Congressman Chris Smith of New Jersey, and other newly elected members of the U.S. House of Representatives, were sworn into office today as members of the 112th Congress of the United States. Smith and a majority of House members voted to elect new House Speaker John Boehner of Ohio, at the outset of the new Congress. "It’s exciting to have a new Speaker, John Boehner, at the helm,” Smith said. “It is my hope the new Congress can work in a bipartisan fashion. The Democratic minority, however, m... Read more

Following the recent powerful blizzard, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) has asked President Obama to declare impacted New Jersey counties a disaster area. "I am writing to request that you consider issuing a Presidential disaster declaration for the state of New Jersey, including the shore counties of Ocean and Monmouth in my Congressional District, which were hit especially hard by the weekend’s extreme winter storm," said Smith in a Dec. 30 letter. "The blizzard blanketed much of New Jersey wi... Read more

The following editorial appeared in New Jersey's largest paper, the Newark Star Ledger: President Obama is expected to sign a bill that will jump-start a national campaign against Alzheimer’s disease. It’s good news for patients and families struggling with the emotional and financial burden of the disease. The bipartisan bill, co-sponsored by Reps. Chris Smith (R-5th Dist.) and Edward Markey (D- Mass.), drew unanimous support in the House for the establishment of the National Alzheimer’s Projec... Read more

'The co-sponsor of the legislation as well as the co-chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Alzheimer's, Rep. Smith has long been a champion for those with the disease and their families. This latest bill establishing NAPA is by far the most thorough, far-reaching and focused effort to prepare for the ravages of an aging population... ." -- Times Editorial Reckoning with a deadly disease STAFF WRITER 507 words 28 December 2010 The Times Trenton Full Run A08 English (c) 2010. The Times. All ... Read more

Legislation that will ensure that the men and women who responded to the horrific attacks on September 11, 2001 have access to healthcare for the injuries they sustained has finally passed the House and Senate and is on its way to the President’s desk. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04) sadly recalled the plight of Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese political prisoner was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize Dec. 10 in absentia in Oslo because the Chinese government would not allow him to attend. Smith submitted the following into the Congressional Record today: "Madam Speaker: In the theatrical adaptation of Victor Hugo‟s Les Miserables, Marius sings a haunting song – 'Empty Chairs and Empty Tables' – an expression of agony at the loss of his idealistic comrades, g... Read more

President Obama and democratic governments should work for the release of beaten and arrested Belarusian demonstrators and presidential candidates, urged U.S. Congressman Chris Smith, a senior member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and Ranking Member of the Helsinki Commission. Read more

New legislation aimed at protecting American minors from sex traffickers that is co-authored by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (NY-14) and Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus on Human Trafficking, passed the House of Representatives tonight. “As prime sponsor of the historic law to combat human trafficking—the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000—and as a member of Congress who has devoted more than 15 years seeking to prevent trafficking, protect victims ... Read more

The House today passed the National Alzheimer’s Project Act (N.A.P.A.) co-authored by Representatives Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Chris Smith (R-N.J.). Read more

Religious persecution has risen sharply in Vietnam with beatings, imprisonments and even deaths sanctioned by the Vietnamese government, said Congressman Chris Smith, senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission said on the House floor today. Read more