By Allison Schuster An estimated 40 million people are trafficked around the world each year, says the leader of a group training health care providers to help identify and rescue victims. One research study of survivors in 2014 found that “88% of victims seek medical care and treatment while being trafficked,” said Deb O’Hara-Rusckowski, a critical care nurse who co-founded Global Strategic Operatives, an organization that combats human trafficking. PHOTO: With proper training, advocates for vi... Read more

Bipartisan legislation recognizing February as American Heart Month was introduced in the House of Representatives today. Congressman Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chair of the Congressional Heart & Stroke Coalition, along with fellow Co-Chair Joyce Beatty (D-OH), authored the resolution, HRes. 860, in honor of the approximately 647,000 Americans who die from some form of cardiovascular disease (CVD) each year, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). “Heart disease is the leading killer of Americ... Read more

By TAPINTO HAMILTON/ROBBINSVILLE STAFF Robbinsville Robotics students put their skills on display on Monday and their compassion for fellow students. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-4) and Robbinsville Councilman Dan Schuberth met with First Lego League Robotics Team "Minds of Steel" -- one of five teams that competed in the recent FLL State Championship. The team shared their conceptual plan for an "all-inclusive" playground, specifically tailored to support children with autism. “With this project... Read more

Legislation written by Rep. Chris Smith to protect student athletes across America took a major step toward becoming law after the influential Chairman of the House Education and Labor Committee, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA)—who has prime jurisdiction over the issue—voiced his willingness to support and help steer the bill through the full House. Last week, Smith arranged for key congressional leaders to meet with Joanne Atkins-Ingram of Neptune, N.J., mother of Braeden Bradforth, a student who died ... Read more

By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com NJ Transit is going to teach its conductors and other employees to look for signs of human trafficking on its trains and buses. The announcement came as the White House celebrated the 20-year anniversary of the landmark law designed to put the federal government behind efforts to fight sex and labor trafficking. “This landmark piece of legislation changes the landscape of the conversation around human trafficking and elevated the U.S. governme... Read more

Congressman Smith was a guest on Tuesday on New Jersey 101.5 with morning talk show host Bill Spadea who posted this article and sound clip on Feb. 4 from the interview, which focused on the White House marking the 20th anniversary of Smith's landmark trafficking bill: Congressman Chris Smith is on a mission. He's been fighting for the past twenty years to focus resources from our federal government to help the millions of victims of human trafficking. President Trump congratulated the NJ Congre... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith joined President Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump, Attorney General William Barr, and other congressional and State Department officials at the White House today to mark the 20th year since enactment of Smith’s landmark Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA, Public Law 106-386). “This landmark piece of legislation changes the landscape of the conversation around human trafficking and elevated the U.S. government’... Read more

By TAPINTO Staff - January is Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), has been a leader in the fight against human trafficking, and joined US Dept. of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao Tuesday, January 28th, to launch a new USDOT human trafficking prevention initiative. Chao challenged the transportation industry to commit to "100 Pledges in 100 Days" as part of a special campaign called "Put the Brakes on Human Trafficking." According to a USDOT press release, "To amplif... Read more

By ELIZABETH MEYERS - Despite a recent announcement by Uber that they will implement a personal identification system (PIN), Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and the Robbinsville family of slain college student Samantha Josephson continued their call for federal legislation, Sami's Law, to protect rideshare passengers. While attending college at University of South Carolina, Sami was allegedly brutally murdered by an individual posing as a driver for a ridesharing service while attending college a... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) joined US Dept. of Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao today to launch a new USDOT human trafficking initiative. The following are excerpts of his remarks: Special thanks to Secretary Elaine Chao for her leadership in combatting the cruelty of human trafficking both in the eight years she served as Secretary of Labor, and now, at Transportation and for the Transportation Leaders Against Human Trafficking Initiative. Deep thanks as well to all the assembled leaders—for yo... Read more