The House Foreign Affairs Committee today approved legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to promote human rights reform in Vietnam and hold the Vietnamese Government accountable for further human rights abuses. Read more

On the same day the United Nations voted to create a peacekeeping mission in the Darfur, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation—supported by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—that would bring additional pressure on the Government of Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur by eliminating U.S. investments that benefit the regime in Khartoum. Read more

U.S. Rep Chris Smith (R-NJ) today hailed House passage of a resolution calling on the Japanese Government to acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility for trafficking women to serve as sex slaves for their soldiers in the years prior to and during World War II as “an important victory for ‘comfort women’ and their loved ones in their decades long struggle for justice.” Read more

Highlighting provisions that create a new risk-based formula and mandate 100% cargo screening for our nation’s ports, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said final approval of comprehensive legislation to strengthen federal homeland security laws could increase New Jersey’s share of federal homeland security funds and will help local officials as they work to keep our residents safe. Read more

In response to the EPA Region II announcement of a new water quality test which would reduce the current twenty-four hour testing period down to just three hours to yield results, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) stated, “The concerted effort by the EPA to achieve better, faster, quality testing of ocean waters is a step in the right direction to ensure the health and safety of not just the ocean, but also the people who live in and visit the Jersey Shore area.” Read more

Chairman Akaka, Senator Craig, Members of the Committee, It is a rare privilege to testify before the Committee today on the compelling need to reform VA health care funding. As former House Chairman, I deeply appreciate and respect all the work that this Committee has done and is doing to ensure that our men and women who have served in uniform have all of the benefits and services they need and have earned. No one on earth has done more to protect and preserve freedom, democracy, and fundament... Read more

Warning lawmakers in the upper body of an impending crisis in veterans’ medical care, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—former Chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee—recommended a complete overhaul of the funding mechanism for veterans’ health care during his testimony before the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee today. Read more

The House of Representatives passed funding for the Monmouth, Ocean, Middlesex (MOM) Passenger Rail Line late last night, said Congressmen Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Jim Saxton (NJ-03) today. Read more

AMENDMENT OFFERED BY MR. SMITH OF NEW JERSEY Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Chairman, I offer an amendment. The Clerk read as follows: Amendment offered by Mr. Smith of New Jersey: At the end of title I, insert the following: Sec. 192. Out of the funds appropriated or otherwise made available under this Act to the SurfaceTransportation Board of the Department of Transportation, when considering cases, matters, or declaratory orders before the Board involving a railroad, or an entity claiming or... Read more

Mindful that an arcane House procedural rule would get in his way, Rep. Chris Smith plowed on and offered an amendment to strip the Surface Transportation Board (STB) of its authority to approve waste transfer stations along rail lines. Read more