U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who authored provisions incorporated in today’s landmark bill to reform the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) reiterated his call for “zero tolerance” of sexual harassment and noted that in the past the system has favored those in power over victims—and must be changed. “This legislation provides congressional employees with comprehensive protection from abuse, including zero tolerance for sexual harassment,” said Smith, a human rights leader in Congress. “Very... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, released the following statement on the Administration’s decision to impose sanctions on South Sudan: “Today’s announcement by the Trump Administration to impose sanctions on South Sudan is a critical and welcome step,” said Congressman Smith , a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I have visited South Sudan–most recently in 2017—and ... Read more

Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Peter Roskam (R-IL), the co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, sent a letter to Polish President Andrzej Duda urging him to reject legislation passed by the Sejm that that would criminalize references to Polish complicity in Nazi war crimaces against Jews during the occupation of Poland during World War... Read more

The House on Tuesday passed a historic defense spending bill, which Rep. Smith voted in support of for the third time, that funds U.S. soldiers, tanks, aircraft, ships, other military equipment, and Defense infrastructure. The U.S. military will get a much-needed boost from this bill, which provides personnel an across-the-board pay increase of 2.4% for the 2018 fiscal year. “The men and women of our nation’s military serving around the world deserve our full support, and we must be making ever... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statement on the retirement announcement by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, who will be retiring at the end of the present session of the U.S. Congress: Rodney is an outstanding member of Congress who has served his country with honor both as a veteran of the Vietnam War and through 12 terms in Congress. Continuing a family tradition of public service that dates back to the founding of the... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chair of the House panel on global human rights and co-chair of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, issued the following statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day: We pause today on International Holocaust Remembrance Day to mourn the lives of more than six million Jews who perished during the Nazis’ systematic campaign to annihilate the Jewish people of Europe. On this Yom HaShoah—marking 73 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz, Birke... Read more

Soon, coastal New Jersey communities and organizations will be able to apply for grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for projects building up local ecosystems and communities for future natural disasters and extreme weather. “We’ve all seen the devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy on our beaches, coastal towns, and communities along inland waterways,” Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) stated. “We’ve also seen the resilience of New Jersey residents in rebuildin... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) issued the following statement on the House passage of the CR to reopen the federal government: I voted again for the CR to continue funding critical programs—including those for veterans, active-duty military personnel, nutrition and public health, and a six-year reauthorization of children’s health insurance programs (CHIP)—while we work on a DACA solution before the March deadline, which I believe we can do without punishing children, veterans, and military service me... Read more

Invited weeks ago to Seton Hall University’s conference on human trafficking, Rep. Chris Smith, the prime author of the nation’s landmark Trafficking Victims Protection Act worked through the emergency budget session in Washington and delivered his keynote address by phone to the audience of students, faculty and local advocates huddled at the South Orange, New Jersey campus. “As late as this morning I was still hoping to join the outstanding program in person,” said the senior foreign policy la... Read more

Congressman Smith (R-NJ) presented an American flag flown over the U.S. Capitol to Bill Kelly, a 93 year-old U.S. Navy veteran and hero of the U.S.S. Laffey during World War II, on his birthday this week. Kelly was joined by his family members, local Wall Township Committeeman Kevin Orender, and members of the U.S.S. Laffey Association. Read more