The wave of Internet censorship appearing in repressive regimes around the world and legislation introduced today—the Global Online Freedom Act (GOFA)—were the focus of a hearing held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House panel that oversees international human rights. At the hearing of the House Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health and Human Rights, Chairman Smith described the deteriorating state of freedom of political and religious speech online and the growing danger fo... Read more

Imprisoned Chinese human rights activist and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo was remembered by a series of witnesses offering heartfelt testimony before the Congressional-Executive Commission on China this week to mark one year since Liu’s Dec. 10, 2010 award ceremony and to examine China’s ongoing crackdown against human rights advocates. Experts testifying at the hearing addressed the Nobel Laureate’s long history of human rights advocacy and the influence of the prestigious award wit... Read more

The fate of Chinese political prisoner and 2010 Nobel Peace Prize winner Liu Xiaobo, who was nominated for the Nobel prize by Congressman Chris Smith with the support of other House members, was the focal point of powerful testimony by human rights leaders testifying before the U.S. China Commission Tuesday. “One year after the independent Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Liu Xiaobo, who is a Chinese intellectual and democracy advocate, Liu remains isolated in a prison thousands ... Read more

The deadly international killer known as malaria was the target of a congressional hearing held today by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees global health issues. “For the last century, America has been a leader in the fight against malaria,” said Smith. “While the United States and several other countries have been able to eliminate malaria, this deadly disease still presents a serious challenge to other parts of our world.” Click here to wat... Read more

“Our work fighting anti-Semitism is far from done,” said Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), at a hearing in Washington today held by the U.S. Commission that oversees human rights in the 56 countries of the Organization on Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE). Smith, the Chairman of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe also known as the Helsinki Commission said: “By most accounts, and thanks to the work of many courageous nongovernmental organizations, NGOs, the despicab... Read more

By STEVE STECKLOW A bill that would restrict U.S. exports of technology that can be used by repressive regimes to censor the Internet or conduct surveillance on users will be introduced in the House soon. The sponsor, Rep. Chris Smith (R., N.J.), said the proposed legislation is in response to reports that some governments have used American products to crack down on dissidents. "How will all these dictatorships ever matriculate into democracy if the dissenters...are all in prison, hunted down w... Read more

“You need two things for a dictatorship to survive — propaganda and secret police,” said Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), in an interview with the Washington Post about his proposed bills to restrict the sale of surveillance technology overseas. “Both of those are enabled in a huge way by the high-tech companies involved.” The Washington Post article: By Sari Horwitz, Shyamantha Asokan and Julie Tate Northern Virginia technology entrepreneur Jerry Lucas hosted his first trade show for makers ... Read more

U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) made the following statement at the House Committee on Oversight and Government Affairs congressional hearing entitled “U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Catholic Church: Examining the Politicization of Grants” on Thursday. "A little over a decade ago, I authored the Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TPVA) of 2000—the landmark law that created America’s comprehensive policy to combat modern day slavery. Among its many mutually reinforcin... Read more

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board The federal laws appear clear: If health care professionals cite religious or moral objections, they cannot be compelled to assist in abortions in facilities that receive federal funding. But now, nearly four decades after the original law was passed, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is looking for a loophole. The hospital’s position: It depends on what “assist” means. If UMDNJ’s stance doesn’t violate the letter of the laws (and the courts ev... Read more

A new report on the oppression of religious freedoms around the world and U.S. policy to address threats to this basic human right was the focus of a congressional hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights. “Congress gave expression to our commitment to international religious freedom with the passage in 1998 of the International Religious Freedom Act, which concretely established the promotion and... Read more