According to aggregated empirical legislative data from the Library of Congress, Congressman Smith ranks second out of all 435 current members of the House of Representatives in authoring bills that have been successfully enacted into law, a clear testimony to Chris’ legislative skill and ability to get things done.
He has fought for and created reforms and change by writing and advocating for good, comprehensive laws and policies on a myriad of issues including health care, veterans’ benefits, and human rights. Chris has authored more bills signed into law than the other 11 members of the New Jersey delegation combined.
Smith Laws to Help Our Veterans
Click on any title to find more information about each of Chris’ laws.
Veterans' Education and Benefits Expansion Act, 2001--Public Law 107-103
The Veterans Education and Benefits Expansion Act of 2001 allocates education funding to programs that allow veterans to pursue their educational goals after finishing their service. Additionally, it provides compensation for disabled veterans, especially to those who served during the Vietnam War, who are affected by herbicide related diseases.
Homeless Veterans Comprehensive Assistance Act--Public Law 107-95
This legislation combats homelessness among American veterans. It directs federal agencies to create outreach programs, job training, and counseling for homeless veterans, and also calls for the development of temporary housing, therapy programs, and outpatient facilities to help homeless veterans assimilate back into the workforce.
Veterans' Health Programs Improvement Act--Public Law 108-422
This bill allocates funds for research on injuries typically sustained by service members in traumatic explosions so that medical facilities can better prepare to care for returning combat veterans. It also provides counseling and treatment for veterans that are recovering of sexual trauma sustained during military training or service.
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, 2004--Public Law 108-363
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2004 increases disabilities compensation for veterans. It allocates additional compensation for dependents and of surviving spouses and children based on more current data of realistic expenditures of average American families.
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act--Public Law 108-189
This legislation contains dozens of provisions to assist soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines to help managing their financial and legal obligations while they are serving abroad in the defense of the United States. These provisions assist service members with issues such as automobile leases, repossession, civil court proceedings and life insurance, among many others.
Veterans' Benefits Act, 2003--Public Law 108-183
The Veterans Benefits Act of 2003 increases the allocation of funding for education-related programs for dependents’ of the service members. It also provides self-employment programs that consult and train veterans as they work to successfully re-enter the job market after their service.
Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Programs Enhancement Act, 2001--Public Law 107-135
This legislation provides funding to specialized treatment and rehabilitation facilities and programs for disabled veterans. It also mandates that the Veterans Administration improve its geographical capacity to care for disabled veterans all over the United States.
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act, 2003--Public Law 108-147
The Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act was passed on June 17, 2003. The Act amended the Microenterprise for Self-Reliance Act of 2000, so that 50 percent of all microenterprise assistance targeted persons in the bottom 50 percent financially. Additionally, the Act aimed to revise congressional findings and policy in order to develop programs through micro and small enterprises to assist developing countries.
Veterans Compensation Rate Amendments 2001--Public Law 107-94
This legislation provides increases in education assistance for veterans by updating the provisions of the G.I. Bill., most especially for those service members who served in wake of the September 11 attacks. The funding of these programs allows those veterans to more successfully re-enter the job market and civilian life upon the end of their service. It also mandates increases in veterans benefits related to pensions, housing and funeral-related matters.
Veterans' Survivor Benefits Improvements Act, 2001--Public Law 107-14
This legislation, working in tandem with other veterans-related legislation Rep. Smith authored in the same Congress, also provides veterans with increases in education assistance and benefits related to pensions, housing and funeral-related matters.
Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustments, 2002--Public Law 107-247
This Act increase the rates of veteran’s disability compensation, additional compensation for dependents, the clothing allowance for certain disabled adult children, and dependency and indemnity compensation for surviving spouses and children based on current cost-of-living and expense projections for average Americans.
Commending WWII Veterans of the Battle of the Bulge--Public Law 106-142
This Joint Resolution commends the veterans of the U.S. and British armed forces, and the military forces of the Allied nations who fought in the Battle of the Bulge, one of the most critical and brutal battles on the European front of the Second World War.
Gold Star Families Voices Act --Public Law 114-246
This Act honors our brave veterans who went missing or died in combat by mandating the veterans oral history program maintain a collection of recordings by immediate family members of these fallen Americans. these audio and video recordings of our soldiers, airmen, sailors and Marines who lost their lives or went missing in action are meant to educate younger generations about the realities our servicemen experience in combat.
Department of Veterans Affairs Emergency Preparedness Act--Public Law 107-287
The Department of Veterans Emergency Preparedness Act directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish four medical emergency preparedness centers within the VA medical center system. These facilities are to conduct groundbreaking research in methods of detection for diseases, education to healthcare professionals, and laboratories to assist the Federal government in large-scale emergency situations.
