Remarks by Chairman Chris Smith at July 10, 2012 congressional hearing of the Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee. Good afternoon. Today’s hearing will examine U.S. policy and policy options for managing relations with Nigeria in light of concerns on terrorism and social and political unrest. The stability and commitment to justice and the rule of law of the Nigerian government is critical to regional, continental and global economic interests. Nigeria is hugely important on many... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of The Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission) will hold a hearing Wednesday July 11 entitled “Justice in the International Extradition System: The Case of George Wright and Beyond” at 2 p.m. in Room 2203 of the Rayburn House Office Building Smith will hold the hearing to examine international extradition norms and their impact on U.S. victims of international fugitives. The hearing will review factors that impede or prevent e... Read more

China’s brutal one child policy was the topic of a human rights panel hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) Monday. The Chinese government has recently come under international criticism following the highly publicized media accounts of a forced abortion performed on Feng Jianmei, who was seven months pregnant. “Today in China, rather than being given maternal care, pregnant women without birth permits are hunted down and forcibly aborted,” Smith said at the hearing. “They are mocke... Read more

Daniel A. Passarella says he didn't really give it much thought at first. "I sent a letter to the War Department a month after I was discharged, and they sent me all my medals except the Purple Heart," said Passarella, a Brick Township resident. "I didn't really care at that time because I was just glad I was back." That changed, however, one day when Passarella was sitting at his grandson Jack's baseball game. "There were two boys there, with one dad, and the one boy said to the other, 'My dad ... Read more

In October 1944, Private First Class Daniel Passarella made a simple request of the U.S. Army. After being honorably discharged due to injuries sustained at the Allied invasion of Normandy, he asked that he be sent the Military Order of the Purple Heart medal—if he was entitled to it. Today, 68 years after the battle, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) in cooperation with the Army, finally fulfilled that request and presented Passarella, who will turn 90 next month, with the Purple Heart to which h... Read more

After meeting with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and other state, county and local officials today following the water service emergency that occurred Friday that left thousands with no or severely limited water service, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) urged Monmouth County residents to follow local authorities’ directives to ensure water safety and limit usage as workers act to restore service. New Jersey American Water Company and Monmouth County emergency management officials reduced the boi... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) met yesterday with Point Pleasant, N.J. teacher John McAllen III, a winner of the White House and National Science Foundation’s (NSF) 2011 Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. McAllen, who was joined by his wife Regina, has taught Advanced Placement (AP) Calculus, Honors Precalculus, Precalculus, and Geometry at Point Pleasant Borough High School for the past 13 years. One of just 96 teachers nationwide selected for this award, Mc... Read more

Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) gave the the following opening statement at a hearing today of the Africa, Global Health and Human Rights Subcommittee on the crisis in Mali. "Good morning. Today’s hearing will examine current U.S. policy and U.S. policy options in response to the recent military coup in Mali and the larger revolt of the Tuareg people in northern Mali. "The Tuaregs have been in conflict with the central government in Bamako, Mali, for many years, but following the service of some Tu... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leader in Congress on many health care issues such as Lyme Disease, Alzheimer’s and Autism, and chairman of the House subcommittee on global health issues, said the Supreme Court’s decision today on the so-called “Affordable Care Act”—often called Obamacare—shows the devastating impact of a law that has divided the nation and threatens a toxic economic mix of hundreds of billions of dollars in cuts to Medicare, a half-trillion dollars in higher taxes and sky-rock... Read more

A hearing on the status of the volatile African nation of Mali will be held Friday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. The hearing, entitled “The Tuareg Revolt and the Mali Coup,” will feature top U.S. officials from the State Department before an open hearing of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights to discuss the recent military coup and the revolt connected to the demise of the... Read more