Chris Smith Votes Against COVID Relief

Chris Smith turned his back on his constituents when he voted against President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill, the American Rescue Plan. It 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. This money can be used to pay for COVID related expenses, assist small businesses, invest in critical infrastructure, and keep essential workers employed. There is also money for schools to safely return to in-person learning and hire necessary staff.

The Fourth Congressional District, which Smith represents, is slated to receive about $325 million in aid for municipal governments and schools. The largest combined share, $157,504,872, will go to Lakewood.

So why did Chris Smith vote against the bill? Why didn’t he want his constituents to get the help they need?

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.

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 didn’t lay anyone off, or when your favorite local business stays afloat, remember that Chris Smith voted against it all because he felt it was more important to control a woman’s body.