The Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet beach replenishment project cleared a major hurdle as the U.S. House of Representatives voted to authorize over $200 million dollars for the project, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—who worked tireless to secure the authorization—announced today. Read more

There are over 100 major chemical facilities scattered about our state of New Jersey. They are a familiar site—providing jobs, creating products we use on a daily basis and playing a role in New Jersey and the nation’s economy. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today announced that close to $1 million in federal funds has been allocated for vital Manasquan River protection projects and over $3 million for an important beach replenishment project by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Read more

As the House of Representatives prepares to take action this week on an emergency spending bill that includes a provision to protect New Jersey’s strict chemical facility anti-terrorism regulations, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said Congress should immediately take up legislation he introduced last night to promote and protect increased safety measures at chemical security plants because the issue must be resolved before the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) releases their final regulations in two weeks. Read more

On the eve of the only sessions currently scheduled for public input on the health study of cancer rates near the former Mercer Rubber factory, Congressman Chris Smith, State Senator Peter Inverso, and Assemblyman Bill Baroni released a joint statement today that said: “As elected representatives serving the residents of Hamilton at the state and federal levels, we strongly urge all those interested in learning more about a study regarding possible environmental and health hazards in the area of... Read more

An important opportunity for the public to learn more about – and add vital input to – the recently released public health study of the neighborhoods surrounding the former Mercer Rubber factory on Mercer Street in Hamilton is being held this coming Wednesday at the Nottingham Fire House in Hamilton, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith said today. Read more

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) today garnered assurances from officials at the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services (NJDHSS) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) that his recommendations to narrow the sample area and to look at the numbers of cancer instances from years beyond 2001 will be carried out in their study of the health effects from the old Mercer Rubber factory. Read more

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) today called for full and proper notification of Hamilton Township residents to ensure they are aware of upcoming public information sessions on the health effects of waste dumped by the Mercer Rubber factory. Read more

At a comprehensive briefing with Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) federal officials provided a timely progress report on the on-going investigation into the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) handling of asbestos contamination and cleanup at the W.R. Grace & Co./Zonolite plant in Hamilton, New Jersey and at least 10 other sites around the country. They also said additional information is being sought from Hamilton Township officials to complete the report. Read more

U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, chaired a hearing today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear accident at the Chornobyl power plant in Ukraine. The health, environmental, and socio-economic costs of the disaster at Chornobyl continue to have a profound impact on countries in the region, especially Ukraine and Belarus – which bore the brunt of Chornobyl’s radioactive fallout. The Helsinki Commission hearing looked toward the future by exploring the potential treatments for victims of radiological attack. Read more