Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today addressed the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe's Parliamentary Assembly (OSCE-PA) as its Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues at the OSCE-PA's Bureau Spring 2020 Meeting, held this year in a teleconference due to the COVID-19 outbreak. President Tsereteli, Secretary General Montella, and all my distinguished colleagues on this webinar, it is good to see you and I hope that everyone is staying healthy and safe. As lawmakers, all of us... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement to mark World Malaria Day, April 25, 2020: “As prime author of a law to provide funds to combat malaria, HIV/AIDs and other diseases, and as co-chairman of the House Malaria Caucus, I remain deeply concerned that globally, 228 million people suffer from malaria with 405,000 deaths in 2018. “The President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) notes with alarm that ‘Children under age five accounted for more than two-thirds (67 percent) of all malaria... Read more

For the first time ever, the annual Congressional Art Competition held by Rep. Chris Smith as part of a national competition for his district’s high school students, will be a “virtual” online show to ensure the safety of students, parents, teachers and the interested public. In response to the coronavirus national emergency, the artwork, which is normally displayed for a month at the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Hamilton’s Lakefront Gallery, will be posted on Smith’s congressional we... Read more

Representative Chris Smith (R-NJ), who last year managed the passage of legislation that, for the first time ever, put the U.S. House of Representatives on record condemning the Genocide of the Armenian people in 1915, today released the following statement again condemning the Genocide in the strongest of terms, as Friday, April 24th marks the 105th commemoration of the death march and slaughter of the Armenian people. In his strong statement, Smith also rebukes the Government of Turkey’s conti... Read more

The following are excerpts of floor remarks on COVID-19 legislation delivered by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) on April 23, 2020: Madame Speaker, in New Jersey, one hundred thousand people have tested positive for COVID-19 with more than five thousand suffering death. Approximately, 40 percent of those who have died are women and men in nursing homes and veterans long term care homes—we grieve their loss. My constituents have shown remarkable strength, resolve and resiliency—especially those in health... Read more

While he continues to fight for more federal funding for New Jersey’s hospitals on the front lines of the COVID-19 battle, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today said he welcomes the Trump Administration’s decision to direct $10 billion of the funding appropriated by Congress last month in the CARES Act exclusively to hospitals in areas hardest hit by the COVID-19 outbreak. “This new calibration will absolutely help hospitals and medical centers in my district and throughout our state,” Smith said. “New... Read more

U.S. airline customers, whose travel and flight plans have been upended due to the COVID-19 pandemic, will receive full-fare airline refunds—regardless of who initiated the cancelation—under a bipartisan bill introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) with lead cosponsor Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ). “Many consumers have been left to fend for themselves as they try to get answers and their money back from air carriers and third-party travel services for trips they’ll never get to take,” said Smith, author... Read more

The last cases of a donation of 200,000 medical masks from the Taiwanese government to New Jersey for the state’s first responders and health care professionals arrived today and are a welcomed addition to 100,000 previously donated by Taiwan, said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). “I want to thank the people of democratic Taiwan for standing with us during New Jersey’s hour of need,” said Smith. “As of today, the full shipment has arrived at a NJ warehouse where it can be distributed to our first respo... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) released the following statement upon Senate passage of the Payment Protection Program legislation late today: “The bill passed by the Senate today, and expected in the House on Thursday, replenishes the Payment Protection Program—an unprecedented and historic bridge to assist businesses from going bankrupt and firing their employees,” Smith said. “Secondly, the bill provides additional funds for our overworked, cash-starved hospitals—which have been forced by gov... Read more

The alarming arrests over the weekend of democracy advocates Martin Lee, Margaret Ng, Jimmy Lai and others in Hong Kong and the apparent surrendering of Hong Kong’s home rule to mainland China, has prompted human rights leaders urge Hong Kong’s executive chief to reaffirm Hong Kong’s autonomy and take action to protect the rights of peaceful democracy leaders. “Chief Executive Carrie Lam must immediately clarify whether the Liaison Office of the People’s Republic of China is subject to the Basic... Read more