Press Releases

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.

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the House of Representatives passage of legislation that cuts federal spending by more than the debt ceiling is increased. The bill also advances efforts by Republicans to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution that makes permanent cuts to federal spending that cannot be undone by future congresses. Congressman Smith is a co-sponsor of H.J. Res. 1, the Balanced Budget Amendment.  

Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today approved a bill (H.R. 1933) sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) to help hospitals in inner-city neighborhoods and rural areas that have difficulty attracting nurses.  Specifically, it reauthorizes the H-1C temporary visa program that allows foreign nurses to come to the U.S. to work in health professional shortage areas for an additional three years.

The House overwhelmingly approved the bill by a vote of 407-17. 

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bill to help investigators track down dangerous pedophiles and protect children from sexual exploitation.The bill passed by a vote of 19-10.  The Protecting Children from Internet Pornographers Act of 2011 (H.R. 1981) directs Internet Service Providers (ISPs) to retain subscriber information for 12 months in order to assist federal law enforcement in online child pornography and child exploitation investigations.

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. 

Chairman Smith:  “With the national debt at $14.5 trillion, it’s unbelievable that President Obama continues to call for amnesty legislation.  Illegal immigrants have contributed to our debt crisis-they pay little, if any, in income taxes and drain taxpayer dollars.

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.