A bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese democracy advocate who died of cancer this summer while serving a prison term, was introduced today by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). Smith attended the 2010 Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo at the invitation of Liu Xiaobo’s family. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award in the United States. “It is an unspeakable tragedy that Liu Xiaobo’s unjust imprisonment in 2009 became a ... Read more

Christians and Yazidis who have thus far survived the genocide in Syria and Iraq still face extinction in their homelands and need U.S. assistance to survive, according to expert witnesses who testified at a Congressional hearing held today by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House panel on global human rights. A Yazidi woman, who goes by Shireen to protect her identity, reported she had been enslaved for nine months and that people are taking flight to escape the torture and abuse.... Read more

Mr. SMITH of New Jersey... Madam Speaker, a former abortionist, Dr. Levatino testified before Congress and described how he and other abortionists actually kill helpless babies. He killed 1,200 of them. He said: ‘‘Imagine, if you can, that you are a pro-choice OB–GYN like I was. Using a Sopher 13- inch clamp with rows of ridges or teeth, grasp anything you can inside the womb. Once you grasp something inside, squeeze on the clamp, set the jaws and pull hard—really hard. You feel something let go... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement on the events in Las Vegas: As America grieves for the victims of the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas, my wife, Marie, and I join our prayers with those being offered across the country. We pray for those whose lives were lost, those suffering critical injuries, and for family members struggling with the sudden shocking loss or injury of loved ones. Our profound gratitude is extended to the first responders and to the brave Americans a... Read more

Republican U.S. Rep. Chris Smith of New Jersey has joined a congressional bipartisan call urging President Donald Trump to do more to help hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico. “The people of Puerto Rico are suffering from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Maria and need comprehensive humanitarian aid and federal support,” Smith said Friday in a press statement. “In addition to food, water and medical assistance, communication system restoration and infrastructure rebuilding are critical parts of th... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House panel on global human rights, joined his colleagues in sending a bipartisan letter to President Trump calling for increased federal aid to Puerto Rico. “The people of Puerto Rico are suffering from the catastrophic impact of Hurricane Maria and need comprehensive humanitarian aid and federal support. In addition to food, water and medical assistance, communication system restoration and infrastructure rebuilding are critical parts of the emerge... Read more

By Alex Napoliello of NJ.com - Law enforcement officials in one of the New Jersey counties hardest hit by the opioid epidemic will now have access to funding and intelligence from state and federal agencies, including the DEA, to fight drug trafficking. Ocean County was among 16 other counties across 13 states to enter the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas program, also known as HIDTA. The program was created by Congress in 1988 to provide assistance to federal, state, county and local law e... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today congratulated Ocean County on being selected to receive Federal resources to better coordinate drug control efforts among Federal, State and local law enforcement entities by the Office of National Drug Control Policy (ONDCP). The designation, known as High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA), provides funding and expertise in the battle against drug traffickers. “The opioid epidemic that is occurring here in our back yard is not a problem that can be addressed... Read more

Tuesday, October 3rd, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) will be chairing a hearing to investigate the genocide of Christians, Yazidis and other religions minorities at the hands of ISIS. Joining Smith and other members of the Subcommittee will be notable experts on the situation on the ground who will be providing expert witness testimony. “Some career staff at the State Department and USAID are thwarting the commitment of the President, Vice President and Congress to give aid to Christian and Yazidi surv... Read more

At a hearing held today on Capitol Hill, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House panel on Africa, and a distinguished group of experts on Africa policy shined a light on the withering democracy in Rwanda at the hands of President Paul Kagame. “In August 2017, Paul Kagame was elected with 99 percent of the vote,” said Smith who held his first hearing on Rwanda in 1996. “It is difficult to believe that even someone as widely admired as President Kagame has been could be that popular. Such s... Read more