great to see others in the community and meet other scouts. Thank you, Congressman Kean, for hosting this event.” “This is a great way for all Eagle Scouts and upcoming Eagle Scouts to come together as a family and join together for one cause,” said Akash Gopal of Budd Lake. “It was great how Congressman Kean acknowledged my Eagle project and all the other Eagle Scouts.” The event honored 17 Eagle Scouts who represented all six counties in New Jersey’s 7th Congressional District. More than 50 people attended this event, including parents, grandparents, siblings, and adult scout leaders. To view pictures from this event, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413321,"Meals on Wheels in Ocean and Monmouth deliver 600,000 meals to local seniors each year Smith urges robust federal funding for critical nutritional service programs like Meals on Wheels that help millions of American seniors in need",2024-08-21,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"In a letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) strongly advocated for robust federal funding for programs that provide critical nutritional services for seniors, including Meals on Wheels of Ocean and Monmouth Counties and other effective community-based initiatives that deliver hot meals to seniors in need. “With the appropriations process underway, I urge you to ensure that sufficient funding is provided for the Older Americans Act (OAA) Title III-C Nutrition Services program—a program that serves as an essential lifeline for millions of our nation’s seniors, including many of my constituents,” Smith wrote in his letter to Cole. “Across the nation, this critical funding allows over 260 million meals to be delivered to nearly 2.2 million seniors annually—tens of thousands of whom live in New Jersey,” said Smith. “In Ocean and Monmouth counties alone, Meals on Wheels delivers 600,000 meals each year to local seniors.” “Not only has the program delivered proven results in boosting seniors’ nutritional and health outcomes, but it also offers significant support to those who wish to remain safe in their own homes as they continue to age,” Smith said, noting that isolation can often be an issue for older Americans. “The need for these services is so great that, for many seniors, the meals they receive through this program constitute much of their daily food intake while also offering added socialization.” Smith noted the effectiveness of the program, citing a recent survey conducted by Meals on Wheels of Ocean County, which delivers over 250,000 meals each year to local seniors. According to the study: · 99 percent of program participants feel more confident living independently receiving home delivered meals; · 97 percent are satisfied with the quality and variety of the food; and · 95 percent say receiving daily home delivered meals makes them feel less lonely. “These results speak to the clear impact of this program in helping our nation’s seniors thrive,” said Smith. “Strengthened funding will allow this effective community-based program to continue making a difference for senior health, safety, and relational well-being.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413322,On the passing of Bill Pascrell,2024-08-21,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, today issued the following statement on the passing of Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr. of Paterson: “Bill’s life was marked by steadfast public service to the people of his beloved state and country, having served in the U.S. Army and as a high school history teacher and adjunct professor before becoming a state assemblyman, mayor, and congressman. He was dedicated to New Jersey families and an outspoken advocate especially for our law enforcement community, our firefighters, and our Nation’s veterans. As co-chair and founder of the Congressional Brain Injury Task Force, Bill also helped lead the charge to advance brain health. Earlier this year, I was proud to be the lead cosponsor of his resolution to designate a National Huntington’s Disease Awareness Month to raise public awareness and support for those who suffer from this terrible degenerative brain disorder. My wife Marie and I offer our prayers and condolences to his family, friends and loved ones.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-statement-passing-congressman-bill-pascrell-jr,"Kean Statement on the Passing of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr.",2024-08-21,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 21, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) released the following statement following the passing of Congressman Bill Pascrell, Jr. ""Today, we mourn the loss of a great friend and colleague, Congressman Bill Pascrell. Bill was a dedicated public servant, a tireless advocate for his constituents, and a passionate supporter of firefighters. We worked closely together on many issues. My deepest condolences go out to his family during this difficult time. Bill will be dearly missed."" - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413326,Manasquan-Belmar Patch news article:'Sea Girt Residents Fight Plans To Bring Wind Energy Ashore In Town',2024-08-20,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"""The transmission cables that will be buried beneath community streets will carry 6,400 megawatts of power — 10 times the electrical output of the recently closed Oyster Creek nuclear plant,"" wrote the group here on their website. ""Based on our research, no project of this magnitude has been tested and proven safe anywhere in the world."" The high-voltage electric cables will run within 10-15 yards of homes and recreational facilities, by three schools and underneath the Coast to Capital Bike Trail, the residents say. The group says not enough people in Monmouth County know this is being proposed. Monday night's meeting was originally planned to be in person, but the group said they had to move it online due to the crowd size. Monday night's meeting was attended by Congressman, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), who has been vocal in trying to stop wind farms off the Jersey Shore. The meeting was also attended by Manasquan Mayor Michael Mangan, Sea Girt Mayor Donald Fetzer, Monmouth/Ocean county Assemblyman Paul Kanitra, Mike Dean from Save the East Coast, Cindy Zipf from Clean Ocean Action and Keith Moore from Defend Brigantine Beach. “We know that without a change in plans, the communities of Sea Girt, Wall, Howell and Manasquan — who are being forced to host the huge cables coming off the wind turbines — will be the next victims,” said Smith. “The work needed on these projects — which could last for years and will inevitably require ongoing maintenance — will indefinitely turn neighborhoods into hazardous construction zones."" “We can’t find an example anywhere in the world where this much power is landing on a beach and running within 15-20 yards of homes, schools and recreation areas,” said Kimberly Paterson, one of the founding members of StopTheHighRiskPowerCables.org. “Residents should not be expected to be guinea pigs in New Jersey’s high-risk experiment.” Construction of the onshore infrastructure in Monmouth County is scheduled to begin in 2025, and a contractor is expected to chosen this September.