The Public Record
Chris Smith is a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives, representing New Jersey's 4th congressional district since 1981. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on a range of issues including human rights, foreign affairs, and health care. Smith has been involved in various legislative efforts aimed at improving health services and advocating for the rights of individuals both domestically and internationally. His long-standing service in Congress has made him a prominent figure in New Jersey politics.
I thank my great friend from California for his leadership, former Attorney General of California, one of the most decisive and wonderful debaters in the House of Representatives and a great champion of life. Mr. Speaker, President Obama's…
We ran a $1.3 trillion deficit last year, and that is about 38 percent of the budget, and that is an enormous challenge; not something that can be ignored.
We appreciate the sacrifices that all of the soldiers have made in the last 10 years and their families.
I suspect that will come up a time or two during the course of the questioning, and of course, the truth of the matter is, as with any project that involves money, it is driven by both.
history has shown time and time again that those are the people who ultimately make the change, get the change.
It takes a special person to be able to speak his or her mind courageously, knowing full well that there will very well or could very well be a difficult penalty to pay.
Cuba retains its designation as a State Sponsor of Terrorism, and we in the United States need to recognize that.
My hope would be that the Organization for American States, the U.N., especially the Human Rights Council, the European Union, and even the International Criminal Court would investigate these crimes against humanity and take action.
So I am glad that we continue in the Congress to be vigilant and to focus attention on Cuba's terrible human rights policy.
Those of us who have had the privilege of knowing and working with Cuba's human rights champions for decades, and having heard from them firsthand of the brutality of the Castro government, are not so easily persuaded or deceived that…
one of the conditions in the foreign aid budget for this year is religious freedom.
It is time that he be recognized in Oslo for the tremendous work he has done.
Without the international support for the peaceful opposition in Cuba, the Castro brothers will continue to repress their people, and they will end up massacring them, just like it is happening today with the people of Syria.
Pope Benedict will visit Cuba on March 26 to 28. His mission is to evangelize, but he also speaks very strongly on behalf of human rights protections.
We will hold additional hearings. We are redoubling our efforts to bring scrutiny and life in combating these human rights abuses.
Persecuting the men and women who toil to ensure that human rights, the rule of law and democracy, are respected in Egypt is not only unconscionable, but it is absurd.
Please continue to support the dissident movement, the peaceful Cuban opposition, and the independent press, who with great courage face the totalitarian system that has asphyxiated us for 53 years.
I myself have offered amendments in the past in the Congress that would have lifted the travel ban if, and only if, political prisoners were released and free and fair elections were held.
I would ask the Pope to call for free elections, to allow the Cuban people the right of self-determination, to allow the Cuban people to move forward beyond this tragic reality that has been placed upon them for more than 50 years of the…
Instead of engaging to help the Castro regime, we should be engaging with the Cuban people and helping them become liberated citizens.
Mr. President, it is the time for Cuba. I strongly urge you to condemn this deplorable situation in which the fundamental rights of Cubans are being violated.
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