The United Nations Security Council yesterday passed a watered down resolution transitioning responsibility of the African-led International Support Mission in the Central Africa Republic (MISCA), to the African Union (AU) while postponing preparations for a United Nations-led Peacekeeping Mission by at least three months, said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), who chaired a recent congressional hearing on the crisis in the Central Africa Republic (CAR). “In effect, the Council has deferred taking ... Read more

At the Nov. 13 joint hearing by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations and the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, the Obama Administration announced its long-awaited decision to designate the Nigerian terrorist organization Boko Haram and its breakaway faction known as Ansaru as Foreign Terrorist Organizations. This designation was the subject of H.R. 3209, introduced by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) of the Su... Read more

The establishment of a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal will be the topic of a joint hearing Wednesday by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations and the Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa in Room 2172 of the Rayburn House Office Building: WHEN: Wednesday, October 30, 2013 1:30 p.m. WHAT: Establishing a Syrian War Crimes Tribunal WHERE: 2172 Rayburn House Office Building WHO: Chairman Chris Smith, author of legislation to crea... Read more

The Borough of Sea Girt in Monmouth County is slated to receive a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which has awarded more than $1.6 million to help pay for costs that resulted from Superstorm Sandy, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) said today. The grant will provide $1,616,817 in Federal funding to Sea Girt to pay for 90 percent of over $1,796,000 in repair costs incurred by Superstorm Sandy. According to FEMA, reconstruction will take shape in two phases, after the comple... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee who plans to vote against the House resolution next week to authorize the use of U.S. military force in Syria, today directly asked U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry pointed questions about evidence justifying use of force, as well as about the duration and planning of the military action. Though Kerry did not answer Smith questions, the Congressman announced his legislation to create a Syrian War Crimes Tri... Read more

A hearing to review the U.S. programs designed to help developing countries produce clean drinking water was held today by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the U.S. House subcommittee on global health. Featuring top U.S. government officials overseeing water programs, the hearing was entitled "The Impact of U.S. Water Programs on Global Health." Testifying were: Christian Holmes, Global Water Coordinator, U.S. Agency for International Development; Aaron A. Salzberg, Ph.D., Special Coordinator... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leading voice on foreign affairs and human rights in the U.S. Congress, spoke on the House floor today in support of the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013. “The Iranian government is estimated to be a little more than a year away from becoming a nuclear weapon state – an unprecedented and absolutely unacceptable threat. We need this legislation to strengthen existing economic sanctions,” said Smith, co-chair of the Bi-Partisan Anti-Semitism Task Force and cha... Read more

The U.S. State Department today testified on its new 2013 Trafficking in Persons Report before a hearing held by Rep. Chris Smith, chairman of the House subcommittee on global human rights. Ambassador-at-Large for Trafficking in Persons, Luis CdeBaca, the highest U.S. government official for trafficking issues, testified. Smith's landmark law, the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) of 2000 mandated the annual report and created the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons which... Read more

The fight against some of the most neglected diseases in the world were the focus of a hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global health. The hearing, entitled “Addressing the Neglected Diseases Treatment Gap,” was held before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations chaired by Smith. Most often affecting people from the world’s most underdeveloped nations, in rece... Read more

The precarious position of religious minorities in Syria—where over two years of civil war has claimed an estimated 93,000 lives and continues unabated—was the topic of a joint congressional hearing Tuesday held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global human rights issues. “Religious Minorities in Syria: Caught in the Middle,” is the title of a rare joint hearing held before the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, ... Read more