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413316,More than 500 residents tune in to community meeting Local experts and public officials inform residents about the dangers of high-powered transmission cables that will disrupt Sea Girt and other Jersey Shore towns,2024-08-19,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"At a community education meeting today in Manasquan, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) and a host of experts and public officials informed local residents about the dangers of high-powered transmission cables that are slated to make landfall in Sea Girt and continue through Manasquan, Wall, and Howell as part of the planned Atlantic Shores South offshore wind project. “The reckless push by the Biden and Murphy Administrations to stand-up expensive and expansive industrial wind farms in size and scope never seen before—without real review, examination, or most importantly, local input—is appalling,” said Smith. “We know that without a change in plans, the communities of Sea Girt, Wall, Howell and Manasquan—who are being forced to host the huge cables coming off the wind turbines—will be the next victims,” said Smith, who noted the cables would transmit energy from 195 offshore wind turbines off Atlantic City. The event was organized by Stop the High-Risk Power Cables, a local group of residents working to raise awareness about the dangerous cables. Although originally planned to be an in-person meeting, the event had to be moved largely online after drawing overwhelming interest from members of the local community, far exceeding venue capacity. “We can’t find an example anywhere in the world where this much power is landing on a beach and running within 15-20 yards of homes, schools and recreation areas,” said Kimberly Paterson, one of the founding members of StopTheHighRiskPowerCables.org. “The regulatory agencies’ and developers’ documents acknowledge there is a risk but they are charging ahead anyway. Residents should not be expected to be guinea pigs in New Jersey’s high-risk experiment.” In addition to Smith, a wide-range of experts and local officials also presented at the meeting, including Manasquan Mayor Michael Mangan; Sea Girt Mayor Donald Fetzer; Assemblyman Paul Kanitra; Mike Dean from Save the East Coast; Cindy Zipf from Clean Ocean Action; and Keith Moore from Defend Brigantine Beach. “The work needed on these projects—which could last for years and will inevitably require ongoing maintenance—will indefinitely turn neighborhoods into hazardous construction zones,” said Smith, who noted that residential roads would have to be torn up to place trenches for the powerlines, running past schools, homes, small businesses and parks. “The impact on local landscapes—personal, public and commercial properties—is simply unknown,” said Smith, citing a study by Dr. Jochen Fricke on a similar project in Germany that found these cables can carry so much excess heat they can dry out the earth’s soil. In Congress, Smith has been leading the fight to hold the federal agencies overseeing the massive, unprecedented offshore wind projects accountable and demanding total transparency from top federal officials over the disastrous risks posed by the projects. Last year, Smith’s legislation to require the Federal Aviation Administration to certify the impact of offshore wind on radar for commercial and defense aircraft was passed by the House. Additionally, Smith secured an independent investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) into the impacts that the wind turbines will have on the environment, fishing industry, military operations, radar, navigational safety and more. The ongoing audit by the congressional watchdog is expected to be completed this fall. “These potential problems with the high-powered cables are just the latest concerns highlighted by local residents that big government and big corporate interests are kicking to the side to push through potentially unsafe, untested systems—push through with unimaginable speed and disregard for the caution signs along the way and putting human and sea life at grave risk,” Smith said. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-introduces-presidential-security-bill-bridge-crucial-gaps-funding,Kean Introduces Presidential Security Bill to Bridge Crucial Gaps in Funding,2024-08-19,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 19, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) has introduced the Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2024, a bill to authorize Secret Service to reimburse State and local governments for the use of services, personnel, equipment and facilities. Following the assassination attempt on President Donald Trump on July 13, 2024, the Secret Service has requested enhanced protections for past presidents and presidential candidates during travel, as well as increased security measures for major public events, to ensure the safety of all involved and prevent further threats. Currently, when Secret Service utilizes local resources for additional security, the funding comes out of the local government’s budget, a cost that is not always accounted for or reimbursed, which strains local funds and resources. The Trump National Bedminster is located in the 7th Congressional District of New Jersey. “The Secret Service can fully accomplish their mission when they have robust partnerships with local law enforcement agencies,” said Congressman Kean. “Currently, a significant amount of that partnership is funded by small-town taxpayers and local budgets. I wrote this commonsense legislation to ensure that adequate resources are readily available to supplement each and every security plan. The Secret Service protects Americans leaders and must execute that function flawlessly every day."" “I recently called Congressman Kean when the Secret Service made a request of our township for additional law enforcement resources to supplement the protection around Trump National Golf Club and to dedicate township fire and first aid resources to the property,” said Larry Jacobs, Mayor of Bedminster. “Bedminster has always been willing to step up and answer the call to keep every resident in our town safe, and that includes the former President. We fully appreciate the Secret Service’s request, especially in light of the July 13th assassination attempt. However, this request could easily run into six figures and is simply too much for our small town to foot. The Congressman’s ‘Presidential Security Resources Reimbursement Act of 2024’ is the exact solution to bridge the gap that my town, and I am sure towns across our country are experiencing in these unique circumstances. I thank Congressman Kean for leading to get this fixed.” “Somerset County is always ready to support the Secret Service when needed to protect a President or other dignitary, and understands the vital role local law enforcement and first responders play,” said Somerset County Commissioner Director Shanel Robinson. “Mobilizing at the levels required, however, often comes at significant fiscal cost to local governments and we are fully on board with this legislation to authorize reimbursements to local law enforcement for their patriotic services.” “We cannot allow government bureaucracy to play politics with the safety of high-profile leaders,” said State Senator Doug Steinhardt. “The near-assassination former President Trump was an awful wakeup call that security measures and partnerships need to be fortified. I will be working