At a hearing convened today by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), witnesses unanimously expressed support for Smith’s recently introduced Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016 (H.R. 5961), bipartisan legislation that provides relief to victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria, and accountability for perpetrators. “The atrocities in Iraq and Syria have been so horrible, for so long, with so little action from the Administration, that it has bee... Read more

A bill that strengthens the ability of the United States to secure extradition of wanted fugitives and bring them home to face justice, sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Global Human Rights and International Organizations, today cleared a first and important hurdle and was adopted by the Subcommittee. The bill has 20 bipartisan co-sponsors—10 Republicans and 10 Democrats—and has now been referred to the full Committee for consideration. The Walter Patterson a... Read more

By Greg Wright | For NJ.com The Times, Trenton - One day before the 22nd anniversary of the signing of the Violence Against Women Act, the Hamilton-based New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence learned it was to be the recipient of $91,641 in grant funding. U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-4th Dist.) visited New Jersey Coalition to End Domestic Violence (NJCEDV) last week where he announced the awarding of the grant. The funding grant program was established in the Victims of Trafficking and Prote... Read more

By HERB JACKSON WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT | The Record - A House committee takes up a bill today, sparked by outrage over relaxed restrictions on Cuba, that would require the White House to tell Congress what it is doing to extradite killers who have fled the United States. AP FILE PHOTO Joanne Chesimard The bill is named in honor of Walter Patterson and Werner Foerster, victims of killers who escaped New Jersey prisons and are believed to be living in Portugal and Cuba. New Jersey officials have... Read more

"Genocide and Other Atrocities in Iraq and Syria: Relief for Survivors and Accountability for Perpetrators” Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe September 22, 2016 Read more

For 22 years, the Violence Against Women Act has been one of our nation’s most impactful laws. Aided by $6 billion in federal VAWA funding, millions of women have received emergency assistance during a crisis and support that has helped break the cycle of violence. As the first comprehensive legislative package to address the epidemic of domestic violence, VAWA changed the attention to and conversation surrounding how we as a nation can better support victims of abuse and help families in need o... Read more

The Prime Minister of the Southeast Asian nation of Timor-Leste, Dr. Rui Maria de Araújo, and former President and hero of Timorese independence Kay Rala Xanana Gusmão today bestowed the Order of Timor-Leste to Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of a House panel on human rights. The Order of Timor-Leste is given in special recognition to those “who have made a significant contribution to the country of Timor Leste, to the Timorese or to all Mankind.” Rep. Smith and former President Gusmao look b... Read more

Helsinki Commission Chairman Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today called for swift passage of his Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountability Act of 2016 (H.R. 5961), bipartisan legislation that provides relief to victims of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in Iraq and Syria, and accountability for perpetrators. “Members of vulnerable religious and ethnic groups in Iraq and Syria – including Christians, Yazidis, and Shia Muslims – are being directly targeted by ISIS in its vici... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today commended the work of law enforcement in making a speedy arrest of a terrorist suspect thought to be connected to bombing attacks against targets in New Jersey and New York this past weekend. “The law enforcement response to the initial pipe bomb attack in Ocean County, NJ at a Marine Corps charity race in Seaside Park and the subsequent attacks in New York and North Jersey, has been commendable in its rapid execution,” Smith said. “The FBI’s Joint Terrorism... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, announced a hearing titled “Atrocities in Iraq and Syria: Relief for Survivors and Accountability for Perpetrators” to be held on September 22, 2016 at 10:00 AM. Earlier this year, Secretary of State John Kerry declared that ISIS has been committing genocide against Yezidis, Christians, and Shia Muslims in Iraq and Syria. Following the recent introduction by Smith of the bipartisan Iraq and Syria Genocide Relief and Accountabili... Read more