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 no...
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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 polici...
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Karen Wall,Patch Staff Posted Mon, Oct 21, 2024 at 12:27 pm ET|Updated Mon, Oct 21, 2024 at 2:45 pm ET When ground was broken in May 2022 for the new Veterans Affairs clinic in Toms River, there was a pledge made to try to name the clinic after the town's World War II hero. As the clinic prepares to open Tuesday to start serving veterans in the area, that pledge has not been forgotten. On Friday, a resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives to name the clinic for Lt. Leonard G. "...
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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 perpetra...
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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 de...
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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 fed...
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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 boardi...
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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...
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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 d...
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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 hostage...
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