Amy Eklof in the Asbury Park Press: Chris Smith let us down AGAIN!

Read Amy Eklof’s letter to the editor of the Asbury Park Press highlighting how Congressman Chris Smith has let his constituents down again by voting against the American Rescue Plan.

Congressman Chris Smith let us down again when he voted against the American Rescue Plan, President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill. The law will bring direct stimulus payments, boost unemployment, reduce healthcare costs by expanding Affordable Care Act subsidies and covering 100% of COBRA expenses, provide food and rental assistance, and cut child poverty in half across the nation. Additionally, the bill provides much needed aid to state and local governments. Money that can be used to pay for COVID related expenses, assist small businesses, invest in critical infrastructure, and keep essential workers employed. 

Furthermore, Smith also voted against about $325 million in municipal and school aid that will flow to his district and keep local communities running, including money for schools to safely return to in-person learning and hire staff, if needed.

Why didn’t Smith want us to get the assistance we need? The answer is because the healthcare subsidies will not exclude reproductive health, and a paltry amount of money in the bill went to organizations that provide family planning services. 

So, when you get your stimulus payment and child tax credit, when your extra unemployment money, rental, or food assistance keeps your family going, when your municipal government is fully operational, when your schools, police, and fire departments don’t have to lay anyone off, or when your favorite local business stays afloat, remember that Chris Smith cared more about controlling a woman’s body than helping us through this unprecedented time of challenge. 

Amy Eklof

Little Silver, NJ