photo courtesy of NJ Chamber of Commerce via facebook
In his keynote address to leaders of New Jersey’s business community and government at the New Jersey Chamber of Commerce’s annual Congressional Diner in Washington, Congressman Chris Smith acknowledged his audience’s efforts in job creation and in combating the coronavirus outbreak before challenging the leaders to step up their efforts to combat human trafficking and to increase the civility of the political discourse in New Jersey and nationwide.
Smith’s remarks as prepared for delivery are below :
Congressman Chris Smith, the ranking member of the House global health subcommittee, today called on Congress to immediately act on President Donald Trump’s request for emergency funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) and other agencies’ response to the threat from the coronavirus.
“This week, the Trump administration is requesting at least $2.5 billion in additional funding to combat the coronavirus,” said Smith. “The President, Secretary Azar, and others have moved swiftly to identify comprehensive ways to protect US citizens and prepare for a potential pandemic.” Read the rest of this entry »
WASHINGTON, DC— Rep. Chris Smith joined President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Attorney General William Barr, and other congressional and State Department officials at the White House today to mark the 20th year since enactment of Smith’s landmark Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA, Public Law 106-386). Read the rest of this entry »
Rep Chris Smith stands behind President Trump this afternoon at the signing of an Executive Order to combat human trafficking
Congressman Chris Smith has raised $729,885 for his reelection bid in the 4th congressional district of New Jersey, according to a report at NewJerseyGlobe.
Smith had $514,816 cash on hand as of December 31.
Smith has a wide fundraising lead over his potential Democrat opponents. Stephanie Schmid, the apparent establishment choice to take on Smith has raised $202,256, including $1000 from Jim Keady’s former campaign manager, and spent $114,139, leaving her with $88,117 cash on hand. $12,378.24 of Schmid’s expeditures were payable to herself for unspecified campaign expenses.
USDOT Secretary Elaine Chao announced a nationwide initiative to combat human trafficking in the transportation industry this week with an objective of training over 1 million employees in the transportation workforce to spot and report these heinous crimes.
Congressman Chris Smith spoke at the event in Washington this week to support the effort.
Monmouth County Freeholder Director Tom Arnone was in the U.S. Capitol today getting a tour from Congressman Chris Smith when the House Impeachment Managers came marching by on their way to the Senate.
Video footage by ABC News shows Arnone apparently laughing and pointing at Chairmen Adam Schiff and Jerry Nadler. Read the rest of this entry »
Nancy Pelosi’s House of Representatives passed a non-binding War Powers Resolution on Thursday, 224-194, mostly along partisan lines. The resolution purports to limit President Trump’s authority to engage in hostile action against Iran. Eight Democrats, including NJ Rep Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5), voted against the resolution. Three Republicans and an Independent former Republican voted The Squad.
Congressman Chris Smith voted against the resolution and made the following statement on the House floor:
Colin Martin, teacher Laura Gesin, Jack Hester and Michael Cielecki of Communications High (missing is Vaughn Battista).
Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced the winners of this year’s New Jersey Fourth Congressional District Congressional App Challenge, part of a nationwide competition for middle and high school students to showcase their software app-developing skills and teamwork.
“I am pleased to congratulate Communications High School students Vaughn Battista of Tinton Falls, Michael Cielecki of Spring Lake Heights, Jack Hester of Oceanport and Colin Martin of Red Bank for their first place-winning app, ‘Commuitas,’” said Rep. Smith. “They developed a unique ‘task-sharing’ mobile application which allows users to barter their skills and abilities with other users to share tasks in exchange for a virtual points system. The judges thought it was very unique and well devised.”
Timed to coincide with Computer Science Education Week (CSEdWeek), December 9-15, 2019, Smith said this year’s contest drew a record number of entries from Monmouth, Ocean and Mercer Counties.
Xiyue Wang and his family. photo via @FreeXiyueWang on twitter
Xiyue Wang, 38, a Princeton University graduated student, was released from an Iranian prison on Saturday. Wang had been held on espionage charges since August of 2016. He was exchanged by the U.S. government for Masoud Soleimani, an Iranian scientist who was arrested in Chicago last year and convicted of violating American trade sanctions against Iran, according to the NY Times.
Rep Chris Smith has kept pressure on the Trump Administration to secure Wang’s release since the PhD candidate’s friends and family reached out to the congressman in early 2018.
