Smith, Chris RSS Articles

TAPinto article on Smith's remarks on Alzheimer's'Rep. Chris Smith Highlights Alzheimer's Research Advances, Calls for Greater Support for Patients and Caregivers'

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

By Jeanne Wall
Published October 23, 2026 at 12:48 AM

NEW JERSEY — As millions of Americans live with Alzheimer’s disease and families shoulder the growing demands of caregiving, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith is highlighting advances in research, the importance of early detection and the need for continued federal investment in treatment and support.

Smith (R-N.J.), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer’s Caucus, delivered remarks Oct. 22 at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit. The gathering brought attention to ongoing research, care challenges and efforts to improve the lives of people affected by Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

“Special thanks to Secretary Kennedy for his amazing efforts to combat Alzheimer’s Disease and for hosting the first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit,” Smith said.

He also thanked the summit’s panelists for helping bring renewed attention to the disease and efforts to alleviate its symptoms and ultimately find a cure.

Smith has been involved in Alzheimer’s advocacy for more than two decades. In 1999, he and Sen. Ed Markey established the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer’s Caucus, which Smith continues to co-chair. He also sponsored the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer’s Breakthrough Act, which proposed doubling National Institutes of Health funding for Alzheimer’s research to $1.4 billion annually.

A significant legislative milestone followed in 2011, when Congress passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, which Smith co-authored. The law established a national strategy to address Alzheimer’s disease and created an advisory committee to coordinate a federal response.

According to Smith, federal Alzheimer’s research funding through the NIH has grown from $600 million in 2015 to more than $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2026, an increase of more than 600%.

“This funding has yielded real, tangible advancements in our understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” Smith said.

He pointed to a new NIH-funded biomarker test developed earlier this year that can distinguish between stages of Alzheimer’s disease, describing the research as an important advance in identifying the disease earlier and helping mitigate cognitive decline.

Understanding Alzheimer’s disease and the need for early detection

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that damages memory and thinking skills and eventually interferes with a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities. It is the most common cause of dementia, an umbrella term for conditions that affect memory, reasoning and other cognitive abilities.

Although Alzheimer’s is more common among older adults, it is not a normal part of aging. Researchers continue to investigate its causes, how it progresses and how treatments may help people maintain cognitive function for longer.

Early detection is an increasingly important part of that effort. While there is currently no cure, some treatments can slow the progression of Alzheimer’s in certain people during the early stages of the disease. An earlier diagnosis can also help patients and families discuss treatment options, plan for future care and access support services.

Research into biomarkers — measurable biological signs of disease — is expanding the tools available to researchers and clinicians. Some blood-based tests can help identify biological changes associated with Alzheimer’s, while newer research is exploring ways to assess disease stages and predict progression. These advances may improve diagnosis and treatment planning, although testing must be interpreted in the context of a person's symptoms and clinical evaluation.

The scale of the disease underscores the urgency. According to the Alzheimer’s Association’s 2026 Facts and Figures report, an estimated 7.4 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s dementia. Without medical breakthroughs to prevent or cure the disease, that number could rise to approximately 13.8 million by 2060.

New Jersey is also significantly affected. The Alzheimer’s Association estimates that 185,000 state residents age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer’s disease, with hundreds of thousands of family caregivers providing essential support to people with dementia.

Despite advances in research and growing awareness, many people with dementia remain undiagnosed or unaware of their diagnosis. In his summit remarks, Smith cited an estimate that 58% of older adults in the United States with probable dementia are either undiagnosed or unaware of their diagnosis.

Caregivers face mounting demands

Beyond the effects on patients, Alzheimer’s disease places substantial emotional, physical and financial demands on families. Caregivers often help with daily activities, medical appointments, medications and household needs as the disease progresses, frequently while balancing jobs and responsibilities to other family members.

Smith cited estimates that more than 12 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided approximately 19.6 billion hours of care to people living with Alzheimer’s or other dementias in 2025.

“We can and should do more to ease the financial, physical, and mental burdens these caregivers face,” Smith said.

The Alzheimer’s Association’s national data similarly illustrate the magnitude of that responsibility. Its 2026 report estimates that unpaid dementia caregiving reached an economic value of more than $446 billion in 2025, reflecting the extensive work performed by family members and friends outside the paid health care system.

Access to reliable information, caregiver education, respite services and community support can help families navigate the challenges of caring for a loved one with dementia. Such services are especially important as the number of people living with Alzheimer’s is expected to grow.

Continued federal focus

Smith welcomed the announcement of a new National Plan at the summit and emphasized the importance of continued engagement with advocates and caregivers.

He credited organizations such as the Alzheimer’s Association and individuals who share their personal experiences with helping advance research funding and support for affected families. Among those he recognized was his friend Christine Hopkins.

Smith said he hopes the summit’s discussions will offer further insight into the experiences of people living with Alzheimer’s and identify ways for the federal government to advance innovation, improve care and support, and strengthen prevention efforts.

The broader challenge, he said, remains finding better ways to address the disease while working toward a cure.

In his closing remarks, Smith expressed hope for continued progress in research and treatment, ending with the aspiration that, “one day, God willing, a cure” will be found.

This article was published on October 23, 2026 and can be found online at: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/holmdel-and-colts-neck/articles/rep-chris-smith-highlights-alzheimer-s-research-advances-calls-for-greater-support-for-patients-and-caregivers

Rep. Smith delivers remarks at HHS Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The following are excerpts of remarks delivered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer’s Caucus, at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit on Thursday, October 22^nd, 2026:

Special thanks to Secretary Kennedy for his amazing efforts to combat Alzheimer’s Disease and for hosting the first-ever Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias Summit.

