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Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed legislation to rein in the costly overreach of federal agencies that stifles job creation and slows economic growth. The Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (H.R. 10) passed by a vote of 241-184. The bill requires Congress to take an up-or-down vote to approve regulations that have an economic impact of $100 million or more before they can be imposed on the American people.
POLITICO to Honor Rep. Smith for his work on Patent Reform Legislation
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed legislation to reform the federal regulatory process and reduce unnecessary burdens on job creators by a vote of 253-167. The Regulatory Accountability Act (H.R. 3010), places permanent restrictions on regulatory agencies and restores accountability by requiring openness and transparency in the regulatory process.
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed legislation to provide urgently needed help to small businesses by a vote of 263-159. The Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 (H.R. 527) requires agencies to identify the costs new regulations could impose on small businesses and to write the regulations in ways that reduce those costs. It also gives small businesses more opportunities to be heard as regulations are written and forces agencies to look at ways to cut the costs of regulations already on the books.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s veto threat for H.R. 3010, the Regulatory Accountability Act.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today urged the Obama Administration to provide documents and staff interviews regarding former Solicitor General Elena Kagan’s involvement in the review of President Obama’s health care legislation and anticipated litigation over the constitutionality of its provisions.
Washington, D.C. - House Democrats today blocked passage of a constitutional amendment that would have required the federal government to balance its budget. H.J. Res. 2, a proposed Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution, was introduced by Congressman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and has 241 Republican and Democrat cosponsors. Unfortunately, a majority of House Democrats voted against the measure, preventing the House from getting the two-thirds majority vote required for passage. The final vote was 261-165.
Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today continued floor debate on H.J. Res. 2, a proposed Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) managed the floor debate for Republicans and urged his colleagues to support the measure. The House is expected to vote on H.J. Res. 2 later today. The measure requires a two-thirds majority vote for passage. This is the first time in 16 years that the House has voted on a Balanced Budget Amendment.
Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following their inadequate response to the Judiciary Committee’s subpoena and urged the agency to immediately comply. If DHS does not comply, the Committee plans to seek enforcement of the subpoena to the fullest extent allowed by the law.
Washington, D.C. - The Obama administration today has moved forward with its plan to implement backdoor amnesty through administrative action. In August, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) established a working group to 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 at the agency’s discretion. Today’s announcement implements the working group’s recommendations.