Karen Wall,Patch Staff Posted Mon, Nov 18, 2024 at 6:00 pm ET - For the last month, U.S. veterans needing health care have been streaming through the doors of the gleaming new Veterans Affairs clinic in Toms River, a long-anticipated facility to serve those who served the United States. On Monday, dignitaries and those who fought to get a new clinic in Ocean County gathered under a tent in front of the building along with veterans it will serve to celebrate the achievement of that long-sought g... Read more

In a follow-up letter to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights today, Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Maria Salazar (R-FL), Darrel Issa (R-CA) and Carlos Gimenez (R-FL) requested information on reported ongoing human rights violations in Brazil, including and especially the crackdown on free speech and illegitimate blockade of X. “We write to you in our capacity as members of the U.S. House of Representatives regarding the ongoing situation in Brazil and the actions taken by the Brazilian sup... Read more

Geraldine Finucane, the widow of the renowned Northern Ireland human rights attorney Patrick Finucane, and her three adult children are set to testify next week at a Capitol Hill hearing chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on the recent establishment of a long-overdue independent inquiry into Patrick’s brutal murder in 1989. WHEN: Tuesday, November 19, 2024 – 11:00am ET WHERE: 2200 Rayburn House Office Building WITNESSES: Geraldine Finucane John Finucane Katherine Finucane Michael Finucane Patri... Read more

With the strong support and vote of Rep. Chris Smith (R-Manchester), the House of Representatives today passed (327-75) the Social Security Fairness Act (HR 82) to repeal two unjust provisions known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO) that penalize police officers, firefighters, teachers and other public servants by unfairly reducing their Social Security benefits. “It is egregiously unfair that our fellow Americans who have spent substantial port... Read more

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... Read more

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... Read more

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. "... Read more

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... Read more

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... Read more

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... Read more