Press Releases
February 25, 2016
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 1:00 p.m., the House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled “The Encryption Tightrope: Balancing Americans’ Security and Privacy.” The House Judiciary Committee previously held member briefings on encryption, which included a briefing from technology companies and a classified briefing from the government.
As encryption has increasingly become much more widespread among consumers, there is an ongoing national debate about the positive and negative implications it poses for consumers’ security and privacy.
February 25, 2016
Chairman Goodlatte: Today’s hearing will examine international conflicts of law and how these conflicts impact law enforcement access to data both here and abroad. This is an extremely important issue that affects individuals, technology companies, law enforcement, and the economy.
In the digital age where the Internet knows no boundaries, U.S. technology companies have flourished internationally and provide services to customers and subscribers around the world. But, there is a growing tension between U.S. law and foreign law, and U.S. technology companies are caught in the middle. U.S.
February 25, 2016
Chairman Goodlatte: Hard-working Americans are some of the leading victims of frivolous lawsuits and the extraordinary costs that our legal system imposes. Everyday local business owners routinely have lawsuits filed against them based on claims they have no substantive connection to, as a means of forum shopping on the part of the lawyers filing the case. These lawsuits impose a tremendous burden on small businesses and their employees.
February 25, 2016
Washington, D.C. – In advance of their first idea forum today, the chairs of the Task Force on Restoring Constitutional Authority released their mission statement.
February 25, 2016
Washington, D.C—House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), Constitution and Civil Justice Subcommittee Chairman Trent Franks (R-Ariz.), and the bill’s sponsor and House Judiciary Committee member Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colo.) released the following statements upon the passage of the Fraudulent Joinder Prevention Act of 2016 (H.R. 3624) by the House of Representatives by a vote of 229-189.
Chairman Goodlatte: “Hardworking Americans are some of the most frequent victims of frivolous lawsuits and the extraordinary costs that abuses of our legal system impose.
February 24, 2016
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-Calif.) praised the enactment of the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (H.R. 644) conference report, which contained a provision permanently banning state taxation of Internet access. The legislation was originally introduced by Chairman Goodlatte and Rep.
February 24, 2016
Washington, D.C. – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the following statement upon enactment of the Judicial Redress Act:
“A strong relationship with our allies in Europe is key to restoring trust between our citizens and law enforcement officials. The Judicial Redress Act increases privacy protections and ensures continued law enforcement cooperation between the United States and Europe.
February 24, 2016
Washington, D.C. – On Tuesday, March 1, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., the Task Force on Executive Overreach will hold its first hearing titled “The Original Understanding of Congress’ Role and How Far We’ve Drifted from It.”
In writing the U.S. Constitution, the Founders provided the House of Representatives – known as the “People’s House” for its most direct connection to the will of the people – legislative power and the authority to originate revenue bills. The Founders expected the House to aggressively guard its role in the constitutional legislative process.
February 24, 2016
BILL EQUIPS FEDERAL PRISON OFFICIALS WITH PEPPER SPRAY TO QUELL ACTS OF VIOLENCE IN PRISONS
Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved by voice vote the Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015 (S. 238). This legislation, named after a Bureau of Prisons (BOP) officer who was killed by an inmate while on duty on February 25, 2013, allows trained BOP officers to use pepper spray to reduce acts of violence committed by prisoners. The Corrections and Recidivism Reduction Act of 2016 (H.R.
February 24, 2016
[embed]https://youtu.be/fRobC3JC8BM[/embed]
Chairman Goodlatte: Mr. Speaker, I yield myself as much time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of S. 238, the “Eric Williams Correctional Officer Protection Act of 2015.”
Eric Williams was born on August 24, 1978, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Donald and Jean Williams. Eric spent most of his life in Nanticoke, Pennsylvania where he attended the Nanticoke public schools and graduated from Greater Nanticoke Area High School in 1996. Eric was an avid soccer player and played youth soccer, was a member of the high school team and continued playing in adult leagues.