"Genocide and Other Atrocities in Iraq and Syria: Relief for Survivors and Accountability for Perpetrators” Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe September 22, 2016 Read more

For 22 years, the Violence Against Women Act has been one of our nation’s most impactful laws. Aided by $6 billion in federal VAWA funding, millions of women have received emergency assistance during a crisis and support that has helped break the cycle of violence. As the first comprehensive legislative package to address the epidemic of domestic violence, VAWA changed the attention to and conversation surrounding how we as a nation can better support victims of abuse and help families in need o... Read more

The Prime Minister of the Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste, Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, and former President and hero of Timorese independence Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão today bestowed the Order of Timor-Leste to Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of a House panel on human rights. The Order of Timor-Leste is given in special recognition to those “who have made a significant contribution to the country of Timor Leste, to the Timorese or to all Mankind.” Rep. Smith and former President Gusmao look b... Read more

Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today called for swift passage of his Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016 (H.R. 5961), bipartisan legislation that provides relief to victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria, and accountability for perpetrators. “Members of vulnerable religious and ethnic groups in Iraq and Syria – including Christians, Yazidis, and Shia Muslims – are being directly targeted by ISIS in its vici... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today commended the work of law enforcement in making a speedy arrest of a terrorist suspect thought to be connected to bombing attacks against targets in New Jersey and New York this past weekend. “The law enforcement response to the initial pipe bomb attack in Ocean County, NJ at a Marine Corps charity race in Seaside Park and the subsequent attacks in New York and North Jersey, has been commendable in its rapid execution,” Smith said. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, announced a hearing titled “Atrocities in Iraq and Syria: Relief for Survivors and Accountability for Perpetrators” to be held on September 22, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Earlier this year, Secretary of State John Kerry declared that ISIS has been committing genocide against Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims in Iraq and Syria. Following the recent introduction by Smith of the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountabili... Read more

Each year the Library of Congress (LoC) chooses a Teacher-in-Residence to serve in Washington for one year. For the 2016-2017 school year, that one person will be Teresa St. Angelo of Freehold Township, N.J., Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. Teresa St. Angelo, a kindergarten teacher in Manalapan will work with its Educational Outreach office to help teachers and school librarians incorporate the Library’s digitized primary sources into high-quality instruction. The Educational Outreac... Read more

Defying the hopes of the international community, Eritrea, known as the North Korea of Africa for the appalling treatment of its citizens, continues its decades long descent into one of the most repressive countries on the planet. At a House hearing held this afternoon, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on Africa, looked into the abuses of the regime and possible options to help the long-suffering people of Eritrea. “In 1997, just after the country gained independence, hopes ... Read more

As victims of the repressive Ethiopian government looked on, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Rep. Al Green(TX-09) and Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06) brought international attention to the oppressive actions taken by the Government of President Mulatu Teshome at a press conference held this afternoon. “When I visited Ethiopia on a fact finding trip, then-Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was nonchalant about the shootings of peaceful demonstrators, arrests of innocents. The head of the main opposition party was ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), former Chairman of the House Veteran's Affairs Committee, provided the following remarks on the House Floor today: Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark Suicide Prevention Month and to join with my colleagues in helping to raise awareness of—and combat—the staggering rate of suicide among our veteran population. The men and women of our military make tremendous, selfless sacrifices on behalf of each and every American. As a result, many veterans return from service with phy... Read more