Given the state of global affairs, it is not a given that we -- a bipartisan group of elected officials from Israel, the US, Canada, Australia and the UK -- would find common ground in the midst of a global pandemic. However, the disconcerting proliferation of anti-Semitism through new technology demands that we take urgent action. We recently launched the Inter-Parliamentary Task Force to Combat Online Antisemitism in order to hold social media companies accountable for what takes place on the... Read more

The United Kingdom must end years of delay and establish an independent inquiry into collusion in the 1989 murder of human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane, said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who with Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA) sent a bipartisan letter signed by 24 members of the U.S. Congress to Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “Pat Finucane was a courageous defense attorney, a loving father and husband, gunned down because of his commitment to human rights and the rule of law,” said Smith, who has chaired... Read more

By Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press staff, USA TODAY NETWORK – Jim and Karen Raffone thought they had the perfect fundraiser for their charity, which sponsors major research on Duchenne muscular dystrophy: All American Ford in Old Bridge donated a 2020 Ford Mustang convertible for them to raffle off. “We thought we could raise $100,000,” Jim Raffone said. “We raised approximately $25,000 before we had to stop.” Then the office of New Jersey Attorney General Gurbir Grewal informed them they were ... Read more

The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in the House of Representatives during debate on H.R. 8428, Belarus Democracy, Human Rights, and Sovereignty Act of 2020 on November 18, 2020: Madam Speaker, I urge swift enactment into law of the bipartisan Belarus Democracy, Human Rights and Sovereignty Act of 2020 which I introduced. And here’s why this legislation is absolutely needed now. Belarus was perhaps the nation most mired in its Soviet past, with an inefficient economy... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the House-passed Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act,” said: “the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) forced removal of four duly elected pro-democracy lawmakers from Hong Kong’s Legislative Council is outrageous, unjustified and absolutely dishonorable and tells the world that human rights and the rule of law are a cruel joke under the dictatorship of Xi Jinping.” Smith continued, “Today’s mass resignation of all the remaining pro-democracy lawmakers to prote... Read more

On the eve of the Veterans’ Day holiday, legislation authored by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to help veterans heal through outdoor recreational therapy cleared the Senate and was on its way to the President’s desk for signing and implementation. Smith’s bipartisan Accelerating Veterans Recovery Outdoors Act (H.R. 2435), which was endorsed by more than 120 veteran service organizations, outdoor recreation groups and conservation organizations, will provide increased access to federal lands for the p... Read more

By Julie Asher, Catholic News Service As the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 marked its 20th year Oct. 28, the Catholic congressman who wrote it -- and four other anti-trafficking laws in the intervening years – celebrated the historic legislation that holds every nation on the globe "to account on human trafficking matters." But in celebrating the law's anniversary, Rep. Chris Smith, R-New Jersey, and member of St. Gregory the Great Parish, Hamilton Square, also expressed serious co... Read more

This week marks the 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000—the comprehensive, historic law that I authored to aggressively combat sex and labor trafficking both within the United States and around the world. The TVPA created a new, well-funded whole-of-government domestic and international strategy and established numerous new programs to Protect victims, Prosecute traffickers and to the extent possible, Prevent human trafficking in the first place. Thousands o... Read more

WKXW 10/30/2020 8:11:59 AM: Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) was a live call-in guest on NJ101.5 today with host Bill Spadea. The following are excerpts of the show: Spadea: Please welcome my friend Congressman Chris Smith back to the show... and he has some good news to share... Actually this week marked the 20th anniversary of something that Congressman Smith championed, it is the victims of trafficking and violence protection act's 20th anniversary. This was designed to combat trafficking and ... Read more

Today — Oct. 28 — marks 20th anniversary of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 — the comprehensive, historic law that I authored to aggressively combat sex and labor trafficking both within the United States and around the world. The TVPA created a new, well-funded whole-of-government domestic and international strategy and established numerous new programs to protect victims, prosecute traffickers and, to the extent possible, prevent human trafficking in the first place. Thou... Read more