Earlier today, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Rep. Ted Deutch (D-FL) introduced bipartisan legislation to protect hospitals in New Jersey and other-urban areas that are facing unsustainable Medicare payment losses. Smith’s bill, the Urban Medicare-Dependent Hospitals (UMDH) Preservation Act, would afford hospitals in urban areas that serve a high proportion of Medicare patients (60 percent or higher) the same payment relief currently provided to their rural counterparts. Hospitals in some area... Read more

The National Association of Community Health Centers today presented Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) with the Distinguished Community Health Defender Award for his leadership and support of health care services to underserved communities in New Jersey. “Community health centers provide essential primary and preventive care services,” said Smith, who secured the designation of a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) for Ocean Health Initiative (OHI) in 2005 and Lakewood’s CHEMED in 2009. “They allow... Read more

U.S. Reps Chris Smith (R-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) announced today that they are urging key U.S. Senators to allow a vote on legislation that would allow the use of federal disaster funds to rebuild houses of worship damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The three lawmakers, who worked to pass the bill in the House last month, made the case in a letter they sent to Senators Thomas Carper (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and Tom Coburn (R-TN), the panel’s Rankin... Read more

Speaker of the House John Boehner has tasked Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and leader on many international human rights efforts, to lead the bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation to attend the investiture of former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis. “On behalf of Speaker Boehner and the entire U.S. House of Representatives, I will convey our deepest respect, congratulations and best wishes to Pope Francis on his instal... Read more

Speaker of the House John Boehner has tasked Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and leader on many international human rights efforts, to lead the bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation to attend the investiture of former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis. “It is an honor to lead this bipartisan group of House members to this international event,” said Smith, who chairs the House Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights an... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who represents areas of Ocean and Monmouth counties hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy, today testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee Energy and Water Development on the impact of Superstorm Sandy disaster relief legislation. The hearing was held by New Jersey Congressman, Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, author of the “Frelinghuysen amendment” which provided the necessary funding to rebuild New Jersey and keep our recovery on track. The legislation “is ma... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and New Jersey Banking and Insurance Commissioner Ken Kobylowski discussed post-Sandy flood insurance issues during the Commissioner’s visit to Rep. Smith’s Washington Office. Past and on-going concerns were addressed including ways to speed-up the claim review process, address differences about final payouts, and how to make the National Flood Insurance Program more transparent. Read more

The long-awaited groundbreaking for the Army's new Aviation Support Facility on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst will make way for a modernization that will give servicemembers a modernized facility to carry out their missions, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), who addressed Guard, Reserve and active duty personnel from the Army, Air Force and Navy assembled at the site March 8. Smith, who led the fight to remove Lakehurst Naval Air Engineering Station--the largest employer in Ocean County--fr... Read more

By Christine Johnson: Inspired by the opportunity to show compassion for their Keansburg neighbors affected by Superstorm Sandy, 700 people turned out to a festive night of cocktails, music, dancing, food and schmoozing at Lakeside Manor Friday night. The organizers behind "Holmdel Helps" have started a partnership with a goal to raise $100,000. They pledged to give every dollar of it to Keansburg's elected leaders to distribute to its pre-screened homeowners in need of building supplies and app... Read more

"Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Violence Against Women Act, VAWA, authored by Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers. It authorizes $2.2 billion for VAWA to help victimized women and children seeking assistance to break the cycle of violence and live a life free from intimidation, fear, abuse and exploitation," said Congressman Chris Smith, (NJ-04). "VAWA is landmark legislation with a proven track record of assisting abused and battered women and must be reauthorized." Click here... Read more