Speaker Tasks Smith to Lead Congressional Delegation to Pope Francis Inauguration

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Speaker of the House John Boehner has tasked Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and leader on many international human rights efforts, to lead the bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation to attend the investiture of former Argentine Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio as Pope Francis.

“It is an honor to lead this bipartisan group of House members to this international event,” said Smith, who chairs the House Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations Subcommittee. “The world is a challenging place, in terms of wars and peace, basic human rights and freedoms. The Holy Father has a major role to play in global affairs. I wish him well as he begins his pontificate and am honored to be a part of this historic occasion. The Pope is more than a spiritual leader for the world’s 1.2 billion Catholics, he is an inspiration of holiness and goodness, and above all, the faithful proclamation of the Gospel.”

While in Rome, Smith plans to meet with Vatican officials to discuss human rights issues, including human trafficking, religious freedom and culture of life issues. He expects to meet with Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, Secretary of State, The Vatican; Cardinal Peter Kodwo Appiah Turkson, President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace; Cardinal Vincenzo Paglia, President of the Pontifical Council for the Family, and two of the top U.S. prelates, New York City’s Cardinal Timothy Dolan and Boston’s Cardinal Sean O’Malley.

In selecting Smith, Boehner said: “I’m pleased Congressman Smith and this bipartisan group of Members will join the Vice President in communicating the prayers and warm regards of the American people to Pope Francis as he begins his papacy.”

The Smith co-del to the Vatican will also include Reps. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Sean Duffy (R-WI), Anna Eshoo (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), Jim Langevin (D-RI), Daniel Lipinski (D-IL), and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA).

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Smith Testifies Before Appropriations Subcommittee on Army Corps Projects for NJ

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who represents areas of Ocean and Monmouth counties hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy, today testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee Energy and Water Development on the impact of Superstorm Sandy disaster relief legislation.

The hearing was held by New Jersey Congressman, Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, author of the “Frelinghuysen amendment” which provided the necessary funding to rebuild New Jersey and keep our recovery on track.  The legislation “is making—and will continue to make—a real difference in the lives of our constituents and communities throughout the Northeast,” Smith told the Committee members.

The legislation brought the total federal appropriations to help Sandy impacted states to $60.4 billion including assistance to back up the National Flood Insurance Program, programs to help the residents whose homes were destroyed or damaged, and help for communities to make a robust and sustainable recovery.

The hearing focused on the Army Corps of Engineers—who received $5.35 billion from the supplemental appropriation—and their plans for Sandy recovery, including the critical beach replenishment projects along the Jersey Shore that helped mitigate the damage in certain areas.

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Third Democrat Mayor and 2012 Obama-Biden Delegate Backs Republican Chris Christie

Photo Credit: Borough of Chesilhurst

(Chesilhurst, NJ) – Another validation of Governor Chris Christie’s bipartisan leadership over the last three years was on display today when Chesilhurst Mayor Michael Blunt became the third Democrat Mayor in New Jersey to formally endorse the Governor’s re-election in November. Blunt, who began his service on Borough Council in 2002 and elected Mayor in 2007, was also elected as a New Jersey Delegate to the Democratic National Convention in Charlotte, North Carolina last year. To date, eleven elected Democrats from around New Jersey have officially endorsed Governor Christie.

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Attorney General Chiesa Announces 1,500-Plus Guns Obtained In Weekend Gun Buyback Initiative in Monmouth County

Photo credit:Monmouth County Prosecutor’s Office

TRENTON–Attorney General Jeffrey S. Chiesa announced today that more than 1,500 guns were turned in by Monmouth County residents during a state-sponsored gun buyback event held at churches in Asbury Park and Keansburg this past weekend.

According to Chiesa, county residents turned in a total of 1,581 guns – including 15 assault weapons –during the two-day buyback held at the Shiloh Community Fellowship Ministry in Asbury Park and the Saint Ann Catholic Church in Keansburg.

The number of guns obtained in Monmouth County brings to 7,092 the total number of firearms collected so far as a result of four state-led gun buybacks. A buyback held in Camden County last December yielded 1,137 guns, and a buyback in Mercer County in January brought in another 2,604 firearms. A February buyback held in Essex County resulted in the collection of another 1,770 guns.

Attorney General Chiesa said this past weekend’s strong turn-out by Monmouth County residents demonstrates continued support of the State-led buyback initiative by citizens concerned about gun violence and eager to help rid their communities of dangerous firearms.