And thanks to each of the panelists at today’s summit for bringing renewed visibility and the redoubling of efforts to alleviate the symptoms of, and someday cure, this catastrophic disease.

Twenty-seven years ago—in 1999—I, along with Senator Ed Markey, created the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer’s Caucus, which I co-chair to this day. I was also the prime sponsor of the Ronald Reagan Alzheimer's Breakthrough Act, named for our late, great President, which would have doubled NIH funding for Alzheimer’s to $1.4 billion a year.

Then, after years of legislative struggle and with an all-important push from the Alzheimer’s Association, the big breakthrough came in 2011, when Congress passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act, or NAPA—a law I co-authored.

NAPA created a new, frequently updated and expanded national strategy, with the ultimate goal of finding a cure. NAPA also created an advisory committee for a whole-of-government response to the crisis.

The impact has been profound. Alzheimer’s research funding for the NIH was $600 million in 2015. Now in Fiscal Year 2026, federal research for Alzheimer’s is over $3.8 billion—a 600% increase!

This funding has yielded real, tangible advancements in our understanding of Alzheimer’s and other dementias. Earlier this year, a NIH-funded study discovered a new biomarker test for Alzheimer’s that can distinguish between stages of the disease, marking an important advancement in our ability to find the condition early and mitigate cognitive decline.

None of this progress would be possible without the tireless advocacy of groups like the Alzheimer’s Association and countless individuals—including my good friend Christine Hopkins—who have shared their stories and championed much-needed research funding and support for Alzheimer’s.

That said, there is still much more work to be done. An estimated 7.4 million Americans above the age of 65 live with Alzheimer’s disease, or 1 in 9 individuals 65 or older. This number may increase to as many as 13 million by 2050.

While early detection and treatment makes a clear difference in maintaining cognitive function and overall quality of life, too often, Alzheimer’s and other dementias go underdiagnosed.

58 percent—more than half—of older adults with probable dementia in the United States are either undiagnosed or are unaware of their diagnosis.

There is also a critical need to provide more support for caregivers and support services. Over 12 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 19.6 billion hours of care to people living with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2025. We can and should do more to ease the financial, physical, and mental burdens these caregivers face.

My colleagues on the Hill and I welcome Secretary Kennedy’s announcement of the newest National Plan, as well as his continued commitment to hearing from advocates and caregivers. It is hoped that the panels today will bring further insights into the experiences of those living with Alzheimer’s and highlight additional avenues for the federal government to boost innovation, improve care and support, and support prevention—and one day, God willing, a cure.

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The Washington Post op-ed on Smith's legislation'The U.S. can’t ignore the horrors of forced organ harvesting'

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

By Robert P. George
Published October 14, 2026

Robert P. George is the McCormick professor of jurisprudence and director of the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions at Princeton University.

More than 170,000 solid organ transplants are performed each year, yet that constitutes less than 10 percent of global demand. Nefarious actors have long been keen to fill the gap through what international law describes as coercion, deception and abuse of power or of a position of vulnerability. The organ trade is estimated to generate between $840 million and $1.7 billion annually.

Many Americans have heard of the most egregious examples of forced organ harvesting. Communist China has been credibly accused of targeting members of ethnic and religious minority groups, such as Falun Gong and Uyghur Muslims, who are disfavored or regarded as a threat to the state.

The practice is a reality in many other parts of the world as well. Britain’s first successful prosecution for organ trafficking under the Modern Slavery Act took place in 2023. A 21-year-old Nigerian man had been brought to London for what he was told was a new job. In reality, the man’s host, a doctor, was planning to remove one of his kidneys in a private operation for the daughter of a Nigerian senator. Lagos state, in southwest Nigeria, enacted an organ harvesting prohibition law in 2024 in part because of threats of ritual harvesting and human sacrifice.

(Illustration by Michelle Kondrich/The Washington Post; iStock)

Closer to U.S. soil, Latin American cartels are getting involved in the illegal organ trade. A tragic case came to light last year in which the Jalisco New Generation Cartel allegedly performed Caesarean sections, killing the mothers to harvest their organs and sell the babies to families in the United States. According to intelligence officials, these infants were exchanged for roughly $14,000 each.

Organ donation can be a lifesaving gift of modern medicine. It must never, however, be an occasion of injustice or an assault on the sanctity of human life. Nor may it be conducted in such a way as to instrumentalize people, in effect treating the lives and well-being of some as worth more than others. Wherever people forget that all human lives have fundamental and equal value, such moral catastrophes abound. The Department of Health and Human Services, for example, recently decertified Network for Hope, a prominent organ donation provider based in Kentucky, because of concerns that “potential donors may not have been deceased at the time organ procurement was initiated.” (The group “strongly disagrees” with the decision and plans to appeal it.)

It was good news, therefore, that in May 2025 the U.S. House considered H.R. 1503, the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act, from Rep. Chris Smith (R-New Jersey). The proposal, which passed by a vote of 406-1, affirms that it will be U.S. policy “to combat international trafficking in persons for purposes of the removal of organs” and to “hold accountable” anyone implicated in the practice. The bill now awaits a vote in the Senate, where it has stalled for months.

