Press Releases

Washington, D.C.  – House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) issued the statement below on the swell of unaccompanied alien minors and family units crossing the southwest border.

Chairman Goodlatte: Mr. Speaker, time is short. A temporary ban on state taxation of Internet access is expiring. Section 922 of the Conference Report aids taxpayers by making this ban permanent. If the ban on Internet access taxes is not renewed, the potential tax burden on Americans would be substantial.  It is estimated that Internet access tax rates could be more than twice the average rate of all other goods and services. Low-income households could pay ten times as much as high-income households, as a share of income. Congress has passed numerous temporary bans with enormous bipartisan support.

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House of Representatives passed a provision within the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015 (H.R. 644) permanently banning state taxation of Internet access. A temporary ban was first put in place in 1998.

Chairman Goodlatte: Director Rodriguez, your appearance before this Subcommittee comes at a time when Americans are feeling anxious about the security of our nation, and in particular about the way U.S. immigration policy is being exploited by those who wish to harm this country’s citizens. Quite frankly, Americans do not believe that their interests are being put front and center when it comes to decisions about whether or not to issue an immigration benefit to a foreign national.

Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved by a vote of 407-19, the Visa Waiver Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015 (H.R. 158) to strengthen the security of the visa waiver program in order to enhance national security and Americans’ safety. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) managed the debate time for this bill and issued the following statement on the passage of this important legislation. Chairman Goodlatte: “We’ve known since 9/11 that vulnerabilities exist in our immigration system.

Chairman Goodlatte: I support H.R. 158, the Visa Waiver Program Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act of 2015. The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) allows nationals of 38 countries to travel to the U.S. for a maximum of 90 days for business or tourism purposes, without obtaining a visa. The travelers must present a valid machine-readable passport and meet certain other immigration and security requirements. In order to be designated a VWP country, a nation must offer reciprocal visa-free travel to U.S.

Washington, D.C. – On Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at 1:00 p.m., the Immigration and Border Security Subcommittee will hold an oversight hearing on U.S.