Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) addressed the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce 2013 "Walk to Washington" Dinner last night at the Marriot Wardman Park Hotel. The congressman had the honor to present Manasquan, N.J. firefighter Jay Price with one of six "Superstorm Hero" awards given to emergency responders, for Price's brave service during the storm.

    In a moving introduction by Amy B. Mansue, President and CEO of Children's Specialized Hospital in Mountainside, N.J., Smith's long-time role in helping children with disabilities such as autism, as well as his efforts to push for federal aid for Sandy victims, was highlighted.

    "Congressman Smith, thanks to your leadership, the medical community is now making great strides in sharing the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, learning the causes of autism and perhaps even preventing it. I want to thank you on behalf of our staff at Children’s Specialized Hospital and all who are on the autism spectrum and those who love them," said Mansue. "We also want to thank you as well for all you did to ensure the Hurricane Sandy relief package was approved by the House of Representatives earlier this month.  It is a critical tool in our efforts to 'Recover, Rebuild and ReNew' Jersey."

    Smith, the dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation to Washington, gave the following remarks:

    "When emergencies strike—large or small—Americans can always be counted on to assist and to support the victims," said Smith, of Robbinsville, N.J., one of only three federal elected officials to address the gathering of business and community leaders.  "At our core, we are a nation of good Samaritans.   And that goes double for the people of New Jersey.

    "After Superstorm Sandy came ashore and devastated the region, first responders courageously rescued people trapped in homes and cars often with minimal regard for their own personal welfare, safety and well-being.  People like Jay Price of Manasquan.  More on Jay in a moment.

    "Everyone rallied around the clock.  The Governor led with strength, vision, empathy and compassion and had no qualms whatsoever about making his voice heard loud and clear in Washington.  Emergency management personnel, police and fire and EMT, the National Guard, elected officials and County OEM Directors like Sheriff Shaun Golden of Monmouth were resourceful and tenacious, and like everyone else, sleep deprived.

    "And our local mayors—well, they were like NFL quarterbacks, working with their OEM directors—running the plays, making the calls—minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day.

    "Faith based organizations helped feed and clothe and shelter—like the exemplary work of Fr. John of St. Mary’s by the Sea.  Private voluntary organizations were on the scene in droves.  Our neighbors to the north, west, and south poured into the state to help JCP&L and PSE&G restore power and remove fallen trees—a herculean task.  Driving back to Robbinsville one late night with my wife Marie after being in Middletown and other Shore towns all day, we were overwhelmed to see a long line of utility trucks—like the cavalry to the rescue, there must have been 50 trucks—heading to the shore.

    "Business owners of every stripe—including restaurant owners and supermarkets—generously donated their time and products especially food. NJ journalists—a shout out to the New Jersey Broadcasters, a million thanks—TV, Radio, print and internet postings—ensured that everyone was kept abreast of all the latest information. Knowledge is power—especially in advance, during, and after Sandy. The private sector stepped up to the plate, was generous almost to a fault, and hit it out of the park.

    "Sandy was the most destructive storm ever in our region and arguably the second or third most costly in America’s history. 

    "Some 22,000 New Jersey homes were completely and totally destroyed.

    "Another 324,000 homes sustained significant damage.  Three months later, over 42,000 people still can’t return to those damaged structures.

    "Businesses also took it on the chin.

    "19,000 New Jersey businesses suffered damage of a quarter of a million dollars or more.  Three quarters of New Jersey businesses were hurt by Sandy.  One estimate put the small business loss at $8.3 billion. 

    "Boardwalks—and how we all love the boardwalk—were snapped like toothpicks and beaches have eroded and some radically reconfigured.  Public facilities and infrastructure sustained losses of some $7 billion.

    "Within weeks, the emergency phase seamlessly matriculated into the recovery and rebuilding phase—the flip side of the same coin.

    "On Capitol Hill, our delegation—along with our New York colleagues—have been united and strong and persistent.  Imagine that, bipartisanship has made a much welcomed—and necessary—comeback.  Let’s hope it sticks around for a while.  

    "Significantly, after some unnecessary delays, the two major pieces of Sandy related law were sponsored by members of our congressional delegation. 

    "Just in the nick of time, the House and Senate approved and the President signed a bill authored by Congressman Scott Garrett to increase FEMA’s borrowing authority by $9.7 billion for the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP).

    "Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen then sponsored the $33 billion amendment to the Hurricane Sandy Emergency Relief Appropriations bill that when combined with the $17 billion in the underlying legislation boosts the aid package to about $50 billion.

    "The federal dollars provided by the Frelinghuysen amendment ensure direct assistance for displaced individuals and grants for needs not covered by insurance.  The monies will also help our communities absorb the costs of emergency measures that were taken to protect lives and hazard mitigation and reconstruction needed to prevent or lessen the effects of a future disaster. Army Corps projects that have languished for years will now be completed.   

    "The package also includes a whopping $10.9 billion—for major transit agencies to restore our roads, tunnels and bridges; additional funding for the SBA to assist our small business community; monies for NOAA to help our fisherman and our fisheries, and funding for the Department of Defense to ensure our installations can remain operational.

    "Going forward, we indeed face major—and expensive—challenges to rebuild in a way that mitigates the potential adverse effects of any future storm. The new FEMA Advisory Base Flood Elevation (ABFE) standards will require some hard decisions by homeowners and business people whether to elevate their structure or pay higher flood insurance premiums or choose from other options including demolition.

    "Let me close with this—Manasquan was one of several towns in my district ravaged by Sandy.  

    "Fortunately for the citizens of Manasquan, Jay Price lives there.  Jay grew up in Manasquan, played football at Manasquan High and now he is the head football coach there. 

    "He is also a Lieutenant in the Manasquan Fire Department.  On the night Sandy was battering the New Jersey coast, Jay and his men went from house to house and performed multiple rescues at great risk to themselves.  The Star Ledger described their rescues:

'It was harrowing work, weaving through debris, rushing through floodwaters, hoping to avoid tangles of downed power lines and falling trees — all in nearly pitch black.
'Approaching a house, the men inched their way through water that threatened to sweep them away.
'Once inside the home, it was more difficult to see through the immense darkness. Jay Price and his men would hear faint cries for help from somewhere in the unfamiliar home and the treacherous search began. Floating furniture, picture frames and books turned the murky water into an obstacle course. In one home, a refrigerator zoomed past and nearly crushed the men... .' 
"Jay Price and his friends saved hundreds from rising waters in homes and on streets that night.  Since then, Jay has explored many of the damaged homes searching for gas leaks, cooked piles of steaks and pasta for hungry displaced residents and enlisted the 94 members of his football team at Manasquan High School to help in the recovery efforts... .'

    "When we talk about the spirit of 'Recover, Rebuild and ReNew Jersey,'" Smith said, "the conversation cannot be complete without Jay Price."