Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - Four GOP Committee Chairmen today sent a letter to President Obama urging him to reduce costly government regulations that burden American businesses and restrict economic growth. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) was joined in sending the letter by Oversight Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Small Business Chairman Sam Graves (R-Mo.).
Washington, D.C. -Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and 13 Republicans on the House Judiciary Committee today sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder regarding recent allegations that ATF may have been complicit in the illegal transfer of firearms into Mexico.
The members requested information regarding the Phoenix-based program known as “Fast and Furious,” which according to reports, intentionally allowed straw buyers for criminal organizations to purchase thousands of guns so that ATF could track them across the border.
Washington, DC - House Judiciary Ranking Member Lamar Smith (TX-21) issued the following statement in regard to the Obama administration’s decision to expand the Visa Waiver Program to Greece.
Ranking Member Smith: “The Obama administration’s decision to expand the Visa Waiver program is another blow to our national security.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Senate Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) today introduced legislation to reduce frivolous lawsuits that plague our legal system. The Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act imposes mandatory sanctions for lawyers who file meritless suits in federal court. Federal rules mandating sanctions for frivolous suits were watered down in 1993, resulting in the current crisis of widespread lawsuit abuse.
House to Introduce Similar Legislation this Month
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to the Senate’s overwhelming vote (95-5) to pass patent reform legislation.
Bill Protects Citizens Who Report Possible Terror Activity
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to the Administration’s announcement that it will resume military commissions for Guantanamo Bay terrorists.
Washington, D.C. - The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) today announced that it will again delay the deadline for states to tighten security requirements for driver’s licenses. The current deadline for states to become materially compliant with REAL ID is May 11, 2011. DHS has pushed that date back an additional 21 months to January 15, 2013. This is the third delay for implementation of REAL ID.
Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved legislation to ban the federal funding of abortion. The Committee favorably reported H.R. 3, the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” by a vote of 23-14.
Chairman Smith issued the following statement at today’s markup in support of the bill.
Washington, D.C. - Today, House Judiciary Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Homeland Security Chairman Peter King (R-N.Y.) and Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security Subcommittee Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano regarding the implementation of REAL ID. It has been reported DHS is planning to push back the REAL ID deadline by 21 months to January 15, 2013. The current deadline for states to become materially compliant with the REAL ID is May 11.
The letter reads: