Comprehensive legislation authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) reauthorizing federal autism research programs for the next three years was approved by the Senate late last night. The bill— H.R. 2005, “The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act”—authorizes $693 million through 2014 to fund research into causes and treatment of autism and other developmental disabilities. According to Smith, the legislation will authorize for each fiscal year: $22 million for the Developmental Disabilities Su... Read more

China’s brutal “One Child Policy” and its gross violations of human rights, particularly those of women, was the focus of human rights activists testifying before the House on Thursday. Congressman Chris Smith, chairman of the House subcommittee that oversees human rights and chairman of the Congressional-Executive China Commission, held a hearing entitled “China's One-Child Policy: The Government's Massive Crime Against Women and Unborn Babies.” “Women bare the major brunt of the one child poli... Read more

In the wake of a key House vote last night, the nation’s fight against the epidemic of autism is front and center as H.R. 2005, “The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act,” a bipartisan bill authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) with Rep. Mike Doyle (PA-14) as the prime cosponsor, passed the House and moves to the Senate. The measure will renew the nation’s programs for autism early detection, surveillance, research, education, awareness and treatment. “One percent of all our children have ... Read more

Former North Korean political prisoners recalled the suffering they endured in labor camps in testimony before a congressional panel on Tuesday, and called on U.S. lawmakers to help end human rights abuses in the country. Meanwhile, a North Korea expert testified to what he called “intensified political repression” in the isolated Stalinist state. Kim Hye Sook, who escaped from North Korea in 2009 and now lives in South Korea, said she was “dragged” to political prison camp no. 18 of the Bukchan... Read more

The House of Representatives today debated and passed H.R. 2005, “The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act,” a bipartisan bill authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) that will renew the nation’s programs for autism early detection, surveillance, research, education, awareness and treatment. “This legislation is critically important to continue without interruption the progress we have made in understanding autism and in developing interventions that will have the greatest impact in helping ... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The atrocious human rights record of the North Korean dictatorship—among the very worst in the world— was described in grisly detail by prison survivors and human rights workers who detailed inhumane gulag-style prison camps, human trafficking, torture, political repression and religious persecution at a congressional hearing Tuesday held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House panel that oversees human rights. North Korea’s dictatorship, now headed by Kim J... Read more

The House of Representatives will vote Tuesday on H.R. 2005, “The Combating Autism Reauthorization Act,” a bill authored by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) that will renew the nation’s programs for autism early detection, surveillance, research, education, awareness and treatment. “This is a great victory for the individuals and families who suffer from the autism epidemic,” said Smith, whose own state of New Jersey is believed to have the highest rate of autism in the country. “I thank the lead... Read more

The House overwhelmingly voted to reauthorize the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) today, following the U.S. State Department’s release Tuesday of the Religious Freedom Report and designation of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC), as mandated by the Act. Congressman Chris Smith, an established human rights leader in Congress who helped shepherd the original Act into law in 1998, called on the Obama Administration to apply long-overdue sanctions to countries that routinely violate th... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), who joined hundreds of New Jerseyans at the 9/11 "Empty Sky" Memorial Dedication in Liberty State Park, NJ, issued the following statement about the 10th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001: "The greatness of America shone brightly in the horrendous darkness that descended on New York City, Washington DC and United Flight 93. When faced with adversity, first responders and ordinary citizens alike became heroes. When challenged, all Americans displayed va... Read more

The growing humanitarian crisis threatening millions of people in East Africa, including drought and the delivery of humanitarian aid in the face of terrorist movements, was the focus of a congressional hearing today held by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees international human rights and African issues. The hearing, entitled “USAID's Long-Term Strategy for Addressing East African Emergencies,” examined U.S. strategy to address humanitarian ... Read more