“The policy of separating families at the U.S. border is wrong and needs to be immediately reversed. Next week we will be voting on legislation to end this practice as part of a larger reform package that will include other provisions such as a legislative solution for the Dreamers, giving them certainty and the ability to go to school and work, and pursue a pathway to legalization.” Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) applauded House passage of multiple bills this week to boost the federal response to the opioid crisis, and called on the Senate to move swiftly to ensure that support reaches victims and service providers as soon as possible. “As the opioid epidemic continues to proliferate, our efforts to treat and prevent this disease at the federal level must be redoubled,” Smith said. “This crisis requires a more aggressive and comprehensive response to the problem, which is e... Read more

On the House Floor on Thursday, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) congratulated four students at Point Pleasant Borough High School—Luke Boylan, Theresa Cardone, Jaspreet Kaur, and Adrian Wittmann—and their teacher Nick Gattuso, for their app “Lunch Buddy” which won first place in the 2017 Congressional App Competition. The app connected special needs students at their school with fellow students to sit with them at lunchtime, fostering friendship and inclusion. Below are excerpts of his remarks “Lunch Bu... Read more

Today, U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Norma J. Torres (D-CA), members of the Foreign Affairs Committee, introduced a bipartisan resolution expressing solidarity and support for the people of Guatemala after the eruption of the Fuego Volcano earlier this month. The resolution also recognizes the efforts of first responders and citizen volunteers, and the donations made by U.S. citizens, companies, and charities to relief and reconstruction efforts. Additionally, it urges the United S... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who visited Vietnamese human rights defender Nguyen Van Dai in 2005 in his Hanoi law office, welcomed today his release from prison, along with the release of his law firm colleague, Le Thu Ha. “I am overjoyed that Nguyen Van Dai and his wife, along with Ms. Le Thu Ha, are now finally safe and free to speak and worship as they see fit,” Rep. Smith stated. “But I am saddened that the Vietnamese government choses to torture, jail, and exile some of its best and brightest c... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, released the following statement after Ethiopia lifted its state of emergency and accepted the terms of a peace agreement with Eritrea: “I welcome news of Ethiopia’s acceptance of the 2000 peace agreement with Eritrea as well as parliament’s approval of a bill to end the State of Emergency. I remain cautiously optimistic that Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed will continue along the direction of peace and respect for hum... Read more

As a result of the quick action taken by two elected officials, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has agreed to perform emergency dredging of the Manasquan Inlet to maintain safe navigation for boat traffic, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced today in Point Pleasant Beach, where he was at the invitation of Mayor Steve Reid to inspect areas of the inlet first-hand. (Pictured left to right): Point Pleasant Beach Borough Councilman Andy Cortes, Mayor Steve Reid, Councilman Bob Santanello, Rep... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chair of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa, issued the following statement on Thursday: “It is the long-term geostrategic goal of China to replace the dollar as the world’s reserve currency, and its latest gambit occurred when central bankers and officials from 14 African nations discussed the viability of using China’s yuan as a reserve currency for the region. “For the sake of global human rights and anti-corruption efforts, it is critically important th... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chair of the House Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, on Tuesday welcomed the release of the State Department’s annual International Religious Freedom Report and applauded Secretary Pompeo’s announcement of a Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom scheduled for July 25-26, 2018. “Getting the facts right on the global state of religious freedom is essential for the shaping of U.S. policy and priorities, and th... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on Friday issued the following statement on the jury’s verdict in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, which found Carlos and Jemima Guimarães guilty of one count of international parental kidnapping: “The verdict in this case underscores the extremely serious nature of international parental child abduction. I hope that the grandparents will now work to bring about the reunification of Dr. Brann with his son Nico, rather than continue to destroy th... Read more