By The Associated Press WAYNE PARRY (AP) -- Wider beaches are on the way for some Jersey shore towns whose coast took a pounding during Superstorm Sandy as a $25 million beach replenishment project led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers begins Friday in Manasquan. "Right after Superstorm Sandy, I remember seeing the devastation," said U.S Rep. Christopher Smith, a Republican who represents some of the affected towns. "We've got to replenish, we've got to rebuild the dunes because they did mitig... Read more

A $25 million federally funded project aimed at replenishing the beaches from Manasquan to Belmar will start on Friday, officials said. Anthony Ciorra, sandy coastal recovery program manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers New York District, said 1.5 million cubic yards of sand would be placed on the beach. That sand is part of a total of 8 million cubic yards being placed from Sea Bright to Manasquan. “The Corps of Engineers mission is primarily coastal flood risk reduction ensuring that ... Read more

The long-awaited $25 million beach southern Monmouth County replenishment project kicked off today with a ground-breaking ceremony on Manasquan Beach. Hurricane Sandy caused severe beach erosion along the five-mile stretch of the project. The massive beach re-nourishment work to repair and restore the beach to better than pre-Sandy conditions starts tomorrow. “I was here on this very beach in the days after the storm with Mayor Dempsey and his team and it was a near unimaginable scene of destro... Read more

The South Monmouth Regional Sewage Authority (SMRSA) received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has awarded more than $1 million to help pay to undo extensive Superstorm Sandy-related damage to the Authority’s Pitney Avenue Pump Station, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said Thursday. The grant will provide $1,081,285 in Federal funding to pay for 90 percent of the $1,201,428 cost to rebuild the pump station. “Sandy damaged critical infrastructure up-and-down the co... Read more

The establishment of a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal was the topic of a joint hearing today of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith chaired the hearing. “The two-year-old Syrian civil war has produced increasingly horrific human rights violations, including summary executions, torture and rape,” said Smith, author of a bill to support the creation of a tr... Read more

The re-arrest of writer and human rights defender Guo Feixiong in China was the focus of a press conference and hearing held today by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) of the House global human rights subcommittee and co-chairman of the U.S. Congressional-Executive China Commission, along with other Members of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Guo's wife and daughter and other hearing witnesses tried to bring attention to Guo’s plight. Testifying at a hearing entitled “Guo Feixiong and Freedom of ... Read more

The establishment of a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal will be the topic of a joint hearing Wednesday by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building: WHEN: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:30 p.m. WHAT: Establishing a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, author of legislation to crea... Read more

On the eve of the first anniversary of the most powerful natural disaster to hit the Northeast, U.S. Cong. Chris Smith told MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell the time has come for the U.S. Senate to act on a bipartisan bill passed by the House in February to help put houses of worship—many of which were severely damaged by Superstorm Sandy and yet continued to serve ravaged coastal communities—on the same playing field with other non-profit organizations seeking disaster assistance. Smith has pointed out ... Read more

Though it does not directly border the Atlantic Ocean, this Monmouth County Township has an expensive Hurricane Sandy cleanup. Wall Township received approval for a $1.6 million FEMA grant award to help pay for the extensive cleanup resulting from Hurricane Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said in a Monday press release. “Nearly a year ago Wall was among the towns hit hard by Sandy,” Smith said. “The human costs in terms of disruption of homelife, community and commerce was near immeasurable... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) has announced the awarding of a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grant for the Lakewood Airport, Lakewood. The $220,500 grant will be used for the removal of obstructions both on and off airport property that now interfere with runway 6/24, according to a press release from the congressman. “These federal dollars designated for debris removal will significantly improve Lakewood Airport operations, allowing planes to more safely use the facility, which serves as ... Read more