hard to make sure all levels of government are working in lock step to keep President Trump safe at Bedminster.” Full text of the bill can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413319,TAPInto article on wind farm risks'The High Cost of Offshore Wind: What NJ Residents & Businesses Need to Know '',2024-08-18,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Jim Lonergan - Editor At a recent field hearing in Brigantine, Congressmen Jeff Van Drew (D-2) and Chris Smith (D4) led a discussion on the implications of the proposed offshore wind programs. They were joined by PA Congressman Scott Perry (PA-10) and a panel of experts to provide their viewpoints to New Jersey residents about the potential impact of these initiatives. This article, part of the TAPinto Gold Coast offshore wind energy series, is focused on the possible financial effects offshore wind energy may have on households and businesses statewide. To clarify the funding basis and the New Jersey Board of Public Utility's (NJBPU) role in offshore wind development, former NJBPU President and Commissioner Joanne Solomon explained: ""The NJBPU is tasked with ensuring safe, reliable utility service at reasonable rates. Essentially, the Board functions as an economic regulator. While they don’t set policy on energy sources, they are required to implement legislative directives. The legislation authorizing offshore wind development mandates that there must be a net benefit to ratepayers—encompassing reliability, safety, environmental attributes, and economic development. In short, the benefits must outweigh the costs. However, the proposals received for offshore wind are significantly more expensive than conventional energy resources."" Concerns about the economic viability of offshore wind projects came to the forefront when Orsted, the developer, canceled the first two New Jersey offshore wind projects citing a ""lack of economic viability,"" according to Orsted's CEO (click HERE for related article). Financial Impact to NJ Taxpayers Independent energy expert Ed O'Donnell of Whitestrand Consulting LLC who has studied, written, and testified about Offshore Wind Energy told TAPinto Gold Coast ""Offshore Wind is not economically viable without major subsidies in the form of Federal Tax credits and guaranteed above market utility prices for power generated."" There are four main components of costs: 1) NJ Electric Power generated (i.e. rate payers) 2) NJ transmission ratepayers 3) Federal subsidies, (i.e. US taxpayers throughout the country 4) and as O'Donnell said ""a major element that has not been factored into NJ's cost/benefits analysis - the massive rebuild of the power grid, which in its current state is not built to handle this new power."" Power generation costs: O'Donnell's analysis shows that the gap between subsidized offshore wind power prices and market prices is expected to grow from $42/MWh (4.2 cents/kWh) in 2030 to $144/MWh (14.4 cents/kWh) by 2047—a 243% increase as more offshore wind energy is added to the grid. The NJBPU has been instructed to award above-market Offshore Renewable Energy Credits (ORECs) to attract offshore wind producers. The NJ Rate Counsel, an independent state agency, has also raised concerns about the rising costs of offshore wind and its impact on ratepayers, urging lawmakers to reconsider or slow down the expansion as ""ratepayers simply cannot afford drastically higher electric bills.’’ (click HERE for more detail). In speaking with Director Lipman, he added, ""Rate Counsel is closely watching the ongoing offshore wind proceedings and remains concerned about the cost of offshore wind, as well as all the other costs faced by ratepayers,"" According to Whitestrand Consulting LLC, the chart below depicts the projected market price of energy (PJM)- a power pool of energy between NJ, PA, and MD - vs offshore wind pricing (OREC) with the above market subsidies factored in from 2030 (the initial projected start time of offshore wind going online) - through 2047. The gap between market rates and the new wind rates is $141/MWH or almost 3X the market expense. Transmission Costs: Below is a visual of the impact on energy rates without offshore wind and with offshore wind in the mix based on the analysis done by O'Donnell, according to Whitestrand Consulting LLC. As the chart shows, the added offshore wind costs progressively increase. In 2022, the average New Jersey residential customer paid 16.4 cents/kwh for electricity, the 9th highest in the US and 20% higher than the national average according to the US Energy Information Administration. O'Donnell projects these rates to rise to 32 cents/kwh by 2047, or 2X current rates or over $1,000/yr to the average residential customer. According to Whitestrand Consulting LLC, the graph below depicts the doubling of annual charges the average New Jersey residential customer will face. Whitestrand Consulting LLC says that for commercial ratepayers, their rates will increase to almost $8,300 per year by 2047, or $95,000 over the period 2028-2047. For industrial companies, it is estimated their rates will see an annual increase of over $70,000 and pay $796,000 for the period of 2028 to 2047. Here is a visual of the cost impact of conventional energy vs Wind Energy to all customer types: Federal Subsidies: Currently, New Jersey utility ratepayers cover their own energy costs through usage-based power generation, transmission rates, and maintenance of the electric infrastructure. However, federal subsidies are now being used to attract offshore wind companies, many of which are large global oil corporations. As O'Donnell and the Biden and Murphy Administrations have pointed out, these subsidies are crucial because, without them, offshore wind projects would not be viable. This result of federal subsidies is that all U.S. taxpayers would essentially be funding the electric utility expenses of a few coastal states, including New Jersey. Solomon noted, ""One developer has already withdrawn their bid because the state wouldn't provide enough subsidies to ensure a profit. Despite this, the current NJBPU board continues to push forward with additional solicitations, further driving up the cost of offshore wind with each new round."" O'Donnell added, ""It's absurd that the NJBPU keeps soliciting more bids because developers can't make enough money with the terms they've already accepted. They just keep coming back to NJBPU and other states until they reach a profitable level they're happy with."" TAPinto Gold Coast provided NJBPU with the opportunity to comment but did not receive a response by press time. TAPinto Gold Coast will update the story should a response be received. O'Donnell explains, that what hasn’t been factored into these cost estimates is the required rebuild of New Jersey's electric grid. O'Donnell said, ""The existing transmission network in NJ is incompatible with the Governor’s offshore wind plan. The current grid isn’t designed to handle the energy influx at its easternmost edge from a significant amount of offshore wind power. The state's Energy Master Plan (EMP) acknowledges that the grid will need major investments to upgrade and expand the network to support renewable energy and offshore wind programs. The NJBPU has been tasked with overseeing the planning for this and has begun the planning expansion by conducting periodic solicitations for transmission system upgrades and