Smith Laws to Help Trafficking Victims
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International Megan's Law to Prevent Child Exploitation and Other Sexual Crimes Through Advanced Notification of Traveling Sex Offenders, 2016--Public Law 114-119
This legislation mandates the creation of an “Angel Watch Center” at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement within Homeland Security, which identifies outbound sex travelers so that the United States Marshals Service may investigate, and transmit such information to the destination country. It also requires registered sex offenders to give the government advanced warnings about their international travel plans, allowing additional safeguards to be put in place.
Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act, 2000--Public Law 106-386
The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act was passed on October 28, 2000. This groundbreaking legislation amends the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 to require the Secretary of State to formally report on the nature and extent of trafficking in persons in foreign countries. This report must include an assessment of the effort of those countries’ governments to combat human trafficking within their own borders. Additionally, the legislation aims to strengthen the services provided to victims of trafficking and to protect women from trafficking-related violence and crimes.
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, 2003--Public Law 108-193
This reauthorization legislation amends the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000 to establish programs providing grants to NGOs that provided shelter and support at borders to those who have been victims of trafficking. It also aimed to train those in especially relevant fields (airline employees, mass transit employees, etc.) how to detect and safely and successfully thwart trafficking in persons they may encounter on the job.
Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, 2005--Public Law 109-164
This reauthorization further expands and enhances the U.S. commitment to leadership in the global battle against modern-day human slavery. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill provides $361 million over the next two years to combat trafficking. This legislation is crucial for the protection of women in the U.S. and abroad, because they are the vast majority of victims of this appalling practice.
Smith Laws to Expand and Enhance Health Care Research and Treatments
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Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Authorization Act of 2015—Public Law 114-104
This law renews the C.W. Bill Young Cell Transplantation Program and the National Cord Blood Inventory Program through the 2020 fiscal year. Patients sufferings from diseases that require bone marrow or cord blood donors will immensely benefit from this extension. The legislation also requires the Health and Human Services Department to continue to pursue the development and expansion of therapies and techniques based on cord blood technologies that will benefit those suffering from chronic, hard-to-treat illnesses.
Autism Collaboration, Accountability, Research, Education and Support (CARES) Act of 2014—Public Law 113-157
This crucial legislation authorizes $1.3 billion to continue support, expand and enhance research programs that are working to identify best practices for early intervention, treatment and care for autistic individuals and families. It also tasks the federal government with examining and anticipating needs for autistic individuals who, upon reaching adulthood, are ‘aging out’ of their school-based support and transitioning into adulthood.
Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Act, 2005--Public Law 109-129
The law provides $265 million for vital stem cell therapy, cord blood and bone marrow transplant programs. $79 is dedicated to the collection and storage of cord blood stem cells (which is a type of adult stem cell). These programs would later make them available to patients in need of related treatments.
In addition, the new law appropriates $186 million over the next five years to the national bone marrow transplant system and combines both systems (cord blood and bone marrow) into a single program, designed to provide an easy, single access point for doctors and patients.
The Assure Act, Autism Statistics, Surveillance, Research and Epidemiology Act--Public Law 106-310 (Passed as part of the Children’s Health Act of 2000)
Passed as Title I of the Children’s Health Act of 2000, the ASSURE Act grants funding to private and public entities for the collection and research of data in the fight against autism. In addition, the bill requires three regional centers of excellence for the treatment of individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
Combating Autism Re-Authorization Act, 2011--Public Law 112-32
The bill authorizes nearly $700 million autism research and treatment programs to continue to assist families and children with autism, which only becomes more endemic in New Jersey every year.
Specifically, it appropriates more than $20 million for the Developmental Disabilities Surveillance and Research Program, just below $50 million for autism education, early detection and intervention, and over $160 million for hundreds of research grants at the National Institutes of Health and the Interagency Autism Coordinating Committee annually.
Smith Laws Providing Relief for Torture Victims
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Torture Victims Relief Act, 1998--Public Law 105-320
The Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 authorizes the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provide grants to programs that work to rehabilitate victims of torture, provide social and legal services to victims, and train health care providers outside the treatment centers to provide aid to victims where they reside.
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act, 1999--Public Law 106-87
This reauthorization authorizes the President to disburse funding to provide grants to torture-recovery treatment centers and programs, the Secretary of Health and Human Services to provided grants to domestic treatment centers, and the President to contribute to the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture.
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act, 2003--Public Law 108-179
This reauthorization measure enhances the provisions of the original Torture Victims Relief Act of 1998 by appropriating funds to the Department of Health and Human Services, the President, and the United Nations to assist victims of torture. Funding is allocated to programs that provide support, treatment, legal, and social resources to victims everywhere.
Torture Victims Relief Reauthorization Act, 2005--Public Law 109-165
This legislation provides $75 million in funding for rehabilitation services to assist victims of torture, and is designed to ensure that special attention is given to domestic torture victims in regions with significant immigrant and refugee populations. Non-governmental organizations utilize this funding to provide direct assistance to survivors, their families and their communities.
