In an Oval Office ceremony held today, President Bush signed H.R. 2297, the Veterans Benefits Act of 2003, a bill composed of 7 titles with 39 substantive provisions, authored by Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-4), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. All totaled, the new law authorizes $1 billion over the next ten years for new and expanded benefits for disabled veterans, surviving spouses, and children. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) today offered high praise for the U.S. military and those forces responsible for tracking down and capturing Saddam Hussein. He also commended President Bush for his steadfast leadership in working to bring freedom to the people of Iraq. Read more

The United States Senate has passed Congressman Chris Smith’s (R-Hamilton) Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, clearing the way for President Bush to sign the legislation into law. Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4), Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, today hailed passage of a record $2.8 billion increase for veterans medical care services this year. Smith, who had fought all year to ensure the record level of funding, said that today’s action is “another example of Congress fulfilling its obligations to meet the legitimate needs of our nation’s veterans.” Read more

New Jersey Congressmen Chris Smith (R-Hamilton), Jim Saxton (R-Mount Holly) and Frank LoBiondo (R-Vineland) today introduced legislation that would significantly improve security checks on contractors and help ensure better quality of contract work on New Jersey’s seven military installations. Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) announced today that $225,000 in federal aid has been earmarked for The College of New Jersey in Ewing to help the college develop a new initiative that works to train students planning careers in forensic science. Read more

Congressman Chris Smith has secured an additional $750,000 to redesign and renovate the Trenton Train Station. The federal funds are included as an earmark in the Fiscal Year 2004 Consolidated Omnibus Appropriations Act. Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) announced today that a direct $250,000 federal earmark to support the St. Francis Primary Care Van has been included in the FY 2004 Consolidated Appropriations bill, which is expected to pass the House next week. Smith has worked throughout the past year to get the funding for the primary care van included in the spending bill. Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) announced today that he has secured an $800,000 federal earmark to expand cancer radiation therapy treatments available in the greater Monmouth County area. Read more

During a meeting with Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) this morning, officials from the Transco Pipeline Company agreed to reimburse several local fire departments and emergency responders for the costs associated with responding to a testing incident last month. Read more