additions."" In May, energy policy expert Mark Mills, Director of the National Center for Energy Analytics, teamed up with the Garden State Initiative (GSI) on a research report that analyzed the goals and challenges of New Jersey's Energy Master Plan (EMP). According to the report, ""the plan is purely aspirational, and the report painstakingly proves that. The unrealistic nature of implementing this plan doesn't even take into account the price tag - which we estimate at $40 billion, and would drive even more people and jobs out of the state"" said Audrey Lane of GSI. Congressman Van Drew remarked, ""The current administration in New Jersey is determined to push forward with offshore wind development, regardless of the cost. By subsidizing an industry—wind energy—that is largely controlled by foreign companies, we risk becoming dependent on these nations for our energy needs. This means that not only will your federal tax dollars be used to subsidize their projects, but your utility rates will also be influenced by these companies."" This article was originally published on August 18, 2024 by TAPInto Gold Coast, which serves Spring Lake, Spring Lake Heights, Sea Girt, Manasquan and Brielle and can be found online at https://www.tapinto.net/towns/gold-coast/sections/government/articles/the-high-cost-of-offshore-wind-what-nj-residents-businesses-need-to-know.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413318,'Over 60 million pounds of sand dug from Manasquan Inlet shoal; here's where it's going',2024-08-15,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' dredge boat Murden has vacuumed up about 20,000 cubic yards of sand out of the Manasquan Inlet so far as it works to dig out the dangerous shoal that formed this summer. That converts to about 64 million pounds of wet sand removed from the inlet since the work began in earnest this past weekend. The job is not complete, so the final total figures to be higher once the shoal is completely removed. The Murden, which is a 156-foot split hull hopper dredge, has a capacity of 500 cubic yards, said Army Corps' Philadelphia District spokesperson Stephen Rochette. However, for ease of transport, they're only filling it up with 400 cubic yards of sand per cycle. The Army Corps received several calls for help from stakeholders, including U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., after the shoaling in the Manasquan Inlet returned to the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet for the second time in three years. The last time was 2022. Fishing boat captains who use the inlet daily to leave the Manasquan River and enter the Atlantic Ocean said the shoal was the worst it has ever been. Capt. William Egeter Jr. of the Dauntless party boat described the shoal as a ""beach"" that reached out to about one third of the mouth of the inlet, presenting a navigational hazard to boaters. The Army Corps and locally elected leaders are also warning people to stay off the shoal. The sand is being deposited just offshore of Manasquan's Riddle Way beach, which is four beaches north of the inlet. Rochette said they chose that spot because it’s relatively close to the inlet for quick transport, and secondly because the sand drifts north from there, so it supports Manasquan beaches without going back into the inlet. Lastly, it is within the ‘depth of closure,’ meaning it’s within the zone that will eventually migrate toward the beach. How we got here:Army Corps will stay and complete dredging Manasquan Inlet's dangerous shoal Rochette said if they place the sand outside the 'depth of closure,"" it basically won't reach the beach. What's taking so long?Ortley Beach, other Ocean County towns badly need new beach sand The likely cause of the shoal has been the persistent south wind and swells this summer, which pushes the sand in, according to the Army Corps. It was the same dynamic that likely caused the shoaling in 2022, the Army Corps said. ""(In) time periods with persistent southerlies, the sand can move quickly into the inlet,"" Rochette told the press in a previous story. Critics of beach replenishment say those projects have resulted in excess sand drifting north. The Army Corps last completed beach replenishment south of Manasquan Inlet on the Barnegat Peninsula in 2019, according to Rochette. That project ended one mile south of Manasquan Inlet, Rochette said. He said the majority of the sand was placed south of what the Corps called the ""nodal zone,"" where the dominant transport of sand shifts.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413311,"Asbury Park Press news article on Rep. Smith efforts to press Army Corps of Engineers to make important NJ waterway safer'Army Corps to stay, dredge Manasquan Inlet shoal'",2024-08-12,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Dan Radel Asbury Park Press/USA TODAY NETWORK JERSEY - The U.S. Army Corps of Engineer’s 56-foot split-hull hopper dredge Murden will stay put and resume pumping the sand that has built up on the Point Pleasant Beach side of the Manasquan Inlet. Army Corps’ Philadelphia District spokesperson Stephen Rochette said the Murden will resume dredging operations possibly this weekend, depending on sea conditions, and remain for one to two weeks. The Shore was facing the effects of Tropical Storm Debby on Friday, which brought gusty winds and strong seas to area on Friday. In response to rapid shoaling on the inside of the inlet’s south jetty, the Army Corps completed hydrographic surveys on Aug. 6. The Army Corps said the surveys have been shared with the U.S. Coast Guard and are available to mariners on the Army Corps’ website. Additionally, the Murden did complete two cycles of dredging on Aug. 6, but work was stopped due to a coastal storm. The Murden, which is owned and operated by the Army Corps’ Wilmington District, was already stationed on the Manasquan Inlet but was doing work on the Shark River. It has now been diverted to the Manasquan Inlet. “I’m grateful to the USACE Wilmington, New England and New York Districts for their flexibility and rearranging dredging operations at other locations to enable this work to move forward this weekend as opposed to later in the month when it was originally scheduled,” said Army Corps’ Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman. “I also want to thank our survey crews and the Murden crew for their efforts.” The Army Corps received several calls for help from stakeholders, including U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., after the shoaling in the Manasquan Inlet returned for the second time in three years. Fishing boat captains who use the inlet daily to leave the Manasquan River and enter the Atlantic Ocean said the shoal was the worst it has ever been. Capt. William Egeter Jr. of the Dauntless party boat described it as a “beach” that reached out to about one third of the mouth of the inlet, presenting a navigational hazard to boaters. As far as the cause of the shoaling, the Army Corps said Manasquan Inlet is dynamic and conditions within the inlet can rapidly change. Significant shoaling has frequently occurred within the Inlet and often dissipates due to changing wind and wave conditions. The conditions this summer were similar to 2022, the last time the shoal formed, with persistent south wind and swells. Some critics of beach replenishment say those projects have resulted in excess sand drifting north. The Army