Key provisions from Smith’s Kevin and Avonte’s Law (HR 4221)—designed to help protect and locate children with Autism and elderly persons with Alzheimer’s who wander— were included in the Omnibus bill signed into law last week. The spending package authorized $10 million in funding over five years for the Missing Americans Alert Program. “The new provisions and the added funding will support critical wandering prevention programs that have saved lives, and will continue to save lives,” Rep. Chr... Read more

A bill introduced by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) to name the U.S. Post Office in Belmar, NJ after Dr. Walter S. McAfee, a distinguished local scientist who helped develop the communications capability for the U.S. to enter the Space Age, was signed into law last week. “I am grateful that we can honor this man, Dr. Walter S. McAfee, a trailblazer who did so much for our country and for the Fort Monmouth community,” Rep. Smith stated. “Dr. McAfee was not just known for his accomplished career ... Read more

Today, Congressmen Christopher Smith (R-NJ-04) and Brendan F. Boyle (D-PA-13) sent a letter urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to abandon its current proposal to outsource federal oversight of facilities regulated by the Animal Welfare Act (AWA) to private industry. This proposal would seriously compromise the integrity of the AWA inspection process and undermine protections for millions of animals at commercial breeding operations, medical laboratories, zoos, and other f... Read more

Local New Jersey fire departments can apply for federal grant funding to train more “front line” firefighters beginning on Monday, March 26, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) has announced. The grant program is the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) program, which will provide $345 million in total grants for local fire departments and volunteer interest organizations around the country. The program is run by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Federal Emergency... Read more

Although the Good Friday Agreement, signed 20 years ago on April 10, established a foundation for peace and justice for the future of Northern Ireland, critical parts of the agreement have not been fully implemented to this day, a hearing by the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe (Helsinki Commission), chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), found on Thursday. Read more

The $1.3 trillion omnibus package passed by the House on Thursday, with Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) support, provides a big boost for the Gateway project and transportation in New Jersey, ensures funding of jobs at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, and also increases funding of critical Alzheimer’s and NIH research and many other areas of need. Read more

The 2018 Congressional Art Competition sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who holds the annual show for high school students in the Fourth Congressional District, opened today. “The student submissions in the 2017 art competition were very impressive and I am sure this year’s show will once again showcase the talents of our students,” Smith said. “We have more than 80 entries from across Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties in the Fourth Congressional District. The ‘Best-in-Show’ winn... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement on the passing of Rep. Louise Slaughter: I am deeply saddened at the news this morning of the passing of Congresswoman Louise Slaughter. My prayers are with her family during this time. Louise served on the Helsinki Commission for almost 20 years, and I remember her as a dedicated servant of our country who promoted ethics in government by co-authoring the STOCK Act, and a strong proponent of ensuring the safety of our women and men in uni... Read more

Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ), Peter Roskam (R-IL), Kay Granger (R-TX), and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) released this statement following Putin’s recent remarks placing the blame for Russian aggression on Jews, Ukrainians and Tatars: “We denounce Vladimir Putin’s recent statement blaming Russian aggression against the U.S. on Jews, Ukrainians and Tatars. There is one person responsible for Russia’s hostile actions, and that is Vladimir Putin. Putin’s bigoted comments will only sew more anti-... Read more

On Wednesday, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass an important bill to help prevent school violence, in the wake of the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) co-sponsored the legislation. “In any discussion on education policy and gun laws, there should be no higher priority right now than school safety,” Rep. Smith stated. “This bill provides critical funding of evidence-based prevention strategies, to ensure our students receive th... Read more