Last year, 244 anti-Semitic incidents were reported in New Jersey — more than in any state other than New York. This made for a slight decline since 2005, but any act of anti-Semitism is unacceptable. Read more

A Catholic priest who has already spent over 13 years in prison is rearrested and sentenced to eight more years for serving as an advisor to a democracy movement and a new political party. A woman, whose husband had recently been released from jail after serving time for spreading pro-democracy material, is hit by a car -- believed to be driven and occupied by plainclothes police officers -- in an effort to intimidate her and prevent her from meeting with the U.S. Ambassador. A lawyer who travels to the U.S. to serve as a Fellow at the National Endowment for Democracy is arrested within a week of his return home, and charged with engaging in activities aimed at overthrowing the government. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Bipartisan Pro- Life Caucus, made the following statement today regarding President George W. Bush’s letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi pledging to veto any legislation that weakens current federal pro-life policy: Read more

In response to a recent, well-orchestrated campaign of political suppression and intimidation by the Government of Vietnam, the U.S. House of Representatives today overwhelmingly passed a resolution authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) that calls for an immediate release of all political prisoners and substantial human rights reforms in Vietnam. Read more

May 1, 2007 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague, Mr. Pitts of Pennsylvania, for authoring this important resolution recognizing the abolishment of the inhumane, grossly immoral and ubiquitous British slave trade 200 years ago, and the highly principled member of the House of Commons, William Wilberforce, who poured his life into that noble cause. One man can--and did--make a difference. H. Res. 158 also links the abolition issue to today's modern-day slave trade, human ... Read more

May 1, 2007 Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Vietnam has long been known as a major violator of human rights. The U.S. House of Representatives went on record in the 109th Congress condemning and deploring the violations of human rights in Vietnam and strongly urging the Vietnamese Government to consider the implications of its human rights abuses for the broader relationship between the United States and Vietnam. I point out parenthetically that t... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—author of bipartisan legislation to expand Lyme disease research and education & co-founder and co-chairman of the Congressional Lyme Disease Caucus—applauded the efforts of all the individuals that contributed to today’s opening of the Lyme & Tick-Borne Diseases Research Center at Columbia University: Read more

Recent denials by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe that women in Asia were coerced into sexual slavery by Imperial Japan during the war years perpetuate pain and sorrow among victims and their loved ones. As Mr. Abe represents the Japanese people to the world, his views also damage foreign perceptions of the great strides many Japanese have made as peaceful, responsible world citizens since 1946. As friends of Japan, we urge the Japanese people to courageously acknowledge and redress the wrongs perpetrated by Imperial Japan. Read more

Legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) that authorizes $98 million for specialized treatment for torture survivors living in the United States and abroad was overwhelmingly approved by the U.S. House of Representatives today. Read more

April 24, 2007 MR. SMITH of New Jersey: Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I rise in very strong support of H. Con. Res. 7, and congratulate Congresswoman Jackson-Lee for authoring this important measure. It sends a very clear and nonambiguous message to the Arab League to recognize the killing fields of Darfur as ``genocide'' and to support the deployment of the hybrid U.N. peacekeeping force pursuant to U.N. Resolution 1706. It is timely that we consider t... Read more