Committee on the Judiciary
The U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary, also known as the House Judiciary Committee, is a standing committee of the U.S. House of Representatives. The committee has jurisdiction over a wide range of issues related to the administration of justice, including:
- Federal courts and judicial procedures
- Civil rights and civil liberties
- Constitutional amendments
- Immigration and nationality
- Monopolies and antitrust issues
- Crime control and law enforcement
- Drug policy
The committee is responsible for considering and reporting legislation related to these areas, as well as conducting oversight of the executive branch and the federal judiciary. The committee also has the authority to impeach federal officials, including the President, and to consider articles of impeachment.
The House Judiciary Committee is chaired by the Speaker of the House or, in the Speaker's absence, the Majority Leader. The ranking minority member is the Minority Leader or, in the Minority Leader's absence, the Minority Whip. The committee is composed of members of the U.S. House of Representatives, with each state represented by at least one member.
Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772) in a vote of 22-9. This bipartisan bill discourages illegal immigration by ensuring jobs are only made available to those authorized to work in the U.S. Specifically, the bill requires employers to check the work eligibility of all future hires though the E-Verify system. The Legal Workforce Act is one of several bills the House Judiciary Committee has introduced and approved to help address various issues within our immigration system.
Chairman Goodlatte: As we seek to reform our immigration system as a whole, we must take the time to look at each of the individual issues within this system to ensure that we get immigration reform right. Today the Committee will consider the second in a series of bills that represent the judicious and thorough, step-by-step approach to immigration reform that this Committee has undertaken.
Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee today approved the Agricultural Guestworker “AG” Act (H.R. 1773) in a vote of 20-16. This bill creates a new temporary agricultural guestworker program to provide American farmers with access to a reliable workforce. The AG Act is one of several bills the House Judiciary Committee has introduced to address problems within our immigration system. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), chief sponsor of the AG Act, praised today’s Committee vote.
Washington, D.C. – The House Judiciary Committee tonight approved legislation in a vote of 20-15 to provide a robust interior enforcement strategy and strengthen the security of our country and communities. The Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act (H.R. 2278), also known as the SAFE Act, is one of several bills the House Judiciary Committee has proposed to address various issues within our immigration system and is a critical component of immigration reform.
Chairman Goodlatte: Today the House Judiciary Committee will mark up its first immigration bill. Over the past six months, the Committee has convened numerous hearings on immigration and introduced several pieces of legislation that address many of the issues plaguing our immigration system. We have, and will continue, to take a step by step approach to immigration reform, thoroughly examining each piece in detail.