Chris Smith - What is he good for?

[Libyan Sibyl]

Been in office for 25 years - he is now 52 years old. His posts - well, it's all international positions - and I do not mean powerful positions. He is a lame duck that cannot be taken off his lame roost. He is a spender, who ocassionaly brings pork home (NJ pays more in pork than it receives).

His only good services are to the veterans - an easy position to take. He might as well make his mission handicapped children.

Any good things come from him? What decent legislations has he proposed? Sorry, but violence in third world countries in not what I think should be the priorities of a congressman.

Anyone but Marc have an opinion out there?

[Marc LeVine]

Didn't say I loved the guy. He was simply much better than Carol Gay, who I didn't vote for either. Truth is I skipped over this choice.

And, I FULLY agree that many of Smith's most noted accomplishments really DO NOT effect the lives of average Americans. For informational purposes - Vote USA offers what they think Smith has accomplished (Sibyl - your original analysis of Smith was pretty good):

Chris Smith has represented the citizens of New Jersey's Fourth Congressional District since 1981, when he was sworn into office at the age of 27. Throughout his 25 years of service, he has established himself as one of the hardest-working, most compassionate and dedicated members of the House.

One of Smith’s significant legislative achievements is his landmark Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Law, the nations' first law that deals specifically with human trafficking.

Congressman Smith authored the landmark Embassy Security Act. This law recognized the threat posed by global terrorism years before the September 11 terror attacks and authorized an investment of billions of dollars to better fortify U.S. embassies.

In 2005, Smith’s tireless work paid dividends when four of his bills were signed into law by President Bush, including the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005. Also signed into law was Smith's “Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act of 2005,” which provides $265 million for stem cell therapy, umbilical cord blood and bone marrow treatment. (this is good)

Smith wrote the “Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act,” which also became law.

Smith also authored a law that would allow for United States participation in the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Center in Singapore in order to promote regional health security.

From 2001 to 2004, Smith served as Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs, a panel responsible for the well-being of our nation's 25 million military veterans.

Smith is proud to have been selected as Chairman of the new "super" subcommittee on the International Relations Committee entitled " Africa, Global Human Rights, and International Operations." Smith also serves as Vice-Chairman of the Committee on International Relations and as Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (also known as the United States Helsinki Commission), which works to promote and foster democracy, human rights, and stability in Eastern and Central Europe.

In addition to his work on human rights, veterans, and international relations issues, Congressman Smith is very active in several healthcare issues, serving as Co-Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Alzheimer's Task Force, Coalition for Autism Research and Education, and Congressional Spina Bifida Caucus. He also Co-Chairs the bipartisan Congressional Pro Life Caucus.

One of his most notable health laws is Title I of the Children's Health Act which authorized a massive surveillance project in an effort to learn what causes autism. The bill established Centers of Excellence to conduct this vital work.

Now - who else will take Sibyl's worthwhile challenge?

Marc