A congressional hearing focused on laws regulating foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and their impact on civil society is scheduled for Tuesday, September 9, 2025. The session will be co-chaired by U.S. Rep. Chris Smith (R-Toms River) and James McGovern under the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
The hearing aims to address recent trends in legislation that require transparency or impose limitations on foreign funding of NGOs. According to human rights organizations, such laws are seen as mechanisms for authoritarian governments to exert control over society, stigmatize activists, and restrict freedoms of expression and association.
Testimony will be provided by Gina Romero, United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of peaceful assembly and association; Suparna Chaudhry, Associate Professor of International Affairs at Lewis & Clark College; Daniel Hegedüs, Regional Director at the German Marshall Fund; Ana MarÃa Méndez Dardón from the Washington Office on Latin America; Michael Shellenberger from the University of Austin; and Almut Rochowanski, an independent researcher with two decades managing civil society development programs in the former Soviet Union.
The hearing will take place at 2:00 PM in Room 2255 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Members of the public can contact Teagan Gambert, Communications Director for Rep. Smith’s office, for more information.
Chris Smith has served as a member of Congress representing New Jersey’s 4th district since 1981 after succeeding Frank Thompson. He was born in Rahway, New Jersey in 1953 and currently resides in Manchester Township. Smith graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1975.
For further details about Rep. Chris Smith’s work or this event, visit http://chrissmith.house.gov.
