“Congressman Smith’s dedication to children and adults with autism is second to none,” said Katy Neas, Senior Vice President of the Easter Seals Society, a disabilities service organization that lays claim as the nation’s largest provider of services to autistic children and adults, which Thursday night honored Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) for helping transform the landscape for people with disabilities and for leading the effort to continue the essential research and services work in 2012. Easter S... Read more

Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese human rights lawyer who caught the attention of the world over the past two weeks in his bid to escape house arrest in China by seeking help in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, testified via telephone about his well-being and that of his family and brave supporters Tuesday at a hearing held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04). “Chen Guangcheng is among the bravest defenders of women’s rights in the world,” Smith said. “Chen defended thousands of women from the ongoi... Read more

A measure for the annual U.S. military budget includes $47 million for a new Army aviation complex at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst to better serve helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft as the bulked-up base absorbs new units. The planned Army Flight Complex would include a hangar, new taxiways and lighting. In the 2005 round of base closings, the 43,000-acre military reservation in the Pine Barrens was designated the nation’s first interservices joint base and since then it’s been absorbing uni... Read more

A hearing on the status of Chen Guangcheng, the blind Chinese human rights lawyer who caught the attention of the world over the past two weeks in his bid to escape persecution in China by seeking help in the U.S. Embassy in Beijing, will be held Tuesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights. The hearing, entitled, “Chen Guangcheng: His Case, Cause, Family, and Those Who are Helping Him,” will feature human rights l... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith was presented an award at the 2012 Refugees International (RI) 33rd Anniversary Dinner on Thursday, May 10. The first award presentation of the night, the Congressional Award, was given to Smith (NJ-04), who also accepted on behalf of the late Congressman Donald Payne (NJ-10). Smith is the chairman of the House of Representatives' human rights subcommittee that overseas international human rights, co-chairman of the Congressional Human Trafficking Caucus and author of thr... Read more

The blind Chinese human rights defender Chen Guangcheng today surprised the world by testifying via telephone before the U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China, joining other human rights organizations around the world decrying human rights abuses associated with the Chinese government’s brutal one-child policy that includes forced abortions and forced sterilizations, at a hearing held today by Commission Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04). Due to a timely phone call, Chen, who last week fou... Read more

“The Obama Administration must do everything it can to ensure that Chen Guangcheng, his family members and all those who have helped him are removed from harm’s way and do not suffer any further abuse or retaliation for Chen’s bold and courageous efforts to save his family and improve human rights for all in China,” says Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior lawmaker in the U.S. House of Representatives and Chairman of the Congressional Executive Commission on China. Chen, the blind, self-taught hu... Read more

Congressman Christopher Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, today announced an emergency hearing on recent developments and history of the Chen Guangcheng case. The hearing is set for Thursday, May 3, 2012, from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., in Room 2118 (first floor) of the Rayburn House Office Building. The recent escape of self-trained legal advocate Chen Guangcheng from illegal house arrest has attracted international attention and concern. On April 22, Chen... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leading human rights lawmaker in the U.S. Congress, was honored for his work on anti-Semitism and human rights by Anti-Defamation League (ADL) National Director Abraham H. Foxman at the Shana Amy Glass National Leadership Conference today at the Mayflower Hotel. Foxman presented him with a large plaque that read “In Recognition of Your Steadfast Leadership in the Fight Against Anti-Semitism and for Human Rights Around the World.” Foxman called Smith “one of the... Read more

Chen Guangcheng’s “bold and courageous” appeal to China’s Premier Wen Jiabao to investigate and hold responsible all corrupt officials who systematically beat and tortured him, his family and friends is a “reasonable demand that the Chinese government, supported by the international community, especially the U.S., must meet” said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Foreign Affairs human rights committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. “This is a test of Premier Wen’s commitment to f... Read more