The state of ongoing peacekeeping operations on the African continent was the topic of a hearing held Thursday by Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House congressional panel that oversees Africa and international human rights. “There are several current peacekeeping operations in Africa encouraged and/or supported by the U.S. government, and others are being planned even now,” said Smith. “The effectiveness of peacekeeping operations has been called into question in terms of plann... Read more

"Today we pause to mark the death of the United States Ambassador to Libya, Christopher Stevens, in an unjustified attack on the American Consulate in Benghazi. Also killed were Information Management Officer Sean Smith and two other American colleagues whose names have not yet been released," said Cong. Chris Smith (NJ-04), chairman of the House subcommittee on human rights and senior member of Foreign Affairs Committee. "Ambassador Stevens had served throughout the Middle East and northern Afr... Read more

WASHINGTON, D.C. – A bill to promote democracy, freedom and human rights in Vietnam—“The Vietnam Human Rights Act of 2012”— authored by U.S. Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04), was approved by the House of Representatives in a voice vote Tuesday night. “It is imperative that the United States Government send an unequivocal message to the Vietnamese regime that it must end its human rights abuses against its own citizens,” said Smith on the floor of the House. He is a senior member of the House Fore... Read more

On Sept. 8, Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) met with representatives of the City of Trenton firefighters to discuss a federal grant program in the hopes of averting the laying off of 55 firefighters of its force of 227 in January 2013. Congressman Smith, a long-time member of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, assisted then-Fire Chief John Gribbin in 2011, to help Trenton gain a similar grant of $13,685,436 through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grants... Read more

At a meeting Wednesday with community leaders across New Jersey involved in the fight against modern day slavery known as human trafficking, Cong. Chris Smith discussed the long but crucial battle to help trafficking victims at all levels of society. “We must all work to fight against this horrific scourge, which disproportionately victimizes children and young girls who are often trafficked into, lured or coerced sexual slavery and then trapped in a nightmare,” said Smith, chairman of the House... Read more

Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04) recently met with Brookdale Community College's new president, Dr. Maureen Murphy, at the college campus in Lincroft, N.J. Smith and Dr. Murphy discussed various college issues, including courses, student services, veterans' education, community support and future plans of the college. The college serves thousands of students in the Monmouth County area. Also attending the August meeting was Dr. Webster B. Trammell, Vice President of Development, Community and Gov... Read more

“American citizens on travel anywhere around the world need to know that the United States will go to bat for them when they are being denied fundamental human rights or basic due process rights by foreign government officials who abuse the rule of law,” said United States Congressman Chris Smith, author of new U.S. legislation, “Jacob’s Law,” named for American Jacob Ostreicher who has been wrongly and unjustly held in a Bolivian prison without formal charges or bail since June 2011. “Jacob’s L... Read more

On Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists attacked on American soil, and, as Lillian G. Burry, a member of the Monmouth County Board of Freeholders, said, “Everything changed that day.” On that day, Burry was mayor of Colts Neck, which includes much of Naval Weapons Station Earle’s 11,000 acres. Although Earle, an ammunition storage facility, was not an open base before 9/11, access to it became even more tightly restricted. On Thursday, Burry was one of the dignitaries dedicating the new $8.4 million redev... Read more

The official opening of the new main gate to improve security at Naval Weapons Station Earle included Congressman Chris Smith (NJ-04, Robbinsville), who helped secure funding for the gate, as keynote speaker. “I want to thank Captain Fuzz Harrison and Lt. Commander J.J. Dunne- and each and every one of you- for performing your mission with efficiency and excellence,” Smith said. “The ability to safely receive, store, and re-ship America’s diverse arsenal ensures that the United States retains th... Read more

By Adam Hochron Standing in front of the new Entry Control Point (ECP) at Naval Weapons Station Earle Commanding Officer Capt. Fuzz Harrison said it was a far cry from what the base has had in the past and will serve the sailors well in the future. Capt. Harrison said that while security has always been an important part of the base, the new structure took that to a new level especially after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "Throughout the military there was an immediate emphasis on security of inst... Read more