— Congressman Chris Smith issued the following statement following the passage of the FY25 Budget Resolution: “The House took the first critical step to tackle our huge $36 trillion debt – a crushing burden that we cannot sustain or survive as a Nation. Most Americans are shocked to learn that the daily interest payment on the national debt is $2.6 billion. Yearly interest payments on the debt alone will rise to $952 billion in 2025 and will climb to over $1 Trillion in 2026—and that interest p... Read more

By Jerry Carino Asbury Park Press Writer - Pete Celentano was in a foxhole with three other U.S. Army soldiers in northern Vietnam in 1967 when an artillery shell landed in their midst. “When I woke up, the two guys on my left, they were disintegrated — there was nothing left of them,” the Jackson resident recalled, adding that the fourth man, a sergeant, “was lying over my chest, face-down, with a big hole in his back.” Celentano had sustained shrapnel wounds to his face, neck, arms and hands. ... Read more

Carly Baldwin,Patch Staff Posted Wed, Feb 26, 2025 at 10:32 am ET Congressman Smith presents the Bronze Star to Middletown resident Mike Vaccaro Feb. 21. At either side are N.J. State Assemblymembers Gerry Scharfenberger and Vicky Flynn. (Office of Congressman Chris Smith) On Friday, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ4) presented the Bronze Star to a 79-year-old Middletown man who served his country in the Vietnam war. The man is Mike Vaccaro. He was 24 years old when he served in the Vietnam War fr... Read more

— On Nov. 10, 1967, 20-year-old Pete Celentano wrote home to his mother and father about surviving the Battle of Dak To in Vietnam, noting that he was injured in battle, which they might read in the newspaper. Little did he know that very letter and a local news report of the battle published on the same day, would be at the crux of a congressional inquiry to the Department of the Army. The documents would provide proof that the now 78-year-old Jackson resident was deserving of the Purple Heart... Read more

— Flying into the jungles of South Vietnam and meeting with community leaders in remote villages was a dangerous job. And Mike Vaccaro, then 24, did it often. “What I was doing was helping local people protect themselves, defend themselves, and know what to do,” when faced with threats from the Viet Cong or North Vietnamese Army raiding their villages, Vaccaro told Congressman Chris Smith (NJ04) on Friday, Feb. 21, at Smith’s office in Middletown. Though the dangerous terrain in the Mekong Delta... Read more

U.S. Air Force Gen. Gregory M. Guillot, a four-star general and top commander of all air defenses for the continental U.S. and Canada, testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 13th that the Pentagon needs more technology and expanded authorities to deal with the large numbers of drones over U.S. military installations, including in New Jersey. The commander of NORTHCOM, the Northern Command of the U.S. military responsible for defending North America from various threats,... Read more

By Kenneth R. Cerini - In a significant win for the autism community, Congress has approved the extension of the Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education, and Support (Autism CARES) Act for another five years. This extension paves the way for an allocation of $1.95 billion to support crucial initiatives in autism research, early detection, and intervention. What It Means The reauthorization of the Autism CARES Act ensures that nearly $2 billion in federal funding will be direct... Read more

At a hearing this week before the Senate Armed Services Committee, the top general for all air defenses for the continental United States and Canada expressed concerns about the origin and purpose of swarms of drones that have been reported across the country, including over New Jersey’s military facilities and power infrastructure. “The General’s comments provide further proof that the Biden national security team was dismissive and downplayed the risks presented by the mystery drones spotted a... Read more

By Joti Rekhi published Feb 10, 2025, 12:36 PM Beaches across Ocean County are being replenished beginning Monday. The total project costs $73.5 million. It includes $30.2 million in funding from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. According to Seaside Heights Borough Mayor Tony Vaz, taxpayers won't feel the pinch. Vaz said 75% of the project is being funded by the federal government, 25% is coming from the state, and the county commission will front the remaining 25%. "It's a v... Read more

By Ocean County Leader Feb 11, 2025 Beaches in Ocean County are undergoing a replenishment project starting Monday, with a total cost of $73.5 million. The initiative is partially funded by $30.2 million from the federal infrastructure bill passed by Congress. Seaside Heights Borough Mayor Tony Vaz assured residents that taxpayers would not bear the financial burden. "It's a very costly venture and one that we need. It's a protection from inclement weather, severe weather, flooding," said Vaz. ... Read more