Smith Laws Enhancing National Security
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Sean and David Goldman International Child Abduction Prevention and Return Act of 2014—Public Law 113-150
The Goldman Act works to right the immense wrong of international child abduction, and alleviate the enormous suffering endured by separated children and parents by providing the federal government—specifically the State Department—with new tools to effectively engage the fight and work several fronts to get our children back. Because of this bill, families dealing with tragic circumstances like these will for the first time be able to enlist the full weight of the U.S. government in their efforts to get their children back.
Embassy Security Act--Public Law 106-113
These provisions dramatically enhance the security measures required to be in place at each U.S. embassy facility in the world, most especially with the respect to the threat posed by vehicle-mounted explosive devices and other modern, frequently-used terrorist tactics. It also mandates that the Secretary of State annually report to the relevant congressional committees with respect to the measures taken to better secure U.S. diplomatic facilities abroad from attack.
Smith Laws Promoting Human Rights, Democracy and Enhanced Foreign Policy
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Belarus Democracy Reauthorization Act, 2006--Public Law 109-480
This legislation expresses Congress’s will that sanctions be imposed against the brutal Lukashenka regime, and that its senior officials—especially those engaged in human rights and political abuses and crimes—be denied entry into the U.S.
Additionally, the law authorizes funding for 2007 and 2008 for democracy-building activities on the ground, including youth groups, independent trade unions, human rights activists, independent media, democratic political parties, and international exchanges. The bill also includes funding for each fiscal year for surrogate radio and television broadcasting to the people of Belarus.
Department of State Authorities Act, 2006--Public Law 109-472
This law is dedicated to preventing terrorists from obtaining immensely dangerous surface-to-air missiles, supporting longtime U.S. allies including Israel, and assisting U.S. diplomats while they carry out missions overseas.
The legislation also grants the State Department the authority to withdraw U.S. economic and military assistance from a nation that purposefully transfers man-portable air defense systems (MANPADS) to terrorist organizations or a foreign government that is known to sponsor terrorism.
State Department Authorities--Public Law 109-140
The bill provides for U.S. participation in and contribution to the Regional Emerging Diseases Intervention Center, (REDI Center) located in Singapore. The REDI Center is dedicated to combating infectious diseases and other health security threats, including acts of bio-terrorism.
The bill also strengthens the Department of State’s ability to manage personnel and resources by addressing such as post-differentials and danger pay allowances.
Microenterprise Results and Accountability Act, 2004--Public Law 108-484
This bill reforms and improves a US foreign aid program that provides small business loans to those living in extreme poverty—especially women in developing nations.
The bill reforms the existing loan structure within the United States Agency for International Development to verify that US funding aimed at helping the poorest of the poor through micro loans are targeted specifically to organizations most equipped to help them.
Amending Microenterprise Self-Reliance Act and Foreign Assistance Act--Public Law 108-31
This law expands and enhances a loan program focused on impoverished women living in developing nations, increasing in funding for the critical microcredit program.
These programs are crucial to efforts aimed at combating international poverty, especially where living conditions help contribute to instability and terrorist activity.
The legislation includes safeguards that will ensure the money goes to the people who need the help, not to corrupt dictators and officials.
Belarus Democracy Act--Public Law 108-347
This legislation demands the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners in Belarus, especially those individuals imprisoned in the post-election crackdown. Its provisions also significantly strengthen and expand previous legislation authored by Congressman Smith.
For instance, the bill expands the list of Belarusian officials who may be subject to visa restrictions and financial sanctions, requires the unconditional release of all individuals jailed in connection with the post-election crackdown by the regime as a prior condition for ending U.S. government sanctions on the government of Belarus and requires that the State Department report to Congress with respect to Belarus’s arms sales and cooperation with other governments involved in the censorship and surveillance of the Internet.
Human Rights, Refugee, and Other Foreign Relations Provisions Act of 1996--Public Law 104-319
This bill codifies an extensive battery of diplomatic measure that allow the U.S. State Department enhance its focus on human rights as a priority of foreign policy. These measures include the specific monitoring of nations known to abuse the rights of their own citizens, and the creation of programs dedicated to cultural exchange between Americans and citizens of those nations where basic human rights, especially political rights, are not respected.
The Belarus Democracy and Human Rights Act of 2011--Public Law 112-82
This Act denies the entry of individuals into the U.S. who committed any human rights violations during the 2010 presidential election in Belarus. It mandates that the Belorussian government must release any political prisoners that were wrongly imprisoned for their views during the election, and must prosecute any senior officials of the government that violated human rights. This act further mandates free and open presidential and parliamentary elections, in compliance with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.
Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act--Public Law 114-281
This Act provides the means to better identify, target and counter actors that commit anti-Semitic crimes, as well as other forms of religious persecution. It does so through the following: Reviewing the bilateral relationship the U.S. holds with countries that deny visa applications of religious workers often, as well as granting the President the power to designate “violent non-state actors” as severe violators of international religious freedom and giving him the authority to designate state actors, individuals, and non-state actors are responsible for committing those violations.