It could be that some members of that chamber wonder why Americans should care about violations of human rights in other countries. The answer lies in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, which recognize that those rights aren’t granted by any government. No merely human authority created them, and no merely human authority may legitimately violate them. Thus, if another country attempts to do so or permits anyone else to, the U.S. ought to take such information seriously as it formulates its foreign policy. The provisions of the Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act — imposing sanctions, asset freezes, visa bans and passport revocations on those complicit — would make clear that the U.S. opposes the theft of organs wherever it occurs.

That’s of a piece with long-standing policy on similar matters. The U.S. has affirmed the importance of human dignity through international treaties and conventions that oblige us to defend the vulnerable and condemn states that abuse human rights. One of these documents is the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a great moral achievement in the wake of two world wars. Like our own Declaration, it reminds us that humans have worth — dignity — not in virtue of any special qualities (strength, beauty, intelligence, social standing), but simply because of their humanity. As its first article states: “They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.”

I’ve seen firsthand how policymakers can protect human dignity in practice. In 2015-16, when I served as chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, we successfully called on the State Department to continue designating all severe violators of religious freedom as “countries of particular concern,” including China. We even addressed the subject of organ harvesting in China, especially the targeting of Falun Gong members, though we didn’t know nearly as much as we know now about the scope of the evil, such as the additional targeting of Uyghurs, Tibetans and Christians.

Identifying countries in this manner gives the government a toolbox of policy options to pressure offenders. The Stop Forced Organ Harvesting Act would do the same to individuals and entities that are complicit in such abuses.

The bill, then, is a model: a way to protect potential victims wherever abuse occurs and to show our allies how to preserve the dignity of the vulnerable. It should wait for passage — without any watering down of its provisions — no longer.

This op-ed was published on October 14, 2026 and can be found online at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2026/10/14/stop-forced-organ-harvesting-act-pass-it-us-senate/

Trenton Monitor article on New Jersey March for Life'Thousands gather in Trenton for annual New Jersey March for Life'

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

By Mary Stadnyk, Associate Editor
Published October 9, 2026

Thousands of pro-life advocates gathered at the New Jersey Statehouse Annex in Trenton Oct. 8 for the annual Rally and March for Life, calling on lawmakers to protect women and unborn children.

PHOTO GALLERY: NJ March for Life

The event brought together people of all ages, including pro-life organizations from every diocese in the state, as well as Catholic school and parish delegations. Speakers included state legislators, representatives of the National and New Jersey March for Life organizations and faith leaders, including Bishop Kevin J. Sweeney from the Paterson Diocese. The day included the added focus of supporting mothers facing difficult pregnancies.

Pro-life advocates carry signs proclaiming “Life Is a Gift” as they participate in the New Jersey March for Life in Trenton Oct. 8. The march followed the third annual Mass for Life, bringing together Catholics and other supporters from across the state to witness publicly to the dignity and value of human life.

Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ, 4th District), a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish, Whiting, described the March for Life as “an engraved invitation to all of us to seriously recommit and rededicate ourselves, with love and compassion, to tangibly assist women – especially through the extraordinary work of pregnancy care centers – in order to protect their precious babies and their own lives from the violence and cruelty of abortion.”

“We are a people of persevering faith in God, willing to bear any burden and endure any attack,” the congressman said. “We know that the cruel injustice of abortion need not be forever and that each day, despite setbacks, many unborn children and their mothers have, are and will be protected. We have hope. We have much work to do.”

Marie Tasy, executive director of New Jersey Right to Life, highlighted the historic significance of gathering in Trenton during the nation’s 250th anniversary year. She recalled George Washington’s victory in December 1776, which helped turn the tide of the American Revolution and renewed hope for the young nation.

“Just months earlier, our founders had proclaimed that our unalienable rights come not from government, but from our Creator, beginning with the right to life,” Tasy said.

“Today, 250 years later, we gather in that same historic city, at the doorstep of our state house, to defend that founding principle,” she said, urging participants to continue speaking out, standing firm and working to protect every human life.

Reiterating that New Jersey continues to pursue policies that expand abortion and deny meaningful protection for unborn children, Tasy emphasized the importance of elected officials hearing from the people they represent.

“The New Jersey March for Life is a powerful reminder that there is a strong and compassionate pro-life movement throughout our state who remains steadfast in our commitment to protecting mothers and their unborn,” she said.

Father James O’Neill, pastor of St. John Parish in Lakehurst and Ocean County’s Respect Life chaplain, said the annual gathering demonstrates the solidarity of New Jersey’s pro-life community.

“Even though New Jersey has several million residents, I marvel at how (it) feels like a close-knit community at the Mass for Life and Rally for Life,” he said.

Father O’Neill referred to the Rally for Life as an event that extends beyond “us Catholics to include our non-Catholic neighbors.”

“The exuberance of the evangelical speakers suggests to me that God is in charge and eagerly desires that we all be one,” he said, adding “A common cause for life is one of the ways that God can unite us together in his Church as we help those having difficulty with the Fifth Commandment to receive mercy and choose life.”

This article was published on October 9, 2026 and can be found online at: https://trentonmonitor.com/2026/10/09/thousands-gather-in-trenton-for-annual-new-jersey-march-for-life/

EWTN News article featuring Smith's commentary'Transnational online scam operations on the rise, U.S. State Department says'

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

By Amira Abuzeid
Published October 9, 2026 at 5:18 PM ET

The State Department released its 2026 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report on Oct. 8, showing criminal organizations and repressive governments are using trafficking for profit in new ways.

