News
Latest News
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today approved the STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429) by a vote of 245-139. This bill eliminates the diversity visa program and reallocates up to 55,000 new green cards to the most highly qualified foreign graduates of American universities with advanced degrees in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) fields. The bill also contains a provision to put families first, allowing the spouses and minor children of legal permanent residents to come to the U.S.
Bill Goes to President’s Desk for Signature
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas); House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon; House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers; and House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, released the following statement today on the release of Hezbollah operative Ali Mussa Daqduq.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent letters to Attorney General Eric Holder and Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller regarding the disclosure of an investigation that led to the uncovering of an affair involving CIA Director David Petraeus.
Washington, D.C. - Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Janet Napolitano this week announced that gay partners will be considered as family members when immigration agents are trying to decide whether or not to try to deport an illegal immigrant from the U.S. The directive means illegal immigrants in partnerships with American citizens could be spared deportation under the same leniency that is already often accorded to married couples. This new directive may violate the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which defines marriage at the federal level as th
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), Senate Judiciary Ranking Member Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), and House Oversight Financial Services Subcommittee Chairman Patrick McHenry (R-NC), questioned the Justice Department regarding revelations that a political appointee at the Department arranged a quid pro quo for the City of St. Paul, Minnesota to drop a Supreme Court lawsuit, Magner v. Gallagher.
Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) questioned the decision of Obama administration officials to challenge South Carolina’s voter ID law. Chairman Smith was joined in sending the letter by two Judiciary Committee members, Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Rep. Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.).
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today voted on the STEM Jobs Act (H.R.
Washington, D.C. - Leading up to the House of Representatives’ floor vote on the STEM Jobs Act (H.R. 6429), support for the legislation among national associations, U.S. employers, and trade and professional organizations continues to grow. The STEM Jobs Act boosts job creation and spurs economic growth by eliminating the diversity visa lottery and reallocating up to 55,000 green cards a year to the top foreign graduates of U.S.
Chairman Smith: “When it comes to STEM fields - science, technology, engineering and math - American universities set the standard. Our STEM graduates create the innovations and new businesses that fuel our economic growth and create jobs.
“Many of the world’s top students come to the U.S. to obtain advanced STEM degrees. But what happens to these foreign students after they graduate? Under the current system, we educate scientists and engineers only to send them back home where they often work for our competitors.