Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation to reauthorize provisions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), a law that governs the surveillance of foreign terrorists and spies. The FISA Amendments Act Reauthorization Act of 2012 (H.R. 5949) passed the Committee by a vote of 23-11. The bipartisan bill reauthorizes the FISA Amendments Act for five years.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), who sponsored the bill, praised the Committee vote.

Washington, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security today announced that it will stop deporting and begin giving work permits to illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) criticized the Obama administration’s announcement in the statement below.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) responded to the announcement that Attorney General Eric Holder has appointed two federal prosecutors to investigate recent leaks of highly classified national security information.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) grilled Attorney General Eric Holder at a hearing today in Washington, D.C. about whether White House officials were aware of ATF’s Operation Fast & Furious, which contributed to the shooting death of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry. The Attorney General appeared before the House Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing on the Justice Department’s activities. Outstanding questions surrounding the controversial ATF operation that allowed guns to be purchased in the U.S.

Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives will today vote on a bill to reauthorize for five years the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2012 (H.R. 4970) ensures that federal resources authorized by VAWA go directly to organizations and programs that help prevent violent crime and protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for five years. The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2012 (H.R. 4970) ensures that federal resources authorized by VAWA go directly to organizations and programs that help prevent violent crime and protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The House bill provides the same levels of funding for VAWA grant programs as the Senate-passed bill.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) today released a report on the U.S. Justice Department’s disregard of the Constitution and rule of law.  As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Smith is leading efforts to oversee Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department. Rather than enforce the law and uphold the Constitution, the Obama administration has placed partisanship above the rule of law. 

Washington, D.C. - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) today implemented several changes to weaken Secure Communities, a program that keeps our neighborhoods safe by identifying illegal and criminal immigrants in police custody who have been arrested and fingerprinted.