A bill introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives yesterday would stop the sale of surveillance technologies to repressive regimes by American companies. Sponsored by Representative Chris Smith, a Republican from New Jersey, the measure would prohibit the export of hardware and software that can be used to block and track communications sent over the Internet. In addition, it would require companies listed on U.S. stock exchanges to report to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission how ... Read more

By STEVE STECKLOW A bill that would restrict U.S. exports of technology that can be used by repressive regimes to censor the Internet or conduct surveillance on users will be introduced in the House soon. The sponsor, Rep. Chris Smith (R., N.J.), said the proposed legislation is in response to reports that some governments have used American products to crack down on dissidents. "How will all these dictatorships ever matriculate into democracy if the dissenters...are all in prison, hunted down w... Read more

“You need two things for a dictatorship to survive — propaganda and secret police,” said Rep. Christopher H. Smith (R-N.J.), in an interview with the Washington Post about his proposed bills to restrict the sale of surveillance technology overseas. “Both of those are enabled in a huge way by the high-tech companies involved.” The Washington Post article: By Sari Horwitz, Shyamantha Asokan and Julie Tate Northern Virginia technology entrepreneur Jerry Lucas hosted his first trade show for makers ... Read more

By Star-Ledger Editorial Board The federal laws appear clear: If health care professionals cite religious or moral objections, they cannot be compelled to assist in abortions in facilities that receive federal funding. But now, nearly four decades after the original law was passed, the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey is looking for a loophole. The hospital’s position: It depends on what “assist” means. If UMDNJ’s stance doesn’t violate the letter of the laws (and the courts ev... Read more

The following is a Radio Free Europe article by Richard Solash: The chairman of the U.S. Helsinki Commission has pledged to call on the Obama administration to push for the indictment of hard-line Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka by the International Criminal Court (ICC). While the chances of an indictment are unlikely, the pledge by Representative Chris Smith (Republican, New Jersey) was a clear sign that U.S. lawmakers have not forgotten the egregious human rights situation in the co... Read more

Cong. Smith meets American Council of Young Political Leaders' Israeli delegation. From left are Shay Even, Linor Deutsch, Dore Bloch, Assemblywoman Caroline Casagrande and Mordechai Ruham. Read more

(WPVI) -- With Veteran's Day right around the corner, a POW during World War II was honored in South Jersey. Private Alan Hayden received a special medal Monday, honoring him as a prisoner of war in Germany. It's an honor he says that he'll share. "I am accepting the award, honoring all the men who, at that time, were prisoners of war," said Hayden. To watch the ABC 6 report, click here. That memory includes a buddy that Hayden, at age 18, saw shot down at point blank range, moments after captur... Read more

Why were hotel giants Hilton, Starwood, Marriott and Carlson mentioned on Capitol Hill Thursday during a hearing on global human trafficking? In a hearing that Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) called to examine findings in this year's Trafficking in Persons report, he noted that "American chain hotels in China as well as in Mexico have been locations of sex trafficking." Police raided a five-star Hilton in China last year and found prostitution and other criminal activity in the hotel's independently o... Read more

The following text and video is from WABC New York Channel 7 about Naval Weapons Station Earle in Monmouth County, NJ. (WABC) -- They're a group of 46 security guards charged with protecting one of the most sensitive military installations in the area, the Earle Weapons Naval Station in Monmouth County. Not only did a federal contractor default on their pay, but the federal government recouped the money but then sat on hundreds of thousands owed to the workers. Click here to watch the video. Rou... Read more

In ceremonies that celebrated courage and duty during the post office’s darkest days, officials and postal employees yesterday marked the anniversary of the anthrax attacks that contaminated the Route 130 plant and sickened five workers 10 years ago. Union leaders and postal officials reminisced not only about the anxiety that gripped workers in the wake of the 2001 bioterrorism attack, but also the spirit of unity that helped rebuild the postal facility as well as trust in America’s mail system... Read more