The report, released more than three months after the June 30 deadline, said the spread of industrial-scale online scam operations “pose a direct threat to US national security.”

Transnational crime organizations, mostly run by Chinese nationals and long based in Southeast Asia, have moved into Africa, the Middle East, Europe, and Latin America, destabilizing local communities and cheating people out of billions of dollars each year, according to the report.

Fraudulent online romance, gambling, and cryptocurrency schemes have defrauded people in more than 125 countries, with Americans, the primary targets, losing at least $18.2 billion in 2025 to compounds operating out of Southeast Asia, according to the report.

Credit: Pungux/Shutterstock

The organizations recruited people from at least 80 countries over the past few years through fraudulent schemes, often pushing them into forced labor and holding them in guarded compounds and manipulating them through violence, sexual exploitation, intimidation, and other acts. They are often coerced into committing crimes, the report found.

The report, an annual assessment required by the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, covers April 1, 2025, through March 31.

The State Department said it relied on information from embassy reporting, government officials, nongovernmental and international organizations, published reports, news articles, and other sources.

The State Department said that governments that fail to punish traffickers and protect victims should be held accountable.

12 governments cited

Twelve governments are cited in the report for a “policy or pattern” of state-sponsored human trafficking: Afghanistan, Belarus, Burma, Cambodia, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Russia, South Sudan, and Sudan. This designation covers “trafficking in government-funded programs, forced labor in government-affiliated medical services or other sectors, sexual slavery in government camps, or the employment or recruitment of child soldiers.”

Under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act, the department listed 14 countries whose forces or state-backed militias recruited or used children in any capacity during hostilities, including as sex slaves: Afghanistan, Burma, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Iran, Nigeria, Russia, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Venezuela, and Yemen.

Among country rankings reported so far, Israel returned to Tier 1, the highest category, for the first time since 2021, after five years on Tier 2. The Republic of Congo was downgraded to Tier 3, the lowest, for failing to meet minimum standards and not making significant efforts. A Tier 3 listing can restrict certain U.S. assistance, including security assistance, the report said.

A Tier 1 ranking does not mean that a country has no human trafficking. Instead, according to the report, “a Tier 1 ranking indicates that a government has made efforts to address the problem … and met the TVPA’s minimum standards.”

Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, author of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act, said in a statement on Oct. 8 that the report’s findings are “a stark reminder that modern-day slavery remains a global scourge — and that governments must be held accountable when they fail to protect vulnerable people.”

“Human trafficking is an assault on human dignity and freedom,” the congressman wrote. “The United States must continue to use every tool at its disposal — including the TIP Report — to expose human trafficking whenever it rears its ugly head, protect survivors, and press foreign governments to end this blight upon humanity.”

“China remains on Tier 3 — the lowest ranking,” Smith continued, “reflecting its continued failure to meet the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking. The Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) use and enabling of forced labor — including the systematic exploitation of Uyghurs and other persecuted minorities — is deeply troubling and deserves the greatest level of scrutiny.”

“Moreover, the horrific, ongoing consequences of China’s one-child per couple policy can still be seen and felt today, as the Report notes that a gross disparity — tens of millions more boys than girls — has driven the demand for commercial sex trafficking and coercive marriages in the country,” Smith wrote.

“Governments on Tier 3 — including China, North Korea, Iran, Russia, Burma, Belarus, Cambodia, Cuba, Laos, Nicaragua, Sudan, South Sudan, and Venezuela — can and must do more. Tier 3 must never become a permanent designation; it should serve as a dire warning and a call to action,” Smith wrote.

This article was published on October 9, 2026 and can be found online at: https://www.ewtnnews.com/world/us/transnational-online-scam-operations-on-the-rise-u-s-state-department-says

“The cruel injustice of abortion need not be forever”: Rep. Smith addresses crowds at 2026 New Jersey March for Life

Thu, 08 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

The following are excerpts of remarks delivered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, at the 2026 New Jersey March for Life in Trenton, NJ:

I met my dear wife, Marie, more than fifty years ago in the pro-life movement. We spent many days lobbying here at our state capital. Today, like you, we remain hope-filled.

Special thanks to Marie Tasy for her extraordinary leadership, courage, wisdom and tenacity in the defense of the weakest and most vulnerable. Thank you to each and every one of you for being here.

Today’s March for Life is an engraved invitation to all of us to seriously recommit and rededicate ourselves, with love and compassion, to tangibly assist women—especially through the extraordinary work of pregnancy care centers—in order to protect their precious babies and their own lives from the violence and cruelty of abortion.

We stand in absolute solidarity with First Choice Women’s Resource Center and remain encouraged by the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous 9-0 decision last April.

As you know, pregnancy care centers are on the front lines of providing compassionate care to mothers and their precious children—offering free support and resources, which can range from pregnancy tests and ultrasounds to parental education programs and lactation consultations, and much more.

30 Members of the House and Senate and I had asked the Supreme Court to send a clear message to New Jersey and other states that this kind of bullying and infringement of constitutionally protected freedoms be given no sanction.

Regrettably, New Jersey has not respected the Supreme Court decision. Tragically, pregnancy care centers are under siege, especially here in NJ, while abortion clinics flourish—since 1970, Planned Parenthood has killed more than 10.6 million babies by abortion nationwide—almost 1,200 every single day. That’s more than the entire population of New Jersey, exterminated by just one organization.

NJ’s discrimination against pregnancy centers because they refrain from promoting or participating in the killing of unborn children by abortion is an unconscionable abuse of power. It is utterly shameful that New Jersey would go to these lengths to strip women of life-affirming options and support.

