Once again we are gathered to praise the outstanding work that Michael Cromartie and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom are doing. They continue to perform exactly as the Congress intended when it passed the International Religious Freedom Act, which created the Commission. They have kept the eyes of the world, and of our own policy makers, on the central importance of religious freedom in our foreign policy. I am proud to have been an original co-sponsor. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations issued the following statement today upon the State Department’s Release of the 2005 International Religious Freedom Report: Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, today criticized the Ethiopian government’s violent response to protestors and condemned the continuing refusal of the Ethiopian government to allow peaceful protests. More than 30 persons have been killed in clashes this week in the Ethiopian capital city of Addis Ababa, touched off by violent police reaction to continuing electoral protests by opposition parties and their supporters. Smith has been monitoring the situation since chairing a Congressional hearing this past spring and visiting Ethiopia this summer. Read more

While Sudanese First Vice-President Lt. General Salva Kiir Mayardit was meeting with Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick and other Administration officials during his first visit to the United States (since assuming his current position), Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) used the opportunity to investigate troubles surrounding the East African Nation and seek avenues for the United States to effectively direct its efforts. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights, and I... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) joined Maureen and Richard Kanka and the Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation at a press conference at the New Jersey State House to announce that at Smith’s behest, the U.S. Department of Justice has appropriated an additional $147,996 to the Megan Nicole Kanka Foundation. The 2005 federal law enforcement dollars allocation will be used to enhance the Check ’Em Out Program, which helps youth recreational sports leagues pay for background checks on coaches and other personnel. The earmark was created by Smith in 2004, and brings total federal funding to $326,000 to date. Read more

U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith (R-NJ), who was already scheduled to travel to New York for top level U.N. meetings on Monday, called a U.N. investigative report linking high-ranking Syrian officials to the assassination of former Prime Minister Rafik Hariri and twenty others “extremely troubling” and joined President Bush in calling for the U.N. Security Council to convene a Security Council session “as quickly as possible.” Read more

U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith, Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations will travel to New York on Monday for a day of meetings at the United Nations. Smith’s Committee has Congressional jurisdiction over the U.N. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), author of the first Trafficking Victims Protection Law and the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 972), joined Mira Sorvino and other members of the cast of “Human Trafficking” at their Washington, DC screening last night at the Ronald Reagan Building. The miniseries, which will premiere on October 24 and 25, brings to light the issue of human trafficking – the sale of human beings into modern day slavery. Lifetime adopted the project as part of its Emmy Award winning campaign entitled “Stop Violence Against Women.” Read more

The House Committee on International Relations today passed U.S. Rep. Chris Smith’s (R-NJ) Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 (H.R. 972), legislation that strengthens the nation’s current trafficking law (also authored by Smith), authorizes new funds for investigation and prosecution of domestic trafficking within the United States. Smith’s bill – which will now be brought to the floor of the House of Representatives for passage – ensures that the United States will continue to lead the global battle against modern-day human slavery. According to estimates by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the bill will provide $354 million to combat trafficking. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing to study the terrible situation facing India’s 250 million Dalits and tribal peoples. The Dalits, better known as “untouchables,” and other tribal peoples are treated as virtual non-humans, and suffer pervasive discrimination and violation of their human rights. Smith, a champion of human rights causes since being elected to Congress, held the oversight hearing on Thursday afternoon. Read more