Lamar Smith RSS Articles

Smith, Goodlatte Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Cut Government Red Tape

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today joined House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) in introducing bipartisan legislation to cut government red tape and restore accountability to the federal regulatory process. The Regulatory Accountability Act (H.R. 2122), which passed the House of Representatives in the 112th Congress, reforms the current federal rulemaking process to lower the costs and improve the quality of new regulations.

Congressman Smith introduced the Regulatory Accountability Act in the 112^th Congress and is an original cosponsor of H.R. 2122.

Congressman Smith: “Under President Obama, the regulatory system has become a barrier to economic growth and job creation. Federal regulations cost our economy $1.75 trillion each year. Employers are concerned about the costs these regulations will impose on their businesses. So they stop hiring, stop spending and start saving for a bill from Big Brother. But rather than burdening businesses with more regulations, we need to free up employers so they can create jobs for American workers. The Regulatory Accountability Act places permanent restrictions on regulatory agencies and restores transparency to the regulatory process.”

Chairman Goodlatte: “America’s job creators are being buried under an avalanche of federal regulations. When small business owners and entrepreneurs have to divert precious resources to manage costly new mandates that are coming down from Washington, they have fewer resources available to grow their business or create jobs and this has a devastating impact on our national economy. If we are to grow our economy and get more Americans back to work, Washington must get out of the way. The Regulatory Accountability Act solves the problem of overreaching and unnecessary regulation by providing greater transparency, cost-benefit analysis of new rules, and a more thorough process for high-impact rules.”

The Regulatory Accountability Act requires federal agencies to choose the lowest cost rulemaking alternative that meets statutory objectives, improves agency fact-gathering, fact-finding and identification of regulatory alternatives, requires advance notice of proposed major rulemakings to increase public input before costly agency positions are proposed, and fortifies judicial review of new agency regulations.

Representatives Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.), Colin Peterson (D-Minn.), William Owens (D-N.Y.), Howard Coble (R-N.C.), and Kurt Schrader (D-Ore.) also are original cosponsors of H.R. 2122. Companion legislation was introduced today in the U.S. Senate by Senators Rob Portman (R-Ohio), Mark Pryor (D-Ark.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Bill Nelson (D- Fla.), Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), Angus King (I-Maine), Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), Mike Johanns (R-Neb.), and John Cornyn (R-Texas).

A copy of the legislation can be found here.

Smith Votes to Repeal Obamacare

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) voted today to repeal the President’s costly and ineffective government takeover of the health care sector. The Republican-led House of Representatives passed H.R. 45 by a vote of 229-195.

Congressman Smith, who chairs the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee, is a cosponsor of the bill. This is the 37^th time the House of Representatives has voted repeal all or some of the failed health care law.

Congressman Smith: “Three years after its enactment, one thing is clear about Obamacare: the law is a train wreck that will cost Americans trillions of dollars. As we approach the implementation deadline in 2014, President Obama’s broken promises are piling up.

“The President promised that no families making less than $250,000 per year would see their taxes go up as a result of Obamacare. But Obamacare includes 21 new or higher taxes that will cost $1.1 trillion over the next decade.

“The President promised that families could save $2,500 on health care premiums. Instead, the average family premium has increased by over $3,000 since 2008.

“The President promised that he would not sign a plan that adds a single dime to the deficit. But according to the Congressional Budget Office, the 10-year estimate for the cost of Obamacare has doubled from $940 billion to $1.88 trillion.

“Congressional Democrats promised that Obamacare would create 400,000 jobs almost immediately. But according to the Congressional Budget Office, Obamacare will reduce the labor force by 800,000 over the next decade. That means 800,000 jobs will no longer be available for American workers.

“We now know that the so-called Affordable Care Act is not so affordable after all. Americans across the country are facing higher health insurance premiums, the loss of the health plans, lower wages, and less hiring and business expansion. We should repeal Obamacare and replace it with real reforms that reduce, rather than raise, health care costs for all Americans.”

Smith Demands Nationwide Investigation of IRS

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

At a House Judiciary Committee hearing today, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) questioned Attorney General Eric Holder about the Justice Department’s investigation into allegations that IRS employees intentionally targeted conservative organizations, including Tea Party-affiliated groups, for additional scrutiny in their applications for tax-exempt status.

