Child sex trafficking and anti-Semitism were the subjects of Rep. Chris Smith’s successful legislative efforts this week at the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly.
Read more
“This is a resounding victory for religious freedom, and more than that, freedom for all Americans who want to live and work according to the dictates of their conscience."
Read more
“My heart goes out to everyone who knew these young men, especially their families. The death of a young man is always a terrible loss, but this is made worse by the hateful crime that ended their lives.
Read more
Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, was presented with the 2014 Coptic Solidarity Leadership Award today for his leadership on human rights and “work on behalf of the Copts and people of Egypt.” Terrorism expert and author, Dr. Walid Phares, and Adel Guindy, the President of Coptic Solidarity, presented the award. Dr. Robbie George of Princeton University and Chairman of the U.S. Commis...
Read more
On the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, has reintroduced the Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act (TVPA). According to a United Nations resolution, every June 26th is set aside to focus on helping torture victims and ending torture, which takes a terrible toll on millions of individuals and their families. The types of tortur...
Read more
The results of a United Nations investigation and determination on the inhumane detention of Chen Kegui, nephew of the blind human rights activist Chen Guangcheng, was the focus of a bipartisan press conference Wednesday by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ-04), co-chairman of the Commission on China, Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, Chen Guangcheng and the group Freedom Now. Participants announced the results of the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's investigation into Chen Kegui’s ca...
Read more
Bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and enhance federal programs for families touched by autism was debated and passed by the House of Representatives on June 24. Authored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), the “Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support Act of 2014—(Autism CARES Act),” HR 4631, authorizes $1.3 billion over five years for research into autism and urges federal agencies to examine and anticipate needs for autistic children who are “aging out” of current pro...
Read more
The Goldman Act (HR 3212), legislation to help thousands of “left-behind” parents from across the country, was marked-up and approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the author of legislation that passed the House 398-0 in December 2013. The bill would give the State Department a variety of tools to put pressure on foreign governments to send home American children abducted to overseas destinations. “Following the bipartisan, unanimous House...
Read more
Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the Africa Committee, applauded the release today of Meriam Ibrahim, the Sudanese woman sentenced to death for not recanting her faith. “Meriam Ibrahim’s faith in God and willingness to endure torture – even martyrdom – rather than recant, is extraordinarily courageous and inspiring. What a remarkable woman,” Smith said. Meriam Ibrahim’s convictions on apostasy and adultery were overturned by a Sudanese appeals court, and she and her children were re...
Read more
The latest country-by-country ratings about anti-human trafficking policies around the world—a report mandated by a law written by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 (TVPA)—was released today by the U.S. State Department. “Experts estimate that there is more slavery in the world today that at any previous time in human history. With the Trafficking in Persons (or TIP) report and tier rankings, the United States is ensuring more accountability and prog...
Read more
