News

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bipartisan bill to reform the federal regulatory process and reduce unnecessary burdens on job creators. The Regulatory Accountability Act requires agencies to assess the costs and benefits of regulatory alternatives and, in most cases, to adopt the least-costly alternative to achieve the regulatory objectives of Congress. The Act places permanent restrictions on regulatory agencies and restores accountability by requiring openness and transparency in the regulatory process. The bill passed by a vote of 16-6.

Washington, D.C. - The Immigration Subcommittee today voted to authorize House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) to issue a subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a list of illegal and criminal immigrants the agency has declined to detain or place in removal proceedings.  Chairman Smith asked for this information in August.  But to date, DHS has not provided the requested information. The Immigration Subcommittee voted 7-4 to authorize the subpoena.  Chairman Smith plans to issue the subpoena this week. 

Washington, D.C. - The Immigration Subcommittee today voted to authorize House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) to issue a subpoena to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for a list of illegal and criminal immigrants the agency has declined to detain or place in removal proceedings.  Chairman Smith asked for this information in August.  But to date, DHS has not provided the requested information. The Immigration Subcommittee voted 7-4 to authorize the subpoena.  Chairman Smith plans to issue the subpoena this week. 

Washington, D.C. - In a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) questioned a proposed policy to allow the Justice Department, in limited instances, to deny the existence of records when in fact those records do exist. Chairman Smith expressed concern that the proposal appears to authorize the Justice Department to “lie in response to certain Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests.” 

Congress enacted FOIA in 1966 to establish a culture of full disclosure from federal agencies in response to public inquiries. FOIA does exempt the release of certain law-enforcement-sensitive and national security materials. 

Washington, D.C. - The Justice Department today filed a lawsuit against South Carolina over a recently-passed state law seeking to help enforce immigration laws. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the statement below criticizing the administration’s decision.   

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today passed a bill to restore accountability to government regulations. Sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Congressman Geoff Davis (R-Ky.), the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act (H.R. 10) requires Congress to take an up-or-down vote on government regulations before they can be enforced on the American people and businesses. Specifically, the bill authorizes Congress to vote on regulations that will have an economic impact of at least $100 million or major increases in costs or prices for consumers.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the statement below following the Department of Homeland Security’s announcement of their Fiscal Year 2011 removal numbers.

Washington, D.C. - The Justice Department today asked an appeals court to block the enforcement of Alabama’s immigration law.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the statement below criticizing the administration’s decision.   

Chairman Smith: “Once again the Obama administration is trying to prevent immigration laws from being enforced.  They continue to put illegal immigrants ahead of the interests of American taxpayers and unemployed Americans who need the jobs held by illegal workers.