Specifically, Congressman Smith asked if the Department’s investigation would be limited to the Ohio allegations or if it would be a nationwide investigation that examines allegations of unfair targeting of conservative groups across the nation. In response to Smith’s question, Attorney General Holder confirmed that the investigation would be nationwide and not simply limited to the actions of individuals in Ohio.

Congressman Smith also asked about what recourse a targeted group might have against the IRS for the possible violation of their First Amendment rights. Specifically, Representative Smith asked if groups might be able to recoup any finances lost while responding to the unfair scrutiny of IRS employees.

Congressman Smith: “The alleged actions by government employees to target conservative organizations are dangerous, unconstitutional and possibly criminal. Targeting organizations for their political views threatens our democracy and violates the First Amendment of the Constitution. And IRS employees who singled out conservative organizations for additional scrutiny may well have violated criminal laws.

“I will hold the Attorney General to his word that the Justice Department will conduct a nationwide investigation that follows the facts wherever they lead. If federal employees are found to have violated the law, the Justice Department must prosecute them to the fullest extent of the law. And the federal government should also be held responsible for reimbursing conservative organizations for any additional expenses they incurred in responding to the unfair scrutiny of the IRS.”

In May 2012, Congressman Smith wrote to the IRS about allegations that the San Antonio Tea Party had been subject to delays and burdensome information requests in connection with their applications for tax-exempt status. A copy of the letter can be found HERE.

More information about today’s hearing, including the webcast, is available at the House Judiciary Committee website.

Smith, Gowdy Introduce Keep Our Communities Safe Act

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) and Immigration Subcommittee Chairman Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) today introduced the Keep Our Communities Safe Act (H.R. 1901) to stop the release of dangerous criminal immigrants into American communities.

In the 2001 decision of Zadvydas v. Davis, the Supreme Court ruled that under current law immigrants who had been admitted to the U.S. and then ordered removed could not be detained for more than six months. In the 2005 case of Clark v. Martinez, the Supreme Court expanded its decision in Zadvydas to apply to illegal immigrants. The problem with both of these rulings is that not every criminal immigrant who is ordered removed can be because of the unwillingness of some countries to issue travel documents necessary for repatriation.

As a result, the Justice Department and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) have had to release thousands of criminal immigrants into our neighborhoods. In the last four years, nearly 17,000 immigrants with orders of removal were released because their own countries refused to take them back. Justice Department officials have stated that these criminal immigrants include rapists, child molesters, murderers, and other dangerous criminals.

Congressman Smith: “Recent federal court rulings have required the release of dangerous criminal immigrants into our communities, putting American lives at risk. Just because some criminal immigrants cannot be returned to their home country does not mean they should be allowed back on our streets. Dangerous criminal immigrants need to be detained.

“The Keep Our Communities Safe Act closes the legal loophole that allows dangerous criminal immigrants to be released into our communities. The bill authorizes DHS to detain non-deportable criminal immigrants for more than six months. Congress has a responsibility to make sure the laws of the land protect Americans rather than endanger them. This bill helps ensure that dangerous criminal immigrants do not slip through the cracks of our legal justice system.”

Chairman Gowdy: “In the wake of federal court decisions, our country is forced to let dangerous criminal immigrants back onto our streets if their countries of origin refuse to repatriate them. This law gives DHS the ability to detain criminals beyond six months, through the duration of the removal process, when necessary to protect our communities. The primary function of government is to ensure public safety. Congress should act to fix this judicially created hole in the legal system.”

Summary of H.R. 1901: The bill provides a statutory basis for DHS to detain as long as necessary specified dangerous criminal immigrants under orders of removal who cannot be removed. It authorizes DHS to detain non-removable immigrants beyond six months, but only if:

· the alien will be removed in the reasonably foreseeable future;

· the alien would have been removed but for the alien’s refusal to make all reasonable efforts to comply and cooperate
with the Homeland Security Secretary’s efforts to remove him;

· the alien has a highly contagious disease;

· release would have serious adverse foreign policy consequences;

· release would threaten national security; or

· release would threaten the safety of the community and the alien either is an aggravated felon or has committed a
crime of violence.

Such aliens may be detained for periods of six months at a time, and the period of detention may be renewed.

