At today’s hearing of the bipartisan Congressional Executive Commission on China (CECC), Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-Chair of the Commission, announced the introduction of a resolution urging the Administration to seek the immediate humanitarian medical parole for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo, a celebrated human rights champion who was diagnosed with terminal liver cancer but is not being allowed to seek medical treatment at advanced medical facilities outside of China. Joining Smith i... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), saddened by the passing of World War II hero George Watson of Lakewood, N.J., a member of the famed Tuskegee Airmen, issued the following statement: “I was dismayed to learn of the passing of George Watson. You read about Mr. Watson in history books. He faced Nazis. He faced racism in the military. He overcame. He helped make the world a better place. I remember him well and fondly, and was greatly honored when I was asked to help him get the Purple Heart a few y... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), prime author of America’s landmark human trafficking law—the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386)—said “the Trump Administration deserves high praise for the designation of China as Tier 3—the worst tier possible—for its shameful complicity in sex and labor trafficking.” “Secretary of State Rex Tillerson deserves the gratitude of victims and human rights defenders, calling out the Chinese government’s deplorable record and complicity in the cruelty o... Read more

Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chair of the House of Representatives panel on global health, received the American Heart Association’s 2017 National Public Service Award during the Association’s national advocacy summit; Smith was honored for “building healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease.” Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death nationally and globally: 1 in 3 American deaths are caused by CVD. In 2013, the most recent year for which data is available, CVD killed... Read more

By JOSH LEDERMAN and MATTHEW LEE of the Associated Press - The Trump administration is poised to declare China among the world's worst offenders on human trafficking, U.S. officials said Monday, putting the world's most populous country in the same category as North Korea, Zimbabwe and Syria, China's downgrade is to be announced Tuesday at the State Department when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson unveils the annual Trafficking in Persons Report to Congress, said the officials, who weren't autho... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) spoke at today's unveiling of the Protectors of Freedom statue unveiling at Bey Lea Park, in Toms River Township, N.J. The following are excerpts of his remarks: Thank you Jeremy Grunin and the Jay and Linda Grunin Foundation for enlisting the genius of sculptor Brian Hanlon to create six statues honoring U.S. servicemembers from several wars—men and women who endured and overcame crushing hardship to protect our freedoms. I was tasked with briefly recalling those w... Read more

As the nation continues to mourn the death of Otto Warmbier—the American student who died after being held in horrendous conditions by the North Korean regime for 17 months—Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa and global human rights, is calling on the State Department to increase their efforts to free a naturalized American citizen being held without charge by the government of Congo-Brazzaville since March 2016. “The principle of due process demands that Congo-Brazza... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), who represents parts of Monmouth, Mercer and Ocean counties, today warned of a dangerous new telephone scam being used to target individuals across the country, with seniors at particular risk. Reports of this new scam have increased throughout the country in recent days, prompting a call to action by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). In this latest con, callers will claim to be from the IRS and tell the victim that two letters have been sent to their home addres... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) delivered the following remarks in support of H.R. 2484: Mr. SMITH of New Jersey… Mr. Speaker, I would like to say a few words in support of Representative KRISTI NOEM’s Women, Peace and Security Act (H.R. 2484). Among other things, it highlights the role women must play in peacemaking. In the limited time we have, I would just like to highlight the role of one woman who served as a peacemaker, whom I have had the opportunity to get to know—Nuala O’Loan, who served as th... Read more

Last week, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on global human rights, received two hunger awards in less than two hours recognizing his outstanding leadership on issues important to hungry and poor people in the U.S. and abroad. The first award, the “Leadership on Global Food Security and Nutrition” presented by Bread for the World was followed by the “Bill Emerson and Mikey Leland Hunger Leadership Award,” given by the Congressional Hunger Center. “To end hunger worldwide we ... Read more