New bipartisan legislation, H.R. 4543, that will provide flexibility for the Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) to test new models and bring their effective care plans to additional seniors and individuals with disabilities was unveiled today by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), author of the bill. “I’ve personally visited seniors who are enrolled in PACE and seen the good that comes from this important Medicare program,” said Smith, who last week helped St. Francis Medical Center... Read more

The worsening humanitarian crisis in the Central African Republic (CAR) was the subject of a hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa and global human rights. “This is happening at a time when we mark the twentieth anniversary of the genocide in Rwanda,” Smith said. “When that country was being turned into a massive killing field, the world stood idly by. When the blood stopped flowing, the world looked at the corpse... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation plan to meet with Secretary Shaun Donovan of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) May 8, announced Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the N.J. Delegation, to discuss questions and concerns from the delegation and state lawmakers as to why the process for helping homeowners recovering from Superstorm Sandy is taking so long. The lawmakers want to discuss the best way forward to assist thousands of ho... Read more

A bill that would establish a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal was approved by the House Foreign Affairs Committee in a unanimous vote today. Authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), H.Con. Res. 51 would address atrocities committed in Syria by the Assad regime and Islamist guerillas. “I, as no doubt all of you, have been shocked by images of horrific human rights violations, including summary executions, torture, rape and chemical weapons attacks,” Smith told members of the committee, noting that s... Read more

The impact of rating countries on their anti-human trafficking policies was the topic of a hearing held April 29 by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global human rights and author of the landmark law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA). “There are more slaves in the world today than at any previous point of human history,” Smith said. “With the Trafficking in Persons report and tier rankings, the United States is ensurin... Read more

The sudden decision of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to cancel its helicopter ocean monitoring program that has for years helped keep New Jersey’s beaches clean, prompted Congressman Chris Smith to question the wisdom of the move. The EPA statement released Monday said, “The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has faced serious budget constraints over the past few years that have resulted in tough choices and the redirection of staff and resources to successfully fulfill our mi... Read more

By Christopher Robbis/NJ.com staff -- Two Jersey Shore congressmen are asking the federal government to reinstate a “Coastal Crusader” program intended to keep beaches clean and safe. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith and U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone have asked the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to reverse a decision to cancel its helicopter ocean monitoring program used to spot floating debris and pollution slicks from the air. “It’s not a good day for the Jersey Shore. I am disheartened that after all th... Read more

The following is a press release of the AAUW posted on April 28, 2014: The Freehold Area Branch of AAUW Sponsored a Human Trafficking Awareness meeting that was held on Wednesday, April 23rd, at the Freehold Township Senior Center. This was a most informative and pretty terrifying event, showing us the horror of modern day slavery. Detective Sean Murphy from the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office gave a power-point presentation highlighting the kinds of situations that arise right in our own ar... Read more

By Asbury Park Press reporter Dan Radel - It’s a lot closer to home than some may think: Human trafficking, also known as modern-day slavery. “One of my recent cases was a labor trafficking case where somebody was working at a gas station. He was paid less than minimum wage, working 12- to 15-hour days, seven days a week and forced to live at a certain location,” said Detective Shawn Murphy of the Special Victims Bureau of the Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office. Murphy said the person was broug... Read more

The $25 million southern Monmouth County beach replenishment project wraps up this afternoon in Belmar, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04). 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 began Nov. 7 in Manasquan and worked southward. “I stood on what was left of the beaches in the days after Superstorm Sandy and the immense scope of the damage was ... Read more