Corps last completed beach replenishment south of Manasquan Inlet on the Barnegat Peninsula in 2019, according to Rochette. That project ended one mile south of Manasquan Inlet, Rochette said. He said the majority of the sand was placed south of what the Corps called the “nodal zone,” where the dominant transport of sand shifts. “The fact is the fillet — the area south of the jetty — along the south jetty in Point Pleasant Beach has historically been full prior to and after the beachfill, and in time periods with persistent southerlies, the sand can move quickly into the inlet,” Rochette said. In the 1920s, the natural inlet completely sanded in after the Point Pleasant Canal was dug, forcing the Corps to stabilize the waterway and construct the present inlet. The above article was published in the Aug. 12, 2024 print edition of the Asbury Park Press on page 3, and can be found online at: https://www.app.com/story/news/local/land-environment/2024/08/09/manasquan-inlet-shoal-us-army-corps-of-engineers-murden/74738065007/ Website manager's Note: The Army Corps’ action comes after Smith initiated conversations with Army Corps officials and local boat captains over the Aug. 3-4 weekend as the shoaling began to develop. In a follow-up letter to Army Corps Commander Lt. Col. Jeffrey Beeman on Monday, Aug. 5, Smith urged the Corps to take immediate action to mitigate the growing navigational hazard. As a result, the Corps performed a survey of the inlet floor earlier today and immediately began removing the build-up of sand.",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-introduces-bill-help-expand-access-ivf-treatments,Kean Introduces Bill to Help Expand Access to IVF Treatments,2024-08-09,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 9, 2024) WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) introduced the IVF for Families Act, a bill to provide an income tax credit for the costs of certain fertility treatment. A recent study revealed that a single IVF cycle—defined as ovarian stimulation, egg retrieval and embryo transfer—can range from $15,000 to $30,000, depending on the center and the patient’s individual medication needs. Medications can account for up to 35% of those charges. “Everyone knows a neighbor, colleague, or friend who has struggled when trying to grow their family and benefited from IVF,” said Congressman Kean. “I have heard firsthand from constituents of the many emotional and financial struggles that they face throughout this process. Making this remarkable technology more accessible can and will change countless lives for the better. I will continue to support a woman’s right to choose and am proud to introduce this bill to provide greater support to those who need help growing their family.” Congressman Kean is a cosponsor of H.Res.1037, a resolution to support protection of IVF treatments led by Congresswoman Chavez-Deremer and a cosponsor of H.R.9141, a bill to help families more effectively plan and manage medical expenses, including IVF, led by Congresswoman Cammack. Full text of the bill can be found HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-visits-fy25-community-project-funding-site-washington-township,Kean Visits FY25 Community Project Funding Site in Washington Township,2024-08-09,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 9, 2024) WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) toured the Washington Township Police Department in Morris County ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into local law enforcement needs and priorities. Congressman Kean requested $560,000 for Washington Township in this year’s FY25 appropriation process. This funding would be used for communication technology upgrades for emergency operations of the police department to allow the agency to meet the growing needs of the community. “As we move forward with the FY25 appropriations discussion, I am committed to securing $560,000 for Washington Township,” said Congressman Kean. “This funding will be instrumental in upgrading communication technology for emergency operations, ensuring the Washington Township Police Department is equipped to meet the evolving needs of our community effectively and efficiently."" “We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our Police Department to ensure the residents of Washington Township live in one of the safest towns in New Jersey,” said Matthew Murello, Washington Township Mayor. “This funding included in the federal budget by Congressman Kean will help to support the infrastructure of our police department’s headquarters building.” “I am honored that the Congressman would take the time to visit our headquarters and take the time to see how the grant money would be used,” said Jeffrey Almer, Washington Township Police Chief. “I also want to thank Mayor Matt Murello for his hard work on this as well. I am exceptionally proud of my officers and the department, and this will help us continue to be one of the best with one of the finest facilities.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413309,On the 10th anniversary of the Goldman Act,2024-08-08,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today issued the following statement marking the 10th anniversary of the enactment of the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act: “Ten years ago today, the Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act—which I authored to help bring home American children who have been abducted overseas—was enacted into law. While the ‘Goldman Act’ is helping to reunite families and prevent possible future abductions, many left-behind parents have been waiting far too long to see their kids again as the U.S. State Department fails to employ the full range of powerful tools at its disposal. At a hearing I will chair in September, we will be asking the hard questions and pressing the State Department and other U.S. officials to take bolder action on behalf of these left-behind parents, especially those whose children have been abducted to Japan.” ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413315,NJ.com article on new adult autism school Smith helped with fed grant'This N.J. college is launching an academy for adults with autism',2024-08-08,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"MIDDLETOWN, NJ , Aug 8, 2024 NJ. com Everything New Jersey - Powered by Star Ledger Brookdale Community College is developing a program that will equip adults who are on the autism spectrum with a variety of life skills, from meal preparation to financial literacy. The Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism, which is slated to begin taking clients in 2025 at Brookdale’s satellite campus in Wall, seeks to fill a gap in services for individuals with special needs who are no longer eligible to receive public school-provided support. “In New Jersey, a child with autism is allowed to be in school until they turn 21,” said Eileen Shaklee, an autism advocate and board member of Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children, which has been working to develop the academy for a decade. “What happens after 21 is what a lot of parents like myself kind of call the cliff, because you’re leaving school where you had all these services, lots of reinforcements, lots of supports, and then there’s nothing.” Rep. Chris Smith assisted in securing a $400,000 federal grant for the project, which will be