Ocean County Leader

Congressman Chris Smith from New Jersey has announced his support and initial cosponsorship of the Aid Accountability Act of 2025. Smith, known for his advocacy of human rights and anti-abortion measures, commended his colleagues, Congressman Warren Davidson of Ohio and Senator Mike Lee of Utah, who are the authors of the bill.

The legislation aims to enforce U.S. abortion-related restrictions on foreign assistance. Smith, a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, emphasized that U.S. laws have prohibited the use of foreign aid to perform or promote abortions. He stated, "This legislation brings long-overdue accountability to foreign aid spending and protects the integrity of U.S. law. American taxpayers should never be forced to subsidize the global abortion industry under the guise of humanitarian aid."

Smith highlighted the issue of weak enforcement by referring to a compliance report which showed a repayment of just over $4,000 after PEPFAR funds were misused by the Mozambican government, resulting in the deaths of 21 unborn children. "This is an outrageous and heartbreaking abuse of taxpayer dollars. And tragically, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Without real penalties, we won’t see real reform," he remarked.

The Aid Accountability Act proposes several measures such as requiring termination and financial restitution from federal employees who knowingly breach abortion-related funding restrictions. It also aims to prohibit future federal funding to violators and mandates the Department of State to report violations to Congress within 60 days, subjecting findings to Congressional oversight through the Congressional Review Act.

The bill represents a continued effort by conservative members of both the House and Senate to enhance transparency and adhere to congressionally-mandated protections for life in U.S. foreign policy.