Fact Sheet: Cord Blood Stem Cells Background Umbilical cords are a rich, non-controversial source of stem cells, but currently hospitals throw millions of them away each year. These stem cells can be matched to patients and have already been used to treat thousands of patients—both children and adults—with more than 70 diseases and conditions. In addition, published studies have shown that stem cells in cord blood have the capacity to become other cell types, which give them the potential to tre... Read more

Legislation to promote an international response to the threat of global warming that U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) helped to champion was incorporated into the comprehensive energy bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives today. Read more

U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—Co-Chairman of the Bipartisan Pro-Life Caucus—today introduced legislation to expand and strengthen informed consent requirements abortion providers must follow by requiring information on pain and the unborn child be made available to women seeking abortions. Read more

Legislation authorizing over $200 million for the Manasquan Inlet to Barnegat Inlet beach replenishment project received final approval from the U.S. House of Representatives late last night announced U.S. Reps. Chris Smith (NJ-04) and Jim Saxton (NJ-03), who have worked jointly for many years to secure the authorization. Read more

The House Foreign Affairs Committee today approved legislation authored by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) to promote human rights reform in Vietnam and hold the Vietnamese Government accountable for further human rights abuses. Read more

On the same day the United Nations voted to create a peacekeeping mission in the Darfur, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation—supported by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)—that would bring additional pressure on the Government of Sudan to end the genocide in Darfur by eliminating U.S. investments that benefit the regime in Khartoum. Read more

U.S. Rep Chris Smith (R-NJ) today hailed House passage of a resolution calling on the Japanese Government to acknowledge, apologize and accept historical responsibility for trafficking women to serve as sex slaves for their soldiers in the years prior to and during World War II as “an important victory for ‘comfort women’ and their loved ones in their decades long struggle for justice.” Read more

Highlighting provisions that create a new risk-based formula and mandate 100% cargo screening for our nation’s ports, U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) said final approval of comprehensive legislation to strengthen federal homeland security laws could increase New Jersey’s share of federal homeland security funds and will help local officials as they work to keep our residents safe. Read more

In response to the EPA Region II announcement of a new water quality test which would reduce the current twenty-four hour testing period down to just three hours to yield results, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) stated, “The concerted effort by the EPA to achieve better, faster, quality testing of ocean waters is a step in the right direction to ensure the health and safety of not just the ocean, but also the people who live in and visit the Jersey Shore area.” Read more

Chairman Akaka, Senator Craig, Members of the Committee, It is a rare privilege to testify before the Committee today on the compelling need to reform VA health care funding. As former House Chairman, I deeply appreciate and respect all the work that this Committee has done and is doing to ensure that our men and women who have served in uniform have all of the benefits and services they need and have earned. No one on earth has done more to protect and preserve freedom, democracy, and fundament... Read more