{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415082", "CatholicVote article on Smith's legislation to address religious persecution in Nigeria'Rep. Chris Smith unveils plan to defend persecuted Christians in Nigeria'", "2025-11-07", "2025", "2025-11", "Republican", "House", "NJ", "Christopher H. Smith", "S000522", "chrissmith.house.gov", "chrissmith", "https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentquery.aspx", "scraper", "By Elise Winland\n\nPublished November 7, 2025\n\nRep. Chris Smith, R-N.J., introduced new legislation detailing how the U.S. should respond to the ongoing persecution of Christians in Nigeria, following President Donald Trump\u2019s decision to designate Nigeria a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).\n\nIn a Nov. 5 press release, Smith, a Catholic, said that Christians in Nigeria live \u201cunder the constant threat of murder, kidnapping, rape, and torture by radical Islamists, such as Boko Haram and Fulani terrorists.\u201d\n\nThe resolution, H. Res. 860, commends Trump\u2019s actions and directs the U.S. State Department to adopt a series of measures \u2014 including sanctions and new conditions on foreign aid \u2014 to pressure Nigeria\u2019s government to protect Christians.\n\nIt calls for immediate humanitarian aid to faith-based groups in Nigeria, coordination with the Treasury Department to impose sanctions and visa bans on perpetrators, and conditions on U.S. assistance tied to religious freedom protections. The resolution also reaffirms America\u2019s commitment to defending human rights worldwide.\n\n\u201cIt is well past time that the United States holds the Nigerian government responsible for its inability \u2014 or unwillingness \u2014 to fully confront and combat the unchecked, widespread religious persecution occurring within its borders,\u201d Smith said.", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:52:45Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://chrissmith.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=415082"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 5.915412213653326, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}