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February 23, 2011

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today criticized the Administration’s decision not to defend a federal marriage law enacted by Congress in 1996.  The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) affirms the definition of marriage as the union between one man and one woman.  It was passed with bipartisan support in Congress and signed into

February 23, 2011

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced a bill to bar Guantanamo Bay detainees from entry into the U.S.  The Keep Terrorists at Bay Act of 2010 (H.R. 4648) closes the legal means by which the Administration can bring terrorists into the U.S.

February 17, 2011

Washington, D.C. - The Government Accountability Office (GAO) recently released a report finding the U.S.-Mexico border is vulnerable to cross-border illegal activity.  Of the nearly 2,000 miles separating the U.S.

February 17, 2011

[Statement on the House Floor]

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today urged the House to pass a 90-day extension of expiring national security provisions.  Below is Chairman Smith’s statement from the House floor.

February 15, 2011

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement regarding the proposed New York Stock Exchange and Deutsche Börse merger. 

February 14, 2011

Statement on the House Floor

Chairman Smith:  Since its enactment in 2001, the PATRIOT Act has been the object of so many false allegations and exaggerations that the myths have overshadowed the truth.  It is time to dispel the myths once and for all.

February 14, 2011

House Extends PATRIOT Provisions

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today called on the Senate to take up the House’s extension of the PATRIOT Act to prevent national security provisions from expiring at the end of February. The bill passed by a vote of 275-144.

February 8, 2011

Washington, D.C.-House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.) today praised the President’s decision to establish two new advisory committees tasked with increasing protections for intellectual property.

January 31, 2011

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.

January 31, 2011

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.