###

Smith: Senate Immigration Bill Costs Too Much

Tue, 07 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today delivered the below statement on the House floor regarding the Heritage Foundation’s study on the cost of amnesty for millions of illegal immigrants.

Congressman Smith: “A new study by the Heritage Foundation warns that the Senate immigration bill would cost $6.3 trillion. That’s because over their lifetime, illegal immigrants given amnesty would receive $9.4 trillion in government benefits while paying $3.1 trillion in taxes.

“Government benefits include Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, food stamps and health care. That means each taxpayer would be forced to pay $40,000 to cover just some of the costs of the immigration bill.

“The immigration bill costs too much, has no deadline to secure the border, and hurts American workers. We should put the interests of American taxpayers and American workers first.”

###

Smith: Listen to the People

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Last night, Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) hosted a tele-townhall with constituents from the 21^st District of Texas. Nearly 4,000 constituents from Bandera, Comal, Gillespie, Kendall, Kerr and Real Counties participated in the call. During the tele-townhall, Congressman Smith asked several questions about important issues facing our nation. Today, Smith read the results of the poll on the House floor.

Congressman Smith: “Last night, a random telephone poll of my constituents was conducted in six Hill Country counties of the 21^st District of Texas. Here are the results:

· 88% of respondents feel that the border should be secured before other immigration reforms take effect.

· 84% favor a system that would require employers to hire legal workers.

· 96% think the federal government should balance its budget.

· 85% believe the American people are taxed too much.

“These are sincerely held views by hard-worker, law-abiding, tax-paying, good Americans. Congress would do well to heed their advice.”

###

Congressman Smith Introduces Bill to Expand E-Verify

Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (R-Texas) today introduced the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772), a bipartisan bill that shuts off the jobs magnet that attracts so many illegal immigrants to the United States. The bill expands the E-Verify system and makes it mandatory for all U.S. employers. This will protect American jobs for citizens and legal immigrants. Congressman Smith was joined by 21 members in introducing the bill today.

Congressman Smith: “Twenty-two million Americans are still struggling to find full-time employment. Meanwhile, seven million people work in the U.S. illegally. These jobs should go to legal workers.

“Illegal workers compete with American workers for jobs and drive down their wages. The nationwide use of E-Verify could increase wages and open up millions of jobs for unemployed and underemployed Americans. E-Verify will help ensure that jobs are reserved for citizens and legal workers.

“E-Verify is easy to use and has proved effective at helping employers avoid illegal workers. It takes just a few minutes and immediately confirms 99.7% percent of work-eligible employees.”

Americans overwhelmingly support making E-Verify mandatory. A 2011 Rasmussen poll found that 82% of likely voters think businesses should be required to use E-Verify.

Almost 450,000 American employers voluntarily use E-Verify and an average of 1,600 new businesses sign up each week. Outside evaluations have found that the vast majority of employers using E-Verify believe it to be an effective and reliable tool for checking the legal status of their employees.

E-Verify allows employers to electronically verify that newly-hired employees are legally authorized to work in the United States. Specifically, the Social Security numbers of new hires are checked against Social Security Administration and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) records to eliminate fraudulent numbers and ensure that new hires are eligible to work.

E-Verify has received overwhelming bipartisan support since its creation as a pilot program in 1996. In 2008, the House passed a stand-alone five-year extension of E-verify by a vote of 407-2. And in 2009, the Senate passed a permanent E-Verify extension by voice vote.

Original cosponsors of the Legal Workforce Act include Reps. Goodlatte (R-Va.), Gowdy (R-S.C.), Bishop (R-Utah), Blackburn (R-Tenn.), Burgess (R-Texas), Calvert (R-Calif.), Chaffetz (R-Utah), DeFazio (D-Ore.), Farenthold (R-Texas), Forbes (R-Va.), Franks (R-Ariz.), Holding (R-N.C.), King (R-N.Y.), Labrador (R-Idaho), Lance (R-N.J.), Poe (R-Texas), Royce (R-Calif.), Schweikert (R-Ariz.), Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), Stivers (R-Ohio), and Westmoreland (R-Ga.).

Summary of H.R. 1772

· Repeals I-9 System: Repeals the current paper-based I-9 system and replaces it with a completely electronic work eligibility check, bringing the process into the 21^st century.

