While every Democrat Congressman from New Jersey opposed the vote to re-open the Federal Government, every Republican Congress from New Jersey voted for it.
Congressman Chris Smith emphasized his commitment to ensuring government operations resume swiftly and efficiently, highlighting the bipartisan effort required to reach this agreement. He underscored the importance of collaboration across party lines to address pressing national concerns and restore stability for federal workers and citizens impacted by the shutdown.
The following is a statement from Congressman Chris Smith, former Chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs and the author of more than a dozen laws that aid veterans issues.
“Last night I voted for, and the House passed, critical legislation to reopen the federal government after the longest shutdown in our nation’s history…..”
“Critically, this legislation immediately reopens the government and provides $133.2 billion in full-year funding to the Veterans Administration—including $53 billion to provide healthcare, benefits, and research for veterans exposed to toxins while deployed. I find it astonishing and deeply disappointing that so many Democrats today voted against fully funding veterans’ healthcare—only one day after Veterans Day.”
Smith said the bill also fully funds the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) for the remainder of the fiscal year at the level of $107.5 billion, as well as the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) at $8.2 billion, an increase of $603 million compared to last year.
“This is extremely welcome news, as just last month, I cosponsored legislation—the Keep SNAP Funded Act of 2025 (HR 5822)—to appropriate unallocated federal funds to ensure the uninterrupted delivery of benefits under SNAP during the shutdown,” the Congressman said,
Referring to new missions in New Jersey, Smith continued ““this legislation includes critical funds to upgrade and establish new missions at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, the Naval Secure Test Aviation Research Hangar and the Lakehurst Air Traffic Control Tower—projects that I have spearheaded. The Lakehurst portion of the base—one of the largest employers in Ocean County—performs unique missions that provide substantial value and expertise to critical national security missions. New project funding—$5.6 million in design funding for a new state-of-the-art hangar and $3.2 million in design funding for a new air traffic control tower—demonstrate the continued value of the Navy’s presence in Ocean County and will support new naval aviation missions well into the future.
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