A congressional briefing on sex trafficking and abuse of children—a crime that destroys the lives of the victims—was chaired by Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ), Chairman of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (CSCE, also known as the Helsinki Commission. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-TN) also participated in the briefing. “The sex trafficking and abuse of children is one of the most despicable, violent crimes on earth – shattering the lives of the victims and their families – a crime from which t... Read more

The following news article is on a U.S. Department of Education grant announced by Cong. Smith, and ran in the The Asbury Park Press Oct. 3, 2012: Improving teacher and principal quality in Lakewood, Asbury Park and two other districts is the focus of a $39 million federal grant awarded to Rutgers University — and officials say the grant will help jump-start school reform measures in those districts. “It will ensure higher quality instruction for all students,” said Laura Winters, interim Lakewo... Read more

Nearly one year to the day of the enactment of his Combating Autism Reauthorization Act (CARA), Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) visited the Advanced Learning Center’s Autism Awareness All Day Fall Day, speaking with parents, caregivers and supporters of autistic children and their families. Smith, the Co-Chairman of the Congressional Coalition on Autism Research and Education (C.A.R.E.), attended the Center’s Sept. 29 event at the South Wall Fire Company on Atlantic Avenue in Wall Twp. The Cente... Read more

Rutgers University has been awarded $7.8 million by the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) for the first two years of a five-year, $39 million project to help train and reward effective teachers at high-need schools in four New Jersey school districts, including Lakewood School District. The Teacher Incentive Fund (TIF) grant was one of only 35 grants awarded across the country to improve educator performance by providing evidenced-based professional development and rewarding effective teachers ... Read more

Asbury Park Press, Sept. 23, 2012: Amid increasing political jitters over the potential for draconian military budget cuts next year, New Jersey congressmen hosted Rep. Howard “Buck” McKeon, R-Calif., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, on a tour of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Saturday. "It was an opportunity to enlighten everyone how the country benefits” from the 40,000-acre military reservation that hosts every branch of the military, said Rep. Jon Runyan, who with Rep. Chris... Read more

Burlington County’s mega-base has a powerful new fan: California Congressman Buck McKeon.McKeon, the Republican chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, accompanied New Jersey Reps. Jon Runyan, R-3rd of Mount Laurel, and Chris Smith, R-4th of Robbinsville, on a tour of Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst on Saturday morning. Following the tour, the influential leader said he was impressed by the base’s cohesion of different military branches and units on one installation. “Here we have three... Read more

While most people think the crimes of human trafficking and sex slavery take place in impoverished countries, it happens right here in SJ. Troubled teen girls are easily lured to lives they never wanted. Few survive. By Jayne Jacova Feld During the summer between eighth and ninth grades, Holly Austin Smith had some heavy issues weighing down her 14-year-old mind. Growing apart from her middle school friends and scarred by sexual abuse at the hand of a family member, she dreamed of leaving SJ beh... Read more

Innocent Americans imprisoned overseas, as reported in "Jailed American's Drug Case Stokes Tension With Bolivia" (World News, Aug. 1) and "Cuba's American Hostage" (op-ed, Sept. 10), and the woefully inadequate response by the Obama administration, highlight the need for congressional initiative and oversight to address this serious issue. I recently introduced the Justice for Imprisoned Americans Overseas Act or "Jacob's Law," named after Jacob Ostreicher who has been detained for more than 15 ... Read more

Former political prisoner and human rights champion Aung San Suu Kyi will belatedly receive the 2008 Congressional Gold Medal at a ceremony this afternoon in the U.S. Capitol, said a pleased U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-04), a leading human rights lawmaker in the U.S. Congress who for years pleaded her cause on the House floor and at human rights hearings. “After decades of advocating Ms. Suu Kyi’s cause through hearings that I have chaired on human rights abuses in Burma and co-sponsoring the legi... Read more

Rwanda's armed interventions in the affairs of its neighbor, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), were the topic of a congressional hearing held Wednesday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), Chairman of the House panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. “Six million people have lost their lives in the DRC as a result of recurring conflict. Far from resolving ethnic disputes, the interventions by Rwanda in the DRC have exacerbated tensions among the ethnic groups who live the... Read more