Just nine days before President Trump is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) will lead a U.S. congressional delegation in a bilateral meeting with Russian lawmakers in what could be a new era of U.S.-Russia relations. Of note, Smith was part of the first U.S. Helsinki Commission delegation to visit Moscow, which was critical to efforts to open up regular discussions on human rights with leaders of the then-Soviet Union. The 2018 meeting will include Smith a... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) on Friday met with officials at the Center for Health Education, Medicine, and Dentistry (CHEMED) in Lakewood and commended the center for providing valuable health care for the community. “This outstanding center has for years been meeting the medical and dental needs of all local residents, regardless of their ability to pay,” Smith said. “It is what true community health care looks like—I want to offer my sincere gratitude for the work they have done, and contin... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), prime author of the landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (P.L. 106-386) praised the Trump Administration designation of China as a Tier 3[1] trafficking offender—the worst ranking possible—in the State Department’s annual 2018 Trafficking In Persons (TIP) Report mandated by Smith’s law. “This report makes clear that China’s government is an enabler of human trafficking,” said Smith, who is also the co-chair of the Congressional-Executive Commission on Chin... Read more

The robust Fiscal Year (FY) 2019 Department of Defense spending bill—that passed the House on Thursday with Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) strong support—provides comprehensive support to U.S. military service men and women, with much-needed funding for new equipment, military readiness programs, and health care. “This critically-important legislation ensures our troops have the funding needed to maintain operations and helps restore military readiness,” Smith said. “Years of stopgap defense spendin... Read more

“I am extremely disappointed in today’s Supreme Court decision in the Janus v. AFSCME case that threatens to weaken the ability of public-sector unions to represent the interests of working people. “Unions help even the playing field and make both the workplace and America itself more just and fair—of significance, union workers make $200 more per week than nonunion workers. And although women still do not earn as much as men in the workplace overall, women who are union workers make an average ... Read more

DAVID P. WILLIS, ASBURY PARK PRESS - Handing a victory to residents who fought it for years, state regulators on Friday turned off Jersey Central Power & Light's bid to build an $111 million high voltage line between Aberdeen and Red Bank. The state Board of Public Utilities voted against JCP&L's request at its public meeting, more than three months after an administrative law judge recommended the board reject it. "My primary sense is relief," said Rachael Kanapka, co-president of Residents Aga... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), who represents much of Monmouth County, applauded Friday’s ruling by the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities rejecting the proposal of Jersey Central Power & Light (JCP&L) to construct a high-voltage power line between Red Bank and Aberdeen. “Today’s decision is a vindication for local residents who fought long and hard to oppose these power lines, especially Rachel Kanapka and her committed group Residents Against Giant Electric (RAGE),” said Smith, who visited ... Read more

There is nothing more important than protecting vulnerable children from physical and psychological harm. The policy of forcibly separating children from their parent or parents at the U.S. border is seriously wrong, hurts families, and needs to immediately end. The Departments of Justice and Homeland Security must halt the practice of family separations, except in the cases of criminal felonies by an adult including rape, murder, sexual assault on a minor, or human trafficking. Without delay, C... Read more

“I am deeply concerned for the victims of today’s senseless gun violence at Trenton’s Art All Night event and pray for the survivors’ quick recovery. Special thanks to the Trenton police for courageously acting to protect as many people as possible from harm. This is another tragedy that compels policy makers at all levels including Congress to do more to end the escalating violence, including universal background checks to keep guns away from dangerous people. I’ve spoken with Mercer County Pro... Read more

On Saturday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) commended ten students from the Fourth Congressional District whom he nominated for acceptance to military service academies and who will soon be leaving to attend the academies. The reception was hosted for the future cadets and midshipmen, and their families, as they prepare for four years of school. “It was hard work that got you here, it will take persistence, commitment, courage and devotion to God and our country to succeed,” Smith said to the nominees ... Read more