used to furnish the academy, according to the release The Achieve Academy for Adults with Autism celebrated the completion of its facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 16. The academy will begin serving clients in 2025.Brookdale Community College “One of the most important things for someone who’s on the spectrum is to have a consistent support system that can reinforce skills like life skills, being independent in your home,” Shaklee added. For Shaklee, her passion for the academy is fueled by her own experiences as a parent to a child with autism, who will soon turn 21. “I’ve been selfishly motivated to get this thing off the ground, and it’s because of my son,” she said. Shaklee said there is a lack of programs offered for adults with autism to engage in meaningful work and contribute to the community. “There are various programs out there that are more care-based. They’re making sure that the person is safe. A child like mine, he needs more interaction, more purpose,” she said. The academy will have a mock apartment, where clients will learn basic skills, such as making a bed, doing laundry and preparing simple meals, Shaklee said. The program will also provide job coaching, and even take clients into the community to gain work experience in different roles. The academy will also have a space that mimics a restaurant, where students will make coffee or treats for the Brookdale community, according to a news release. “We want to make sure that we’re providing all of the tools to them that they will need to be successful in their individual communities,” said Linda Jordan, the academy’s director. Jordan said the Monmouth Ocean Foundation for Children has been instrumental in securing grants and donations to fund the academy. “They really have just poured their heart and souls into getting this program up and running,” Jordan said. When the program launches next year, Shaklee said it will start with a cohort of about 10 clients, and eventually expand to at least 40. “It’s been a very long process and it’s so satisfying to see where it is right now,” Shaklee said. “You plant those seeds and you hope they grow into a really big tree — and it’s looking good.” This article was published on Aug. 8, 2024 by the Star Ledger/NJ.com and the original can be found at: This N.J. college is launching an academy for adults with autism - nj.com",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-visits-fy25-community-project-funding-site-phillipsburg,Kean Visits FY25 Community Project Funding Site in Phillipsburg,2024-08-08,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 8, 2024) PHILLIPSBURG, NJ – Last week, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) toured the Delaware River Park with Phillipsburg Mayor Randy Piazza, Warren County Commissioner Director James Kern, and local leaders ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into the potential impact and benefits of the proposed park revitalization. Congressman Kean requested $2,400,000 for the Town of Phillipsburg in this year’s FY25 appropriation process. This funding would be used for revitalizing the existing Delaware River Park to be reused for recreational purposes. The project would focus on building recreation fields and resume services for the youth of the community. “Local leaders in Phillipsburg have a fantastic vision for revitalizing the existing Delaware River Park,” said Congressman Kean. “This project would create several new spaces for the entire community to come together and I will continue to fight in Congress to get this funding across the finish line.” ""On behalf of the entire town of Phillipsburg, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Congressman Kean for taking the time to visit and tour the site where his support in this year's appropriation process is making a real difference,"" said Randy Piazza, Mayor of Phillipsburg. ""Congressman Kean's dedication and commitment to our community are truly appreciated, and we are grateful for your ongoing efforts to help Phillipsburg thrive. Thank you for always being a champion for our town and for the invaluable role you play in our community's progress."" “I’m grateful Congressman Kean was able to visit Phillipsburg last week to view and hear about the potential of Delaware River Park,” said James Kern, Warren County Commissioner Director. “This site has the opportunity to be a major attraction for not only residents of Phillipsburg but the surrounding communities as well.” “We in Phillipsburg are extremely grateful to Congressman Kean for his vision and commitment to the well-being and development of our community,” said Patrick Kays, Director of Municipal Services. “The revitalization of this park will enhance the lives of our residents in clear and meaningful ways. This project, along with Rails to Trails and other initiatives here along the Delaware, represent the next major step in our community working together with local, state and federal leaders to reclaim our future—built upon our storied past.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413312,News12 NJ on Army Corps of Engineers work prompted by Smith'Operations to clear shoal in Point Pleasant Beach to begin soon',2024-08-07,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"'Locals say it might be dangerous to boaters and those who use watercraft.' OCEAN COUNTY, NJ , Aug 7, 2024 News12 NJ News12NJ Report Tony Caputo News 12 continues to keep an eye on the unexpected shoal (sandbank) that developed after this past weekend's storm in Point Pleasant Beach, Ocean County. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers responded to Rep. Chris Smith's request for help on Monday, saying the dredge boat “Murden” is scheduled to be in the area later this month. Locals say it might be dangerous to boaters and those who use watercraft. It could also negatively affect the local seafood businesses if they can't get their fishing boats in and out. This news article and video was published on Aug. 6, 2024 and subsequently updated several times and can be online at found at: https://newjersey.news12.com/operations-to-clear-shoal-in-point-pleasant-beach-to-begin-soon",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413314,"Star Ledger/NJ.com article'Work underway to remove gigantic sandbar from Jersey Shore inlet, officials say'",2024-08-07,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"MANASQUAN RIVER, NJ, Aug 7, 2024 NJ. com Everything New Jersey - Powered by Star Ledger NJ.com logo Star Ledger logo The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers began work Tuesday to remove the massive build-up of sand on the southern shore of the Manasquan Inlet that has concerned multiple local officials, authorities said. Crews from the Corps have started dredging the waterway and removing the sand on the Point Pleasant Beach side of the inlet, according to Rep. Chris Smith, R-4th Dist. In a follow-up letter to Army Corps Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Beeman on Monday, Smith urged the Corps to take immediate action to mitigate what his office called a “growing navigational hazard.” “We are very grateful to Lt. Col. Beeman and his team from the Philadelphia Army Corps for their quick response to our concerns over the dangerous shoaling in the Manasquan Inlet that poses serious navigational hazards to boaters during this especially busy time of the year on the Jersey