BY DAN RADEL, APP Staff Writer The 25-passenger limit was lifted on party boats but operators are far from a return to normal. The boats are still required to maintain a six-foot social distance space between anglers, plus must continue to comply with all public health measures in accordance with Gov. Phil Murphy’s executive orders prevent the spread of COVID-19. Still, the ease of the restrictions will mean party boat owners can put a few more people on their boats as the industry gears up for ... Read more

By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) In signing an executive order on policing today—Safe Policing for Safe Communities—President Trump said that “reducing crime and raising standards are not opposite goals.” This is an important step forward. If done right, new policies now under consideration at the local, state and federal levels should be designed to bring transparency, accountability and ensure the highest attainable law enforcement standards in order to build safer communities. Better training inclu... Read more

An additional $1.7 million in emergency federal funding has been awarded to Monmouth County to provide shelter and/or rental assistance for homeless families and individuals during the coronavirus pandemic, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said today. The funding comes from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act which Smith supported and was signed into law by President Trump on March 27. “This federal grant will give more people access to subsidized housing as we battle through t... Read more

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