Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - Last night, the House passed bipartisan legislation to help protect the trade secrets of American companies from foreign thieves. The Foreign and Economic Espionage Penalty Enhancement Act of 2012 (H.R. 6029) helps deter individuals and organizations outside the U.S. from stealing American trade secrets by raising the penalties for those convicted of foreign economic espionage. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chief sponsor of the bill, praised the House vote.
Chairman Smith: Internet child pornography may be the fastest growing crime in America, increasing an average of 150% per year. Every day online criminals prey on America's children with virtual anonymity. And according to recent estimates, there are as many as 100,000 fugitive sex offenders in the U.S.
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today released a report finding that thousands of illegal and criminal immigrants released by federal authorities as a result of the Obama administration’s lax immigration policies have gone on to commit more crimes, including murder, rape, kidnapping, and child molestation.
Washington, D.C. - The House today passed the Red Tape Reduction and Small Business Job Creation Act (H.R. 4078) by a vote of 245-172. The bill providesimmediate relief to small businesses by freezing the most costly unnecessary regulations by the Obama administration. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), an original co-sponsor of the bill, praised the House vote.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and nearly a dozen Judiciary Republicans today sent a letter to U.S.
Washington, D.C. - Arguments are scheduled to conclude today in the Obama administration’s case challenging Texas’ voter ID law, which requires voters to show a valid, government-issued photo ID at the polls. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) criticized the Justice Department’s reliance on biased and flawed data that was produced in part by a Democratic data firm called Catalist.
Washington, D.C. - A broad coalition of U.S. employers, higher education, and trade and professional organizations today issued a letter to all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives commending House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) for his work to draft a STEM bill. The letter also calls on Members of Congress to pass a bipartisan STEM bill to establish a green card program for outstanding foreign graduates of American universities with advanced degrees in STEM fields. Chairman Smith released the statement below, agreeing with the coalition’s goals.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to President Barack Obama requesting that seven senior Administration officials be made available for interviews with the Committee about recent national security leaks.
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) today voted to repeal the President’s costly and ineffective government takeover of the health care sector. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed the Repeal of Obamacare Act (H.R. 6079) by a vote of 244-185.
Congressman Smith, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, managed part of the debate on the House floor and urged his colleagues to repeal Obamacare and replace it with reforms that have proved effective at reducing healthcare costs. A recent Reuters’ poll found that 56 percent of respondents oppose Obamacare and 61 percent oppose the individual mandate.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today expressed concern about the effect of classified leaks on national security at a Crime Subcommittee hearing in Washington. From information that appeared in the New York Times revealing cyber operations in Iran, to reports on a secret “kill list” that the President uses to determine who will be targeted by drones, there’s been a marked increase in the amount and quality of leaked information within the last few months.