Shore,” Smith said in a release. “(Point Pleasant Beach) Mayor (Doug) Vitale was also quick to help ensure that this important safety issue was raised and addressed as soon as possible.” Smith added that while the weather and sea conditions would likely impact the dredging and sand removal efforts, he was confident the “Army Corps will continue to see this critical operation through to its end as quickly as possible.” The congressman said that in the meantime, beachgoers should remain off the sand bar at all times as the work being done by the Corps could make the shoal extremely unstable and unsafe. A spokesman from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said Monday it was working to obtain hydrographic surveys of the current inlet conditions. Once they were completed, they would be posted online for mariners to access and would be shared with the Coast Guard. That survey was completed earlier Tuesday, Smith said. The same spokesman said Tuesday that the dredge crew did two cycles before the bad weather hit and that dredging would resume likely early next week when sea conditions allow for it. More dredging be done later this month as well. It was unclear how long it would take the Corps to complete the dredging and removal of the shoal, which was likely formed “due in large part to the southerly wind we’ve been having,” Vitale wrote on his Facebook page. An Army Corps spokesman did not immediately respond to requests for additional information Tuesday. This article was published by the Star Ledger/NJ.com on Aug. 7, 2024 and can be found online at: https://www.nj.com/monmouth/2024/08/work-underway-to-remove-gigantic-sandbar-from-nj-inlet-officials-say.htmlhttps://www.nj.com/monmouth/2024/08/work-underway-to-remove-gigantic-sandbar-from-nj-inlet-officials-say.html",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413303,Army Corps begins dredging Manasquan Inlet to address dangerous build-up of sand,2024-08-06,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has begun dredging the Manasquan Inlet today to address the dangerous build-up of sand along the jetty on the Point Pleasant Beach side of channel, said Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), who has been in constant communication with Army Corps officials on board the USACE Dredge Murden. “We are very grateful to Lt. Col. Beeman and his team from the Philadelphia Army Corps for their quick response to our concerns over the dangerous shoaling in the Manasquan Inlet that poses serious navigational hazards to boaters during this especially busy time of the year on the Jersey Shore,” said Smith. “Mayor Vitale was also quick to help ensure that this important safety issue was raised and addressed as soon as possible.” “With a storm coming in later today, weather and sea conditions may impact their ongoing work, but I am confident that the Army Corps will continue to see this critical operation through to its end as quickly as possible,” Smith said. “In the meantime, beachgoers should remain off the sandbar at all times as the removal of sand in the inlet could make the temporary sandbar extremely unstable and unsafe,” Smith said. “Safety is the absolute number one priority.” The Army Corps’ action comes after Smith initiated conversations with Army Corps officials and local boat captains over the weekend as the shoaling began to develop. In a follow-up letter to Army Corps Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Beeman on Monday, Smith urged the Corps to take immediate action to mitigate the growing navigational hazard. As a result, the Corps performed a survey of the inlet floor earlier today and immediately began removing the build-up of sand. Manasquan Inlet, which is categorized as a dynamic inlet with constantly shifting sands created by the currents, has been prone to shoaling before. When similar safety hazards plagued the Manasquan Inlet in August 2022, Smith secured an emergency survey of the inlet from the Army Corps in addition to continued, close monitoring of the river floor to ensure the channel remained navigable. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=413313,"NJ101.5 news article on Manasquan Inlet, Smith's call for USACE to fix ASAP'NJ boating: Extremely dangerous conditions develop off Pt. Pleasant Beach NJ'",2024-08-06,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,Christopher H. Smith,S000522,chrissmith.house.gov,chrissmith,https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx,scraper,"By Dan Alexander / NJ101.5 staff reporter - A large sandbar that has developed along the Point Pleasant Beach side of the Manasquan Inlet may be getting attention before it grows any further. Mayor Doug Vitale said in a statement on his Facebook page the shoaling was likely caused by constant southerly winds in recent weeks. Fishing boat Capt. William Egerter Jr. told the Asbury Park Press that the sandbar is taking up a third of the channel connecting the Manasquan River and the Atlantic Ocean. “The build-up of sand on the Point Pleasant side of the inlet against the jetty has reached unprecedented proportions,” U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J. 4th District, said in a letter to the Army Corps of Engineers. “This is not only a grounding hazard to vessels, but the waves created inside the inlet as a result of this shoaling are enough to capsize boats that regularly traverse the channel.” ALSO READ: The latest on Debby: Day-by-day heavy rain forecast for NJ The congressman requested ""immediate corrective action"" by the Corp. Dredging was scheduled for the inlet this week but was postponed because of mechanical problems. He suggested a ""more urgent response"" was needed because of the busy summer season that brings increased recreational, for-hire and commerical vessel traffic. Vitale said that the dredging vessel Murden is currently scheduled to conduct dredging operations within the inlet later this month and may bump up the operations depending on weather and sea conditions. The mayor said people should not go onto the shoal because of the ""dynamic nature of the inlet and sea conditions."" A similar shoal developed in 2022 even after being dredged twice. Wave action from a storm helped break down the sandbar that some described as a ""mini beach.""",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-visits-fy25-community-project-funding-site-hopatcong,Kean Visits FY25 Community Project Funding Site in Hopatcong,2024-08-05,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 5, 2024) HOPATCONG, NJ – Last week, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) met with Hopatcong Mayor Marie Galate ahead of the FY25 appropriations discussion to gain insight into the new lead service lines replacements in Hopatcong, Sussex County. Congressman Kean requested $1,000,000 for the Borough of Hopatcong in this year’s FY25 appropriation process. This funding would be used for completing the initial phase of lead service line replacements along various roadways in Hopatcong. “After visiting impacted neighborhoods and hearing firsthand the need for infrastructure improvements, I am even more committed to securing the funding for Hopatcong to replace the lead lines,” said Congressman Kean. “These replacements will ensure families throughout Hopatcong has access to clean, safe drinking water. I will continue to fiercely advocate to bring critical federal funding back to New Jersey to improve