The following are excerpts of Chairman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) opening statement at the House Foreign Affairs Africa Subcommittee’s November 20th hearing, entitled “President Trump’s Redesignation of Nigeria as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’: A Serious, Well-Founded Wake-Up Call”: Welcome to this critical hearing on the systematic and accelerating violence against predominantly Christian communities in Nigeria. This is my 12th hearing focused exclusively on Nigeria—with scores of other hearings... Read more

The following are excerpts of Co-Chairman Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) opening statement at the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC)’s November 20th hearing, entitled “China’s War on Religion: The Threat to Religious Freedom and Why it Matters to the United States”: Thank you, Senator Sullivan, and good morning, everyone. I’m very glad the CECC is holding this hearing, and to be working with you on this critical—and indeed, urgent—issue that is so close to my heart. I say urgent because, ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, held a congressional hearing entitled "A Dire Crisis in Sudan: A Global Call to Action" in Washington on May 22, 2025. Excerpts of the chairman's opening remarks: Over the decades, the people of Sudan have been subjected to unbearable pain and suffering and loss of life—even slavery. Since the 1990s, I have been a vocal advocate for human rights, democracy and stability in Sudan and soon after Republicans too... Read more

The following are Chairman Chris Smith's (R-NJ) opening remarks at a March 25 hearing of House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa entitled “Metals, Minerals, and Mining: How the CCP Fuels Conflict and Exploitation in Africa:” Today, we convene to address a pressing issue that has far-reaching implications for human rights, regional stability, and global supply chains: the People's Republic of China's (PRC) involvement in Africa's mining sector and its role in exacerbating conflict and exploi... Read more

The following are excerpts of opening remarks by Chairman Chris Smith (R-NJ) at a House hearing entitled “Conflict and Persecution in Nigeria: The Case for a CPC Designation," held in Washington, DC on March 12, 2025. 'One of our distinguished witnesses—Bishop Wilfred Anagbe of the diocese of Makurdi, Nigeria— will testify today that” Militant Fulani herdsman are terrorists. They steal and vandalize, they kill and boast about it, they kidnap and rape, and they enjoy total impunity from the elect... Read more

The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) at today’s hearing on the harmful effects of offshore wind industrialization on our environment, marine life, and economy. The hearing, chaired by Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD) and attended by Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-NJ), was held in Ocean City, Maryland and adds to expert testimony provided at last year’s critical hearing in Wildwood, NJ. “In just the last two and a half months, three major industrial wind development companies pulle... Read more

Enes Kanter Freedom—the former NBA star who lost his amazing 11-year basketball career in the league for his courageous stand for human rights against the Chinese Communist Party—testifies at Rep. Chris Smith's congressional hearing on US corporate complicity with Xi Jinping's communist regime. The following are excerpts of opening remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, at the congressional hearing he chaired today entitled "Corporate Compl... Read more

Below are excerpts of opening remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Ranking Member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, at the bicameral, bipartisan congressional hearing held on Tuesday, July 27th on "Corporate Sponsorship of the 2022 Beijing Olympics." In 2018, Smith had written a letter to International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Bach, asking the IOC to reassign the location of the 2022 Games given the Chinese government's egregious and ongoing human rights violations. Tod... Read more

The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, at the congressional hearing he chaired on Wednesday, July 21st entitled "The Ortega Government and the Human Cost of Repression in Nicaragua: Political Prisoners": This hearing of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission—The Ortega Government and the Human Cost of Repression in Nicaragua: Political Prisoners—will come to order. Good afternoon. We are gathered here today to examine... Read more

The following are excerpts of remarks by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), co-chair of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, at the congressional hearing entitled "The State of Religious Freedom Around the Globe" held on Tuesday, July 13th. To watch the hearing, click here. Pursuant to notice, this hearing on the state of religious freedom around the globe will come to order. We are gathered to explore the state of religious freedom around the world, coinciding with the nongovernmental International Re... Read more