U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) made the following statement at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs congressional hearing entitled “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Catholic Church: Examining the Politicization of Grants” on Thursday. "A little over a decade ago, I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000—the landmark law that created America’s comprehensive policy to combat modern day slavery. Among its many mutually reinforcin... Read more

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board The federal laws appear clear: If health care professionals cite religious or moral objections, they cannot be compelled to assist in abortions in facilities that receive federal funding. But now, nearly four decades after the original law was passed, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is looking for a loophole. The hospital’s position: It depends on what “assist” means. If UMDNJ’s stance doesn’t violate the letter of the laws (and the courts ev... Read more

A new report on the oppression of religious freedoms around the world and U.S. policy to address threats to this basic human right was the focus of a congressional hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights. “Congress gave expression to our commitment to international religious freedom with the passage in 1998 of the International Religious Freedom Act, which concretely established the promotion and... Read more

The following is a Radio Free Europe article by Richard Solash: The chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission has pledged to call on the Obama administration to push for the indictment of hard-line Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka by the International Criminal Court (ICC). While the chances of an indictment are unlikely, the pledge by Representative Chris Smith (Republican, New Jersey) was a clear sign that U.S. lawmakers have not forgotten the egregious human rights situation in the co... Read more

An investigation into the Obama Administration's use of $18 million in U.S. taxpayer dollars to influence constitutional changes in Kenya reveals that at least one Obama grantee openly pushed to expand abortion access in Kenya despite a long-standing, annually renewed law that prohibits U.S. tax dollars from being used to lobby for or against abortion in other countries (known as the Siljander Amendment). The investigation by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the investigative arm of C... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights and African issues, held a gathering today of countries from across the African continent to discuss complex issues such as trade, likely reductions in U.S. aid and other topics the continent faces. Joining Smith were Ranking Democrat Rep. Donald Payne (NJ-10) on the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, and Senators Chris Coons (D-Del) and Johnny Isakson (R... Read more

"The world watched with great hope and anticipation as events unfolded in Tahrir Square earlier this year," said Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the House panel that oversees human rights, on Tuesday at a congressional hearing of the Helsinki Commission which he also chairs. "This spring we saw Christians standing guard over Muslims during Friday prayers in the middle of the square. We saw Muslims standing guard over Christians as they celebrated mass in Tahrir... ." Click here to read Cong... Read more

"It is an honor and privilege to join these courageous 'nurses of conscience' who at great risk of being fired, demoted or otherwise retaliated against, have asserted their fundamental civil rights guaranteed by both federal and state law by saying “no” to coerced participation in the killing of unborn children at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey (UMDNJ)," said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) this afternoon as he stood side-by-side with eight nurses from an obstetrics unit... Read more

Cong. Smith meets American Council of Young Political Leaders' Israeli delegation. From left are Shay Even, Linor Deutsch, Dore Bloch, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Mordechai Ruham. Read more

(WPVI) -- With Veteran's Day right around the corner, a POW during World War II was honored in South Jersey. Private Alan Hayden received a special medal Monday, honoring him as a prisoner of war in Germany. It's an honor he says that he'll share. "I am accepting the award, honoring all the men who, at that time, were prisoners of war," said Hayden. To watch the ABC 6 report, click here. That memory includes a buddy that Hayden, at age 18, saw shot down at point blank range, moments after captur... Read more