the lives of my constituents throughout 7th Congressional District, and beyond.” “On behalf of the residents of Hopatcong Borough, we wish to extend our heartfelt gratitude for the hard work and dedication advocating for the funding needed to replace our lead service lines,” said Marie Galate, Mayor of Hopatcong. “The generous Grant totaling $1,000,000 will provide significant relief to our residents, allowing them to successfully replace their lead service lines. This critical infrastructure improvement, ensures, safer, drinking water, and healthier environment for all the residents of Hopatcong. We are grateful to Congressmen Tom Kean for his dedication to public safety and health and welfare of our community.” Congressman Kean requested 15 projects in this year’s appropriation process. To view the full list, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-presents-120000-check-abilities-northwest-jersey,"Kean Presents $120,000 Check to Abilities of Northwest Jersey",2024-08-02,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 2, 2024) WASHINGTON, NJ – Today, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) presented a $120,000 ceremonial check to the Abilities of Northwest Jersey, secured by the FY2024 Community Project Funding process. This funding will increase training and employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities through classroom and distance learning. The project will provide distance learning focusing on soft skills and provide professional growth and pre-employment services. Moreover, it provides funds for training and support to instructors to enhance students’ success in coding, technology, and website development and testing. “This $120,000 federal grant secured for the Abilities of Northwest Jersey is a vital investment in our family, friends, and neighbors with intellectual disabilities and developmental disabilities,” said Congressman Kean. “I have had the privilege of touring the Abilities of Northwest Jersey since being sworn into Congress and have been impressed by their dedication and the impact they have on our community. This grant is a testament to our commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive environment for everyone in our district.” “We are truly grateful to Congressman Kean for advocating on behalf of persons with autism and other developmental disabilities,” said Cindy Wildermuth, CEO of Abilities of Northwest Jersey. “This funding will allow us to implement a hybrid classroom and distance learning platform, providing soft skill support and training in the technology industry. It is our goal that this initiative will lead to competitive employment in neurodiversity programs found at many tech companies across the country.” “On behalf of the people of northwest New Jersey, I thank Congressman Kean for securing these necessary funds for Abilities, which will go a long way toward helping individuals with disabilities being given the opportunity to reach their fullest potential in life,” said Senator Doug Steinhardt. “I am thankful to Congressman Kean and his team for securing funding for Abilities of Northwest New Jersey,” said Assemblyman John DiMaio. “It is a valuable organization in our region, and I am confident they will use this funding well to support individuals with disabilities. ""Warren County is grateful for Congressman Kean's support and his securing of $127,000 in funding for Abilities of Northwest Jersey,” said Commissioner James R. Kern III. “The programs Abilities operates changes the lives of so many in our community, whether it's providing individuals with the skills to acquire and maintain meaningful employment or enhancing personal development. These dollars will have a significant impact."" “I would like to thank Congressman Kean for his support and efforts to provide this much needed funding,” said Mark Rossi, Deputy Mayor of Washington Township. “By supporting the great work Abilities of Northwest Jersey provides to our communities we give opportunity and purpose to those with disabilities.” Congressman Kean secured $24 Million in Community Project Funding for the fiscal year 2024, read more HERE. To view the 13 projects secured in the FY24 appropriations year, click HERE. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases/kean-presents-277000-check-borough-mount-arlington,"Kean Presents $277,000 Check to the Borough of Mount Arlington",2024-08-02,2024,2024-08,Republican,House,NJ,"Thomas H. Kean, Jr.",K000398,kean.house.gov,kean,https://kean.house.gov/media/press-releases,scraper,"(August 2, 2024) MOUNT ARLINGTON, NJ – Yesterday, Congressman Tom Kean, Jr. (NJ-07) presented a $277,000 ceremonial check to the Borough of Mount Arlington, funding secured by the FY2024 Community Project Funding process. The grant will be used for purchasing security cameras and automated license plate readers for Mount Alington’s public spaces, such as municipal buildings, facilities, parks, attractions, and points of entry. “This $277,000 grant secured for Mount Arlington will fill an existing gap in critical public safety measures for the Borough,” said Congressman Kean. “As a member of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, I have and will continue to prioritize critical security infrastructure improvements for New Jerseyans. This grant not only supports the enhancement of our infrastructure but also shows our commitment to supporting local law enforcement efforts. By investing in both public safety measures and the resources that support our police force, we are ensuring that Mount Arlington's officers have the tools they need to protect and serve our community effectively.” ""Thanks to Congressman Kean this federal funding will provide critical public safety and security measures to not only the residents of the Borough of Mount Arlington but surrounding communities in northern New Jersey as well,” said Michael Stanzilis, Mayor of Mount Arlington. “I truly appreciate that Congressman Kean is bringing federal money back to New Jersey and back to Mount Arlington. My number one priority as Mayor is ensuring the safety and security of our residents. This funding is a tremendous help in achieving that goal."" “In light of the recent public safety concerns across New Jersey, this money will be paramount in helping law enforcement provide the safety and security our communities need and give Mount Arlington residents the peace of mind they deserve,” said Senate Republican Leader Anthony M. Bucco (R-25). “Thank you to Congressman Kean for your efforts to secure this funding and I look forward to working together to keep the Garden State a great place to live, work, and raise a family.” “Small towns like ours are increasingly being targeted by car theft rings,” said Assemblywoman Aura Dunn. “The funding for license plate readers and security cameras that Congressman Kean has brought to the district sends a strong message that we will outsmart the criminals and keep our communities safe. Securing our communities is not a partisan issue and these critical resources will ensure we meet our shared public safety needs.” “We appreciate the dedication of our county sheriff and all law enforcement officers to ensure the safety and security of our citizens. This funding from Congressman Kean will help support their efforts to protect the residents of Morris County,” said Commissioner John Krickus. ###",1,2026-03-30T01:40:41Z,2026-04-07T21:36:13Z