Christopher Henry Smith (born 1953), commonly known as Chris Smith, is a long-serving Republican United States Congressman representing New Jersey's 4th congressional district since 1981. He is renowned as a staunch advocate for human rights, religious freedom, and pro-life causes. Smith has chaired the U.S. Helsinki Commission and served as Special Representative on Human Trafficking Issues for the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Parliamentary Assembly since 2004. His legislative efforts have focused on combating human trafficking and anti-Semitism, and promoting democracy in countries like Belarus, Azerbaijan, Russia, and Northern Ireland. Smith is known for his bipartisan approach on international human rights issues, authoring numerous bills and resolutions to address global atrocities, support prisoners of conscience, and advocate for the release of political prisoners and an end to religious persecution worldwide.

Born and raised in New Jersey, Smith graduated from Trenton State College (now The College of New Jersey) with a degree in business administration in 1975. Before entering politics, he worked as a business executive and community organizer. Elected to Congress at age 27, he has been reelected 21 times, often with strong margins. Smith is a devout Catholic, influencing his strong opposition to abortion and support for faith-based initiatives. He has been married to Marie Smith since 1975, and they have five children. Throughout his career, Smith has emphasized ethical governance and transparency, earning praise from human rights organizations while facing criticism from some quarters for his conservative stances on social issues.

Smith's influence extends through his roles in various congressional committees, including Foreign Affairs, where he has advocated for accountability in U.S. foreign policy, contributing to networks of influence in international diplomacy and advocacy groups.