U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) is optimistic that the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act – which passed the House of Representatives on Thursday night – will benefit New Jersey by allowing a more risk based spending formula. The bill, which provides homeland security funding for fiscal year 2006, will for the first time allow the Bush Administration – namely Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff – to distribute the majority of first responder grants based on the risk of terrorism. Read more

At a press conference this morning overlooking the Capitol, Congressman Chris Smith (R-NJ) and a bipartisan group of lawmakers called on Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist to allow the Senate to vote on H.R. 2520 / S.1317 – The Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act. Smith was joined by medical experts and doctors from around the country, patients – mostly children – that have been cured by cord blood infusion, and by Hall of Fame basketball star Julius "Dr. J" Erving – who has fought for expansion of this therapy with the CORDUS Corporation, a company focused upon providing proven high quality umbilical stem cell therapeutics to patients in need. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Africa, Global Human Rights and International Operations held a hearing to study the terrible situation facing India’s 250 million Dalits and tribal peoples. The Dalits, better known as “untouchables,” and other tribal peoples are treated as virtual non-humans, and suffer pervasive discrimination and violation of their human rights. Smith, a champion of human rights causes since being elected to Congress, held the oversight hearing on Thursday afternoon. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) again has stood firm against special interests by voting against H.R. 3824, the "Threatened and Endangered Species Recovery Act," (TERSA). The legislation would eliminate important requirements in the current Endangered Species Act (ESA) that currently protect the critical habitat of America’s endangered wildlife – an issue of great concern in New Jersey. While the bill was approved in the House of Representatives by a 229-193 vote, it still needs to be approved in the Senate. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Committee on Global Human Rights, Vice Chairman of the International Relations Committee and Co-Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe issued the following statement in response to the de Chastelain weapons inspection commission report: Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) and a delegation from Mercer County’s Polish-American community joined former Polish President Lech Walesa, former Secretary of State Alexander Haig and former National Security Adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity Trade Union on Monday, September 26. Smith, who serves as Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, was the main host of the event which was sponsored by the Polish Embassy. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) has invited a delegation from Mercer County’s Polish-American community to join him in welcoming former Polish President Lech Walesa to a luncheon commemorating the 25th Anniversary of the founding of the Solidarity Trade Union on Monday, September 26. Smith, as Co-Chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, is the main host of the event sponsored by the Polish Embassy and the Helsinki Commission. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), today expressed disappointment with President Bush’s decision to waive or reduce sanctions against some countries that are known to be among the worst offenders in human trafficking. Smith is the author two landmark laws to combat human trafficking and aid the victims of this horrible crime and introduced H.R. 972 – the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2005 – in February 2005. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) today praised President Bush and Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for their commitment to women and children following their announcement that the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) had again failed to meet the human rights conditions necessary to receive $34 million funding. Read more

The Microenterprise Results and Accountability Act of 2004 (P.L. 108-484) was authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) and became law in 2004. The law reformed the loan structure within the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), ensuring that American dollars aimed at helping those most in need would be targeted directly to organizations most able to directly help them. The law created a microenterprise office within USAID to improve oversight and establish new methods of accountability – including an annual report to Congress. The bill also required a new monitoring system to ensure that performance goals are met. Read more