While presiding over the House of Representatives today, Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ) was formally selected by Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) to chair the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission (TLHRC) for the 118th Congress. The position marks the third committee leadership appointment this year for Smith, who has also been tapped to chair the Congressional-Executive Commission on China in addition to the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations. Smith has previously served two terms as TLHRC Chair.

            An internationally recognized human rights defender, Smith has chaired hundreds of congressional hearings over the years exposing human rights violations across the globe and has authored landmark legislation to promote respect for fundamental human rights and religious freedom while holding abusers accountable for their atrocities.