Press Releases
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today responded to another federal court ruling finding that the health care mandate-a key provision of Democrats’ health care law--is unconstitutional. District Court Judge Roger Vinson found that the individual mandate is an overreach of Congress’ constitutional authority under the Commerce Clause. As a result, Judge Vinson struck down the entire health care law.
Washington, D.C. - Today, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano spoke at the University of Texas El Paso regarding the state of America’s homeland security. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to Secretary Napolitano’s comments.
Chairman Smith: “Securing the border is a two-fold approach: robust interior enforcement and beefed-up border security.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined Crime Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) on legislation to extend three key national security provisions that are set to expire at the end of February.
Chairman Calls Terror Trial a "Near Disaster"
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to the sentencing of Ahmed Ghailani for his role in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa that killed 224 people and wounded thousands.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address. Specifically, Chairman Smith addressed issues dealing with medical malpractice reform, illegal immigration, and costly federal regulations :
Introduce HEALTH Act to Reduce Frivolous Lawsuits
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), senior Health Subcommittee Member Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-Ga.), and Congressman David Scott (D-Ga.) today introduced The HEALTH Act (H.R. 5), a bill that includes meaningful medical liability reforms to lower the cost of health care while strengthening the doctor-patient relationship.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Ky.) in introducing legislation to restore accountability to government regulations. The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny(REINS) Act (H.R. 10) requires Congress to take an up-or-down vote on government regulations before they can be enforced on the American people and businesses.
Washington, D.C. -Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today hosted a bipartisan retreat for members of the House Judiciary Committee. Though Chairman Smith had planned the retreat following the midterm elections, it comes on the heels of the Arizona shooting and calls for national leaders to tone down the rhetoric used in public debates. This is the first time in recent memory that a Chairman of the Judiciary Committee has held a bipartisan retreat.
Washington, D.C. - Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today announced the House Judiciary Committee's Republican subcommittee assignments for the 112th Congress.
Chairman Smith: "The House Judiciary Committee is focused on efforts to create jobs, strengthen national security, protect intellectual property, prevent frivolous lawsuits, and keep children safe from Internet sex predators. Each member of the Committee brings valuable insight, expertise and a commitment to passing legislation that benefits Americans."
Washington, D.C. - Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement regarding the Comcast-NBCU merger.
Chairman Smith: I am pleased that the Justice Department, FCC, Comcast, and NBC Universal were all able to agree on merger terms that they believe will promote competition and innovation. However, I am disappointed that the review took so long. The merger was announced more than a year ago and the Justice Department and FCC could have conducted a more expeditious review.