Lamar Smith RSS Articles

Media Spins Monthly Jobs Report

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

According to the American Enterprise Institute, the labor force participation rate has dropped to its lowest level in 30 years. The only reason the unemployment rate fell slightly to 8 percent is because another 522,000 adults quit looking for work and are no longer counted.

Of course it’s no surprise that the liberal national media attempted to spin the numbers. Bloomberg dismissed the lack of new jobs as being a “rounding error.” Time Magazine described the negative reports as being “statistical noise.”

The liberal media fed this narrative with misleading statements like the economy is “gain[ing] steam” as the New York Times headlined the news or that the economy was on a “hiring surge” as the Associated Press claimed.

The liberal media shows its bias when it ignores the president’s failed promises and failed attempts to create jobs.

Americans are concerned about the lack of jobs and deserve the facts. When will the national media put their responsibility to the people ahead of protecting the president?

House Passes National Blue Alert Act

Tue, 15 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The House of Representatives today approved a bill to help create a nationwide alert system to identify and apprehend suspects when a law enforcement officer is injured or killed in the line of duty. The National Blue Alert Act of 2012 (H.R. 365) directs the Department of Justice to designate an existing law enforcement officer to serve as the Blue Alert national coordinator to encourage and assist states across the country in establishing Blue Alert plans. The House passed the bill with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 394-1.

Similar to Amber Alerts for missing children, the Blue Alert system is a cooperative effort among local, state, and federal authorities, law enforcement agencies and the general public. A Blue Alert broadcasts information about an offender who is still at large, which may include a description of the offender’s vehicle or license plate number, to help speed the suspect’s apprehension. So far, 14 states have Blue Alert networks in place, and Ohio will implement its network in June. Texas established a Blue Alert network in 2008.

Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21), Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee which oversees federal law enforcement agencies, managed debate on the House floor and encouraged his colleagues to support the bill.

Chairman Smith: “Each year, hundreds of law enforcement officers are killed or seriously injured in the line of duty. In 1789, President George Washington appointed America’s first law enforcement officers – 13 United States Marshals. Since then, over 21,000 local, state, and federal law enforcement officers have been killed in the line of duty.

“Just last month, in my home state of Texas, an Austin Police officer was shot and killed while responding to a call about a drunk man shoplifting at the local Walmart. What seemed to be a routine call turned out to be a dangerous and deadly situation. We cannot bring Officer Padron back, but we can honor his sacrifice by helping to apprehend and bring to justice criminals who harm our men and women in Blue.

“The goal of a Blue Alert is to immediately notify the entire community to assist in the location and apprehension of violent criminals who injure or kill police officers. A nationwide Blue Alert network will be particularly effective when a suspect flees across state lines. This bill reaffirms our determination to ensure the future safety of our law enforcement men and women and the communities they protect.”

Despite the fact that national crime rates continue to drop, 163 law enforcement officers were killed in the line of duty in 2011, a 14 percent increase over the previous year. Part of Police Week, May 15 is the National Peace Officers Memorial Day.

Supporters of this legislation include the National Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association, and the Sergeants Benevolent Association.

Committee Approves Bill to Combat Violence Against Women

Tue, 08 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The House Judiciary Committee today approved a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) for five years. The Violence Against Women Act Reauthorization of 2012 (H.R. 4970) ensures that federal resources authorized by VAWA go directly to organizations and programs that help prevent violent crime and protect victims of domestic violence and sexual assault. The House bill provides the same levels of funding for VAWA grant programs as the Senate-passed bill.

The Committee voted 17-15 to reauthorize VAWA. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-Texas), a co-sponsor of the bill, today praised the Committee vote.

Chairman Smith: “Since its enactment in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has helped many women escape abuse and enabled them to seek help through its victim-services program. The House bill fully reauthorizes the VAWA grant programs at the same funding levels as the Senate bill. The bill provides more than $650 million in funding per year to help prevent domestic violence and protect victims of abuse.

“In Texas, I have seen first-hand the importance of this Act. Under VAWA, a domestic violence hotline was established in 1996 that has since answered nearly 2.5 million calls and saved many lives. It is essential that programs like these are in place to protect victims, not just from the physical bruises, but from the emotional and mental scars as well.

“In addition to providing funding, this reauthorization strengthens penalties for sexual assault and abuse, promotes educational awareness to prevent violence, and increases accountability for grant recipients. By reauthorizing VAWA, we can help victims of violence get the care they need and justice they deserve.”

