Geraldine Finucane, widow of murdered human rights attorney Patrick Finucane, led a group of witnesses who testified Wednesday before a congressional hearing on human rights in Northern Ireland chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the U.S. Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission). “In connection with the Good Friday peace agreement, the British government promised to conduct public inquiries into prominent, recommended cases... Read more

A bill to increase U.S. exports to Africa was introduced today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights. The “Increasing American Jobs Through Greater Exports to Africa Act of 2012” is intended to stimulate U.S. bilateral trade with Africa and boost American exports to Africa by 200 percent within 10 years. Smith is joined in this bipartisan legislation by Congressman Bobby Rush (IL-01), who has supported similar trade legis... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today voted for passage of the Jumpstart Our Business Startups Act or JOBS Act, a package of six bipartisan proposals that are specifically designed to increase capital and growth opportunities for small businesses and create jobs for the unemployed and under-employed. “Creating new jobs and boosting the economy remain a number one priority for the entire nation,” Smith said. “Enactment of the JOBS ACT—bipartisan legislation—will spur real job growth and put peopl... Read more

The widespread and ongoing human rights abuses by the Vietnamese Government are the focus of “The Vietnam Human Rights Act,” a bill passed today by the full House Foreign Affairs Committee, said U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), author of the bill. “It is imperative that the United States Government send an unequivocal message to the Vietnamese regime that it must end its human rights abuses against its own citizens,” said Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who ch... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about Congressman Don Payne (NJ-10). "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with deep sorrow that I inform the House that our dear friend and colleague, Donald Payne has passed... ." Congressman Smith's remarks on CSPAN can be viewed by clicking here. Related article: Star Ledger Read more

An emergency hearing entitled “China's Repatriation of North Korean Refugees” was the topic of a hearing of the U.S. China Commission held Monday by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04). “Dozens of North Koreans are today at imminent risk of persecution, torture—even execution—owing to China’s decision to forcibly repatriate them in stark violation of both the spirit and the letter of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol to which China has acceded,” Smith said. “The international community—espe... Read more

The challenge of determining the fate of missing persons in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSEC) region was the topic of a hearing held today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Queen Noor of Jordon, Commissioner of the International Commission on Missing Persons, was the lead witness at the hearing. "Her Majesty, Queen Noor is an active patron, president, ... Read more

From Havana, Cuba, former political prisoner Dr. Óscar Elías Biscet, M.D., a courageous human rights advocate who has spent over 11 years in jail, testified today before a rare joint hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) of the House subcommittee on human rights, as well as the subcommittee that addresses Western Hemisphere issues. From Havana, Cuba, former political prisoner Dr. Óscar Elías Biscet, M.D., a courageous human rights advocate who has spent over 11 years in jail, testif... Read more

“As President Obama welcomes Vice President Xi Jinping, China’s leader-in-waiting to the White House today our Commission will hear testimony from two wives who are appealing for the immediate release of their jailed husbands—great human rights leaders—back in China,” said Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) at a bipartisan hearing of the U.S. China Commission today. “As Chairman, I hope that President Obama doesn’t put human rights last on the agenda—or not at all—as he did when Chinese President Hu J... Read more

Ireland’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Eamon Gilmore testified before a congressional hearing held today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the U.S. Commission for Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, also known as the Helsinki Commission). “While today many countries in Europe are inwardly focused on economic crises, the world still cries out for global leadership,” Smith said. “Ireland has stepped up to the plate, accepting the 2012 chairma... Read more