· Gradual Phase-In: Phases-in mandatory E-Verify participation for new hires in six month increments beginning on the date of enactment. Within six months of enactment, businesses having more than 10,000 employees are required to use E-Verify. Within 12 months of enactment, businesses having 500 to 9,999 employees are required to use E-Verify. Eighteen months after enactment, businesses having 20 to 499 employees must use E-Verify. And 24 months after enactment, businesses having 1 to 19 employees must use E-Verify.

· Agriculture: Requires that employees performing “agricultural labor or services” are only subject to an E-Verify check within 24 months of the date of enactment.

· States as Partners: Preempts duplicative state laws mandating E-Verify use but retains the ability of states and localities to condition business licenses on the requirement that the employer use E-Verify in good faith under federal law. In addition, the bill allows states to enforce the federal E-Verify requirement and incentives them to do so by letting them keep the fines they recover from employers who violate the law.

· Protects Against Identity Theft: The bill allows individuals to lock their Social Security number (SSN) so that it can’t be used by another person to get a job. It also allows parents or legal guardians to lock the SSN of their minor child. And if a SSN shows unusual multiple use, DHS is required to lock the SSN and alert the owner that their personal information may have been compromised.

· Safe Harbor: Grants employers safe harbor from prosecution if they use the E-Verify program in good faith, and through no fault of theirs, receive an incorrect eligibility confirmation.

A copy of the legislation can be found here.

Smith: Senate Bill Worse Than We Thought

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Smith delivered the below statement on the House floor today criticizing the Senate Gang of Eight’s immigration proposal, which was introduced late last night.

Congressman Smith: “It’s hard to believe, but the Senate immigration bill is worse than we thought. Despite assurances, the border is not secured before almost everyone in the country illegally is given amnesty. The bill guarantees there will be a rush across the border to take advantage of massive amnesty.

“And the Senate proposal offers amnesty to far more illegal immigrants than we thought. In addition to most of the 11 million illegal immigrants already in the country, the bill offers to legalize the relatives of illegal immigrants outside the U.S. and even others who have already been deported back home. So current immigration laws are shredded.

“The Senate bill is bad news for the American people. The good news is that the House Judiciary Committee will come up with a better plan that improves our immigration system and puts the interests of American workers first.”

###

Smith: Senate Strikes Out on Immigration Proposal

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Smith issued the below statement today criticizing the Senate’s amnesty proposal.

Congressman Smith: “It’s three strikes and you’re out for the Senate’s immigration proposal. First, it legalizes almost everyone in the country illegally before the border is secured. This, of course, will encourage even more illegal immigration.

“Second, it puts the interests of foreign workers ahead of the interests of American workers. The immigration plan allows millions of illegal immigrants to compete with American workers, driving down their wages.

“And third, it treats illegal immigrants better than those who have played by the rules and waited their turn in line to come to the United States. Illegal immigrants get legal status immediately. The law-abiding—well, they just have to continue waiting.

“I don’t think the American people are going to give the Senate another turn at bat.”

###

Smith Receives U.S. Chamber of Commerce “Spirit of Enterprise” Award

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The United States Chamber of Commerce today honored Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) with its annual “Spirit of Enterprise” award for his support of pro-jobs, pro-growth policies during the second session of the 112^th Congress.

Congressman Smith: “With millions of Americans still unemployed and underemployed, Congress has a responsibility to support policies that encourage the private sector to invest and grow. From reducing burdensome regulations on businesses to simplifying our tax code for hard-working taxpayers, I will continue to sponsor and support legislation that expands our economy and creates jobs for American workers.”

President and CEO of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Thomas J. Donohue, praised Congressman Smith for his efforts on behalf of American workers and businesses.

President Donohue: “In the face of high-stakes politics and difficult choices, Congressman Smith provided America’s job creators with a strong voice in Congress. This award recognizes Congressman Smith for consistently demonstrating his support for pro-growth policies.”

As Chairman of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee and former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Smith has sponsored bills to help spur the economy, grow businesses and create jobs for American workers. Congressman Smith maintained a 100% rating with the Chamber of Commerce this year and holds a lifetime 94% rating during his tenure in Congress. A photo from today’s award ceremony is attached.

# # #