News

Washington, D.C. - Last week, the Obama administration announced changes to Secure Communities, a program intended to identify illegal immigrants in police custody who have been arrested and fingerprinted.  These changes could potentially allow millions of illegal and criminal immigrants to remain in the United States.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) criticized the Obama administration for this misguided decision.

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved a bill (H.R. 1933) to help hospitals in inner-city neighborhoods and rural areas that have difficulty in attracting nurses.  Specifically, it reauthorizes the H-1C temporary visa program that allows foreign nurses to come to the U.S. to work in health professional shortage areas for an additional three years.

The bill was reported favorably to the House floor by voice vote.  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the bill’s sponsor, today praised the Committee vote.

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Secure Visas Act (H.R. 1741), a bill to help prevent terrorists from obtaining U.S. visas and to allow U.S. officials to expedite the removal of terrorists who are in the United States on a visa.  The bill was reported favorably to the House floor by a vote of 17-11.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the bill’s sponsor, today praised the Committee vote.

Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today passed a bill sponsored by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) that updates our patent system to encourage innovation, job creation and economic growth. 

Much-needed reforms to our patent system are long overdue.  The last major patent reform was nearly 60 years ago. H.R. 1249, the America Invents Act, implements a first-inventor-to-file standard for patent approval, creates a post-grant review system to weed out bad patents, and helps the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) address the backlog of patent applications.

The House overwhelmingly approved the bill by a vote of 304-117.

Washington, D.C. - The House of Representatives today adopted a manager’s amendment to H.R. 1249, the America Invents Act, a bill that makes much-needed reforms to our patent system. 
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) offered the manager’s amendment as part of an agreement with the Appropriations Committee over language addressing fee diversion.

Chairman Smith:  The foresight of the Founders in creating an intellectual property system in the Constitution demonstrates their understanding of how patent rights benefit the American people. Technological innovation from our intellectual property is linked to three-quarters of America’s economic growth, and American IP industries account for over one-half of all U.S. exports.

These industries also provide millions of Americans with well paying jobs. Our patent laws, which provide a time-limited monopoly to inventors in exchange for their creative talent, help create this prosperity.

Washington, D.C. - The Committee on Rules has favorably reported a rule to allow a floor vote on the Smith Manager’s amendment to H.R. 1249, the America Invents Act.  The bill is expected to be considered by the full House tomorrow. 

Washington, D.C. - The House Judiciary and Appropriations Committees have reached an agreement to end fee diversion and preserve oversight of the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). The compromise creates a fund for fees collected by the PTO and reserves the money for the PTO.

House Speaker John Boehner, Majority Leader Eric Cantor, House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith applauded the agreement and urged passage of patent reform legislation.