For more information about the reauthorization of VAWA, please visit the House Judiciary Committee website.

The President 'Can't Wait' to Ignore Our Laws

Tue, 01 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

President Obama has launched his “We Can’t Wait” campaign to justify taking various executive actions and avoid having to deal with Congress. But his political tantrum would be better described as “we can’t wait to ignore laws and have our way.”

One of the most egregious examples of this unconstitutional agenda is the president’s disregard for our nation’s immigration laws. The Constitution gives Congress the authority to write our nation’s immigration laws, and it is the president’s job to enforce them. But because his amnesty agenda has faced bipartisan opposition in Congress and is opposed by the majority of Americans, President Obama and his administration instead have chosen to undermine the rule of law at every opportunity.

Last November, the Obama administration unilaterally changed our nation’s deportation guidelines by abusing executive power. Under this administration’s deportation policy, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) attorneys review all incoming, and most pending, cases before an immigration court to determine if the illegal immigrant can remain in the U.S. Since the Obama administration has decided that many illegal immigrants are not considered “priorities” for deportation, this means that huge numbers of illegal immigrants, potentially millions, will be allowed to remain in the U.S.

The administration’s changes to our deportation policy could also allow illegal immigrants to receive work permits, which could put even more U.S. citizens on the unemployment rolls. In fact, when illegal immigrants are allowed to stay in the U.S. and apply for work authorization, the Obama administration gives them work permits 90 percent of the time.

President Obama’s backdoor amnesty only benefits illegal immigrants, not Americans. Six months into this dangerous policy, nearly 17,000 illegal and criminal immigrants across the U.S. have been designated by ICE for backdoor amnesty. Unemployed Americans already have enough trouble finding a job in this economy, and the Obama administration’s lack of immigration enforcement increases their challenge.

As part of his “We Can’t Wait” campaign, President Obama also routinely neglects to enforce our immigration laws. His administration has all but abandoned worksite enforcement efforts. Over the past three years, these efforts fell 70 percent. Under the Obama administration, there have been fewer arrests of illegal workers, fewer criminal arrests, fewer indictments, and fewer convictions. As a result, 7 million illegal immigrants continue to work in the U.S., forcing unemployed American workers to compete with them for scarce jobs.

And rather than enforce immigration laws, President Obama’s Justice Department can’t wait to sue states that try to help enforce these federal laws. In fact, the administration has filed suit against Arizona, Alabama, and South Carolina for trying to enforce federal immigration laws and reduce illegal immigration. Most recently, during the Supreme Court’s hearing on Arizona v. United States, Chief Justice John Roberts noted that it seems “the federal government just doesn’t want to know who’s here illegally.”

While President Obama may not like our immigration laws, the American people do, and they want to see them enforced. In fact, according to a recent poll, two-thirds of Americans want to see our immigration laws enforced. Another poll found that Americans support Arizona’s law to help enforce federal immigration laws by more than a two-to-one margin. The president is clearly on the wrong side of the American people.

President Obama’s “We Can’t Wait” slogan reflects his disregard for our system of constitutional checks and balances and the will of the majority of Americans. And that’s exactly why the American people can’t wait for November to vote for a new commander-in-chief.

Chairman Smith Releases Report on DOJ’s Disregard of the Constitution

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) today released a report on the U.S. Justice Department’s disregard of the Constitution and rule of law. As Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Congressman Smith is leading efforts to oversee Attorney General Eric Holder and the Justice Department. Rather than enforce the law and uphold the Constitution, the Obama administration has placed partisanship above the rule of law.

Chairman Smith: “The Justice Department has a responsibility to enforce the laws of the land and protect the Constitution. Of all federal agencies, the Justice Department should not be motivated by a partisan agenda. Unfortunately, under this Administration, the Justice Department has become more partisan than ever.

“The Obama administration has ignored the constitutional balance of power between co-equal branches of government and blocked investigations of its actions. When the Administration doesn’t like a law, they refuse to enforce it. And if the Senate’s constitutional authority to approve political appointees gets in their way, the Administration ignores the Constitution.

“All government officials are bound by the limits of the Constitution and the rule of law, including the President and the Attorney General. Unfortunately, this Administration continues to put a partisan agenda ahead of the Constitution and the rule of law.”

