By Jean Mikle, APP Staff - Standing at the edge of a cliff at the top of a damaged dune about 15 feet above the beach, Mayor Bill Curtis had a dire prediction about what could happen if more strong storms hit a shoreline that's already badly eroded. "Two more storms like we had two weeks ago, and this will be gone," Curtis told Lt. Col. David Park, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Philadelphia District. "It is a safety issue. If a child were to get down on the beach, they wouldn't b... Read more

Legislation to end the “excruciating suffering and physical pain of unborn babies” from abortion at 20 weeks or older was introduced today by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and 142 Members of the House of Representatives. The Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, HR 1081, would bar most abortions after 20 weeks gestation. “We know that by twenty weeks unborn babies killed by abortion experience excruciating suffering and physical pain,” said Smith, co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus. “T... Read more

Jean Mikle Asbury Park Press As the sea continues to carve into the storm-battered dunes on Bay Head's beach, Mayor Bill Curtis says he hopes an emergency permit to make repairs will soon be approved by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The borough plans to use one of its on-call contractors to lower the slope of eroded dunes that Curtis said have become increasingly dangerous since a strong nor'easter struck the Jersey Shore earlier this month. "Right now we have a very dangero... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith met on the dunes in Bay Head on Friday with officials from the Army Corp of Engineers, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection and local leaders from Bay Head and Ocean County to address the 18 foot cliff that developed as a result of Winter Storm Orlena. Smith organized the meeting with Lt Col David Park, Commander of the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers Philadelphia Region and William Dixon, Director of the NJDEP Division of Coastal Engineering, after receiving an urge... Read more

The new 18-foot vertical sand dune cliffs in Bay Head caused by beach erosion from recent Winter Storm Orlena pose significant safety concerns—especially for children who are at grave risk of plunging over and suffering serious injury or death. Mayor Bill Curtis, Army Corps Commander Lt. Colonel Park, NJDEP’s Bill Dixon, Ocean County Commissioner Joe Vicari, Assemblymen Greg McGuckin and John Catalano, and members of the Council met on the beach at the request of Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) who or... Read more

FREEHOLD, NJ—Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today met with District Commander Lt. Colonel Park and other key officials from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) in Bay Head to take a closer look at the severe beach erosion after the recent coastal storm (Winter Storm Orlena, January 31 – February 2, 2021). Requested by Rep. Smith last week, the Army Corps Commander’s visit and his personal assessment of the damage to Bay Head’s bea... Read more

Preferred Behavioral Health Group (PBHG) in Lakewood will receive a $4 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to create a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic to serve Ocean and Monmouth county residents, said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) a strong supporter of the legislation providing the federal funds. “Expanding mental health services and boosting funding programs to combat substance use disorder is especially timely and needed as people continue to struggle w... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Pro-life Caucus, today introduced legislation to prohibit the use of federal taxpayer dollars to fund abortions. Smith’s legislation—the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2021 (H.R. 18)—has more than 130 cosponsors, including a record number of congresswomen supporting the bill. “When federal taxpayer dollars are not available to help effectuate the demise of unborn babies, lives are saved,” said... Read more

By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) Words are inadequate to convey my sorrow over the murder of Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick who courageously fought the violent mob that stormed the Capitol building on January 6th. This morning I joined his family, law enforcement officers and my congressional colleagues at a solemn ceremony in the US Capitol honoring Officer Sicknick. As a member of the New Jersey National Guard, Officer Sicknick safely deployed during Operation Southern Watch in 1999 and Endu... Read more

Seven Members of Congress introduced the SALT Deductibility Act, bipartisan legislation to restore the full State and Local Tax (SALT) deduction. The proposal would allow taxpayers to fully deduct their state and local taxes on their federal income returns. In 2017, the deduction was capped at $10,000 and resulted in a tax increase for many middle-class families. Capping the SALT deduction resulted in double taxation by imposing a tax on taxes already paid. In high cost of living areas, the cap ... Read more