57 Countries Endorse Tools To Combat Human Trafficking Proposed By Congressman Chris Smith

The  Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe Parliamentary Assembly (OSCEPA), an assembly of over 300 lawmakers from 57 countries in Europe and North American adopted “Implementing Trafficking-Free Communities,” a comprehensive resolution to combat human trafficking sponsored by Congressman Chris Smith, during their 27th annual session yesterday in Berlin.

Based upon best practices developed in the United States under Smith’s Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, the resolution encourages governments to implement multiple best practices simultaneously to significantly reduce trafficking in a community over the course of a year.

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Congressman Smith Leads Dialogue With Russian Lawmakers In Prelude To Trump-Putin Summit

Congressman Chris Smith addresses the the 27th Annual Session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly, Saturday July 7. Photo courtesy of Congressman Smith’s office

Congressman Chris Smith had a candid, firm and respectful exchange with Russian lawmakers on Saturday in Berlin wherein he confronted his counterparts, led by Pyotr Tolstoy, Deputy Chairman of the Russian legislature, on an array of human rights violations and geopolitical issues, he told MMM in an phone interview following the meeting which the 27th Annual Session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly.

Smith heads the 13 member U.S. delegation to OSCE-PA. Tolstoy leads the Russian delegation.

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Congressman Smith To Lead Dialogue With Russian Lawmakers

Congressman Chris Smith (R,NJ-4) is leading a congressional delegation in a bilateral meeting with Russian lawmakers, including  Pyotr Tolstoi, the Deputy Chairman of the Russian State Duma (parliament) during a four day conference which starts on Saturday, July 7, in Berlin.

The meeting is part of the 27th Annual Session of the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) Parliamentary Assembly.

The bilateral meeting with Russian lawmakers comes nine days before President Donald J. Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, Finland.

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A Very Special High School Graduation: Sean Goldman Graduates From Holmdel High School

By Art Gallagher

David and Sean Goldman celebrate Sean’s graduation from Holmdel High School

This time of year thousands of New Jersey families, millions throughout the nation, are celebrating a major milestone in the lives of their teen aged children as they graduate from high school.

Twice this week, Sean Goldman’s graduation from Holmdel High School was described to me as a miracle.

It’s not that Sean overcame a disability or extreme hardship–miracles that should be celebrated.  Sean was abducted by his mother, Bruna Bianchi, 14 years ago and taken to Brazil. Bianchi took Sean on what she said was a two week vacation to visit her family in Brazil, but once there, she divorced Sean’s father, David Goldman, and kept the four year old boy from his father.  A Brazilian Court granted Bianchi a divorce. A New Jersey Court granted David custody of his son.

When Bianchi died during childbirth four years later, the international child custody case should have been over, under the terms of the Hague Convention which grants custody to a surviving biological parent.  But Sean’s maternal grandparents and step-father used their wealth and political influence to thwart—temporarily as it turned out–David’s unrelenting commitment to raise his son.

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Congressman Chris Smith gives future military leaders a fitting sendoff

Neptune Township– Congressman Chris Smith recognized ten extraordinary students and celebrated their appointments to a United States military service academy yesterday afternoon during a ceremony and reception honoring the future cadets and midshipmen, and their families, at the Monmouth County Clerk’s satellite office.

Capt. Pierre A. Fuller, Commanding Officer of Naval Weapons Station Earle, joined Rep. Smith in congratulating the young men and women who are embarking on four years of rigorous training to prepare them to lead in the United States military.

The students will embark on their military careers at the end of June or in early July, depending upon which academy they are attending, with a 6-7 week intensive basic training regimen during which their physical, emotional and mental limits will be pushed as they transition from civilian to military life. Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Smith urges Senate to pass legislation combating opioid crisis

Congressman Chris Smith

Congressman Chris Smith today called upon his colleagues in the U.S. Senate to take swift action on a series of bills that passed this House this week which boost the federal response to the opioid crisis with support for  victims and service providers.

The legislation passed this weeks targets $3.3 billion in funding that was part of the 2018 omnibus spending bill signed into law by President Trump earlier this year.

“As the opioid epidemic continues to proliferate, our efforts to treat and prevent this disease at the federal level must be redoubled,” Smith said. “This crisis requires a more aggressive and comprehensive response to the problem, which is exactly what this package of bills will accomplish. The Senate needs to pass this legislation as quickly as possible—the severity of the crisis demands it.” Read the rest of this entry »

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NJ AFL-CIO Endorses Congressman Chris Smith For Reelection

Congressman Chris Smith was endorsed for reelection by the New Jersey AFL-CIO at the union’s convention in Atlantic City this week.

Over 600 delegates from 1,000 NJ unions—representing more than one million members and their families— voted to endorse Smith.

New Jersey AFL-CIO President Charles Wowkanech said of the slate that includes Smith, “This year’s endorsed candidates… have the experience and dedication necessary to grow our communities prioritizing education, health care, jobs, infrastructure and investment in our future.”

Smith, the only Republican from New Jersey’s congressional delegation to win the endorsement, addressed the convention delegates on Tuesday morning. Read the rest of this entry »

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Welle Underperforms Against Keady, Smith Overperforms Unopposed

By Art Gallagher

While much of the media is reporting how poorly U.S. Senator Bob Menendez performed in the  Democrat primary yesterday, I couldn’t miss how poorly Josh Welle, address none of your business, performed against former Asbury Park Councilman Jim Keady, Spring Lake, in the 4th congressional district primary.

With all three county party lines, more money and the endorsement of his former landlord, State Senator and honorary volunteer firefighter Vin Gopal, Welle only got 57% of the vote against Keady’s 43%.

Congressman Chris Smith, Hamilton, overperformed expectations, especially given that he was unopposed in the CD-4 Republican primary.

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Quick Action by Congressman Smith and Mayor Reid Keeps Manasquan Inlet Open This Summer

Pt. Pleasant Beach officials; Councilman Andy Cortes, Mayor Stephen Reid, Council President Bob Santanello meet with Congressman Chris Smith and Ray Bogan, legal counsel for the Marine Trades Association of New Jersey, Recreational Fishing Alliance, and United Boatmen of New Jersey, at the Manasquan Inlet. June 1, 1018

Quick action by Pt. Pleasant Beach Mayor Stephen Reid and Congressman Chris Smith will ensure that the Manasquan Inlet remains navigable for commercial and recreational marine traffic this summer.

Unexpected shoaling that threatens to block marine traffic has developed in the inlet since January when the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers performed their regularly scheduled survey.  Read the rest of this entry »

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Congressman Chris Smith Endorsed By NJ Building Trades Unions

Congressman Chris Smith chats with members of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9 after receiving the endorsement of the NJ Building and Trades Council

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ-4) received the endorsement of the NJ State Building & Construction Trades Council during a ceremony at the Local Plumbers and Pipefitters #9 training facility in Manalapan this morning before approximately 100 union members and managers.

During his remarks, William T. Mullen, President of the 150,000 statewide council, said that all 15 local unions that comprise the council voted to endorse Congressman Smith for reelection. “It’s unanimous,” Mullen declared. Read the rest of this entry »

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