Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced today that the National Science Foundation (NSF) recently announced two $225,000 awards to small businesses in his district, which promise to help improve the way American students learn. Small Factory Innovations in Fair Haven and Mgenuity in Lincroft were awarded NSF Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 grants. “The SBIR program aims to help turn scientific discoveries into benefits for society and the economy by kick-starting private sect... Read more

Today, the House of Representatives approved Kevin and Avonte’s Law (H.R. 4919), bipartisan legislation that will help protect children with developmental disabilities, such as autism, and seniors with Alzheimer’s who are prone to wandering. Authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), H.R. 4919 provides targeted support to communities for locally-based, proactive programs to prevent wandering and locate missing children or seniors who have wandered from safe environments. “This is an issue that h... Read more

As the world prepares to mark Human Rights Day, the brutal repression of human rights activists at the hands of the Chinese government was brought to light in their own words at a hearing today chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). The unique perspectives of these activists highlight how U.S. foreign policy is critical in the advancement of the fundamental rights of the Chinese people, and activists around the world. “It has been another dark and difficult year for human rights in China. China’s ... Read more

U.S. Congressman Chris Smih (NJ-04) Co-Chairman of the Autism Caucus and the Alzhiemer's Task force spoke on the floor today in support of his legislation, Kevin and Avonte's Law: Mr. Speaker, I thank the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, Mr. GOODLATTE, for his enormous efforts and those of his staff to, out of an abundance of caution, address some of the issues that were raised by my friend from Texas. I don’t think some of his concerns were included or at risk in the bill, but we clarified ... Read more

Rep. Smith (NJ-04) spoke in appreciation of his long time colleague, Joseph R. Pitts, on the eve of Pitts' retirement from public service: Madam Speaker, it is hard to imagine a Congress without the incomparable JOE PITTS—a remarkable and highly accomplished lawmaker, a distinguished statesman, a man of principle and bedrock moral conviction and a Christian, who faithfully seeks to do God’s will on Earth as it is in Heaven no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the hardship. As I... Read more

By Jerry Carino, APP Staff Writer - For decades, Wall resident Pat Smith has implored the medical establishment to acknowledge the existence of chronic Lyme disease. On Wednesday, her quest took a big step forward. The House of Representatives passed the 21st Century Cures Act, a comprehensive health care bill that would establish a national working group on Lyme disease. The 14-member panel would include physicians with experience in treating tick-borne diseases, Lyme patients and advocates for... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa and International Organizations, took to the House floor to deliver following speech in support of S. 1635, the “Department of State Operations Authorization and Embassy Security Act, Fiscal Year 2016”: Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support for passage of S. 1635. A highly skilled group of Foreign Service Officers—about fifteen thousand strong—are deployed worldwide to promote peace, human rights, support prosperity, and protect Ame... Read more

The following is a letter to the editor by Dr. Suzanne Buchanan, the Executive Director of the advocacy group, Autism New Jersey based in Robbinsville, NJ: As Congress reconvenes to finish the year, we urge our representatives in the House of Representatives and Senate to support the passage of Kevin and Avonte’s Law (H.R. 4919/S. 2614), which would allow Justice Department grants to help protect children with developmental disabilities, such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and seniors with A... Read more

Concrete improvements in human rights and the rule of law in China are directly linked to the security and prosperity of both the American and Chinese people. Advances in protecting human rights and curbing government violations of universal freedoms are essential components of economic development, mutual prosperity, domestic stability, and the type of trust and confidence necessary to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation on a range of issues that will define the 21st century. As ... Read more

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), the $691 billion bill that directs critical U.S defense policy for 2017. Secured inside the bill is a targeted and critical amendment co-authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) which will ensure military families with a child on the autism spectrum will continue to have access to a key intervention therapy. The Smith provision protects coverage of and access to Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy... Read more