JERSEY SHORE- In response to growing concerns from Belmar, NJ residents over Verizon's plans to install twenty 30-foot 5G towers along the local boardwalk, Representative Chris Smith introduced a new piece of legislation aimed at giving local communities more say in such telecommunications projects. The bill, HR 8082, seeks to overturn Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations that currently streamline the approval process for 5G infrastructure, often sidelining local input. Introduce... Read more

By Andrew Mark Miller Fox News Published April 16, 2024 11:05am EDT FIRST ON FOX: A Republican congressman has personally delivered a letter to Japan’s prime minister urging him to take action in order to address the issue of hundreds of American children being abducted and held in Japan by parents who took the children from the other parent without their consent. "As our two countries continue to take steps to strengthen our democratic, economic and security ties, I would like to draw your atte... Read more

The Borough of Belmar has announced a significant financial boost for the Belmar Housing Authority (BHA) with the receipt of $676,000 in federal appropriations earmarked for critical repairs to its housing facilities. The funding, championed by U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), was secured through the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Community Development Fund as part of a broader federal appropriations bill that received bipartisan support in Congress and was promptly signed... Read more

By Bob Vosseller - Assistant News Editor The township police department will receive $1,148,000 in federal funds for emergency vehicles and other equipment. “This federal support will enable the Manchester Police Department to continue delivering critical emergency and law enforcement services to a geographically large municipality,” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th). He personally secured the funds for the project through a congressional earmark that was signed into law on as part of a negotiated ... Read more

By Jeanne Wall HOLMDEL, NJ: Today, there are 49.6 million people in modern slavery worldwide and 35% of them are children. Women and girls account for 71% of all modern slavery victims. Human trafficking is the second most profitable illegal industry in the U.S. and is a $150 Billion industry world-wide. Human trafficking also includes forced labor and child labor. Victims often feel trapped and hopeless, especially individuals in more vulnerable situations, including those without permanent U.... Read more

Veronica Flesher,Patch Staff Western Boulevard will receive a “critical” extension thanks to $1 million in federal funding, Rep. Chris Smith announced in a news release. Smith said that he secured more than $20.8 million in funding for critical infrastructure improvement and humanitarian services projects in Ocean and Monmouth counties. “These federal dollars will go a long way to provide much-needed relief of significant traffic hazards and gridlock on Route 9 through additional avenues for th... Read more

Karen Wall,Patch Staff Posted Mon, Mar 18, 2024 at 12:55 pm E Plans are in the works to build public restrooms, showers and changing rooms for beachgoers in Seaside Heights, to be paid for with $1.6 million in federal funding, U.S. House Rep. Chris Smith announced. The funding was part of federal spending bills passed recently by Congress and signed into law by President Joe Biden to keep the federal government operating, Smith said. Smith's office said the funding is aimed at redeveloping the ... Read more

As reported earlier this week, critical humanitarian and infrastructure improvement projects in Lakewood. championed by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) are slated to receive more than $4,691,450 in federal funding. The funds were personally secured by Smith through his congressional earmarks that were signed into law on Saturday as part of a negotiated budget a new senior center downtown expansion helping children with disabilities. * New Senior Center * Downtown Expansion * Helping Children with Disab... Read more

Pat McDaniel,Patch Staff Posted Wed, Mar 13, 2024 at 4:41 pm ET| The YMCA of Greater Monmouth County is expected to receive $1.2 million in federal funding for a revitalization project so its Camp Zehnder program in Wall can expand childcare services for low-income and moderate-income families, Rep. Chris Smith, R-Manchester, announced. The 140-acre day camp serves families in southern Monmouth and northern Ocean counties. The timing added to the good news from the YMCA of Greater Monmouth Coun... Read more

By Veronica Flesher, Patch Staff The $6 million in federal funds secured to extend Railroad Avenue will also help with stormwater drainage and add to the Barnegat Branch Rail Trail, according to Rep. Chris Smith. Smith, who secured the funds, shared more details about the planned project in a news release. Read more: $6M In Federal Funds Will Extend Road In Lacey “During peak travel time, the Route 9 corridor in Lacey Township develops heavily, leaving no alternative paths to travel to other par... Read more