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Taking Action To Distribute The Necessary Resources For The Rebuilding Process

What New  Jersey Residents Need To Know About The Christie Administration’s  Proposed First Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action  Plan

“This    plan puts into motion the specific actions we’ve been designing to    get relief out as quickly as possible to our Sandy-impacted homeowners and    businesses – to reconstruct, rehabilitate and elevate homes, and to    get over hurdles for our small businesses to get up and running again.    These programs have been carefully, but quickly designed to fill the unmet    needs faced by our residents to rebuild in a safer, more enduring way, to    strengthen our impacted local economies going into this summer, and to help    preserve the unique character of our shore communities as we’ve known    them.  With this first round of funding, we will also begin an    aggressive marketing effort to let people both in the region and across the    country know that New Jersey is rebounding and that the Jersey Shore will    be open for business this summer.”

–    Governor Chris Christie

The  Christie Administration today unveiled its proposed Community Development  Block Grant Disaster Recovery Action Plan, which outlines how the State plans  to utilize $1,829,520,000 in federal funding. This is the first phase of  Community Development Block Grant funds provided to New Jersey by the U.S.  Department of Housing and Urban Development. Additional CDBG recovery funds  are expected in the coming months. With this first phase of funding, the  Christie Administration is focusing primarily on helping homeowners, renters,  businesses and communities impacted by Superstorm Sandy.

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Governor Christie Announces 30 Day Extension Of Deadline To Register For Sandy Assistance

New April 1 Deadline Allows Additional Time for Residents to Register for FEMA Assistance 

Trenton, NJ –The Christie Administration announced today that New Jersey residents impacted by Superstorm Sandy now have until April 1, 2013 to register for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The deadline extension applies for homeowner, renter, and business registration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Disaster Loan Assistance, another important step in the disaster relief process to ensure survivors obtain all relief they are eligible for.

“This 30-day extension will help us ensure that anyone who has been affected by Sandy gets the help they need and deserve,” said Governor Christie. “It’s vitally important for people to know that the process of receiving any type of federal disaster assistance – including future grant assistance for homeowners and businesses – begins with registering as a disaster survivor with FEMA and working with a coordinator to determine eligibility for relief. I encourage those who have not yet registered with FEMA and SBA to do so now to get the relief they are entitled to and to ensure their eligibility for any future relief we can offer.”

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O’SCANLON ASKS LOCAL RESIDENTS TO DONATE UNNEEDED FURNITURE

Non-profit to collect furniture for those affected by  Sandy

Assemblyman Declan O’Scanlon today announced that a local  non-profit, Love INC, has been awarded $50,000 in gift cards for furniture  through the Robin Hood Foundation to help in the Bayshore area. Additionally,  Love INC’s used furniture store “Furnished With Love” located in Long Branch will be having a sale of high quality used  furniture on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday March 3 in the Highlands at Our Lady Perpetual Help Roman Catholic Church  from 10 AM to 3PM.. The Assemblyman asked that local residents donate any  furniture that is in good shape.

“This is  another step in stabilizing this area that has suffered so much,” said O’Scanlon  (Love INC’s chairman). “Now that families are being stabilized with  reconstruction the next step is making them livable by meeting their very basic  furniture needs. We all recall the masses of debris on the curbside of many  homes with the devastation being particularly immense up and down the Bayshore  area. Love INC has been in existence for 18 years helping families in Monmouth County and continues to make a mark where  it’s needed the most.”

Carolyn Eyerman, the executive director also added “that  in 2012 over $20,000 worth of free furniture was given to qualified and screened  clients in Monmouth County.”

Brand new mattresses and box springs as well as new bunk  beds are also available with free delivery to all Bayshore residents with  purchases made on March 2nd and 3rd. Love INC’s role in the community is not  only to provide furniture, but acts as a community clearinghouse for local area  churches to help with a variety of needs from rent assistance, elder care, used  cars for transportation, free haircuts and haul out services.

“I really hope that our neighbors fortunate enough to  make it through the storm unscathed will reach into their hearts to help out  those who may have lost everything,” O’Scanlon stated. “Let’s be honest, we all  have some extra furniture that’s just taking up space – this way, not only will  it get used, but it will go to a family who really needs it.”

