Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bipartisan bill to reform the federal regulatory process and reduce unnecessary burdens on job creators. The Regulatory Accountability Act requires agencies to assess the costs and benefits of regulatory alternatives and, in most cases, to adopt the least-costly alternative to achieve the regulatory objectives of Congress. The Act places permanent restrictions on regulatory agencies and restores accountability by requiring openness and transparency in the regulatory process.
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) questioned a proposed policy to allow the Justice Department, in limited instances, to deny the existence of records when in fact those records do exist. Chairman Smith expressed concern that the proposal appears to authorize the Justice Department to “lie in response to certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.”
Washington, D.C. - The Immigration Subcommittee today voted to authorize House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) to issue a subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a list of illegal and criminal immigrants the agency has declined to detain or place in removal proceedings. Chairman Smith asked for this information in August. But to date, DHS has not provided the requested information. The Immigration Subcommittee voted 7-4 to authorize the subpoena. Chairman Smith plans to issue the subpoena this week.
Washington, D.C. - The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against South Carolina over a recently-passed state law seeking to help enforce immigration laws. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the statement below criticizing the administration’s decision.
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bill to restore accountability to government regulations. Sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (H.R. 10) requires Congress to take an up-or-down vote on government regulations before they can be enforced on the American people and businesses.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the statement below following the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement of their Fiscal Year 2011 removal numbers.
Washington, D.C. - The Justice Department today asked an appeals court to block the enforcement of Alabama’s immigration law. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the statement below criticizing the administration’s decision.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke at American University regarding the Obama administration’s record on immigration enforcement and border security. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to Secretary Napolitano’s comments.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate whether comments made by Attorney General Eric Holder during a House Judiciary Committee hearing in May 2011 were truthful. In a letter to President Obama, Chairman Smith expressed concern that Members of Congress may have been misled by the Attorney General’s response to a question regarding his knowledge of the Fast and Furious program.
Washington, D.C. -House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today applauded the signing of the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ACTA) in Japan. Started in 2006 under the Bush administration, the agreement brings together countries to establish an effective international framework to combat global counterfeiting and piracy and better protect intellectual property. The negotiating countries include: Australia, Canada, the European Union, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Morocco, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States of America.