A hearing on the crisis in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was held today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. The hearing, entitled “The Devastating Crisis in Eastern Congo,” featured witnesses testifying before an open hearing of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights. “This conflict was exacerbated by Rwanda's interventions in neighboring eastern Congo, as documented by t... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) was a guest speaker today at an event marking the second anniversary of the crackdown in Belarus. Freedom House sponsored the event in the Cannon House Office Building, in partnership with National Endowment for Democracy, Human Rights House Network and the International Federation for Human Rightsand in cooperation with the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Smith is chairman of the Helsinki Commission and author of the Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act, enacted in 2... Read more

A congressional briefing on sex trafficking and abuse of children—a crime that destroys the lives of the victims—was chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, also known as the Helsinki Commission. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) also participated in the briefing. “The sex trafficking and abuse of children is one of the most despicable, violent crimes on earth – shattering the lives of the victims and their families – a crime from which t... Read more

Rwanda's armed interventions in the affairs of its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were the topic of a congressional hearing held Wednesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. “Six million people have lost their lives in the DRC as a result of recurring conflict. Far from resolving ethnic disputes, the interventions by Rwanda in the DRC have exacerbated tensions among the ethnic groups who live the... Read more

The state of ongoing peacekeeping operations on the African continent was the topic of a hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. “There are several current peacekeeping operations in Africa encouraged and/or supported by the U.S. government, and others are being planned even now,” said Smith. “The effectiveness of peacekeeping operations has been called into question in terms of plann... Read more

At a meeting Wednesday with community leaders across New Jersey involved in the fight against modern day slavery known as human trafficking, Cong. Chris Smith discussed the long but crucial battle to help trafficking victims at all levels of society. “We must all work to fight against this horrific scourge, which disproportionately victimizes children and young girls who are often trafficked into, lured or coerced sexual slavery and then trapped in a nightmare,” said Smith, chairman of the House... Read more

Reports documenting poor working conditions at factories in China producing electronic products for well-known brands such as Apple, HP, Nokia, Dell, AT&T, Motorola and other companies were the topics of a hearing held today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the U.S. Executive-Congressional China Commission House and the congressional panel that oversees international human rights. The AFL-CIO testified, did human rights groups. “As a member of the World Trade Organization, China h... Read more

A significant majority in the House of Representatives, 220-154, today voted for legislation to prohibit abortions in the District of Columbia on pain-capable, unborn children after 22 weeks gestation. The bill, H.R. 3803, the “District of Columbia Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act,” was authored by Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-02). “Pain. We all dread it. Avoid it. Even fear it. And go to extraordinary lengths to mitigate its severity and duration,” said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Co-chai... Read more

The case of an American jailed in Bolivia without trial for more than a year is gaining increased attention from human-rights groups and members of the U.S. Congress, adding to frictions between the U.S. and Bolivia over the country's antidrug efforts. On Wednesday, the case of Jacob Ostreicher, a Brooklyn native jailed on money-laundering charges in Bolivia, is due to be taken up by a House subcommittee that is chaired by Rep. Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican. holding Mr. Ostreicher for pol... Read more

At a hearing on Capitol Hill today, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) blasted the Chinese Government for stealing U.S. jobs through deceitful policies and trading practices. Fake products and components made in China and sold in the U.S. put American consumers at risk, he said. Fake Chinese computer chips have even been found in U.S. defense systems. “All of us know that economic growth and vigorous exports are vital to American prosperity, and now in these difficult times—economic recovery,” said S... Read more