The Saint Patrick Parade Committee at Hamilton honored U.S. Congressman Chris Smith for his work on human rights, and Steinert High School senior Julia DeAngelo for being named Miss St. Patrick 2015 at a luncheon this week at the Ancient Order of Hibernians on Kuser Road in Hamilton Township. The committee recently named Smith as its Grand Marshal for the 30th annual Parade because of Smith's legislative support on human right abuse in Northern Ireland since the mid 1990s. "I'm honored and humbl... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Congressional panel that oversees global human rights and the Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, issued the following statement following the beheadings of 21 Egyptian Coptic Christians in Libya by the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS): “My heart and prayers go out to the families and friends of these 21 Egyptian men savagely murdered in Libya. These men, earning money to support their families in Egypt, were killed in the most d... Read more

The Administration’s strategy for fighting the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) was the focus of the House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing today on the ISIS threat, held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. One of the witnesses, Ambassador James Jeffrey, the Phillip Solondz Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, testif... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) was the honored guest speaker at the Center for Jewish Life Testimonial Dinner held Feb. 8 in Marlboro, N.J. Attended by over 300 people, the event celebrated the 11th anniversary of the Center and its mission of providing a spiritual home for Jewish families of diverse backgrounds and affiliations. Congressman Smith was invited to give the keynote address in recognition of his work in Congress on human rights, especially his commitment to combating anti-Semitism. “... Read more

By Christopher Neely - A Manasquan resident who was captured by the Nazis in WWII’s Battle of the Bulge in 1945 was awarded a rare military medal by a member of congress on Friday, Jan. 30. Francis B. Hayes Jr., 89, of Manasquan, was awarded a Prisoner of War Medal by Congressman Christopher Smith [R-4] on Friday. Mr. Hayes served for the U.S. military during WWII and was held in a Nazi prison camp for months until being liberated in April 1945. Congressman Smith welcomed Mr. Hayes and 16 of his... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Dean of the New Jersey Congressional Delegation, and a bipartisan group of federal lawmakers toured New Jersey’s military installations Friday. The day began at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB-MDL), the nation’s only tri-service base. The visits and briefings, organized by Congressman Rodney P. Frelinghuysen (NJ-11), the Chairman of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee who represents Picatinny Arsenal, were headed by Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno and Brig. Gen... Read more

By JONATHAN SALANT OF THE STAR LEDGER - The head of the New Jersey State Police union told federal lawmakers today that "basic human decency" requires the extradition of convicted cop-killer Joanne Chesimard amid efforts to restore relations with Cuba. "We urge you to demand and include the immediate return of Chesimard before any further consideration of restoration of diplomatic relations with the Cuban government," Chris Burgos, president of the State Troopers Fraternal Association told a Hou... Read more

Human rights abuses in Cuba was the central focus of a House hearing Thursday held by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee. The congressional hearing, entitled “Human Rights in Cuba: A Squandered Opportunity,” heard the testimony of former Cuban political prisoners who spent as many as 20-plus years in prison, and suffered numerous instances of abuse, including torture, and discrimination and other human rights violations. “This hearing is not onl... Read more

Continuing the fight to better assist patients and families impacted by Lyme disease, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) announced the re-introduction of his bipartisan bill to establish a federal Tick-Borne Diseases Advisory Committee to better deliver results for those living with this debilitating illness. “Lyme disease has been particularly devastating in New Jersey, where it is estimated that over 59,000 individuals have reported cases of Lyme over the past 15 years,” Smith said. According to r... Read more

Human rights abuses in Cuba will be the topic of a House hearing set for Thursday, Feb. 5 by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House global human rights subcommittee. “This hearing will examine the still-deplorable state of human rights in Cuba, especially the regime’s treatment of Afro-Cubans, who face discrimination on a day-to-day basis,” Smith said. “The Obama Administration, in its haste to achieve a breakthrough in Cuba, missed an opportunity to better conditions on the island... Read more