Warning lawmakers in the upper body of an impending crisis in veterans’ medical care, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—former Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee—recommended a complete overhaul of the funding mechanism for veterans’ health care during his testimony before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today. Read more

The House of Representatives passed funding for the Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (MOM) Passenger Rail Line late last night, said Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Jim Saxton (NJ-03) today. Read more

AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Amendment offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey: At the end of title I, insert the following: Sec. 192. Out of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act to the SurfaceTransportation Board of the Department of Transportation, when considering cases, matters, or declaratory orders before the Board involving a railroad, or an entity claiming or... Read more

Mindful that an arcane House procedural rule would get in his way, Rep. Chris Smith plowed on and offered an amendment to strip the Surface Transportation Board (STB) of its authority to approve waste transfer stations along rail lines. Read more

U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Artur Davis (D-AL) successfully amended a federal spending bill to add millions of dollars for the national program that promotes ethical, life-saving stem cell research and treatment. Read more

Bipartisan legislation (HR 3097) introduced today by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04)—and co-sponsored by Reps. Jim Saxton (NJ-03), Rush Holt (NJ-12) and Frank Pallone (NJ-06)—would, if enacted, prohibit any funding for the transfer of personnel and missions from Ft. Monmouth until the Army, as directed by the BRAC Commission, reports they can accomplish the move “without disruption” to the Global War on Terror” and can “ensure maximum retention of critical workforce.” Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and the Mayors of Freehold Borough and Freehold Township today called for the Surface Transportation Board (STB) to conduct an environmental study and hold public hearings concerning the proposed waste transfer station in Freehold Township.In a letter to Secretary Vernon A. Williams, Rep. Smith and Mayors Dorothy Avallone and Michael Wilson requested a full environmental reveiw to be undertaken by the STB's Section of Environmental Analysis and a public hearing in M... Read more

The U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation today that includes half a million in federal funds for remediation measures at Assunpink Creek—funds that U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) actively worked to secure. $500,000 for the project was included in the FY08 Energy and Water Appropriations bill (H.R. 2641) with the help of an appropriations request for the project made by Smith. H.R. 2641 passed the House by a vote of 312-112. “Over the past several years, Trenton has been hit hard by sev... Read more

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Chair, two years ago the President signed the Stem Cell Research and Therapeutic Act into law. This bipartisan legislation is designed to turn medical waste to medical miracles by deriving stem cells from umbilical cords and placentas after the birth of a child. Cord blood transplantation is saving lives and is doing so today. It is one of the most promising and exciting fields in the area of regenerative medicine. The bipartisan legislation, Madam Chair, establis... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), local officials and local activists met with representatives of the Surface Transportation Board (STB) in Smith’s Capitol Hill office to express their concerns about the STB review process of applications for potential waste transfer stations. Read more