The findings of the bipartisan congressional delegation led by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) from Nov. 22-26 to the typhoon-ravaged Philippines, and the responses of U.S. government and international aid organizations, will be the topic of a congressional hearing on Tuesday before the House global health panel chaired by Smith. Who: Congressman Smith, Chairman of the global health subcommittee on the Foreign Affairs Committee; other Members of the subcommittee and the Smith CODEL and; witnesse... Read more

The Sandy-battered community of Belmar will be receiving additional help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which is awarding a $1.747 million grant to help pay for marina buildings, bridges, decks and other associated facilities damaged by Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. This latest Belmar grant follows previous federal funding totaling over $9 million for replacement of the boardwalk also destroyed as a result of Superstorm Sandy. Both grant awards... Read more

The South Monmouth Regional Sewage Authority (SMRSA) is slated to receive a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to help pay for the replacement of the Lake Como Water Pump Station that was destroyed by Superstorm Sandy. This new funding follows over $1 million previously received by SMRSA for damages to the Authority’s Pitney Avenue Pump Station, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. The grant will provide $2,083,016 in Federal funding to pay for 90 percent of the cost ... Read more

By Darryl Isherwood/NJ.com The Star-Ledger - While traveling in the Philippines with a congressional delegation, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith's plane was diverted to aid in a helicopter rescue, the representative's spokesman said today. Smith was traveling in the Philippines, ravaged earlier this month by Typhoon Haiyan, to meet with victims, emergency workers, and U.S. and Filipino government officials. During the trip, the U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules Smith was traveling in was diverted to pick up t... Read more

By Megan Goldschmidt, The Trentonian -- U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) is set to come home Wednesday from the Philippines, where he has been meeting with victims of the devastating typhoon since Saturday. Smith, who serves Hamilton and Robbinsville, traveled to the region impacted by Super Typhoon Haiyan, according to a release on Tuesday. “Its mind numbing and heart numbing,” Smith said, “I’ve been to many places around the world when there have been catastrophic typhoons hurricanes, earthquakes... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and his bipartisan congressional delegation (CODEL) traveled to the region devastated by Super Typhoon Haiyan, locally called Typhoon Yolanda, meeting with victims of the typhoon, emergency workers and U.S. and Filipino government officials. “It’s mind numbing and heart numbing,” Smith said. “I’ve been to many places around the world when there have been catastrophic typhoons hurricanes, earthquakes and even more. It is powerful to witness the Filipino people’s re... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-Chairman of the Congressional Pro-life Caucus, today released the following statement on the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to take up Hobby Lobby and Conestoga Wood’s Religious Freedom cases. “President Obama’s use of the coercive power of the state to force people of faith and people of conscience to violate their fundamental convictions or suffer severe penalty is unconscionable and violates the basic principles of religious freedom that are so central to our ... Read more

Typhoon Haiyan — perhaps the strongest tropical storm ever to make landfall — has shifted the international humanitarian-assistance machine into high gear. On Nov. 22, I led a bipartisan fact-finding congressional delegation that included Reps. Al Green, Texas Democrat, and Trent Franks, Arizona Republican, and senior staff to the Philippines. We visited storm-ravaged areas, including Tacloban and Ormoc. In Manila, we visited government officials, church representatives and leaders of numerous ... Read more

By Christopher Robbins/NJ.com The Star-Ledger -- After witnessing Hurricane Sandy’s impact on his own district, a New Jersey congressman is surveying a devastating typhoon’s damage half way around the world. Congressman Chris Smith (R-4th) and his bipartisan congressional delegation traveled to the region impacted by Typhoon Haiyan to meet with victims of the typhoon, emergency workers and U.S. and Filipino government officials. “You listen to the victims and talk directly to the people who are ... Read more

By 1st Lt. Luke Kuper | Headquarters Marine Corps | November 25, 2013 - Marines with Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152 assisted in rescue efforts of two pilots involved in a civilian helicopter crash Nov. 24 over Manila Bay. A KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to the squadron was returning to Villamor Air Base from Tacloban after delivering relief supplies in support of Operation Damayan, the U.S. military response to Typhoon Haiyan. Maj. Jason Kauffman, a pilot with the squadron, hea... Read more