Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of four major laws on autism and co-chair of the Congressional Autism Caucus, issued the following statement on Friday, during World Autism Month, in response to data published by the CDC on autism rates from seven sites across the U.S. including in New Jersey. NJ was identified as the highest among the sites in the autism prevalence rate of children aged 4 years: “The numbers released by the CDC this week confirm the ongoing need and benefits of earlier detection... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) issued the following statement on the passing of Tom Gagliano: “Senator Tom Gagliano was an extraordinary leader—smart, resourceful, tenacious, and effective. Tom was a force for what was good and honorable and won four competitive races for the state senate, the final one in a landslide. His colleagues in Trenton had such respect for him that they made him their leader. Tom made a lasting positive difference in the lives of the people of Monmouth. He leaves behind a grea... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) introduced legislation on Wednesday to require drug testing for methadone for commercial drivers. “Despite clear evidence—and existing law—showing that those using the painkiller methadone should not drive or operate heavy machinery, the DOT does not require testing commercial licensed drivers for the drug,” Smith said. “This omission can allow for these vital tests to miss what is a serious impairment for drivers and a threat on our roadways.” “My legislation would requi... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the Congressman for the family of Braeden Bradforth, will join Braeden’s mother Joanne Atkins-Ingram, her attorney Jill Greene, and Dr. E. Randy Eichner, MD, FACSM, an expert in non-contact related football fatalities, in speaking at a community meeting in Asbury Park, NJ on Thursday. Bradforth, a 19 year-old from Neptune, NJ, received a scholarship in July of 2018 to play football at Garden City Community College in Kansas. On August 1, 2018, his second day on campus, h... Read more

Co-Chairs Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA), of the bipartisan Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, issued the following statement on news that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has been removed from office, following months of peaceful protest which had increasingly been met by a violent government crackdown: “We welcome, with guarded optimism, the news that Sudanese President and longtime strongman Omar al-Bashir has been ousted and call for calm to prevail. We are nonetheles... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today introduced new bipartisan legislation, HR 2122, to help ensure quality workmanship at federal construction projects across the country and to protect the agreed-upon day’s pay for a day’s work for local tradesmen, women and laborers. Rep. Donald Norcross (D-NJ) is the chief Democratic cosponsor of Smith’s bill. “Federal law—the Davis-Bacon Act—mandates that prevailing wages are paid to contract workers for a good reason—to ensure accountability and the highest stand... Read more

A Monmouth County mother is looking for answers after her 19-year-old son died of heatstroke while working out for his college football team. Braedon Bradforth died last August while attending Garden City Community College in Kansas. The 6-foot 4-inch, 300-pound lineman previously played football at Neptune High School. “I feel like he literally died trying to please a coach,” says mother Joanne Atkins. Atkins says that her son had to complete 36 50-yard sprints – each in eight seconds. She says... Read more

Jersey Shore Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), appeared in Avon-by-the-Sea on Friday saying that he intends to fight for full transparency and accountability for Braeden’s family after Garden City Community College, the Kansas college where Bradforth died last year on his second day on campus, "stonewalled the family’s request for an independent investigation into his death." Smith was joined at a press conference by Bradforth’s mother, Joanne Atkins-Ingram. “From day one, I’ve just been trying to... Read more

NEPTUNE, New Jersey (WABC) -- A mother from New Jersey is still heartbroken and angry months after her son's sudden death on the football field. Braeden Bradforth, 19, collapsed after practice at Garden City Community College in Kansas on Aug. 1, 2018, and died a few hours later -- apparently due to heat stroke. The sudden tragedy has raised a lot of questions that have been ignored, according to Bradforth's family and supporters. His mother broke her silence on Friday and is now demanding answe... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) is spearheading an effort to fully fund a newly-created federal program that could kick-start important federal-local infrastructure projects around military bases and which could benefit Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Along with Rep. Denny Heck (D-WA), Smith is the co-lead of a bipartisan letter asking for $100 million to be appropriated in the Defense Community Infrastructure Program (DCIP), which was created last year to help improve local traffic flow and protect m... Read more