Furniture donations are especially needed right now with  the needs so overwhelming. Free pickup and tax receipts issued from “Furnished  with Love” trucks. Please call 732-222-1923 and find out how you can help. For  those looking to contact Love INC directly, please call 732-542-7012.

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HANDLIN: JCP&L SHOULD INVEST TIME AND $$$ IN INFRASTRUCTURE INSTEAD OF RATE INCREASE

Last week, utility provider JCP&L announced it was investing $200 million this year to improve it electric support system in an effort to improve service reliability. Deputy Assembly Republican Leader Amy Handlin today asked why JCP&L did not disclose at the same time that it had filed for a 4.5 percent rate increase to recover costs from Superstorm Sandy and other storms which was revealed the next day.

“On Thursday, JCP&L was out front with the news that it was investing $200 million to improve its infrastructure and that ratepayers wouldn’t be affected because the costs were already part of the company’s yearly budget,” said Handlin, R-Monmouth. “At the end of the day on Friday, the utility then informs the public it is filing for a 4.5 percent increase to cover cleanup costs from previous storms. JCP&L is badly misinformed if it thought that tidbit would escape public notice.

“Good public relations starts with being upfront about everything, including an increase request that will be passed onto ratepayers,” said Handlin, who has been critical of the utility’s efforts in restoring lost power over the last two years. “Ratepayers deserve to see improvements to the critical framework in JCP&L’s system and have assurances that their infrastructure is reliable before a rate increase is even entertained.

“JCP&L should focus on improving its performance to its customers,” stated Handlin. “On Wall Street, bad news is often revealed after the closing bell. For customers of JCP&L, there is no closing bell. They just want to know the lights are on.” 

Last year, the Division of Rate Counsel filed a petition contending JCP&L is earning a profit exceeding 12 percent in New Jersey – far above the allowable 8.5 percent.

Handlin pointed out that PSE&G, the state’s largest utility provider, recently announced it was seeking the BPU’s approval to spend $3.9 billion over the next 10 years to protect and improve its electric and gas systems against severe weather conditions.

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Clifton Says Bail Reform Needed

Assembly Republican Rob  Clifton, R-Monmouth, Burlington, Middlesex and Ocean, said he believes it is  appropriate for legislation approved by an Assembly committee last June that  would allow voters to decide if judges should have the authority to deny bail to  defendants deemed dangerous while awaiting trial, to be considered as part of  Thursday’s Assembly voting session.

The legislation, ACR-153,  was unanimously released by the Assembly Judiciary Committee, but has yet to  receive consideration by the General Assembly. Under the resolution, a court  must find that no amount of bail, pretrial release conditions, or combination of  bail and pretrial release conditions would assure the defendant’s appearance as  required or to protect the public safety.

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Governor Christie Announces Aggressive Plan to Strengthen and Rebuild Jersey Shore’s Sandy-Damaged Route 35

12.5-Mile Stretch of Highway from Point Pleasant Beach to Berkeley Will Undergo Accelerated $200 Million Transformation

Trenton, NJ – Taking action to repair and restore the Jersey shore’s transportation system, Governor Chris Christie today announced an aggressive schedule to completely rebuild a 12.5-mile storm-damaged stretch of Route 35 along the Barnegat Peninsula in Ocean County. The highway, which serves as the primary north-south route along the Jersey Shore peninsula from Point Pleasant Beach to the entrance of Island Beach State Park, sustained severe damage during Superstorm Sandy and requires immediate attention so that residents and visitors can resume normal travel in Ocean County. The reconstruction project will rebuild this span of Route 35 in a stronger, more resilient manner, while also providing better drainage, a smoother driving surface, improved accommodations for pedestrians and bicyclists, and more economical repair and upkeep costs.

“The destruction wrought by Sandy is evident almost everywhere you look up and down Route 35, from Point Pleasant Beach to the entrance of Island Beach State Park. In the days after the storm, our transportation professionals did truly remarkable work along the entire highway, removing thousands of truckloads of debris and sand to make way for emergency responders, contractors and homeowners. As we have marked the rebuilding of our homes and businesses throughout the state, we now look forward to rebuilding Route 35 stronger and better,” said Governor Christie.“Today, we’re announcing an investment of more than $200 million in federal highway funds to rebuild this stretch of Route 35. This commitment demonstrates the determination we have to rebuild after epic devastation and heartbreaking losses as residents, businesses and this Administration work together to restore the Shore in ways that will help us all stand stronger.”

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