Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - The Senate today passed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (H.R. 1249), a bipartisan, bicameral bill that updates our patent system to encourage innovation, job creation and economic growth. The Senate passed the bill today by a vote of 89-9. The House overwhelmingly approved H.R. 1249 by a vote of 304-117 earlier this year.
Washington, D.C. - Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today outlined the Judiciary Jobs Agenda for the remainder of 2011, which includes legislation to encourage innovation, reduce frivolous lawsuits, rein in federal regulations and protect jobs for American workers.
Washington, DC - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the American Specialty Agriculture Act (H.R. 2847), a bill to eliminate the problems plaguing the current H-2A temporary agricultural work visa program and establish a new H-2C program that will help American growers hire a legal workforce.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called on President Obama to exercise regulatory restraint in order to protect small businesses and America’s job creators from the growing costs of federal regulations.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson’s reassignment to the Office of Legal Policy.
Washington, D.C. - The Administration’s announcement that they will review removal proceedings of illegal immigrants may strike another blow to 24 million unemployed or underemployed Americans. The Administration’s policy could allow hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to receive work authorization. Those illegal immigrants would then compete with Americans for jobs. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the announcement.
Washington, D.C. - Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced the creation of a new working group that will begin a case-by-case review of illegal immigrants in removal proceedings and with a final order of removal to determine if those individuals should be removed to the agency’s discretion. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below in response to the Administration’s announcement.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today praised the decision to expand the E-Verify Self-Check system to 16 additional states across the nation. According to the Department of Homeland Security, the program is now available for residents of California, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Texas, Utah and Washington.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today praised the decision by Arizona Governor Jan Brewer to continue to defend the state’s immigration enforcement law (SB 1070) by filing an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court.
WASHINGTON - Today more than 50 people were arrested as part of an investigation into an online global child pornography ring. Though successful, the recent news underscores the need to better equip law enforcement with the tools they need in order to stop these perpetrators in their tracks.