During the 20th annual global Brain Awareness Week, Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, has introduced H.R. 1468 – the Global Brain Health Act of 2015—to increase research on prevention and treatment of autism, hydrocephalus, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. Smith is joined by Representatives Chaka Fattah (D-PA) and Maxine Waters (D-CA), who are cosponsoring the bill. According to Autis... Read more

At its March 18 hearing on “Northern Ireland: Stormont, Collusion, and the Finucane Inquiry,” the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, reviewed ongoing efforts for accountability, justice, and reconciliation in Northern Ireland. Witness testimony focused on the provisions of the December 2014 Stormont House Agreement, especially those aspects addressing government collusion in paramilitary crimes, and the long-promised inquiry into the 198... Read more

By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com The Federal Emergency Management Agency will negotiate directly with Hurricane Sandy homeowners to settle their insurance claims out of court, moving closer to resolving disputes over how much they will receive in compensation. FEMA announced that it has developed a written agreement that sets parameters for settling the 2,200 lawsuits. The agreement will guide negotiations between FEMA and its policyholders, and enable the agency to tell the p... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, hosted a meeting between a bipartisan group of the N.J. delegation and Brad Kieserman, Deputy Associate Administrator for Insurance for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), to address credible charges of fraud and underpayments of flood insurance claims to Superstorm Sandy victims through the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and to discuss the retrospective reopening of claims, among other issues. “Deputy A... Read more

There has been “dishonourable silence” from the British government on evidence of deep collusion between the Northern Ireland security forces and Loyalist paramilitaries during the Troubles revealed in an investigative book, its author has told a US congressional panel. Anne Cadwallader, a former journalist and researcher with human rights group, the Pat Finucane Centre, testified before the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe on Capitol Hill, discussing the findings in her 2013 boo... Read more

U.S. assistance to foster elections in Africa will be among topics of a House hearing set for Wednesday, March 18 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and several non-government organizations will testify. WHAT: Congressional hearing entitled “U.S. Election Support in Africa.” WHO: Smith, members of the Subcommittee on Africa and global human rights, and witnesses: Eric G. Postel, Assi... Read more

By Asbury Park Press Staff Writer Jay Scott Smith -- Monmouth County is set to receive $2 million from FEMA to replace sections of the superstorm Sandy-damaged Bray Avenue Bridge over Pews Creek. The funding comes more than two years after the Federal Emergency Management Agency denied local requests for reimbursements, saying the bridge was already needing repair before a tidal wave from the October 2012 storm swamped the structure. "This sorely needed funding will pave the way toward replaceme... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith, Chairman of The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, will hold a hearing entitled “Northern Ireland: Stormont, Collusion, and the Finucane Inquiry,” on Wednesday, March 18 at 2 p.m. The Helsinki Commission hearing will review progress toward holding individuals accountable for past injustices in Northern Ireland. This will include the December 2014 Stormont House Agreement, as well as government collusion in paramilitar... Read more

This book won’t help Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president. Its author, Chen Guangcheng, is the blind Chinese human-rights lawyer who in April 2012 escaped rural house arrest and sought refuge at the U.S. embassy in Beijing. The ensuing diplomatic tussle over his fate was a high drama that Mrs. Clinton touts as an accomplishment of her tenure as secretary of state. It reminded her of the “responsibility to make sure our country remains the beacon for dissidents and dreamers all over the world... Read more

The new shuttle bus service, the Lakewood Shuttle (or the “L”), will be starting regular service next Tuesday March 17th, township officials told TLS. The service will pick up the old Job Link route, which had recently been suspended, as well as the new loop route from Westgate to the downtown area. “Through the offices of Congressman Chris Smith and the initiative of senior staff at Beth Medrash Govoha (BMG), Lakewood Township received a federal grant of one million dollars to purchase nine bu... Read more