Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, yesterday in my capacity as Co-Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the Helsinki Commission, I participated in a hearing to examine Russian military threats in the OSCE region. Russia today stands in violation of the central commitments of the Helsinki Final Act. These commitments include respect for the territorial integrity of States, fundamental freedoms, and the fulfillment in good faith of obligations unde... Read more

After three and a half decades of service to our nation, Col. Eric Mellinger (Ret.) of the U.S. Marines, who was first nominated to the U.S. Air Force Academy by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) in 1982, has retired from the military. At a ceremony held in Smith’s office today, his astonishing career was honored—and today’s pressing issues were discussed. “When I saw Eric in action it was clear that he has earned extraordinary respect,” said Smith referencing Mellinger’s leadership after Typhoon Haiyan ... Read more

Today the Trump Administration announced the implementation of the expanded Mexico City Policy, now known as “Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance.” Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) issued the following statement: “Today’s implementation by the State Department of the ‘Protecting Life in Global Health Assistance’–the reinstatement and expansion of Ronald Reagan’s 1984 Mexico City Policy—ensures that U.S. taxpayers will no longer subsidize foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that perform... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith addressed the World Summit in Defense of Persecuted Christians on May 12 at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, DC. Excerpts of his remarks: Thirty-seven years ago during my first term in Congress, I read Tortured for Christ by Romanian pastor Richard Wurmbrand. As so many of you know, it is the true story of unspeakable physical torture and psychological abuse of underground Christians under Romania’s dictator Nicolae Ceausescu and Pastor Wurmbrand’s harrowing 14-year incar... Read more

Nearly five years after Superstorm Sandy ravaged New Jersey’s coastline, many unmet needs remain, even after the victims received some insurance support and funding from several federal agencies to help rebuild, lift, renovate and mitigate damage from future natural disasters. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and other members of the New Jersey Delegation still continue to close these gaps homeowners and individuals continue to face. In addition to the individual funding shortfalls, there were many nonp... Read more

Today, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) made the following comments on the nomination of former Congressman Mark Green from Wisconsin to lead the U.S. Agency for International Development: “I am thrilled to see that Mark Green has been nominated by President Donald Trump as the next Administrator of USAID,” said Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee. “I cannot think of a better leader to head up USAID at this critical time. Mark brings a wealth of experience–as a past collea... Read more

Speaking today at the annual Vietnam Human Rights Day event on Capitol Hill, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) said that the U.S. should be “conditioning” any expansion of trade benefits or arms sales to Vietnam on “significant, verifiable, and irreversible improvements” in religious freedom, labor rights, Internet freedom, and other democratic freedoms. Congress designated May 11th as “Vietnam Human Rights Day” in 1994. As Chairman of the congressional panel that oversees international human righ... Read more

Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a senior Member on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, released the following statement after the termination of FBI Director James Comey: “As we face the post-Comey era, any and all investigations in Congress and at the FBI/DOJ, into links between Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns in the US, must continue with one objective—the truth.” Read more

“Today we feel genuine relief for the release of the 82 kidnapped girls after they survived three years of abuse, torture, sexual assault and rape that marked their imprisonment by the terrorist group Boko Haram,” said Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations, who has held eight hearings on Nigeria and authored several pieces of legislation to help humanitarian crises. “Their welcomed freedom is onl... Read more

The winners of the 2017 Annual Congressional Art Competition were announced Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who sponsors the annual show for high school students in the Fourth Congressional District. “The student artists’ submissions in the 2017 competition were again impressive this year,” Smith said. “We had many entries from across Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean counties in the Fourth Congressional District. I congratulate ‘Best-in-Show’ winner, Tallia Maglione, and all the winners a... Read more