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 ... Read more

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.... Read more

In a letter to Army Corps Commander Lieutenant Colonel Jeffrey Beeman, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) today called on the Army Corps of Engineers to take immediate action to mitigate the growing navigational hazard in the Manasquan Inlet posed by a dangerous build-up of sand following weekend storms. Smith’s letter comes as a follow-up to conversations he initiated with Army Corps officials and local boat captains over the weekend as the shoaling began to develop. Smith noted that Point Pleasa... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), an international leader in the fight against human trafficking, today issued the following statement on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons: “Sadly, as we mark today’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, an estimated 28 million innocent people around the world are entrapped in modern-day slavery—one of the fastest growing criminal enterprises in the world. Over twenty years ago, I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000, which created a... Read more

With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the House of Representatives late last night voted to establish a bipartisan congressional task force to investigate the attempted assassination of President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania earlier this month. “The lack of transparency from top Biden Administration officials following the horrifying assassination attempt on President Trump is absolutely unacceptable,” said Smith, a cosponsor of the legislation (H.Res. 1367) adop... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), Co-Chair of the Israel Allies Caucus, today commended Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his historic joint address to Congress as Israel continues to defend itself from a host of adversaries in the Middle East. “Prime Minister Netanyahu’s passionate yet deliberate address, which comes at a very pivotal time, was a grand slam,” said Smith, who invited two constituents—Ralph Zucker and Yaakov Wenger, both from Lakewood—as his guests to the Prime Minist... Read more

At a congressional briefing on Capitol Hill today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) met with Elan Carr—the former U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Antisemitism—and fellow leaders in the fight to combat antisemitism to discuss the ongoing threats faced by Jewish men, women and children at home and abroad. “Elan Carr, who served as an extraordinarily effective U.S. Special Envoy under President Trump, has extensive experience in exposing and combating the rampant bias, cruelty, violence an... Read more

Amanda Oglesby Asbury Park Press WALL - Eileen Shaklee knows how difficult it can be for young adults with autism to transition out of school at age 21. On the brink of adulthood, they lose school-provided services like speech therapy, occupational therapy and life skills training. The routine of the school day and socialization with peers come to an end. "Many parents and caregivers refer to it as the 'great cliff,' " Shaklee said. "Suddenly the… life your child received from going to school is... Read more

The emergency closing of six Nantucket beaches this week while federal safety officials race to clean up large hazardous debris from a broken offshore wind turbine is “a preview of what’s to come in New Jersey if Governor Murphy gets his way with the massive offshore wind projects he is pursuing,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester). According to the Nantucket Harbormaster, “all south shore beaches are closed to swimming, due to large floating debris and sharp fiberglass shards.” Vineyard Wind... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester) issued the following statement after the events today in Butler, Pennsylvania: “Marie and I are praying for President Trump and thank God he was not seriously injured after today’s attempt on his life. It is with the deepest sorrow and regret we received the news that one attendee was mortally wounded, and others seriously injured—we are praying for them and their families. The Secret Service, all law enforcement partners, and medical first responders deserve our... Read more