The ten year anniversary of the creation of the National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities was celebrated today by leaders in the fight against autism, an illness that impacts one of every 110 children in America and an estimated one in 94 in New Jersey. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chair the Congressional Coalition for Autism Research and Education (CARE), was a guest speaker at the event today at PSE&G Children’s Specialized Hospital in New Brunswick. “The cost of c... Read more

The release of the 2011 annual report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) shows that freedom of religion continues to be under attack in many countries, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leader on human rights issues in Congress. The Obama Administration must give higher priority to the protection and promotion of religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy, he said. “Religious freedom is threatened around the world, and the situation is getting worse,” Smith sa... Read more

The American Jewish Committee (AJC) presented Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) with its 2011 Leadership Award last night for his work on anti-Semitism and other humanitarian issues at its 2011 Global Forum. "For 30 years, Chris Smith has been our friend, ally and a tireless advocate for human rights," said Rabbi Andrew Baker, AJC Director of International Jewish Affairs, who presented the award at the opening session of the AJC Global Forum. "As Co-Chair of the Helsinki Commission, Chris organize... Read more

The American Jewish Committee will honor Congressman Chris Smith at its annual Global Forum in Washington, D.C. April 27-29 for his longtime efforts to fight anti-Semitism. “AJC’s annual Congressional Leadership Award will be presented this year to Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) for his indefatigable efforts to combat worldwide anti-Semitism, rescue Soviet Jewry in the 1980s, and defend human rights,” the AJC stated in an April 24 announcement. Over 1,000 participants from across the United States and ... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) met with members of the Baha'i Delegation from the Fourth Congressional District of New Jersey during the April recess at his Hamilton office. The group came to discuss the Iranian government's persecution of the Baha'is in Iran and to express its appreciation for Smith's longtime support of human rights at home and abroad. From the left are local members of the Spiritual Assembly of the Baha'is: Rodney Richards of Yardville, Bob Weber of Allentown, Congressman Sm... Read more

The following article about Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) and his work on anti-Semitism, human trafficking, child abduction and other humanitarian issues was published in the most recent April edition of the Lakewood Scoop: "Rep. Chris Smith, a leading human rights lawmaker in the U.S. Congress, was presented with a “Man of Distinction Award” by the Monmouth County Jewish Federation at the Axelrod Performing Arts Center in Deal, N.J. ... ." To read the entire article click on: http://www.thela... Read more

By Ellen Ratner Having just returned from Sudan (see last week's column), I made the usual rounds of telling people the story of what I had seen. My traveling partners and friends, Diane Gooch and Tony Sayeg, arranged for us to meet with House of Representatives Chairman Chris Smith. Chairman Smith, R-N.J., heads up the subcommittee on Africa. Under normal circumstances, we would most likely not agree on what day it is. He is about as conservative as you can be, and I am about as liberal. Howeve... Read more

The Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011, a bill to support people struggling for basic rights against Aleksandr Lukashenka—the man often called Europe’s last dictator—was approved today by the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “The bill supports targeted sanctions,” said Smith, a senior member of the Committee and the Chairman of the Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe, also called the Helsinki Commission. “It expresses the sense of the Congress to deny the privilege of v... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith spoke in support of H. Con. Res. 36, a measure to block federal monies from going to Planned Parenthood in H.R. 1473, the appropriations bill for federal departments and agencies for the remainder of 2011 fiscal year: "In its slick TV ads and PR blitz, the billion-dollar-a-year abortion giant Planned Parenthood appears to be hiding something. "Could it be they are hiding the dismaying fact that just one organization—Planned Parenthood—today performs over 25% of all aborti... Read more

“A repeatedly-delayed presidential election and a subsequent runoff election failed to end longstanding political and civil unrest in that West African nation,” said Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) at a hearing of the House Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee today. “Despite the arrest of sitting President Laurent Gbagbo this week, there remain obstacles to the return of peace and prosperity to Cote d’Ivoire. “Cote d’Ivoire had been one of the region’s most stable governments and an... Read more