U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) – Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations – concluded the first leg of his three nation trip, departing Ethiopia en route to Sudan, where he will meet with government officials, SPLM leadership and visit refugee camps. During his trip to Ethiopia, Smith met with opposition party and government leaders, met with patients suffering from HIV-AIDS and visited a hospital treating women with fistula – a program Smith has championed in Congress. Read more

On the heels of a warning by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) about the dangers of RU-486, the Centers for Disease Control are now investigating into the role of RU-486 (Mifeprex) in the death of four California women. In the meantime, a drug that endangers women – there is a known total to 5 deaths in the United States and at least 3 overseas – remains available despite ongoing investigations and continued warnings that have made it clear that the drug is not safe and should not remain available. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) praised the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA’s) for creating a strengthened distribution program for Isotretinoin (Accutane) – called IPLEDGE. The program is aimed to prevent the use of the drug during pregnancy because of the significant risk of birth defects, abortions and miscarriages when taken by the mother. The FDA estimates that each year, there are more than 2,000 pregnancy exposures to this drug. Read more

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) – Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations – will travel to Ethiopia and Sudan from August 14-20. Chairman Smith hopes to address critical issues threatening peace, human rights and development in the two East African nations, as well as engage the African Union in discussions of joint projects, such as the AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur, Sudan. Read more

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics released its monthly U.S. Job Market report today. The report shows that the U.S. Economy created a stronger than expected 207,000 jobs in July, and the unemployment rate held steady at the 2-3/4-year low of 5 percent reached in June. In response to the strong report, Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) issued the following statement: Read more

U.S. Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ) today pointed to encouraging developments in adult stem cell research and urged the Senate to move forward on legislation to expand treatment and research into this growing field. Smith is the author of H.R. 2520 – The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act, which was overwhelmingly approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year and is awaiting action by the Senate. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, urged supporters of the late Sudanese First Vice President John Garang to remain calm while the facts surrounding his death are being investigated. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Vice Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and a leader in Congress promoting human rights, peace and justice in Northern Ireland issued the following statement today following the Irish Republican Army’s (IRA’s) declaration of an end to its campaign of violence: Read more

China – the world’s second largest consumer of oil products at 6.7 million barrels per day – is expected to double its daily consumption to 13.4 million barrels by 2025. China’s increased need for oil explains why the Beijing regime has targeted resource-rich African nations for energy-related development. Agreements on major business deals and costly projects have been an important tool in China’s efforts to strengthen ties with strategic African countries. China’s deepest and most controversial engagement in Africa is in Sudan, where the Chinese National Petroleum Company has developed an oil field in the southern part of the country. According to Human Rights Watch, China has supplied Sudan with ammunition, tanks, helicopters, fighter aircraft, anti-personnel and anti-tank mines. Analysts are concerned that China’s growing role in Africa will undercut efforts by the United States and other Western countries to promote transparency, improved governance, and democracy. Diplomatic and economic pressure to encourage reform, including sanctions, could have a reduced effect if regimes look to China as an alternative source of aid, trade, and investment. Read more

U.S. Representative Chris Smith voted in favor of the Small Business Health Fairness Act, H.R. 525, bipartisan legislation that will expand access to health care for millions of uninsured Americans and make quality health care more affordable for small businesses and their employees through the use of Association Health Plans (AHPs). Read more