It motivated the Let Pregnancy Centers Serve Act of 2025 (HR 2226), federal legislation I introduced to prohibit federal, state and local governments from discriminating against the nearly 2,700 pregnancy care centers across the United States.

Each and every one of these centers is an oasis of love, compassion, empathy, and respect, offering quality care for both mothers and their precious children. Yet state governments, like New Jersey, and some lawmakers seek to discriminate against pregnancy care centers by violating fundamental conscience rights to compel complicity in abortion.

Fifty years ago, last week—on September 30th, 1976—Congress first enacted an amendment offered by the late, great Congressman Henry Hyde of Illinois to prohibit federal Medicaid funds from being used to subsidize the killing of unborn children by abortion.

During debate in the House, Henry said: “An innocent, defenseless human life, in a caring and humane society, deserves better than to be flushed down a toilet or burned in an incinerator. The promise of America is that life is not just for the privileged, the planned, or the perfect.”

The Hyde amendment continues to ensure that this promise is still true today.

According to Dr. Michael J. New of the Charlotte Lozier Institute, approximately 2.7 million people are alive today—and each year, another 60,000 evade abortion and survive—because of Henry Hyde’s amendment.

That’s 2.7 million people—who would have otherwise been aborted if taxpayers paid for their demise—who have experienced the joys and challenges and given the opportunities to thrive.

It’s truly sad that far too many politicians—who know or should know better—have abandoned unborn children and their mothers to the violence of abortion. With respect and a deep sense of urgency, I—we—ask them, including Governor Sherrill, to rethink and reconsider.

Listen to others who once shared your view, but upon seeing the humanity of the child in the womb, changed. Listen to NARAL founder and abortionist turned pro-lifer Dr. Bernard Nathanson, who wrote in the New England Journal of Medicine: “I am deeply troubled by my own increasing certainty that I had in fact presided over 60,000 deaths.”

Listen to former Planned Parenthood abortion clinic director Abby Johnson, who wrote: “I was asked to participate in an ultrasound-guided abortion procedure… And I watched in horror as a 13-week-old baby fought and struggled for his life against the abortion instrument. I knew that there was humanity in the womb, and that what I had seen was the taking of an innocent human life. I realized I was on the wrong side of this debate, and so I ended up leaving.”

Listen to Dr. Anthony Levatino: “I don’t remember exactly how long it was after Heather’s death [his 6-year-old daughter died in a car accident], but I started to perform a second-trimester abortion… and I got sick. For the first time, I didn’t see a right to choose, and I didn’t see what a wonderful doctor I was helping the patient with her problem. I didn’t even see the $800 I had made in just 15 minutes. All I could see was somebody’s son or daughter.”

Listen to former abortionist Dr. Kathi Aultman: “I recognized that the innocent victim in all of this was the baby. Being unwanted was no longer enough justification for me to take the child’s life. And that was the end of my abortion career.”

Listen to Dr. Alveda King, niece of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who, after having two abortions, became a powerful right to life leader and wrote a book entitled: How Can the Dream Survive If We Murder the Children? ABORTION IS NOT A CIVIL RIGHT!

And listen to Elizabeth Gillette, who, after being pressured by Planned Parenthood to take the abortion pill, wrote: “I found myself on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood until I ended up expelling the entire amniotic sac with my baby — a recognizable baby inside. The trauma from this horrific experience still follows me today in the form of post-traumatic stress disorder. This is nothing like what they told me would happen.”

That abortion pill—mifepristone—kills the baby by starving the child to death, while other methods of abortion dismember and decapitate the baby.

We now know that mifepristone is extremely dangerous to women. The Ethics and Public Policy Center conducted the largest-known study of the abortion pill ever and is based on analysis of data from an all-payer insurance claims database that includes 865,727 prescribed mifepristone abortions from 2017 to 2023 and found that 10.93 percent of women experience sepsis, infection, hemorrhaging, or another serious adverse event within 45 days following a mifepristone abortion.

The real-world rate of serious adverse events following mifepristone abortions is at least 22 times as high as the summary figure of “less than 0.5 percent” in clinical trials reported on the drug label.

Bottom line: we are a people of persevering faith in God, willing to bear any burden and endure any attack. We know that the cruel injustice of abortion need not be forever and that each day, despite setbacks, many unborn children and their mothers have, are, and will be protected. We have hope. We have much work to do.

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TAPInto Middletown article on Smith-led survey of Nor'easter damage'Rep. Smith Leads Survey of Nor’easter Damage Along Monmouth and Ocean County Shore'

Sat, 03 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

By Jeanne Wall
Published October 3, 2026 at 1:46 AM

MONMOUTH AND OCEAN COUNTIES, NJ — In the aftermath of last week’s powerful Nor’easter, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith led a group of federal, state and local officials on a tour of several shore communities to assess damage caused by flooding, erosion and severe weather.

The tour included stops in Manasquan, Point Pleasant Beach, Bay Head and Ocean Gate, where officials examined the condition of beaches and coastal infrastructure and discussed both immediate needs and longer-term strategies to better protect the communities from future storms.

