Chris Smith

I congratulate the Southern Sudanese people and join in in celebrating the completion of the referendum on the future status of their country.

You must make that determination purely on the merits, not tilted to some other political considerations.

I rise in very strong support of the legislation. I will say at the outset, as the prime sponsor of the historic law to combat human trafficking known as the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, and as a Member of Congress who has…

Did CPC designation help mitigate religious persecution prior to being lifted? It appears so. The U.S. Commission on Religious Freedom notes that Hanoi released prisoners, it expanded some legal protections for nationally recognized…

I rise in strong support and ask for our colleagues to pass the National Alzheimer's Project Act. This legislation is an important step forward in our battle against the crisis of Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, we know that the…

In early July, Nam Nguyen, this is Nam Nguyen right here, a Catholic from Con Dau, was savagely beaten to death for his faith by the Vietnamese police. His brother, Tai Nguyen, testified at an August Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission…

Mr. Speaker, worldwide, Communist dictatorships either crush or seek to control religious organizations. I have seen this in my 30 years as a Member of Congress. I remember in the early 1980s how the Romanian apologists, as MSM was coming…

I thank my good friend. Mr. Speaker, just let me close with a statement of Liu Xiaobo himself. Remember, this was stated at his trial in 2009. He said, in pertinent part: I hope that I will be the last victim of China's endless literary…

Madam Speaker, for far too long the Chinese Government has evaded virtually all serious scrutiny of its horrific human rights record-- usually by employing bullying tactics, including threats to nations, multilateral organizations like the…

First, I want to thank the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Moran) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Manzullo) for providing us with this opportunity to recognize the contributions of the National Council for International Visitors…

Mr. Speaker, I want to rise in strong support of H. Res. 1735, condemning North Korea's unprovoked shelling of the South Korean island of Yeonpyeong on November 23. I want to thank my good friend and colleague Chairman Berman and Ranking…

Every American has a duty to respect, honor and support our veterans. Congress has the responsibility to ensure that the profound respect owed to our veterans is translated into meaningful and tangible action. For generations, Members on…

Mr. Speaker, today the House will vote to reauthorize the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act, which is the law that I, along with Artur Davis, sponsored back in 2005. That law created a new nationwide umbilical cord blood stem cell…

This is a human rights abuse that's occurring against our own families, and our government--and this goes through successive administrations, Republican and Democrat--does not do enough. You know, I don't know how many you have ever seen…

We need the tools at the State Department, at the Office of Children's Issues, to more effectively promote the interests of American parents and of American abducted children. I've introduced legislation, and my good friend Jim Moran is…

I want to commend Congressman Mack, the ranking member of the Western Hemisphere Committee, for offering this resolution. H. Res. 1662 commends the bravery of the 33 trapped miners in Chile who have endured nearly 2 months of unimaginable…

I am pleased to rise in support of H. Res. 1588, of which I am the original cosponsor. Madam Speaker, we are all too familiar with the famous quote by the American philosopher George Santayana, who said, ``Those who cannot remember the…

I believe it is accurate to say that the provisions of this bill are not only important but essential in providing tangible assistance to those with autism spectrum disorder and their families. Implementation of the TRAIN Act will…

Last week one of China's most heroic defenders of human rights, Chen Guangcheng, was transported from prison to his family's house. This was good news, but only a step in the right direction. We must not gloss over the fact that Chen, who…

In closing, Mr. Speaker, I again thank my friends on the majority side for their courtesy and for working so closely with us on this legislation. It truly is a bipartisan bill. You know, in 2000 I was the prime sponsor of the Trafficking…

Mr. Speaker, the International Megan's Law is the culmination of over 3 years of extensive negotiations and research by multiple parties. Mr. Payne and I are deeply grateful to all who have helped craft this legislation. I want to thank…

Mr. Speaker, while the World Cup is a joyous and unifying event watched the world over, it comes at a very high cost for many women and children trapped in sexual slavery in South Africa. Major sporting events, Mr. Speaker, and conventions…

Award-winning journalist Bill Handleman, 62, of the Asbury Park Press, tragically passed away yesterday after a long bout with cancer. A family man and a humanitarian with a great big heart and incisive wit, Bill is survived by his dear…

Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the condemnation of the Lord's Resistance Army expressed in S. 1067 and the bill's goal of supporting civilian protection and development in northern Uganda. Four years ago, I chaired a hearing of the…

I have introduced a bill which would provide small grant money to fledgling nongovernmental organizations throughout the world. In my travels to places like Nigeria, I met up with a small nongovernmental organization which was like David…