U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), who authored provisions incorporated in today’s landmark bill to reform the Congressional Accountability Act (CAA) reiterated his call for “zero tolerance” of sexual harassment and noted that in the past the system has favored those in power over victims—and must be changed. “This legislation provides congressional employees with comprehensive protection from abuse, including zero tolerance for sexual harassment,” said Smith, a human rights leader in Congress. “Very... Read more

Joshua Wong, the university student who became the face of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, has been nominated along with other local activists for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of U.S. lawmakers, a move that drew a rebuke from China. Joshua Wong, the university student who became the face of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, has been nominated along with other local activists for the Nobel Peace Prize by a group of U.S. lawmakers, a move that drew a rebuke from China. The 12 politicians, led by... Read more

By Associated Press - February 2 at 8:41 AM China on Friday criticized U.S. Congress members who nominated Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy protest movement and three of its most prominent student leaders for the Nobel Peace Prize. The 12 lawmakers, in a letter this week to the nominating committee in Oslo, said they were naming Joshua Wong, Nathan Law and Alex Chow and the “Umbrella Movement” for the prize in recognition of their “peaceful efforts to bring political reform and self-determination ... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, released the following statement on the Administration’s decision to impose sanctions on South Sudan: “Today’s announcement by the Trump Administration to impose sanctions on South Sudan is a critical and welcome step,” said Congressman Smith , a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. "I have visited South Sudan–most recently in 2017—and ... Read more

Representatives Nita Lowey (D-NY), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Eliot Engel (D-NY), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ted Deutch (D-FL), Kay Granger (R-TX), Marc Veasey (D-TX), and Peter Roskam (R-IL), the co-Chairs of the Bipartisan Task Force for Combating Anti-Semitism, sent a letter to Polish President Andrzej Duda urging him to reject legislation passed by the Sejm that that would criminalize references to Polish complicity in Nazi war crimaces against Jews during the occupation of Poland during World War... Read more

The House on Tuesday passed a historic defense spending bill, which Rep. Smith voted in support of for the third time, that funds U.S. soldiers, tanks, aircraft, ships, other military equipment, and Defense infrastructure. The U.S. military will get a much-needed boost from this bill, which provides personnel an across-the-board pay increase of 2.4% for the 2018 fiscal year. “The men and women of our nation’s military serving around the world deserve our full support, and we must be making ever... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statement on the retirement announcement by Congressman Rodney Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), chair of the House Appropriations Committee, who will be retiring at the end of the present session of the U.S. Congress: Rodney is an outstanding member of Congress who has served his country with honor both as a veteran of the Vietnam War and through 12 terms in Congress. Continuing a family tradition of public service that dates back to the founding of the... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), chair of the House panel on global human rights and co-chair of the Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism, issued the following statement on International Holocaust Remembrance Day: We pause today on International Holocaust Remembrance Day to mourn the lives of more than six million Jews who perished during the Nazis’ systematic campaign to annihilate the Jewish people of Europe. On this Yom HaShoah—marking 73 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz, Birke... Read more

Soon, coastal New Jersey communities and organizations will be able to apply for grants from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for projects building up local ecosystems and communities for future natural disasters and extreme weather. “We’ve all seen the devastation wrought by Superstorm Sandy on our beaches, coastal towns, and communities along inland waterways,” Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) stated. “We’ve also seen the resilience of New Jersey residents in rebuildin... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) issued the following statement on the House passage of the CR to reopen the federal government: I voted again for the CR to continue funding critical programs—including those for veterans, active-duty military personnel, nutrition and public health, and a six-year reauthorization of children’s health insurance programs (CHIP)—while we work on a DACA solution before the March deadline, which I believe we can do without punishing children, veterans, and military service me... Read more