On behalf of its 37,046 supporters in the 4th district of New Jersey, The Humane Society of the United States, together with its affiliate, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, will present an award to U.S. Rep. Christopher H. Smith R-N.J. for his leadership on animal protection legislation in 2011. Rep. Smith will receive a Humane Champion award for earning a perfect score on the 2011 Humane Scorecard and for his leadership on the animal welfare enforcement funding letter for Agriculture Approp... Read more

It is with deep sorrow and sadness that we remember our friend and colleague Donald Payne who passed today. He had colon cancer. The full House of Representatives recognizes and honors by this resolution and by our words this extraordinary man who dedicated his entire life to public service; a man who made a significant difference in the lives of many—in his district, in our state, in the nation and in the world. Elected in 1988 after first serving as a Newark City Councilman and Essex County Fr... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives about Congressman Don Payne (NJ-10). "Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is with deep sorrow that I inform the House that our dear friend and colleague, Donald Payne has passed... ." Congressman Smith's remarks on CSPAN can be viewed by clicking here. Related article: Star Ledger Read more

An emergency hearing entitled “China's Repatriation of North Korean Refugees” was the topic of a hearing of the U.S. China Commission held Monday by Chairman Chris Smith (NJ-04). “Dozens of North Koreans are today at imminent risk of persecution, torture—even execution—owing to China’s decision to forcibly repatriate them in stark violation of both the spirit and the letter of the 1951 Refugee Convention and 1967 Protocol to which China has acceded,” Smith said. “The international community—espe... Read more

The challenge of determining the fate of missing persons in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSEC) region was the topic of a hearing held today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, also known as the U.S. Helsinki Commission. Queen Noor of Jordon, Commissioner of the International Commission on Missing Persons, was the lead witness at the hearing. "Her Majesty, Queen Noor is an active patron, president, ... Read more

Officials from the first Medicare-sponsored Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) in New Jersey met with Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) earlier this week to provide an update on the program and thank him for his leadership in helping to bring PACE to our state and ensuring that these vital healthcare services remain available for the elderly and disabled in our area. The PACE site, located on the Hamilton-Trenton border and serving residents of all of Mercer County and portions of north... Read more

A draft plan released this week that maps out a national, comprehensive plan to address Alzheimer’s, a disease that afflicts millions of Americans, lays out a path for development of more effective and timely treatments, earlier diagnoses, and improved support services for patients and their caregivers, said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chair of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's Disease. "Cases of this dreaded disease are on the rise," said Smith. “The toll of human suffering is... Read more

The following story by the Washington Post about Chinese political prisoner Gao Zhisheng, the subject of a congressional hearing held Feb. 16 by Cong. Chris Smith (NJ-04) , chairman of the U.S. China Commission, was published on Feb. 16, 2012: By Dan Zak, Published: February 16 Somewhere between the desert basins and craggy mountains of far west China, in the lonely expanse to which criminals and subversives have been exiled for generations, a human rights lawyer named Gao Zhisheng presumably si... Read more

From Havana, Cuba, former political prisoner Dr. Óscar Elías Biscet, M.D., a courageous human rights advocate who has spent over 11 years in jail, testified today before a rare joint hearing chaired by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) of the House subcommittee on human rights, as well as the subcommittee that addresses Western Hemisphere issues. From Havana, Cuba, former political prisoner Dr. Óscar Elías Biscet, M.D., a courageous human rights advocate who has spent over 11 years in jail, testif... Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith gave the following remarks at press conference in support of H.R. 1179, The Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, on February 15, 2012: "President Obama’s slick public relations offensive on Friday contained neither an “accommodation” nor a compromise nor a change in his coercion rule. "The final rule promulgated Friday remains a direct, obnoxious, unprecedented government attack on the conscience rights of religious entities and anyone else who for moral reasons cannot and... Read more