A provision to give houses of worship access to critical federal disaster relief, and another provision allowing disaster victims to be eligible for both federal grants and federal loans for disaster assistance, were passed Thursday by the House as part of the third supplemental disaster relief bill. Both provisions reflect legislation originally authored by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), chairman of the Africa Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives, gave the following statement in advance of Liberia’s presidential run-off election next week: “Liberia again faces many challenges as their voters head to the polls on December 26, 2017 for its Presidential run-off election. The Government of Liberia must ensure that this vote is free, fair and transparent. Given America’s historic ties to Liberia and the role played by Americo-Liberians in ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith issued the following statement after the House voted on H.R.1, the tax bill: On Wednesday, December 20th, I voted “no” on H.R. 1 because while I believe that Americans are overtaxed, this bill does not provide needed tax relief for New Jersey residents. The bill rolls back or entirely eliminates certain itemized deductions, and almost half—47%—of the taxpayers in my district itemize, claiming an average of $31,981 in deductions. Foremost among these changes that I opposed was t... Read more

On December 8, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) concluded its annual meeting of the Foreign Ministers of 57 OSCE participating States by adopting a ministerial decision on combatting child trafficking—modeled on OSCE Parliamentary Assembly (PA) resolutions adopted in 2016 and 2017, authored by Helsinki Commission Co-Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). Rep. Smith is the Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues in the OSCE PA. Entitled “Strengthening Effort... Read more

Legislation introduced by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) naming the U.S. post office in Belmar, NJ in honor of Dr. Walter S. McAfee, a distinguished local scientist who helped with the development of radar transmissions into space, passed the House today. “I am thankful that today we are able to honor such a great man and I urge my fellow colleagues to support this bill to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1300 Main Street in Belmar, New Jersey, as the ‘Dr. Wa... Read more

China is complicit in North Korea’s human rights abuses through forcibly repatriating the citizens who escape, and it must be held accountable, proclaimed two panels of expert witnesses at a Capitol Hill hearing today on “Protecting North Korean Refugees” by the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations. “Amid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula, we cannot forget those suffering under the North Korean regime and those North Korean r... Read more

On Tuesday, December 12, at 2 p.m., the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations will hold a hearing on “Protecting North Korean Refugees,” to examine what more the U.S. can do to push China to protect North Korean defectors and grant them international protection. “As the Congress continues to look at ways to best apply maximum diplomatic and financial press on the regime of Kim Jong-un, this hearing will explore the strategic relevance ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) issued the following statement after an attack on U.N. peacekeepers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Thursday killed 14 and injured dozens of others: “In what is being described as the worst attack on United Nations peacekeepers in recent history, at least 14 ‘blue helmets’ were killed and many more injured yesterday. The attack occurred at the UN Stabilization Mission in the DRC (MONUSCO) operating base at Semuliki in North Kivu when elements believed to be par... Read more

Six members of Congress stressed the need for the U.S. government to take a more vigorously active role in protecting endangered Christians in the Holy Lands and the Middle East. Four representatives and two senators spoke Tuesday at the Third International Conference on Religious Freedom in the nation’s capital, sponsored by the Order of Saint Andrew the Apostle, Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. The speakers were Representatives Chris Smith, R-New Jersey; Jeff Fortenberry, R-Nebraska; Ca... Read more

“Today, President Trump took a decisive and historic step toward restoring American leadership in the world," said U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today. "By rightfully recognizing Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, the United States has chosen to lead on principle. Jerusalem is the eternal capital of the Jewish people and has been for three millennia. The Jewish State has waited 70 years for international recognition of this fact and for 50 years has ensured religious liberty in all of Jerusalem, inc... Read more