At Georgian Court University in Lakewood, a new $1.9 million federal grant is helping students stay on track to timely graduation while improving overall retention rates. The U.S. Department of Education's Title III grant, payable over five years, is for GCU's Chart the Course program, which is designed to expand academic support services and bolster college completion. "We established Chart the Course to help students needing non-credit skills development courses get back on track to graduating... Read more

The State Department 2016 Actions Report, detailing the Obama Administration’s efforts on behalf of abducted American children, was released today showing a continuation of the Administration's failed “words-only” strategy to return kids who have been abducted by a parent to another country—often in clear violation of valid U.S. court orders. “Congress unanimously adopted the Goldman Act to push a reluctant Administration to turn words into action—action that will bring home abducted American ch... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) has asked the Navy to reconsider its recent controversial housing proposal for Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County that would expand the rental of public private venture (PPV) housing at the base to non-Department of Defense-affiliated civilians. “The proposal is fraught with security concerns, as well serious challenges to local systems, and it is in fact deja vu all over again—despite the fact that security at our bases has proven to be even more chal... Read more

Nearly 100 people filled a NJ Transit boardroom this morning, to protest a proposed power line project in Monmouth County. JCP&L is asking NJ transit to grant it an easement along their right-of-way that borders the North Jersey Coast Line. On that small stretch of land, the utility company wants to put up more than 100 massive power poles, reaching up to 200-feet high, carrying high voltage transmission lines that would run alongside NJ Transit tracks from Matawan to Red Bank. Click here or on ... Read more

BY DAVID P. WILLIS, APP STAFF WRITER - For more than two hours Thursday, a large group of Monmouth County residents and elected officials opposed to Jersey Central Power & Light’s controversial $111 million transmission line took their fight to NJ Transit. “Please don’t sell us out,” said Middletown resident Bernice Curto, breaking into tears. “I am pleading with you to say 'no' to hosting this project on your narrow right-of-way and say 'no' soon in order to alleviate any more anguish and suffe... Read more

At a meeting of Autism leaders from around the world, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), founder and co-chair of the bipartisan Autism Caucus in the U.S. House of Representatives, emphasized that perseverance is needed for legislators and advocates from all countries to address this prevalent disorder and galvanize change. “The House committee of jurisdiction emphatically told me that ‘no disease specific’ legislation would be voted on,” said Smith, speaking on his struggle to provide resources and resea... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today announced a new U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) Economic Injury Disaster Loan program designed to assist small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, aquaculture businesses and most private nonprofit organizations located throughout the 4th Congressional District. SBA introduced this loan as a result of the severe freeze, excessive heat and drought that impacted central New Jersey from April 1st through September 19th of this year. “For small busines... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) testified today before the New Jersey Transit Corporation Board of Directors in an effort to convince the agency to reject the Jersey Central Power & Light Co (JCP&L) application to utilize the transit agency’s right-of-way for the proposed “Monmouth County Reliability Project.” JCP&L has proposed the 10-mile-long transmission line be placed through residential neighborhoods along NJT’s North Jersey Coast line, creating an undue burden for large numbers of people in five... Read more

Applications for the federal Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) offered by the federal government will be accepted beginning Tuesday, Oct.11, 2016, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced today. The application period for the FY 2016 AFG Program will close on Friday, Nov. 18, 2016 at 5 p.m. EST. “The AFG program is one of the best federal grants to help protect our firefighters and emergency medical service responders as they do their jobs protecting the community, including people, homes, busine... Read more

(JSN.org) A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced legislation last week that seeks to bolster the U.S. government’s monitoring on anti-Semitic incidents in Europe and how European governments are combating the issue. <img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5126bbb4e4b08c2e6d1cb6e4/t/57fbf760bebafb5b47ae89bb/1476130660189/" alt="An anti-Semitic protester in Berlin with a pro-Nazi tattoo on his arm. Credit: Wikimedia Commons. ... Read more