On Tuesday, February 10th, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, will chair his fifteenth congressional hearing focused exclusively on the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) and Rwanda, including the geopolitical conflict and human rights violations occurring in the region. In wake of President Trump’s historic peace deal between Rwanda and the DRC on December 4th, 2025, this hearing will examine the role of non-governmental organizations (NGOs)... Read more

By Madalaine Elhabbal Published February 5, 2026 at 12:16 PM ET Representatives from the U.S. and African bishops’ conferences convened in Washington, D.C., during a congressional hearing on Capitol Hill this week in a display of solidarity as religious freedom in Nigeria continues to come into sharper focus. Bishop Stephen Dami Mamza of the Yola Diocese in northeast Nigeria concelebrated a Mass on Feb. 4 for solidarity between the bishops and faithful of the Catholic Church in the U.S. and Afri... Read more

Critical and comprehensive infrastructure projects and humanitarian initiatives serving Ocean and Monmouth counties were included in the recently approved consolidated budget and will receive more than $23.8 million in federal funding, thanks to earmarks submitted by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ). “The nearly $24 million in federal funding, which I secured, will go towards vital projects and initiatives that will greatly improve the safety, health, and quality of life of Ocean and Monmouth County res... Read more

By Jim Lonergan Published February 5, 2026 at 6:11 PM WASHINGTON, D.C. — Several municipalities across Monmouth County will receive significant federal funding for infrastructure, environmental, and public safety improvements through earmarks secured by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) in the recently approved consolidated federal budget. Overall, the legislation includes more than $23.8 million in federal funding for infrastructure and humanitarian initiatives across Ocean and Monmouth counties, with mu... Read more

By Lakewood Alerts Published February 5, 2026 Rep. Chris Smith has secured more than $23.8 million in federal funding for infrastructure, public safety, environmental, and humanitarian projects across Ocean and Monmouth counties. The funding was included in the recently approved consolidated federal budget through congressional earmarks submitted by Smith. His office said the allocations are intended to address a range of local needs, from drinking water and flood control to law enforcement and ... Read more

By A.M. Dickey Published February 5, 2026 More than $23.8 million in federal funding has been allocated to infrastructure and humanitarian projects in Ocean and Monmouth counties, following the approval of a consolidated budget. The funding comes from congressional earmarks submitted by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who represents New Jersey’s 4th district in the U.S. Congress. “The nearly $24 million in federal funding, which I secured, will go towards vital projects and initiatives that will greatl... Read more

The following are excerpts of Chairman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) opening statement at the House Foreign Affairs Africa and Western Hemisphere Subcommittees’ February 4th joint hearing, entitled “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World”: Congratulations and special thanks to Ambassador Sam Brownback and Dr. Katrina Lantos Swett, co-chairs of the International Religious Freedom Summit just concluded here in Washington, for an extraordinarily powerful, comprehensive call to action for global relig... Read more

By Emily Hallas Published February 4, 2026 at 9:22 am The Pentagon revealed on Tuesday that a team of U.S. military forces is in Nigeria to combat terrorism in the African country. The development comes after President Donald Trump authorized strikes last December against ISIS terrorists in northwest Nigeria, amid concerns that the group, and other radicalized Islamist militias such as Boko Haram, are killing thousands of Christians. General Dagvin R.M. Anderson, head of the U.S. military’s Afri... Read more

Attacks on religious groups continue to rise in the United States and around the world, prompting renewed efforts to raise public awareness and strengthen the international religious freedom movement. As lawmakers and groups take action to raise awareness, a hearing was held by Congressman Chris Smith, a longtime religious freedom advocate. Capitol Hill correspondent Erik Rosales reports. The full interview can be viewed by clicking here. ### Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee, sat down with Tony Perkins on Washington Watch with Tony Perkins to discuss his recent congressional hearing, entitled “Defending Religious Freedom Around the World,” the U.S. deployment of troops to Nigeria, and addressing Christian persecution in Nigeria and China. The full interview can be viewed by clicking here. ### Read more