By Nicole Gaudiano, USA TODAY - Superstorm Sandy victims who accepted federal disaster loans for their homes were never told that doing so could make them ineligible for future grant funding, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., 4th District, said Wednesday. The New Jersey Republican told the House Small Business Committee that victims of the 2012 storm were misled by the Small Business Administration’s “complete lack of information and disclosure” about its loan process after the 2012 storm. “Homeown... Read more

The millions of people displaced from their homes, regions and even countries was the central focus of a congressional hearing Thursday held by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. The U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and two human rights non-government organizations (NGOs) testified about the dire situations in Africa, where more than a quarter of all of the world’s displaced persons struggle to survive. ... Read more

In response to the alarming escalation of anti-Semitic violence in Europe, Helsinki Commission Chair Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) today introduced a resolution calling for critical, concrete actions to support Jewish community groups that focus on safety awareness, crisis management and response, as well as preparedness and prevention. H. Res. 354 is cosponsored by all seven of the other co-Chairs of the House of Representatives Bipartisan Taskforce for Combating Anti-Semitism: Reps. Ted Deutch (FL-... Read more

President Obama is facing bipartisan criticism for hosting Vietnam’s Communist Party boss at the White House this week, given the government’s “deplorable” human rights record and “authoritarian” one-party system. The president met Tuesday with Nguyen Phu Trong, head of Vietnam’s Communist Party. Trong does not hold an official government position, but is regarded as the nation’s de-facto leader for directing Vietnam’s controlling party. But the meeting, coming after the administration took yet ... Read more

Following the forcible return of 109 Uyghurs from Thailand to China on July, 9, 2015, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of Subcommittee on Human Rights at the House Foreign Affairs Committee and Chairman of the Congressional-Executive Commission on China (CECC), expressed concern that the deported Uyghurs will be subject to torture and arbitrary detention in China. In addition, the Chairman strongly urged Thai authorities not to return to China the nearly 70 Uyghurs who remain in Thai cu... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) testified before the House Committee on Small Business today regarding policies that have blindsided victims of Superstorm Sandy who accepted home disaster loans from the Small Business Administration (SBA). “I am here today to shed light on a hardship now faced by homeowners who were encouraged—and in many cases pressured—to apply for Small Business Administration (SBA) disaster assistance. They did so not only to determine their eligibility for home disaster loa... Read more

Only hours after Russia vetoed a UN resolution to condemn the 1995 massacre at Srebrenica during the Bosnian war, the U.S. House of Representatives went on record defining the massacre as a “crime of genocide” by unanimously passing legislation sponsored by Helsinki Commission Chair Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04). H. Res. 310 affirms that the policies of aggression and ethnic cleansing implemented by Serb forces in that country constituted genocide, and condemns statements denying that the massacres m... Read more

The millions of people displaced from their homes, regions and even countries will be the central focus of a congressional hearing set for Thursday, July 9 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the Africa and global human rights subcommittee. The U.S. State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and two human rights non-government organizations (NGOs) will testify. "Due to conflict, poor governance and economic desperation, the countries of Africa are experiencing the ... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee’s Africa Subcommittee, commented on the Obama Administration’s July 6, 2015 appointment of former Virginia Congressman Thomas Perriello as the Special Envoy for the Great Lakes Region of Africa. “With political violence in the African nation of Burundi escalating, the appointment of a special envoy for Africa’s Great Lakes Region is long overdue, but still welcome,” said Smith, calling for Perriello to have an "immedi... Read more

FREEHOLD, N.J. - Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) announced today that the Borough of Avon-By-the-Sea has received an Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) award for over $74,000 to purchase critically-needed self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA). "This important FEMA grant will help protect firefighters in harm’s way,” said Smith, a long-time member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus. “Firefighters require equipment in good working order to survive in smoke-filled environments. Avon-... Read more