Smith was joined by Federal Emergency Management Agency Region 2 Administrator Chris Hartnett; New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Deputy Commissioner Joe Seebode; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District Commander Lt. Col. Ryan A. Baum; USACE New York District Project Manager Jason Shea; New Jersey State Police Operations Officer Major James Boland; Monmouth County Sheriff Shaun Golden; Ocean County Sheriff Mike Mastronardy; NJ Legislative District 10 Assemblyman Paul Kanitra; Ocean County Commissioner Jennifer Bacchione; Manasquan Mayor Mike Mangan; Bay Head Mayor Bill Curtis; Ocean Gate Mayor Robert Curtin; and other elected and municipal officials.

Rep. Smith Leads Survey of Nor'easter Damage Along Monmouth and Ocean County Shore. Photo Credit: File Photo

The group surveyed areas affected by the storm while discussing the challenges facing the individual communities and the steps that could be taken to strengthen coastal protection.

“Today, an impressive, comprehensive group of experts—with extensive backgrounds in environmental, structural engineering, and beach replenishment initiatives—came together to not only survey the severe damage wrought by last week’s Nor’easter, but also to collaborate on creative solutions for immediate needs and future resilience efforts,” Smith said.

Local officials came prepared to show the federal and state representatives the specific impacts their communities experienced and to discuss potential improvements.

“Municipal officials and local leaders came fully prepared, offering tangible examples of the damages they sustained and providing ideas for new initiatives that could bolster their towns’ resilience against future storms,” Smith said.

The tour also provided an opportunity to look at how investments and protective measures implemented following previous storms have affected the latest storm's impact.

Officials noted that although the Nor’easter caused damage in the communities visited, existing protections helped mitigate some of the effects in certain areas.

That experience is providing another opportunity for officials to evaluate what has worked, where additional improvements may be needed and how communities can prepare for increasingly severe coastal weather.

Smith said the participation of federal, state and local representatives demonstrated the importance of cooperation when addressing storm damage and coastal resilience.

“I am truly encouraged by the intergovernmental partnership and determination demonstrated today,” Smith said. “Building upon what we’ve learned from previous storms and tapping into the continued knowledge and expertise shared today, I look forward to working alongside our great state and local officials to strengthen our shore communities’ resilience and preparation for future severe weather events.”

The survey comes as shore communities continue to assess the effects of the Nor’easter and consider both short-term recovery needs and future projects aimed at protecting homes, businesses, beaches and critical infrastructure.

This article was published on October 3, 2026 and can be found online at: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/middletown/sections/around-new-jersey/articles/rep-smith-leads-survey-of-nor-easter-damage-along-monmouth-and-ocean-county-shore

Rep. Smith, Sen. Lankford lead over 125 lawmakers in letter urging HHS Inspector General to investigate Planned Parenthood

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Sen. James Lankford (R-OK) today led 126 Members of Congress in sending a letter to T. March Bell, the Inspector General (IG) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), urging his Office to review and investigate the activities and federal funding streams of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and its affiliates.

“Serious concerns have long been raised regarding the organization’s compliance with applicable federal laws, regulations, and program requirements governing the receipt and use of federal funds,” the Republican lawmakers write.

“In particular, these concerns relate to whether Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and the organization’s affiliates have adhered to applicable requirements governing program integrity, financial accountability, and the proper use of funds provided through HHS-administered programs,” they continue.

Rep. Smith, Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said: “Planned Parenthood should not receive taxpayer dollars. Since 1970, it has killed over ten million unborn babies in its clinics—and today exterminates over 1,000 unborn babies every single day. Moreover, as the author of our Nation’s first anti-human trafficking law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA) (PL 106-386), I remain deeply concerned by Live Action’s credible accusations against Planned Parenthood involving its affiliates’ enabling of human sex trafficking. In addition to reports of covering up and perpetuating sexual exploitation and abuse, Planned Parenthood has been haunted by allegations of trafficking fetal tissue, fraudulently using federal funds, and violating health codes. Aided by allies in Congress, the media, and academia, Planned Parenthood has largely escaped scrutiny and accountability, all while fostering a culture of death, denial, disrespect and discrimination against babies. It is long overdue for a comprehensive investigation and review, and I urge the HHS OIG to look closely to determine whether it has violated federal standards for federal funding recipients.”

Sen. Lankford, Chairman of the Senate Values Action Team (VAT), said: “Congress has taken action to ensure taxpayer dollars are not funding organizations that perform abortions, but our work to protect taxpayers and ensure federal law is followed does not stop there. Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have faced serious allegations involving the use of federal funds and compliance with federal law. Those allegations deserve a thorough review. The HHS Inspector General should follow the facts, determine whether federal laws and funding requirements have been violated, and hold accountable anyone who has misused taxpayer dollars.”

In the bicameral letter—first reported by Fox News Digital—the 128 lawmakers cite the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) recent investigation into “whether Planned Parenthood affiliates illegally received $88 million in loans during the COVID-19 pandemic,” and they raise concerns about “other reports of fraud, making false statements, violating federal criminal laws, and knowingly failing to disclose violations of criminal law.”

The Members of Congress further note that “given the significant taxpayer resources that flow through federal health and human services programs, it is critical that recipient organizations operate with transparency, integrity, and full compliance with federal standards.”

The lawmakers go on to urge IG Bell to review the funding streams for Planned Parenthood and its affiliates, including HHS programs, grants, contracts, or subawards; assess whether the organization and its affiliates have complied with applicable statutory, regulatory, and grant conditions associated with those funds; and determine what enforcement actions may be warranted if misconduct—such as waste, fraud, abuse, misrepresentation, or other violations affecting federal health programs—is identified.

