By TAPINTO BELMAR/LAKE COMO STAFF While limits have been lifted on the number of passengers permitted on charter and party boats, six-foot social distancing must still be maintained — news that was welcomed by Rep. Chris Smith, who represents several popular Jersey Shore fishing communities, including Belmar. “This could not have come a moment too soon. While overdue, this is still great news,” said Rep. Smith, (R-4th District), regarding the loosening of the restrictions, which took effect on J... Read more

FREEHOLD—Congressman Chris Smith, whose Fourth Congressional District includes several popular Jersey Shore fishing basins including Belmar, Brielle and Point Pleasant, welcomed the decision, effective today, to lift the COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of anglers permitted on charter and head boats, as long as all anglers adhere to 6’ social distancing protocols. “This could not have come a moment too soon. While overdue, this is still great news,” said Rep. Smith, who has been pushing... Read more

By ELIZABETH MEYERS, EDITOR After many years, and countless jumps through numerous bureaucratic hoops, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has designated -- 08691 -- as the official zip code of Robbinsille Township. Mayor Dave Fried announced the long-awaited decision Monday morning that makes Robbinsville Township the primary default town for the 08691 zip code. Previously, the five-digit zip code defaulted to Trenton. "We’ve heard our residents loud and clear regarding their desire to have... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) was once again recognized for his leadership as one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress, as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCOC) released its inaugural “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship,” citing Smith’s work during the first half of the 116th Congress (2019-2020) at the Chamber’s virtual “Governing with Distinction Ceremony” held today. Chamber Vice President Jack Howard said that with the country facing unprecedented challenges—including a global... Read more

Key bipartisan legislation to extend and enhance the Paycheck Protection Program, which is helping sustain businesses and pay workers during the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19, passed the House of Representatives May 28 and the Senate June 4. Rep. Chris Smith, who supported the creation of the PPP and subsequent legislation nearly doubling its funding, said the new Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, HR 7010, is needed to make the program easier, more accessible and more reali... Read more

By Congressman Christopher H. Smith, June 04 2020 12:01 am OPINION Thirty-one years ago today, the world watched with a mixture of hope and anticipation as over a million people gathered peacefully to demand democracy and human rights in the streets of Beijing and over 400 other Chinese cities. The promise of those heady days ended tragically with broken bodies and broken dreams. Dreams that were brutally suppressed by a Chinese Communist Party that will go to any length to keep its grip on pow... Read more

Commissioners from the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) introduced a resolution on the thirty-first anniversary of the Tiananmen protests and their violent suppression. The resolution condemns the Chinese government’s efforts to dismantle the promised freedoms and autonomy of Hong Kong, including through the arbitrary arrest of democracy advocates and the forced imposition of national security legislation and it calls on the Administration to build an i... Read more

June 2 (Reuters) - U.S. lawmakers on Tuesday said legislation targeting Chinese officials over treatment of the country's Uighur Muslim minority sent a "clear message" of support from Washington, seeking to prod the Trump administration to push Beijing on human rights. "Over the years, there has been a real commitment to shine a bright light on human rights in China and to say to those who are affected by that, 'you are not alone,'" House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi said at a signing... Read more

By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) The murder of George Floyd while in custody by a Minneapolis police officer demands justice—and an absolute recommitment by law enforcement and policymakers to always ensure that any person taken into custody is treated with respect, nonviolence and professionalism. I watched the video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Mr. Floyd who pleaded “I can’t breathe” with horror and disbelief. Chauvin not only betrayed his solemn duty to serve and protect but he betrayed... Read more

By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Payments for canceled trips that haven’t been refunded. Products ordered online but were never received. Texts touting fake cures for the coronavirus. Americans have filed more than 31,000 complaints with the Federal Trade Commission claiming losses of more than $40 million through Tuesday due to fraud, newly released statistics show. The category includes travel expenses that haven’t been refunded, and online purchases that show up late or no... Read more