Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - Congress today reauthorized important national security provisions that are critical to our intelligence community’s ability to prevent terrorist attacks and keep America safe. The bill (S. 990) extends for four years three expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act, including the roving wiretaps, business records and lone wolf provisions. The provisions were scheduled to expire tonight at one minute past midnight.
Washington, DC - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the Keep Our Communities Safe Act (H.R. 1932) to stop the release of dangerous criminal immigrants into American communities.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Representative Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) today introduced legislation to protect consumers from unfair taxes on digital goods, like those purchased over the Internet or on a smartphone. The Digital Goods and Services Tax Fairness Act of 2011 (H.R. 1860) ensures that digital goods are not taxed at a higher rate than their tangible counterparts. For example, H.R.
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation to reauthorize expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act. The Committee favorably reported H.R. 1800, the “FISA Sunsets Reauthorization Act of 2011,” by a vote of 22-13. The bill extends for six years the roving wiretaps and business records provisions and makes permanent the lone wolf provision.
Chairman Smith issued the following statement at today’s markup in support of the bill.
Washington, D.C. - Senate Democrats today reintroduced the DREAM Act, legislation that would legalize millions of illegal immigrants currently living in the United States. Following the introduction of this bill, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.
Washington, D.C. - Claiming that the border is more secure than ever, President Obama today called for legislation to legalize millions of illegal immigration during a speech he gave in El Paso, Texas. Following the President’s remarks, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has instructed 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 the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), a federal law enacted by Congress and signed by President Clinton to protect the institution of marriage.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the Secure Visas Act (H.R. 1741) to help prevent terrorists from obtaining U.S. visas and to allow U.S. officials to expedite the removal of terrorists who are in the United States on a visa.
Washington, D.C. - Yesterday during testimony before the Senate Committee on Homeland Security, DHS Secretary Janet Napolitano unveiled plans to develop a “border security index” to measure enforcement progress along the Southwest border. According to Secretary Napolitano, the border security index will include crime, immigration, and economic data. Following this announcement, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) released the statement below.
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed legislation to ban the federal funding of abortion by a vote of 251-175. The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (H.R. 3) codifies the Hyde Amendment and similar provisions to ensure that American taxpayers are not forced to pay for or subsidize abortion.