News

Washington, D.C. - A broad coalition of U.S. employers, higher education, and trade and professional organizations today issued a letter to all Members of the U.S. House of Representatives commending House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) for his work to draft a STEM bill.  The letter also calls on Members of Congress to pass a bipartisan STEM bill to establish a green card program for outstanding foreign graduates of American universities with advanced degrees in STEM fields.  Chairman Smith released the statement below, agreeing with the coalition’s goals. 

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) today voted to repeal the President’s costly and ineffective government takeover of the health care sector. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed the Repeal of Obamacare Act (H.R. 6079) by a vote of 244-185.

Congressman Smith, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, managed part of the debate on the House floor and urged his colleagues to repeal Obamacare and replace it with reforms that have proved effective at reducing healthcare costs. A recent Reuters’ poll found that 56 percent of respondents oppose Obamacare and 61 percent oppose the individual mandate. 

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today expressed concern about the effect of classified leaks on national security at a Crime Subcommittee hearing in Washington. From information that appeared in the New York Times revealing cyber operations in Iran, to reports on a secret “kill list” that the President uses to determine who will be targeted by drones, there’s been a marked increase in the amount and quality of leaked information within the last few months.

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Child Protection Act of 2012 (H.R. 6063) by voice vote. Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), chief sponsor of the bill, praised the Committee vote.

Chairman Smith: “Today Internet child pornography may be the fastest growing crime in America, increasing an average of 150% per year.  Every day online criminals prey on our children with virtual anonymity.  And according to recent estimates, there are as many as 100,000 sex offenders in the U.S. whose whereabouts are still unknown. 

Chairman Smith: I yield myself such time as I may consume.

Mr. [Madam] Speaker, I support this legislation to repeal the Democrats' health care law, which will shrink jobs, increase taxes and limit Americans' freedom.

Although the Supreme Court has delivered its decision on Obamacare, it is the people whose verdict counts the most. And the American people have consistently rejected this costly and ineffective government takeover of the health care sector.

Washington, D.C. - The Justice Department today missed the deadline to respond to an inquiry from House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) about the Department’s decision to hire an explicitly Democratic data firm to conduct analysis on the Texas voter identification law. According to court documents, the Justice Department’s decision to block the implementation of the Texas law was based, in part, on the analysis provided by Catalist, a firm described by The Atlantic as a “big Democratic data warehouse.”

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about the Justice Department’s decision to hire an explicitly Democratic data firm to conduct analysis on the Texas voter identification law. According to court documents, the Justice Department’s decision to block the implementation of the Texas law was based, in part, on the analysis provided by Catalist, a firm described by The Atlantic as a “big Democratic data warehouse.”

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today sent a letter to Director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) John Morton demanding information on the President’s unprecedented decision to stop deporting and begin giving work permits to potentially millions of illegal immigrants.  Recent internal documents obtained by the House Judiciary Committee reveal this misguided policy was implemented more than 60 days before the Administration claimed it would go into effect.