By Jonathan D. Salant, Star Ledger Staff -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency announced a new program to help victims of Hurricane Sandy and other participants in the National Flood Insurance Program. An interim office will begin operating Dec. 22 until the agency can fulfill its congressional mandate to set up a permanent Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate. The independent office will report directly to top FEMA officials. David Stearrett will be the acting flood insurance advocate an... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) released the following statement in response to the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) establishment of an Interim Office of the Flood Insurance Advocate: “FEMA’s establishment of the Flood Insurance Advocate is long overdue and desperately needed by National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders,” said Smith. “It’s why we passed legislation specifically calling for a FEMA Advocate. Regrettably, in assisting my constituents with NFIP casework, it is clea... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and over 75 Members of Congress have filed a comment ​letter with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing the abortion aspects of the proposed rule on “HHS Notice of Benefit and Payment Parameters for 2016” for the Obamacare marketplace. Specifically the lawmakers object to the rule’s section on “Segregation of Funds for Abortion Services,” which they say ensures that the abortion surcharge (required for all Exchange plans that cover abort... Read more

The news of President Obama’s decision to embrace the Castro regime after decades of human rights abuses, including the harboring of fugitives and stymieing U.S. government efforts to extradite Joanne Chesimard, the convicted murderer of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and other fugitives, is disappointing in light of the long record of human rights violations of Fidel Castro and Raul Castro, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. “ While we all welcome the return of Alan Gross to hi... Read more

BY MIKE DAVIS, TIMES OF TRENTON STAFF - U.S. Rep. Chris Smith on Tuesday was named grand marshal of the 30th annual Hamilton St. Patrick's Day Parade. "I'm honored and humbled to be a grand marshal," Smith (R-4th Dist.) said on Tuesday. "I look forward to marching with you and celebrating our Irish heritage. It's a tremendous culture that we celebrate, and a saint who is second to none." Smith was selected to lead this year's parade, scheduled for March 14 at 1 p.m., because of his legislative w... Read more

By Ken Serrano at APP — The hulking gray aircraft lined a portion of the the flightline at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst as Air Force One touched down Monday, perhaps just a customary display of hardware for a visiting dignitary or maybe more than that. But did the commander-in-chief inside the presidential jet notice? President Obama in his speech at the Joint Base Monday did not mention the planes, refueling tankers that the Department of Defense has considered retiring. But jobs connected ... Read more

The following is the introduction of Congressman Smith by Ancient Order of Hibernians New Jersey State President Sean Pender at a Dec. 16 press conference at the announcing Smith as 2015 Grand Marshall of the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Hamilton Township: It is my great honor today to introduce the Grand Marshall of the 2015 Hamilton St Patrick’s Parade. Congressman Chris Smith is a man that is a true public servant, he is a tireless worker whose moral compass is guided by one of life’s most sim... Read more

When President Obama visits Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Monday to thank American service members, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith wants the Commander in Chief to use the time to also reconsider plans phase out certain refueling aircraft. In a letter sent Friday to Obama, Smith (R-4th Dist.) said the “misguided proposal” of phasing out KC-10 aircraft without another model ready to take their place would be a “tremendous risk” to the Air Force. He said two of the three active-duty flying squadrons o... Read more

U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Maxine Waters (CA-43), House co-Chairs of the Bipartisan, Bicameral Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease, wrote a letter to the President this week asking for additional federal resources to be directed to fighting Alzheimer’s in the Administration’s upcoming 2016 budget. “We believe that an increase in resources for Alzheimer’s research is both necessary and a smart investment that will lower future government spending,” the letter stated. “Similar inve... Read more

The House of Representatives last night passed bipartisan legislation to address global hunger and help the world’s poorest countries develop better agriculture. Sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-N.J.), chairman of the House panel that oversees global health initiatives, along with lead Democrat cosponsor Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-Minn.), HR 5656, “The Global Food Security Act,” is designed to help prevent starvation and famine, and reduce hunger and malnutrition by enabling countrie... Read more