Today U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.), co-chairs of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS), announced the introduction of the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. The legislation, which has been introduced as H.R. 7 in the House and S. 946 in the Senate, has the support of 95 cosponsors in the House and 21 in the Senate. Click here to read the text of the bill. Congressman Smith (NJ-04) said of the bills: “More than 100 Members... Read more

The pain and suffering endured by “left behind” American parents as they work tirelessly to bring home their children who have been abducted to overseas destinations and wrongfully held was the sobering topic of a hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees human rights. “The damage to the child and the left behind parent is incalculable and too often life-long,” said Smith. “The children especially are at risk of serious emot... Read more

Following U.S.-Vietnamese talks last month and an April 10 Congressional hearing that centered on victims of human trafficking abuses, religious persecution and political repression at the hands of the Vietnamese government, a bipartisan bill was unveiled on Capitol Hill Wednesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House human rights subcommittee, along with Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, both of California. Excerpts of Congressman Smith's r... Read more

A hearing on efforts to help foster U.S.-African trade by increasing the export of American goods to the continent was held Tuesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa. The hearing, entitled “Increasing American Jobs through Greater Exports to Africa,” featured witnesses testifying before an open hearing of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. Testifying were: Stephen Lande, ... Read more

Kenya’s recent elections—which included important changes to its government and electoral process funded in part by the United States and which had sharply reduced levels of violence than had followed the bloody 2007 elections—were the topic of a hearing held Tuesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. Smith called Kenya a “critically important” African ally, noting that the United States has devoted m... Read more

The newest named ship in the U.S. Navy will bear the name of the city where the nation saw its origins forged in battle under the leadership of Gen. George Washington during the Revolutionary War. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, was informed of the decision today in a conversation with the Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus this afternoon. The new, revolutionary vessel—the Joint High Speed Vessel (JHSV)—will bear the name of one of the nation’s ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the House subcommittee on global human rights, held a hearing Thursday, April 11 entitled “Highlighting Vietnamese Government Human Rights Violations in Advance of the U.S.-Vietnam Dialogue.” He gave the following opening statement: "Thank you for joining us for this important hearing to examine the ongoing human rights situation in Vietnam. "The Vietnamese government continues to be an egregious violator of a broad array of human rights. Our distinguished witnesses... Read more

Blind human rights lawyer Chen Guangcheng, known for his daring night-time escape from Chinese secret police in 2012 and the subsequent international efforts to secure his freedom and move to the United States, testified in person for the first time before Chairman Chris Smith’s (NJ-04) global human rights subcommittee in the U.S. House of Representatives. It was a sharp contrast to Chen’s live call to Smith during a similar hearing on May 3, 2013 from a Chinese government hospital bed in China.... Read more

U.S. Reps Chris Smith (R-NJ), Grace Meng (D-NY) and Peter King (R-NY) announced today that they are urging key U.S. Senators to allow a vote on legislation that would allow the use of federal disaster funds to rebuild houses of worship damaged by Hurricane Sandy. The three lawmakers, who worked to pass the bill in the House last month, made the case in a letter they sent to Senators Thomas Carper (D-DE), Chairman of the Senate Homeland Security Committee and Tom Coburn (R-TN), the panel’s Rankin... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who represents areas of Ocean and Monmouth counties hard-hit by Superstorm Sandy, today testified before the House Appropriations Subcommittee Energy and Water Development on the impact of Superstorm Sandy disaster relief legislation. The hearing was held by New Jersey Congressman, Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen, author of the “Frelinghuysen amendment” which provided the necessary funding to rebuild New Jersey and keep our recovery on track. The legislation “is ma... Read more