News

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.

Let’s begin with the myth that national security officials do not need these provisions to protect us from terrorist attacks.  This is demonstrably untrue. 

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. The Committees, authorized in an Executive Order signed today by President Obama, are led by the Intellectual Property Enforcement Coordinator (IPEC), a position created by Smith and Conyers’ 2007 PRO-IP Act.

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. As a result, Judge Vinson struck down the entire health care law. 

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.

Chairman Smith: “Securing the border is a two-fold approach: robust interior enforcement and beefed-up border security. 

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined Crime Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.) and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-Mich.) on legislation to extend three key national security provisions that are set to expire at the end of February.

Chairman Calls Terror Trial a "Near Disaster"

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to the sentencing of Ahmed Ghailani for his role in the 1998 bombings of two U.S. embassies in East Africa that killed 224 people and wounded thousands.

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) issued the following statement in response to President Obama's State of the Union Address. Specifically, Chairman Smith addressed issues dealing with medical malpractice reform, illegal immigration, and costly federal regulations :

Introduce HEALTH Act to Reduce Frivolous Lawsuits

Washington, D.C. - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), senior Health Subcommittee Member Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-Ga.), and Congressman David Scott (D-Ga.) today introduced The HEALTH Act (H.R. 5), a bill that includes meaningful medical liability reforms to lower the cost of health care while strengthening the doctor-patient relationship.