U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations issued the following statement today after the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) presented its Annual Recommendations to Secretary of State Rice on Countries of Particular Concern (CPCs). Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations, praised President Bush for placing new sanctions against criminals who aided in the genocide in Sudan’s Darfur region. Read more

U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Co-Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, chaired a hearing today to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the world’s worst nuclear accident at the Chornobyl power plant in Ukraine. The health, environmental, and socio-economic costs of the disaster at Chornobyl continue to have a profound impact on countries in the region, especially Ukraine and Belarus – which bore the brunt of Chornobyl’s radioactive fallout. The Helsinki Commission hearing looked toward the future by exploring the potential treatments for victims of radiological attack. Read more

For nearly 20 years, conflict between the government of Uganda and a terrorist organization, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), has gripped northern Uganda. This brutal conflict has displaced more than 1.8 million people, caused skyrocketing HIV and AIDS rates, and is costing more than $100 million per year. Read more

On Wednesday, I conducted a hearing to examine China's human-rights record. Over the years, I have held more than 25 hearings on human-rights abuses in China and although some economic progress has been made, the human-rights situation remains abysmal. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith, Chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees Global Human Rights, led a hearing earlier today that examined China’s human rights record – including areas such as China’s compliance with international labor standards, censorship of the internet, implementation of the right of Chinese citizens to worship freely, and the destructive effects on Chinese society of its government’s coercive one-child policy. Read more

The Subcommittee will come to order, and good morning to everyone. Today’s hearing of the Subcommittee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations will examine China’s human rights record, especially such areas as China’s censorship of the internet, implementation of the right of Chinese citizens to worship freely, protection of minority rights, compliance with international labor standards, China’s barbaric practice of organ harvesting, and the destructive effects on Chinese society – especially on women - of its government’s coercive one-child policy. Read more

Just over two years ago, Congress passed the new Medicare plan that enabled beneficiaries to take control of their prescription drug benefit by providing them with greater flexibility and more choices with the goal of creating competition among plan providers. Read more

On Tuesday, April 11, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) will welcome US Secretary of Health and Human Services Mike Leavitt to the Brick Senior Center and Nutrition Site. In addition, officials from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), the state SHPP and counselors from Ocean County Senior Services will be available from 1:00 until 4:00 PM to provide guidance and assistance to any senior citizen who has questions about the new Medicare Part D benefit and help seniors wishing to choose a plan sign up for one that best suits their needs. Read more

The House of Representatives today passed H. Con Res 320, a resolution written by Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the House Subcommittee that oversees global human rights, calling on the government of Vietnam to immediately release Dr. Pham Hong Son and other political prisoners. Read more