The urgent need for an integrated, sustained strategy to combat the rising tide of religious persecution—especially in Iraq and Syria—was the joint message heard from experts testifying at a hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) today entitled “The Global Crisis of Religious Freedom and Its Challenge to U.S. Foreign Policy.” Smith is the author of the bipartisan Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act (HR 1150) which gives the Administration and the U.S. State Department new ... Read more

“The President’s Visit to Vietnam: A Missed Opportunity to Advance Human Rights” is the topic of a hearing set for June 22 that will focus on human rights abuses by the Vietnamese Government on its own people. Boat People SOS, Amnesty International and religious freedom advocates will come to testify at the congressional hearing on Capitol Hill planned for Wednesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chair of the House panel that oversees global human rights. Who: Chairman Smith, (NJ-04) Senio... Read more

As a follow up to Congressman Chris Smith’s work last year to help municipalities alleviate flooding associated with coastal lakes, today the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) held the first Flood Risk Management Planning Workshop for the New Jersey Back Bays Flood Risk Management Feasibility Study. The purpose of the workshop, attended by officials from numerous area towns and agencies, was to gather area planners and stakeholders and provide them a key opportunity to communicate their indiv... Read more

A bipartisan group of lawmakers are calling on the Obama Administration to take immediate action to prevent a constitutional crisis in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Legislation (H.R. 780) introduced by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House panel that oversees Africa and Human Rights issues, urges Obama to impose sanctions up to and until the government of President Joseph Kabila stops undermining the constitutional provisions on elections. The other original co-sponsors are Hous... Read more

United States Representative Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China, took to the floor to support a resolution condemning organ harvesting in China: Mr. Speaker, I thank my good friend and colleague ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN for yielding. I want to thank the chairman emeritus of the full Foreign Affairs Committee for the defense of vulnerable persons in China, especially the Falun Gong, men and women who cannot speak for themselves, who have suffered unspeakab... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives today during debate on H.R. 3694, the STOP Organ Trafficking Act. The following are excerpts of his remarks: Mr. Speaker, I want to thank Chairman ROYCE again for bringing this important bill to the floor, and to ELIOT ENGEL for his leadership and Mr. DEUTCH, and especially to Mr. TROTT, the sponsor of H.R. 3694, the Strategy To Oppose Predatory Organ Trafficking Act. This legislation recognizes and seeks to more effecti... Read more

Statement from U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04): “The mass murder of at least 50 people in Orlando—and the wounding of more than 50 others—is tragic beyond words. I extend my condolences to the families and friends of the victims and hope that the injured fully recover. They are in our prayers. “The terrorist’s motive, if linked to radical Islamist ideology, underscores the escalating national and worldwide threat from global jihad. With the investigation at an early stage however, only law enforce... Read more

The world’s religious freedom crisis that threatens peace and stability in the Middle East, Europe, Asia and sub-Saharan Africa will be addressed by the U.S. State Department’s top official on international religious freedom at a hearing to be held by the Chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). The hearing will examine restrictions on religious freedom and religion-related violence that has risen since President Clinton signed the International Reli... Read more

WASHINGTON, DC - Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), head of the House Foreign Affairs panel that oversees global health and international organizations, today chaired a congressional briefing and hearing on “Leveraging U.S. Funding: The Stunning Global Impact of Nutrition and Supplements during the First 1,000 Days,” featuring expert witnesses from the United States Agency for International Aid (USAID) and the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). In his opening remarks, Smith sa... Read more

In an effort to provide better health outcomes for the millions of Americans suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today urged a House subcommittee to quickly act on his bill, the Health Outcomes Planning, and Education (HOPE) for Alzheimer’s Act. Smith’s HOPE Act (HR 1599)—cosponsored by 286 bipartisan members—would add a one-time benefit for care planning services for Medicare beneficiaries newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. More than five m... Read more