Ahead of this Saturday’s World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed critical anti-trafficking legislation—the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2022—authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) together with Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) in a strong bipartisan vote of 401-20. “Human traffickers never take a holiday, nor can we,” said Smith, who has chaired more than 35 hearings and written five anti-tr... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa and Co-Chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, today issued the following statement on recent confirmed reports of the slaughter of over 400 ethnic Amhara by the Oromo People’s Liberation Army last month in the Oromia region of Ethiopia: “Ethnic-based violence in Ethiopia must stop. We cannot scapegoat one group as each group has both victims and victimizers. The bloodshed must end—and those who... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement on the death of longtime New Jersey State Assemblyman Ronald Dancer: “Ron Dancer was a tireless public servant who served his country in the Army before becoming a highly respected and enormously popular mayor of Plumsted and assemblyman for the 12th Legislative District. A great friend to many and true civic leader, Ron was as gracious and considerate as he was hard working and effective. I cannot think of anyone who loved Plumsted and pe... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, today condemned the Biden Administration’s announcement of an additional $201 million for the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA)—a troubled UN agency that has a history of fostering terrorism and anti-Semitism. “UNRWA has a long and dark history of promoting violence and anti-Semitism while condoning terrorism,” said Rep. Smith, who co-chairs the House Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-S... Read more

By John T. Ward It’s a viper’s pit these days. With public trust in government trending at or near all-time lows, and political debate as bitter as ever heard in American history, who in their right mind would go into the public sector? These 14 TCNJ alums did. Some have been in it for decades; a few left, but went back; and two started at a time when they weren’t exactly alumni yet. But while all have had their ideals tested in some way, they remain in government, because as banal as it may sou... Read more

The predators engaged in human trafficking "never take a holiday, nor can we," a U.S congressman who holds a top international anti-trafficking post told world leaders gathered July 2-6 in Birmingham, England. Those "who exploit and abuse vulnerable women, children and men never cease in their nefarious work," U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., said during the 29th annual session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. "Our commitment to preventing ... Read more

Jerry Carino Asbury Park Press Staff Writer In the months after Manalapan’s Kyle Mullen died while trying to become a Navy SEAL because he did not receive the proper medical attention, his mother Regina Mullen has sought to reform the process. Her quest took a step forward Thursday. The U.S. House of Representatives voted 362 to 64 to include an amendment, titled “Kyle Mullen Naval Safety Enhancements,” to the National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2023. The amendment was authored by... Read more

At a human rights hearing this week, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) exposed the Chinese Communist Party for its egregious exploitation of children in Africa—especially the labor trafficking of more than 40,000 children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—to mine cobalt, lithium and various rare earth minerals in order to control this critical part of the global supply chain. “On the backs of trafficked workers and child laborers, China exploits the vast cobalt resources of the DRC to fuel its ec... Read more

Latest poll shows only 10 percent of Americans agree with abortion on demand until birth; earlier poll before Dobbs reported 17 percent Excerpts of remarks of Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in the U.S. House of Representatives during debate on HR 8296—July 15, 2022 According to the January 2022 Marist Poll, only 17% of Americans believe that “abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants one during her entire pregnancy.” And when Americans were asked in a late June Harvard Harris nationwi... Read more

The House of Representatives this week passed an amendment offered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) aimed at improving medical care and oversight for high-stress military training programs in response to the tragic death of Manalapan Navy SEAL candidate Kyle Mullen, who passed away in February after completing the Navy’s rigorous “Hell Week” training. Named for Kyle—“Kyle Mullen Naval Safety Enhancements”—the amendment directs the Secretary of Defense to conduct an appraisal of current standards and ... Read more