Legislation to reauthorize America’s bone marrow and cord blood donor registry cleared a major hurdle today, winning quick approval of the Health Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee where it was marked up and reported to the full committee for its consideration. Introduced just a month ago the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2015, H.R. 2820, provides that two collaborative programs that support treatment and therapies derived from adult stem cell lines wil... Read more

At a hearing today on the persecution of religious communities in China at the hands of the government, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) said that the freedom of religion is “under siege” in China. Given President Xi Jinping’s “bold disregard” for human rights he questioned whether the planned September summit between President Obama and President Xi should be canceled. Witnesses included a Chinese Muslim and Christian and advocates for religious freedom for Tibetans and Falung Gong practitioners... Read more

His Excellency Roble Olhaye, Permanent Representative to the United Nations and Ambassador from Djibouti to the United States, has passed away at age 71 of an undisclosed illness. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, offers his condolences to Ambassador Olhaye’s family and to the people of Djibouti for their loss. “Ambassador Olhaye has been a significant part of the diplomatic corps in ... Read more

In the immediate wake of yesterday’s election and as vote-counting continues today, the Burundi crisis was the central focus of a congressional hearing Wednesday held by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee in the House of Representatives. The hearing comes at a critical time for the small, landlocked African nation of Burundi amid the increasing political violence and the constitutional impasse created by President Pierre Nkurunziza’s decisi... Read more

BY NJ.COM WRITER ROB SPAHR - The troublesome coastal lake near some of the Jersey Shore's priciest homes is slated to get millions in assistance from the federal government. U.S. Chris Smith (R-4th District) announced Tuesday that nearly $3.6 million in federal funding through the Disaster Relief Appropriations Act of 2013 would be directed to help alleviate the flood risk around Wreck Pond and help to enhance water quality of the pond. "Superstorm Sandy highlighted the significant health and sa... Read more

Chris Smith (NJ-04), who has worked for several years securing federal support through multiple initiatives aimed at mitigating the flood and pollution problems associated with Wreck Pond, today said the new $3.5million in federal support through the federal Superstorm Sandy funds “is timely and represents another way the federal government is working to help the local residents who have been plagued by Wreck Pond flood issues for years. “Superstorm Sandy highlighted the significant health and s... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Life Caucus gave the following remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives during a Special Order focused on the recent undercover Planned Parenthood videos. The speech can be viewed here. Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Thank you, Mr. Duffy. Thank you for yielding to me and for your leadership on this extremely important human rights issue. Mr. Speaker, in 2011, an undercover videotape sting operation by Live Action e... Read more

The Burundi crisis will be the central focus of a congressional hearing set for Wednesday, July 22 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. A trio of human rights non-government organizations (NGOs) and an academic will testify. “This hearing comes at a critical time for the small, landlocked African nation of Burundi,” said Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Africa subcommittee. “By shining a light on the increasing poli... Read more

The leading State Department official in the Obama Administration tasked with resolving international parental child abductions conceded today that the administration’s first report issued on international child abductions had mistakes and would be corrected in the weeks ahead, and that the Department would work to produce better annual reports in the future. Ambassador Susan Jacobs made the comments Thursday at a standing-room-only hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), author of ... Read more

If you think you were underpaid by your flood insurance after Sandy, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) reminds you that there are only 60 days left for National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policyholders who filed a claim as a result of Hurricane Sandy to register to have their claim files reviewed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) set Sept. 15, 2015 as the last day for policyholders to register. The NFIP review came after CongressmanSmith led a NJ congressional delegation meeting ... Read more