Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) met with the promising young students of Miss Stacy Gregorakis’ AP Government Class yesterday during a visit to Howell High School. Among the wide variety of topics discussed were policy making, oversight, constituent casework and important legislation.
“Members of Congress have three main responsibilities,” said Smith, who has been a leader in the House of Representatives for 36 years. “The first, which everyone knows, is drafting and voting on laws. Second is oversight—making sure that the laws we have written are implemented properly. The third is constituent casework. Whenever a citizen in New Jersey’s 4th has a problem they can call, write or email our office and we try to help them out immediately. The calls often help us understand the weaknesses in current laws so that we can go back fix them.”
One example Smith provided to show the importance that citizens play in the creation of legislation was that of Bobby and Billy Gallagher from Brick, NJ. After contacting Smith about an abnormal number of autism cases around their township, including their two children, Alana and Austin, Smith and the Gallaghers were able to encourage the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) to investigate the local area. A report found that Brick as well as communities around the country were seeing an above average rate of Autism, a trend that led to legislation to better research and understand the disorder. Smith later co-founded and currently co-Chairs the bipartisan Autism Caucus in the House of Representatives.
Another example was that of Monmouth County resident David Goldman and his son Sean. Sean’s mother took him on what was supposed to be a two week vacation to Brazil in 2004, but soon their mother announced that she was never returning to the U.S., thereby kidnapping Sean and illegally separating him from his dad. After a five year battle and support from many, including Smith, Sean was brought back to NJ. David and Sean’s ordeal was the impetus for the creation of Smith’s Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act, a law that orders the State Department to create an annual report on abducted children abroad and gives State a series of responses and actions to take in the fight to bring them back.
“I encourage everyone in the 4th Congressional District who is in need of federal assistance to reach out to any of my constituent service centers,” said Smith. “Together we can continue to build a strong future for our country.”
Residents can reach Smith’s Monmouth County Constituent Service Center in Freehold at (732) 780-3035 and his Hamilton Constituent Service Center at (609) 585-7878. Please call for hours of operation or to make an appointment.
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