Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) issued the following statement on Monday: “At a hearing I chaired on combating anti-Semitism in 2004, the great Jewish human rights leader—and former prisoner of conscience in the Soviet Union—Natan Sharansky testified that there was not only a ‘resurgence of anti-Semitic activity in the democratic world’ but also a ‘new anti-Semitism’ that is ‘far more subtle’ and ‘poses a unique challenge’. “He said that while ‘classical anti-Semitism is aimed at the Jewish people or th... Read more

There is “both an ongoing need and reason for optimism” said Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) after hosting a meeting with top doctors and researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to explore the agency’s work regarding Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) and other muscular dystrophies. Also participating in the meeting held in Smith’s office were NJ-04 constituents James Raffone and David Schultz, who have children with DMD and who are each working through their own foundations to help find a... Read more

Jerry Carino, Asbury Park Press | Feb. 8, 2019 Over the past several years, as diagnoses mushroomed, society has developed an increasing number of resources to help children with autism and their families. But once those children become adults, the resources become scarce. A $1 billion bill introduced in the House of Representatives Thursday seeks to, among other things, remedy that dropoff in support. The bipartisan bill, named the Autism CARES Act of 2019 (HR 1058) is sponsored by Republican C... Read more

By Josh Rogin Columnist | February 5 The wife of a Taiwanese human rights activist imprisoned in China will attend President Trump’s State of the Union address Tuesday night, hoping to raise awareness of her husband’s plight and Beijing’s growing persecution of non-Chinese citizens. She is calling on Trump and all Americans to help confront China’s exporting of its authoritarianism around the world. Chinese authorities arrested Taiwanese democracy activist Li Ming-che in March 2017 in the Chines... Read more

Today, Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Mike Doyle (D-PA) introduced the bipartisan Autism CARES Act of 2019 in the House to reauthorize federal programs and activities that assist children, adults and families with Autism. The bill, HR 1058, is supported by a widespread coalition of autism and disability advocate organizations, including Autism Speaks, Autism Society of America, Association of University Centers on Disabilities, American Academy of Pediatrics, and Autism NJ. A companion bill will b... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and past Chair of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), today announced that he has invited Li Ching-yu, wife of jailed democracy and human rights advocate Lee Ming-cheh, as his guest to the State of the Union Address, and she has accepted and will be in the House Gallery tonight. “Li Ching-yu’s very presence helps highlight the unjust imprisonment of Lee Ming-cheh and the over 1,300 p... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Congressional Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism and author of the legislation that created the Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism, today made the following comment on the appointment of Elan Carr as the next Special Envoy: “The U.S. Special Envoy to Monitor and Combat Anti-Semitism is a significant position with a particularly important global reach. Anti-Semitism is on the rise, and appointing the Special Envoy sends a clear... Read more

Nearly 130 years after Thomas Fallon of Freehold earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in the Civil War, the distinguished medal has been released to his family. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th District) presented Glenn Cashion of Middletown, who researched and determined that he was great nephew of Fallon, with the medal on February 4 during a ceremony held in the borough’s council chambers. Smith had petitioned the Army for several months, successfully persuading them to release the medal a... Read more

Over 150 years after Private Thomas T. Fallon’s heroic actions in the Civil War, and 128 years after his being awarded the Medal of Honor for his valor, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) presented Fallon’s great nephew—a Monmouth County resident—on Monday with the distinguished medal, returning it to the family. “Private Thomas T. Fallon received this Medal of Honor for his courage and heroism in battle and I am proud to have worked to help return this award to his descendants, as they are the rightful ke... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL), the former chairs of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), today nominated imprisoned Chinese citizen Ilham Tohti for the 2019 Nobel Peace Prize. Ilham Tohti is an ethnic Uyghur economist, writer, and professor currently serving a life sentence for his attempts to promote harmony and understanding between ethnic Han Chinese and Uyghur Muslims in China. “Ilham Tohti deserves the Nobel Peace Prize, not a prison sent... Read more