Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chair of the Bipartisan Pro-Life Caucus, spoke on the House floor in support of the Conscience Protection Act. The following is excerpts of his remarks: I thank my good friend, Mrs. Foxx for yielding and thank her for her extraordinary Pro-life leadership. Madam Speaker, in an unconscionable abuse of power, for almost 2 years, the State of California has forced all insurance plans under its purview and the people in institutions that pay the premiums—to subsidize abo... Read more

The continued use of political factors in the Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report shows that the mistakes of 2015 were repeated by Obama Administration again this year. At a hearing today, featuring testimony from the State Department Ambassador who focuses on Human Trafficking, a congressional panel looked at the credibility of the report overall as well as the specifics of several countries, including China, Cuba, and Malaysia. “Plain and simple, the 2016 TIP report again failed many victims,”... Read more

A multi-year effort by Members of Congress, led by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and advocacy organizations, to provide Medicare coverage for a care planning session for patients diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, is garnering more support and making some progress as last week the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed regulations providing this coverage for beneficiaries–for 2017. Smith, author of the “Health Outcomes, Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act,” which cr... Read more

Statement from Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the bipartisan Congressional-Executive China Commission on the UNCLOS Decision: “Unfortunately, I don’t think this decision will modify China’s present course of action, and may even lead to escalated hostilities, depending on Beijing’s strategic calculations. We all want China to accept the Permanent Court of Arbitration decision, as it is a party to the Law of the Sea treaty, but that is wishful thinking at this point. I fear Beijing may decide more... Read more

By Chris Smith (R-NJ) - Tuesday, July 12, 2016 ANALYSIS/OPINION: On June 22nd, I was part of a group of lawmakers led by Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy who met with Health and Human Services (HHS )Secretary Sylvia Burwell and HHS Director of the Office for Civil Rights Jocelyn Samuels to respectfully ask why the Administration has refused to enforce the Weldon federal conscience law in the case of California’s two-year-old draconian, coercive abortion order. The state of California forces all in... Read more

Statement from U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04): “The horrific attack on the Dallas Police force—with at least five brutally murdered and seven more wounded—as they worked to keep the people of Dallas safe, along with the injury of two civilians, is heartbreaking. The victims as well as their friends and families are in our prayers and we wish a full recovery to all those who were injured. “We thank law enforcement around the country. The risks they face daily to protect the people of the United St... Read more

The Global Food Security Act, bipartisan legislation to address one of the greatest challenges faced by the international community—global hunger—received final congressional approval this week and is expected to become law in days. “The Global Food Security Act (GFSA) will save lives by combatting hunger and malnutrition, and promoting new agricultural practices that especially help lift women, children and families out of poverty,” said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), author of the Global Food Secur... Read more

U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) and U.S. Representatives Chris Smith (R-NJ) and Joe Crowley (D-NY) today introduced the Justice for Uncompensated Survivors Today (JUST) Act. This bipartisan and bicameral bill will improve efforts to assist Holocaust survivors and the families of Holocaust victims by requiring the State Department to report on the progress of certain European countries on the return of, or restitution for, wrongfully confiscated or transferred Holocaust-... Read more

“The Castro Regime’s Ongoing Violations of Civil and Political Rights” is the topic of a House hearing set for Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the global human rights subcommittee. “This hearing will examine the human rights situation in Cuba, where it seems disregard for civil and political rights has gotten worse, not better, since the President’s much-trumpeted visit to the island six weeks ago,” Smith said. “The regime continues to jail and beat political dissidents, ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus, gave the following remarks on the House Floor today: Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from Florida for his extraordinary leadership on this bill and on the life issue. Mr. Chairman, on June 8, 1983, 33 years ago, I sponsored the amendment to ban the use of taxpayer funds to subsidize abortion in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. The Smith amendment passed 226 to 182, and has been in effect almost ... Read more