The House overwhelmingly voted to reauthorize the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) today, following the U.S. State Department’s release Tuesday of the Religious Freedom Report and designation of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), as mandated by the Act. Congressman Chris Smith, an established human rights leader in Congress who helped shepherd the original Act into law in 1998, called on the Obama Administration to apply long-overdue sanctions to countries that routinely violate th... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who joined hundreds of New Jerseyans at the 9/11 "Empty Sky" Memorial Dedication in Liberty State Park, NJ, issued the following statement about the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001: "The greatness of America shone brightly in the horrendous darkness that descended on New York City, Washington DC and United Flight 93. When faced with adversity, first responders and ordinary citizens alike became heroes. When challenged, all Americans displayed va... Read more

The growing humanitarian crisis threatening millions of people in East Africa, including drought and the delivery of humanitarian aid in the face of terrorist movements, was the focus of a congressional hearing today held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights and African issues. The hearing, entitled “USAID's Long-Term Strategy for Addressing East African Emergencies,” examined U.S. strategy to address humanitarian ... Read more

(WPVI) - FEMA officials were in Mercer County, New Jersey to assess the damage done by Hurricane Irene. They walked and talked one-on-one with Hamilton Township residents whose homes were ruined by the flood waters. Many of those homes are now unlivable. In the Cornell Heights section, public works crews were hauling away ruined furniture and filling dumpster after dumpster with debris. The area was flooded with several feet of water when the Assunpink Creek overflowed during Hurricane Irene. (C... Read more

An independent review of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) decision that closed its Freehold Downtown Station on Lafayette Street in Freehold Borough describes the USPS final decision to shut down the site as “seriously flawed” with numerous “deficiencies,” and even stated the procedures used by the USPS were “contrary to law,” said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04). “This is clear evidence that the U.S. Postal Service decision to close the downtown station was based on poor information,” said Smith,... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) joined the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in visiting homes along the Assunpink Creek in Mercer County that were flooded out by Hurricane Irene, which struck the Garden State Aug. 27-28. Smith went through the neighborhood with Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo, and Councilman Dennis Pone, who lives in the area and whose home has been made uninhabitable by the flood waters. Smith’s office has been working with municipal, county and state officials both be... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) welcomed an announcement made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) today that expands its major federal disaster area to include additional counties in New Jersey that suffered severe storm damage from Hurricane Irene. Smith noted that residents and local government entities in all four counties of the Fourth Congressional District, Monmouth, Mercer, Ocean, and Burlington, are now eligible to apply for assistance under FEMA’s individual assistance and... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) called on the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to include other areas of New Jersey hard-hit by Hurricane Irene that were not named when President Obama made his federal disaster declaration on Aug. 31. The congressman spearheaded the N.J. congressional delegation letter in support of a presidential declaration of a major disaster area for the entire State of New Jersey. In response to the partial declaration, Smith continues to push FEMA regional offici... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, has led an effort by the 13 members of the House of Representatives from New Jersey to ask the President to expedite a declaration of the State as a major federal disaster area due to the devastating impact of Hurricane Irene. "As Members of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, we are writing to express our full support for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's request for an expedited declaration of a major dis... Read more

Areas across Monmouth, Ocean, Mercer and Burlington counties were ravaged by widespread torrential rain, flooding and power outages during and following Hurricane Irene, which struck the Garden State Aug. 27-28. Congressman Chris Smith visited affected areas, and has stayed in contact with local officials before and after the hurricane. His office has been working with municipal, county and state officials both before and after the storm struck, as well as federal agencies such as the Federal E... Read more