News

Washington, D.C. - The Senate today passed the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act (H.R. 1249), a bipartisan, bicameral bill that updates our patent system to encourage innovation, job creation and economic growth.  The Senate passed the bill today by a vote of 89-9.  The House overwhelmingly approved H.R. 1249 by a vote of 304-117 earlier this year.

Washington, D.C. - Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today outlined the Judiciary Jobs Agenda for the remainder of 2011, which includes legislation to encourage innovation, reduce frivolous lawsuits, rein in federal regulations and protect jobs for American workers. 

Washington, DC - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the American Specialty Agriculture Act (H.R. 2847), a bill to eliminate the problems plaguing the current H-2A temporary agricultural work visa program and establish a new H-2C program that will help American growers hire a legal workforce.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called on President Obama to exercise regulatory restraint in order to protect small businesses and America’s job creators from the growing costs of federal regulations.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today issued the following statement on ATF Acting Director Kenneth Melson’s reassignment to the Office of Legal Policy.

Washington, D.C. - The Administration’s announcement that they will review removal proceedings of illegal immigrants may strike another blow to 24 million unemployed or underemployed Americans.  The Administration’s policy could allow hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants to receive work authorization.  Those illegal immigrants would then compete with Americans

Washington, D.C. - Today, the Department of Homeland Security announced the creation of a new working group that will begin a case-by-case review of illegal immigrants in removal proceedings and with a final order of removal to determine if those individuals should be removed to the agency’s discretion.

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.