“We also ask that the OIG coordinate with relevant oversight bodies within the Department, including the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and the Office of Management and Budget, to ensure a comprehensive review of the organization’s activities. Thank you for your continued commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health programs and safeguarding taxpayer dollars,” the co-signatories conclude.

Cosigners (128): Aderholt, Robert; Alford, Mark; Arrington, Jodey; Babin, Brian; Baird, James; Banks, Jim; Bice, Stephanie; Biggs, Andy; Biggs, Sheri; Bilirakis, Gus; Blackburn, Marsha; Bost, Mike; Brecheen, Josh; Britt, Katie Boyd; Budd, Ted; Burchett, Tim; Burlison, Eric; Cammack, Kat; Cline, Ben; Cloud, Michael; Clyde, Andrew; Cramer, Kevin; Crane, Elijah; Crapo, Mike; Cruz, Ted; Daines, Steve; Davidson, Warren; Downing, Troy; Ernst, Joni; Estes, Ron; Ezell, Mike; Fedorchak, Julie; Feenstra, Randy; Finstad, Brad; Fischbach, Michelle; Fischer, Deb; Fitzgerald, Scott; Fleischmann, Charles; Flood, Mike; Fong, Vince; Foxx, Virginia; Franklin, Scott; Fulcher, Russ; Gill, Brandon; Goldman, Craig; Gooden, Lance; Gosar, Paul; Graham, Darline; Grassley, Charles; Griffith, H.; Grothman, Glenn; Guest, Michael; Hageman, Harriet; Haridopolos, Mike; Harris, Andy; Harris, Mark; Harshbarger, Hawley, Josh; Diana; Hern, Kevin; Higgins, Clay; Hill, J.; Houchin, Erin; Hudson, Richard; Hyde-Smith, Cindy; Jack, Brian; Jackson, Ronny; Johnson, Dusty; Jordan, Jim; Joyce, John; Justice, James C.; Kelly, Mike; Langworthy, Nicholas; Lankford, James; Latta, Robert; Lee, Mike; Letlow, Julia; Lummis, Cynthia M.; Mann, Tracey; Marshall, Roger; McDowell, Addison; McGuire, John; Messmer, Mark; Miller, Mary; Moody, Ashley; Moolenaar, John; Moore, Barry; Moore, Blake; Moore, Riley; Moore, Tim; Moran, Nathaniel; Moreno, Bernie; Norman, Ralph; Onder, Robert; Palmer, Gary; Patronis, Jimmy; Perry, Scott; Pfluger, August; Ricketts, Pete; Risch, James; Rogers, Mike; Rose, John; Rounds, Mike; Rouzer, David; Roy, Chip; Rulli, Michael; Rutherford, John; Schmidt, Derek; Scott, Austin; Scott, Rick; Self, Keith; Sessions, Pete; Shreve, Jefferson; Simpson, Michael; Smith, Christopher; Stauber, Pete; Steube, W.; Strong, Dale; Stutzman, Marlin; Tenney, Claudia; Thompson, Glenn; Tuberville, Tommy; Van Epps, Matt; Weber, Randy; Webster, Daniel; Westerman, Bruce; Wilson, Joe; Womack, Steve

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Fox News Digital exclusive article on Smith-led letter'EXCLUSIVE: 128 GOP lawmakers call for federal probe into Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding'

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

By Jasmine Baehr
Published October 2, 2026 at 5:30am EDT

FIRST ON FOX: A coalition of 128 Republican lawmakers is pressing the federal government to scrutinize Planned Parenthood's taxpayer funding and potentially launch an investigation into the organization and its affiliates.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., led the bicameral effort, asking Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Inspector General T. March Bell to review Planned Parenthood's federal funding and determine whether the organization and its affiliates have complied with federal laws and funding requirements.

"We write to request that the Office of Inspector General (OIG) review and, if appropriate, initiate an investigation into the activities of Planned Parenthood Federation of America, Inc. and the organization's affiliates," the lawmakers wrote.

Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., speaks during an event on Capitol Hill. Smith and Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., led 128 Republican lawmakers in asking the HHS inspector general to review Planned Parenthood’s federal funding and activities. (Getty Images)

Their request casts a rather wide net.

The lawmakers want the OIG to scrutinize funding flowing through HHS programs, grants, contracts and sub-awards and determine whether evidence exists of fraud, waste, abuse, misrepresentation or other violations affecting federal health programs.

If misconduct is uncovered, they want the watchdog to consider consequences ranging from administrative remedies and suspension to exclusion from federal healthcare programs or referrals to other authorities.

"Planned Parenthood and its affiliates have faced serious allegations involving the use of federal funds and compliance with federal law. Those allegations deserve a thorough review," Lankford said.

Republican lawmakers are asking the HHS inspector general to review Planned Parenthood’s federal funding and compliance with federal requirements. (Boston Globe via Getty Images, File)

"The HHS Inspector General should follow the facts, determine whether federal laws and funding requirements have been violated, and hold accountable anyone who has misused taxpayer dollars," he added.

The push comes as the Small Business Administration (SBA) separately reviews more than $88 million in COVID-era Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans received by 38 Planned Parenthood affiliates.

The lawmakers cited the SBA action in their letter, characterizing it as an investigation into whether Planned Parenthood affiliates "illegally received $88 million" in pandemic loans. SBA has described its action as a review of whether the affiliates were eligible for the loans. The review itself is not a finding that the affiliates violated the law.

But the lawmakers want federal scrutiny to go well beyond the pandemic loans.

Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., co-led a bicameral letter asking the HHS inspector general to review Planned Parenthood’s federal funding and, if appropriate, launch an investigation into the organization and its affiliates. (Getty Images)

They are asking the OIG to examine Planned Parenthood's broader HHS funding and coordinate with the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on what they described as a "comprehensive review" of the organization's activities.

HHS-OIG told Fox News Digital Wednesday evening that it had not yet received the letter.

"We have not received the letter and will review it for appropriate action once received," HHS-OIG said.

Smith, co-chairman of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, said the scrutiny was "long overdue," citing allegations involving federal funding, reporting requirements, sexual exploitation and fetal tissue.

Activists opposing funding for Planned Parenthood demonstrate in front of the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, via Getty Images, File)

"It is long overdue for a comprehensive investigation and review, and I urge the HHS OIG to look closely to determine whether it has violated federal standards for federal funding recipients," Smith said.

The congressional letter also points to reports alleging failures to comply with mandatory reporting requirements involving suspected child abuse or neglect. The lawmakers are asking federal officials to examine those allegations. They have not been established as findings by HHS-OIG.

"Given the significant taxpayer resources that flow through federal health and human services programs, it is critical that recipient organizations operate with transparency, integrity, and full compliance with federal standards," the lawmakers wrote.

The lawmakers closed by asking OIG to coordinate across the federal government to conduct a "comprehensive review" of Planned Parenthood's activities.

"Thank you for your continued commitment to protecting the integrity of federal health programs and safeguarding taxpayer dollars," they wrote.

Planned Parenthood did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment.

This article was published on October 2, 2026 and can be found online at: https://www.foxnews.com/politics/exclusive-128-gop-lawmakers-call-federal-probe-planned-parenthood-taxpayer-funding

39 Members of Congress send letterSmith leads letter strongly supporting implementation of Pres. Trump’s EO on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 04:00:00 GMT

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, led 38 Members of Congress in sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr., fully supporting and urging the implementation of President Trump’s Executive Order (EO) on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children—issued during his first term—to protect premature infants from discrimination.

“All infants—especially those with disabilities or conditions requiring life-sustaining care after birth—deserve love, compassion, and equal protection under the law,” said Smith. “I am grateful for Sec. Kennedy and President Trump’s ongoing work to help those in need—and through the full implementation of the Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children EO, we can continue to protect and defend the most vulnerable among us.”

In the bicameral letter, first reported by the Washington Examiner, the Republican lawmakers cite the heartbreaking case of McKenna West—a surrogate pressured to abort the baby she was carrying after a 20-week ultrasound diagnosed a serious, but treatable, heart condition—as evidence of “the need for quick federal action on this matter.”

Although Ms. West says that she faced pressure to abort from the baby’s biological parents, she refused and offered to raise the baby herself or find him a loving home. She relocated to Texas to be near a hospital equipped to provide the baby with lifesaving care after he was born. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton intervened in McKenna’s case, and a Texas judge issued an order directing that the baby receive life-sustaining care after birth and preventing his removal from the state of Texas.

“We are grateful that Texas law recognized and protected the rights and personhood of Ms. West’s surrogate baby and acted to save his life. Sadly, this protection is not uniform in all the states across our nation,” the Members of Congress write.

“Leadership from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is needed to ensure that all vulnerable infants receive equal protection under the law, instead of being at the mercy of health care systems that may unjustly declare them unworthy of life.”

The lawmakers then urge Secretary Kennedy to elevate the directives embedded within President Trump’s EO on Protecting Vulnerable Newborn and Infant Children—issued on September 25, 2020, and never formally rescinded by the Biden Administration—which clarifies that all individuals, including vulnerable infants, are protected under federal law, such as the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act (EMTALA) (42 U.S.C. 1395dd), Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (29 U.S.C. 794), and The Born-Alive Infants Protection Act (1 U.S.C. 8).

The co-signatories note that the directives for the HHS Secretary in the EO “offer important opportunities to ensure vulnerable newborns, including newborns with diagnosed disabilities, are receiving the care they deserve, no matter where in the United States they are born.”

They also urge Secretary Kennedy to consider reissuing a rule highlighting federal law protecting premature infants and adults with disabilities from discrimination. In January 2021, during President Trump’s first Administration, the HHS Office for Civil Rights (OCR) had issued a proposed rule, entitled “Special Responsibilities of Medicare Hospitals in Emergency Cases and Discrimination on the Basis of Disability in Critical Health and Human Service Programs or Activities.”

House Cosigners (30): Reps. Smith (R-NJ), Cammack (R-FL), Wagner (R-MO), Aderholt (R-AL), Barr (R-KY), Biggs (R-AZ), Biggs (R-SC), Bost (R-IL), Brecheen (R-OK), Cline (R-VA), Cloud (R-TX), Clyde (R-GA), Estes (R-KS), Fulcher (R-ID), Grothman (R-WI), Harris (R-MD), Higgins (R-LA), Johnson (R-SD), Joyce (R-PA), Latta (R-OH), Mann (R-KS), McDowell (R-NC), McGuire (R-VA), Miller (R-IL), Moore (R-UT), Norman (R-SC), Onder (R-MO), Palmer (R-AL), Rose (R-TN), Thompson (R-PA)

Senate Cosigners (9): Sens. Lankford (R-OK), Hyde-Smith (R-MS), D. Graham (R-SC), Blackburn (R-TN), Lummis (R-WY), Justice (R-WV), Daines (R-MT), Banks (R-IN), Ricketts (R-NE)

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