by KALHAN ROSENBLATT and CHANDELIS R. DUSTER Members of Congress have introduced a bipartisan bill named for American abolitionist Frederick Douglass that would seek to curb human trafficking. The new legislation, titled the "Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Act of 2017," is co-sponsored by New Jersey Republican Rep. Chris Smith and California Democrat Rep. Karen Bass. Seven other sponsors have put their support behind the bill, which would reauthorize $130 milli... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Human Rights, will be holding a House hearing on Human Trafficking and the “Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017” on Tuesday, May 2nd . The legislation, named after the great American abolitionist, will strengthen penalties for traffickers and increase protection for the victims. “Born a slave in 1818—we celebrate and look forward to the 200th anniversary of his birth next year—Freder... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), lead co-Sponsor Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), and 7 other co-Sponsors today introduced the bipartisan Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act of 2017 named after the famous American abolitionist on the eve of the 200th anniversary of his birth. This piece of legislation will reauthorize $130 million in funding for the prevention of human trafficking, protection of victims and prosecution of traffickers. “It is an honor to commemor... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa and Global Health, today convened the seventh in a series of dialogues set to increase communications between Congress and the African Diplomatic Corps. This afternoon’s dialogue specifically examined nutrition in areas of conflict. Sub-Saharan Africa hosts more than 1.5 million refugees, and within African countries, an estimated 12.4 million are internally displaced. “As problematic as it is to achieve and maintain proper nutritio... Read more

Earlier this year, the Obama Administration made the unilateral decision to break with nearly three decades of U.S. foreign policy and ease sanctions on the government of Sudan. Today, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) held a hearing entitled “The Questionable Case for Easing Sudan Sanctions” to examine the reasons for this lifting, and to investigate the effects this will have on the people of Sudan and U.S. interests in the region. “The Obama administration, in its last days in office in January, ... Read more

Almost 200 years ago, Frederick Douglass began his astonishing life dedicated to educating others on the horrors of slavery. On Thursday, April 27, 2017, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Rep. Karen Bass (CA-37), Rep. Ann Wagner (MO-02), Lois Frankel (FL-21) and Kenneth B. Morris, Jr., the great-great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass and the Co-Founder & President of the Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, will be holding a press conference to highlight the introduction of a new bill that aims to... Read more

Sub-Saharan Africa hosts more than 26 percent of the world’s refugees—civil war in South Sudan alone has now produced more than 1.7 million refugees since 2013. Even within African countries, an estimated 12.4 million are internally displaced. Governments involved in conflict and their neighbors are faced with providing services to affected populations, but while shelter and medicine are usually provided, nutrition too often suffers – both for refugee populations and citizens within these countr... Read more

Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa, took to the House Floor in support of H. Res. 187: Last August, my staff director Greg Simpkins and I visited Juba, South Sudan, to press President Salva Kiir, his Vice President, the Minister of Defense, and five of his top generals, to end the civil war, protect innocent lives and reverse the conditions causing rampant disease and severe malnutrition that could soon lead to a famine. Just two months ago, famine was formall... Read more

Just before their historic White House meeting today with President Trump, all 14 members of the United Nations Security Council were briefed by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on International Organizations, on the critical matters that will help form the agenda U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley sets as the new President of the Council. “The Security Council is at the core of our post-World War II world,” said Smith, who also serves as Congress’ Representative to the... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC—In 1988, the United States first imposed economic restrictions on Sudan due to its egregious human rights violations. Since then, conflicts in Darfur, Blue Nile and Southern Kordofan have only increased the humanitarian disaster created by the Khartoum-based Government of Omar al Bashir. Despite nearly three decades of bipartisan support for sanctions against Sudan, the Obama Administration decided to partially ease sanctions—with the first provisions taking effect on January 17th... Read more