Decades after fleeing the U.S. in an attempt to prevent justice, George Wright, Joanne Chesimard and others like them could be returned to face the penalties of their crimes thanks to the Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster Justice and Extradition Act (H.R. 1744), introduced on Monday by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). “The bill is named after Walter Patterson and New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, two men who were both brutally murdered by people who have been convicted, escaped prison and si...
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Anti-Semitism has reached disturbing heights in the United States and Europe, according to four experts from the Jewish community who testified before a congressional subcommittee on March 22. The hearing took place one day before the arrest in Israel of Michael Kaydar, a 19-year-old suspect allegedly responsible for a wave of bomb threats targeting Jewish institutions across the United States. During the hearing, Stacy Burdett, vice president for government relations, advocacy, and community en...
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The bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Emergency Relief and Accountability Act (H.R. 390), authored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), today unanimously passed in the House Foreign Affairs Committee. This legislation will help those who have suffered at the hands of ISIS—and hold perpetrators of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes to account. “ISIS has committed genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes against Christians, Yezidis and other religious and ethnic minority communities...
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Joined in spirit by the 28 million in East Africa who are in need of aid, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) held a hearing today looking at what can, and what must, be done to help resolve the famine in East Africa. The famine, caused by drought and exacerbated by conflict and government mismanagement, has sparked fears of a return to the era of great famines in the region. “The number of individuals who are affected is truly staggering, 1 in 10 are affected in Sudan and Burundi, 1 in 5 in Somalia and Dj...
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Rep. Smith provided the following statement on the American Health Care Act: Mr. SMITH of New Jersey… Mr. Speaker, while the Affordable Care Act has been in effect since 2010, it has only provided actual access to health insurance benefits through the exchange and Medicaid expansion for a little over 3 years—beginning in 2014. In that short period of time, however, serious problems and flaws have been exposed, yet in recent months the law’s systemic problems have been trivialized or ignored by m...
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The East African famine, a result of recent disasters both natural and man-made, has wreaked havoc across the region. Government mismanagement and conflicts in the region have only made the problem worse. To investigate the situation, Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04) will convene a hearing entitled “East Africa’s Quiet Famine” on March 28, 2017, helping to establish what options may be available for the U.S. government to effectively address the growing hunger crisis. Testifying at the hearing will ...
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Following the arrest in Israel today of an American-Israeli dual national suspected of perpetrating most of the bomb threats to Jewish community institutions in the U.S. and several other countries, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a long-time leader in the fight against anti-Semitism and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, issued the following statement: “The wave of bomb threats has afflicted Jewish communities for months. I thank the Department of Justice, FBI and law ...
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Levels of anti-Semitic hate have reached crisis levels in the U.S. and around the globe and perpetrators are increasingly connected to each other across borders. Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on global human rights, held a Congressional hearing to discuss with expert witnesses what can be done to stem this tide. “The Jewish people have survived and thrived from the times of Biblical antiquity to the present day—quite a feat, when you consider all the civilizations ...
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During a series of meetings held over the past several days, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) expressed his deep concern with the Office of Management and Budget’s proposed 2018 Budget Blueprint to Majority Whip Steve Scalise (LA-01), who also represents a district recently ravaged by floods, and Rep. Sean Duffy (WI-07). Smith, who stressed the importance of a fully funded National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) during the meetings, said he appreciated the opportunity to come together and discuss this t...
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Last year, former Secretary of State Kerry declared that ISIS is committing genocide against Christians and other religious and ethnic minorities, however the Administration fell short on necessary follow through. Today, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel on global human rights, urged the new Trump Administration to step in and close the gap created by its predecessor. “Even after acknowledging the genocide, the previous Administration refused to support criminal investigation...
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