Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - Today, President Obama will speak at the National Council of La Raza’s annual conference. Media reports expect the President to discuss so-called comprehensive immigration reform and the economy. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below in advance of the President’s speech.
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation to better protect citizens who report suspicious activity indicating possible terror activity. The See Something, Say Something Act (H.R. 963) expands protections against lawsuits for individuals who report suspicious terrorist-related activity and for law enforcement officers who act on these tips in good faith. The Committee passed the bill by a voice vote.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith, who sponsored H.R. 963, praised the Committee’s vote.
Washington, DC - The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Security and Fairness Enhancement (SAFE) for America Act (H.R. 704), a bill that eliminates the diversity visa program. This program is plagued by fraud and is an open door for terrorists. The bill, sponsored by Intellectual Property Subcommittee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), was reported favorably to the House floor by a vote of 19-11.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Chairman Bob Goodlatte today praised the Committee vote.
Washington, DC - The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Keep Our Communities Safe Act (H.R. 1932), a bill to stop the release of dangerous criminal immigrants into American communities. The bill was reported favorably to the House floor by a vote of 17-14.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the bill’s primary sponsor, today praised the Committee vote.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) today introduced legislation to prevent forum-shopping in chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization cases. The Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2011 (H.R.2533) requires corporations to file reorganization cases in the judicial district where they have their principal place of business or principal assets rather than in a far away district where they have no employees, assets, or connection to the community.
Washington, DC - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the Hinder the Administration’s Legalization Temptation (HALT) Act (H.R.
Reporting Requirement Won’t Prevent Gun Trafficking,
Simply Punishes Citizens of Border States
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today criticized the Obama administration’s decision to impose new reporting requirements for gun sales in states along the U.S.-Mexico Border.
Washington, DC - The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation to reduce frivolous lawsuits that plague our legal system and restore sanctions against attorneys who file meritless suits in federal court. The Committee favorably reported H.R. 966, the Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act (LARA), by a vote of 20-13.
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) sent a letter to Secretary Janet Napolitano urging the Obama administration to stop any current or planned actions that would use executive branch authority to grant amnesty to illegal immigrants.
Washington, D.C. - Recently, officials at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) called off the deportation of an illegal immigrant who is married to his same-sex partner in the United States. This decision follows U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder’s instruction to an immigration court to ignore the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) in future rulings. Earlier this year, the Justice Department abandoned its obligation to defend DOMA, a federal law enacted by Congress and signed by President Clinton to protect the institution of marriage.