FREEHOLD—Congressman Chris Smith, whose Fourth Congressional District includes several popular Jersey Shore fishing basins including Belmar, Brielle and Point Pleasant, welcomed the decision, effective today, to lift the COVID-19 restrictions limiting the number of anglers permitted on charter and head boats, as long as all anglers adhere to 6’ social distancing protocols. “This could not have come a moment too soon. While overdue, this is still great news,” said Rep. Smith, who has been pushing... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) was once again recognized for his leadership as one of the most bipartisan Members of Congress, as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce (USCOC) released its inaugural “Jefferson-Hamilton Award for Bipartisanship,” citing Smith’s work during the first half of the 116th Congress (2019-2020) at the Chamber’s virtual “Governing with Distinction Ceremony” held today. Chamber Vice President Jack Howard said that with the country facing unprecedented challenges—including a global... Read more

Key bipartisan legislation to extend and enhance the Paycheck Protection Program, which is helping sustain businesses and pay workers during the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19, passed the House of Representatives May 28 and the Senate June 4. Rep. Chris Smith, who supported the creation of the PPP and subsequent legislation nearly doubling its funding, said the new Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, HR 7010, is needed to make the program easier, more accessible and more reali... Read more

Commissioners from the bipartisan and bicameral Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC) introduced a resolution on the thirty-first anniversary of the Tiananmen protests and their violent suppression. The resolution condemns the Chinese government’s efforts to dismantle the promised freedoms and autonomy of Hong Kong, including through the arbitrary arrest of democracy advocates and the forced imposition of national security legislation and it calls on the Administration to build an i... Read more

By Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) The murder of George Floyd while in custody by a Minneapolis police officer demands justice—and an absolute recommitment by law enforcement and policymakers to always ensure that any person taken into custody is treated with respect, nonviolence and professionalism. I watched the video of Derek Chauvin kneeling on the neck of Mr. Floyd who pleaded “I can’t breathe” with horror and disbelief. Chauvin not only betrayed his solemn duty to serve and protect but he betrayed... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the House-passed Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act and who has promoted human rights as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for forty years, said: "Xi Jinping’s dictatorship is an existential threat to the people of Hong Kong, China itself, countries in the region and over time, the world. After years of human rights admonishment and cheap rhetoric devoid of any meaningful penalties, Xi has concluded that the West is all talk, no action. Presid... Read more

Key bipartisan legislation to extend and enhance the Paycheck Protection Program, which is helping sustain businesses and pay workers during the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19, passed the House of Representatives May 28. Rep. Chris Smith, who supported the creation of the PPP and subsequent legislation nearly doubling its funding, said the new Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act, HR 7010, is needed to make the program easier, more accessible and more realistic as businesses dea... Read more

In response to Secretary Mike Pompeo that Hong Kong is no longer autonomous from China, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Ranking Member of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, said the following: Smith said: "The United States and the world can no longer enable—however unwittingly—the Chinese government's massive crimes against humanity including violations of the Basic Law and, as Secretary Pompeo stated today, the loss of auto... Read more

The winners of the 2020 Congressional Art Competition were announced today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who sponsors the annual competition and art show for high school students in the Fourth Congressional District as part of the nationwide competition organized by the Congressional Institute to help recognize and foster artistic talent in each congressional district. “We’re glad this event, though modified, remained popular and competitive ensuring that NJ-04 high school artists, who had... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), the author of the House-passed Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act, released the following statement condemning the Chinese government’s latest assault on Hong Kong freedoms. “I unequivocally condemn Beijing’s efforts to destroy Hong Kong as we know it—with its freedoms of press, speech and assembly, which are now imperiled—and I stand with the people of Hong Kong during this dark period,” Smith said. “We are witnessing the death knell of the ‘high degree of autonom... Read more