Amid the growing human rights crisis in Nicaragua, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today chaired a bipartisan congressional hearing calling attention to the extreme political repression and incarceration of political opponents by President Daniel Ortega. Headlined by Bianca Jagger and the wives of two jailed presidential candidates, Smith’s hearing follows the imprisonment of at least 27 political opponents—including 6 presidential candidates—by Ortega since last month in the run-up to a November presi... Read more

Amid the enormous and growing backlog for renewed passports faced by Americans eager to travel, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today introduced the Passport Emergency Extension Act of 2021 (H.R. 4615) with lead cosponsor Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) to ensure American citizens are able to travel while the State Department addresses serious delays in processing passport applications. Smith’s bipartisan legislation would require the U.S. Secretary of State to establish an expedited procedure to renew or exte... Read more

The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, at the congressional hearing he chaired on Wednesday, July 21st entitled "The Ortega Government and the Human Cost of Repression in Nicaragua: Political Prisoners": This hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission—The Ortega Government and the Human Cost of Repression in Nicaragua: Political Prisoners—will come to order. Good afternoon. We are gathered here today to examine... Read more

Critical transportation projects for Mercer County could see significant improvements through federal funding secured by Representative Chris Smith (NJ-4). Federal dollars will be dedicated for the Mercer County TRADE bus service as well as roadway safety improvements. Under the Mercer County bus purchase initiative, new buses and equipment will be purchased for transportation service programs in Mercer County in Fiscal Year 2022. The $915,000 appropriation also will cover the cost of replacing... Read more

By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Legislation to help the U.S. compete with China will include a provision calling for a plan of action to move the 2022 Winter Olympics out of Beijing if Rep. Chris Smith has his way. An amendment by Smith, R-4th Dist., to have the U.S. lead an effort to move what he’s dubbed the “genocide Olympics” failed on a party-line vote in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. But he said he would try to get the amendment onto the House floor for another ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced today that he will seek a recorded vote by the entire House of Representatives on his legislation to allow U.S. citizens the right to sue the Chinese government for its large-scale misrepresentation campaign during the coronavirus pandemic. Smith’s announcement follows a recorded vote on his amendment (26 Democrats - No; 21 Republicans - Yes) held today by the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which excluded it from the Ensuring American Global Leadership and En... Read more

At a bipartisan congressional hearing this week, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) urged the United States and international community to immediately address ongoing and egregious violations of religious liberties around the world—especially the crime of genocide perpetuated by the Chinese Communist Party—and prioritize religious freedom and all fundamental human rights in talks with other nations. Chaired by Smith, the hearing examined the state of religious freedom around the globe and coincided with t... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today addressed the International Religious Freedom Summit, where he called attention to the urgent need to hold the Chinese Communist Party to account for its crime of genocide, persecution against religious believers and other ongoing egregious human rights violations. Click on the arrow below to view Smith’s remarks. Transcript: When the term genocide was created in 1944 to describe the systematic destruction of a people, its author Raphael Lemkin explained the term b... Read more

The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, at the congressional hearing entitled "The State of Religious Freedom Around the Globe" held on Tuesday, July 13th. To watch the hearing, click here. Pursuant to notice, this hearing on the state of religious freedom around the globe will come to order. We are gathered to explore the state of religious freedom around the world, coinciding with the nongovernmental International Re... Read more

A significant boost in federal funding is on its way to the greater Lakewood area to help combat substance addictions and mental illness, two conditions made worse during COVID-19 lockdowns—Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04 announced today. “This $4 million federal grant comes at a crucial time for people who are struggling from addictions or facing mental illness in the northern Ocean County area,” said Congressman Smith. “For recovering addicts, COVID-19 has created added isolation, brought about... Read more