CHINA - Cathy He - Jan. 14, 2021 The Chinese regime has this past year broadened its repression of groups domestically while ramping up human rights violations around the world, a bipartisan U.S. congressional commission warned in its annual report. The Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) said in the report released on Jan. 14 that the “Chinese Communist Party has taken unprecedented steps to extend their repressive policies through censorship, intimidation, and the detention of p... Read more

Remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in the House of Representatives 1/13/21 With just seven days remaining in his term, today’s highly partisan rush to impeach the President is being done without knowing the whole truth which takes time, effort and serious scrutiny to establish. Today’s snap impeachment vote alleging President Trump’s “incitement of insurrection” lacks an objective and thorough investigation of the facts. Astonishingly, there have been no congressional hearings on H. Res. 24—the ... Read more

Associated Press - Jan 13, 2021 Security was exceptionally tight at the Capitol on Wednesday, with shocking images of massed National Guard troops, secure perimeters around the complex and metal-detector screenings required for lawmakers entering the House chamber. More than 20,000 National Guard members could be in the nation's capital to help secure President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration, Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee said Wednesday. There are already significantly more U.S. ... Read more

By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) Words are inadequate to convey my sadness, shock and anger over the murder of Capitol Police Officer Brian D. Sicknick who courageously fought the violent mob that stormed the Capitol building on Wednesday. As a member of the New Jersey National Guard, Mr. Sicknick safely deployed during Operation Southern Watch in 1999 and Enduring Freedom in 2003 only to be killed in the line of duty defending Members of Congress and staff and the Capitol building during a joint ses... Read more

Excerpts of Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) remarks on the Electoral College certification process Wednesday night. Madame Speaker, after rigorous analysis and much reflection, I will not oppose the counting of certified electoral votes from any state. I share some of the concerns about election irregularities. Today’s proceedings give Congress the opportunity to raise concerns about alleged election wrongdoing in several states which I hope will ultimately lead to bipartisan state investigations and ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement on Wednesday's (Jan. 6) violence on Capitol Hill: I unequivocally condemn the assault on the Capitol Wednesday and those who committed violence, vandalism and other crimes should be prosecuted to the greatest extent of the law. Special thanks to the Capitol Police for their brave and decisive actions to mitigate and then end today’s crisis. Despite its many flaws, the U.S. Congress continues to be an extraordinary marketplace of ideas and ... Read more

By David Wildstein, January 03 2021 9:12 am Rep. Christopher Smith (R-Hamilton) has authored 47 different laws during his 40 years as the congressman from New Jersey’s 4th district, with one more passed in the final hours of the 116th Congress awaiting the signature of President Donald Trump. The New Jersey Republican begins his record-setting 21st term in the U.S. House of Representatives today, continuing a legislative career that began on January 3, 1981 when he took office as a 27-year-old ... Read more

Today, at the very last legislative session of the 116th Congress, the House of Representatives passed legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) that would elevate the State Department’s Anti-Semitism Special Envoy position—first created by Smith’s legislative provisions in 2004—to an Ambassadorship, giving more clout to address the alarming rise in anti-Semitism worldwide. As the Senate has already approved the amended legislation, the bill now heads to President Trump’s desk to be signe... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today said: “The increase of COVID-19 relief checks to $2,000 coupled with yesterday’s extension of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), expanded unemployment benefits and other assistance are justified and necessary to assist tens of millions of people devastated by the pandemic and like previous COVID relief packages are a bridge to a post-COVID world.” ### Read more

Kurt Jensen, Catholic News Service – The Catholic bishop of Gboko, Nigeria, and the Knights of Columbus added their voices to a Dec. 17 congressional hearing spotlighting sectarian violence in Nigeria in which thousands of Christians have been killed simply for their faith identity. The hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission was spurred by recent developments: the fatal shooting of 51 peaceful protesters in Lagos Oct. 20; the kidnapping of over 300 schoolboys in Kankara, which govern... Read more