The House of Representatives passed an amendment authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to boost Lyme disease research funding at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) just before the end of the July session. “My amendment adds $4 million, for a total of $20 million, for Lyme disease research at the CDC for FY 2021. Just three years ago CDC’s Lyme budget was only $11.7 million,” said Smith, a longtime leader on Lyme as co-chair of the bipartisan Lyme Disease Caucus in Congress with ... Read more

By Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press Staff Writer Bart “Doc” Fabian saw a fellow American on the ground, badly wounded, and ran to help. As the senior Army medic on hand, that was his job when his outfit got ambushed in Vietnam on April 13, 1969. “I picked the soldier up and put him over my shoulder,” Fabian recalled. “By the time we got to the safe zone, he was already dead.” He went back into the firefight and treated the next wounded man he could reach. “His head was over my lap, and maybe eigh... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), in conjunction with the Veterans Administration (VA), will host a VA Telephone Claims Clinic for vets, military retirees and their family members, and active duty service members on August 18 and 19, 2020. “It’s vitally important that veterans, active duty military, military retirees and their dependents have access to their VA services during the COVID-19 pandemic,” Smith said. “Health needs don’t take a hiatus, not for COVID-19 or anything else. This ‘telephone ... Read more

By TAPINTO HAMILTON/ROBBINSVILLE STAFF Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) has introduced the Get the Lead Out Act (HR 7918) to authorize $14 billion over two years and require every utility in America to develop a plan to identify and remove lead pipes that threaten residents, especially children, from the dangers of lead. Smith said this measure builds upon his efforts to alleviate the threat of lead in drinking water systems in his district and other areas of New Jersey. “For every family and ever... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who has been working to help alleviate the threat of lead in drinking water systems in his district and other areas of New Jersey, has partnered with Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX) to introduce the Get the Lead Out Act (HR 7918) which would authorize $14 billion over two years and require every utility in America to develop a plan to identify and remove lead pipes that threaten residents, especially children, from the dangers of lead. “For every family and ever... Read more

By Stephen Edelson, Asbury Park Press Staff Writer - I remember the first time I met Joanne Atkins-Ingram some 20 months ago, listening to her talk about things like answers, accountability and action even as she recounted details from the worst day of her life. Saturday marked the second anniversary of the passing of her son, former Neptune High School football standout Braeden Bradforth, who died of exertional heatstroke during a conditioning test at Garden City Community College in Garden Cit... Read more

By David Chang • Published July 29, 2020 • Updated on July 30, 2020 at 7:39 am What to Know 'Sami's Law' passed the House of Representatives on Wednesday. The bipartisan legislation ‘Sami’s Law,’ requires rideshare companies like Uber and Lyft to deploy a verifiable electronic access system to match drivers with passengers before the ride begins in order to increase the safety of passengers. The bill is named after Samantha "Sami" Josephson, a University of South Carolina student from New Jerse... Read more

By Michael L. Diamond, APP Staff Writer - A bill named after Samantha Josephson, a college student from Robbinsville who was murdered by someone pretending to be her Uber driver, is a step closer to law. The U.S. House of Representatives Wednesday unanimously approved a bill that in part would force ride-sharing companies like Uber and Lyft to deploy technology that would match passengers with drivers before the ride begins. "It’s bittersweet," Seymour Josephson, Samantha's father, said. "We’d m... Read more

Co-Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) held a hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission today entitled "Religious Freedom in China: The Case of Bishop James Su Zhimin" Excerpts of his remarks: "We are here today to focus attention on the case of His Excellency Bishop James Su Zhimin, Bishop of Baoding diocese, whom this Commission has recognized as a prisoner of conscience. Bishop Su has endured approximately 40 years in prison. His crime—simply exercising his universally recognized human right ... Read more

By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com After their daughter Samantha was murdered after getting into a fake Uber car, Marci and Seymour Josephson began lobbying Congress to prevent other parents from living through a similar nightmare. Their efforts bore fruit Wednesday when the U.S. House, by voice vote, passed legislation requiring that vehicles for ride-sharing companies such as Uber and Lyft be clearly identified before a passenger gets in. “For over a year — especially given t... Read more