The report outlines high profile examples of how the Justice Department has ignored the Constitution in order to impose the Administration’s partisan agenda on the American people. From blocking investigations of Operation Fast & Furious and Justice Elena Kagan’s involvement in Obamacare to refusing to enforce and defend certain laws, the Attorney General has allowed a partisan agenda to guide the Justice Department’s decisions.

Chairman Smith announced that he has called Attorney General Eric Holder to testify before the Judiciary Committee on June 7, 2012, to answer for the Administration’s actions.

A summary and full copy of the report can be found on the House Judiciary Committee website.

Smith: Our National Media Don't Deserve Their 'Mainstream' Title

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The modern encyclopedia Wikipedia says, "the term 'mainstream' media denotes those generally reflective of the prevailing currents of thought, influence or activity."

But the opinions expressed by the media are neither widespread nor accepted by the majority of Americans. To call today's national media "mainstream" is inaccurate. They are better described as the "liberal" national media. Regardless, the term "mainstream" should be dropped.

According to a Gallup poll, 55% of Americans have little or no confidence in the national media to report fully, accurately and fairly. Americans are right to be skeptical about the news they receive.

How can something be considered "mainstream" if the majority of people lack confidence in it?

Journalists and the public have very different views regarding illegal immigration, for example.

In a Pew Research Center Poll, fewer than one in five journalists said they thought "reducing illegal immigration" was a "top priority." Yet over half the American people rated illegal immigration reduction as a "top priority."

Gun control is another issue where the national media are not "mainstream." According to a study by the University of Connecticut's Department of Public Policy, only 25% of journalists listed the Second Amendment "right to own firearms" as being "essential." A Gallup poll conducted last year shows public support for the right to bear arms to be at an all-time high of 73%.

In 2008, Investor's Business Daily found that an analysis of federal records showed the amount of money journalists contributed in the 2008 election cycle favored Democrats by a 15:1 ratio over Republicans. Two-hundred thirty-five journalists donated to Democrats, only 20 gave to Republicans.

The national media shouldn't be considered "mainstream" until the majority of Americans and journalists are on the same page. The bias of journalists in the national media has left them not only on a different page than the average American, but in an entirely different publication too.

• Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas) is Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee and Co-Chairman of the Media Fairness Caucus. This column also was published at Investor's Business Daily.

Smith Supports Small Business Tax Cut

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Lamar Smith today voted to support the Small Business Tax Cut Act (H.R. 9) to give every small business with fewer than 500 employees a 20 percent tax deduction. The House of Representatives passed the bill by a vote of 235-173. This legislation frees up funds for 22 million small businesses to retain workers, hire new employees and grow our economy.

Chairman Smith, who cosponsored the bill, issued the following statement today after the House vote.

Chairman Smith: “Over the past 17 years, small businesses have generated 65% of the new jobs in this country. While small businesses face sun-setting income tax cuts and expiring temporary payroll tax cuts, the Obama administration continues to raise taxes and impose new regulations on millions of small businesses. We need to encourage small businesses to expand, not tie them up with more taxes and red tape.

“The Small Business Tax Cut Act lowers tax rates on small businesses and frees them up to spend more, invest more, and produce more in order to create more jobs. Their recovery is the key to getting more Americans back to work.”

More information about the Small Business Tax Cut Act can be found at: http://www.majorityleader.gov/SmallBiz/.

National Media is not Mainstream

Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Today’s so-called “mainstream” media is not mainstream. The modern encyclopedia, Wikipedia, says, “the term ‘mainstream’ media denotes those media generally reflective of the prevailing currents of thought, influence, or activity.”

But the opinions expressed by the media are neither widespread nor accepted by the majority of Americans. For example, journalists and the public have very different views regarding illegal immigration. According to a Pew Research Center Poll, less than one in five journalists said they thought “reducing illegal immigration” was a “top priority.” Yet over half the American people rated illegal immigration reduction as a “top priority.”

The national media should not be considered “mainstream” until the majority of Americans and journalists are on the same page. The bias of the national media’s journalists has caused them not only to be on a different page, but also to be in an entirely different publication than the typical American.

To call today’s national media “mainstream” is simply not accurate. The national media is better described as the “liberal” national media.

Congressman Smith Hosts Job Fair in Austin

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Lamar Smith (TX-21) today hosted a job fair for Austin-area residents seeking employment. Fifty-eight employers and more than 600 job seekers participated in the event. The job fair was hosted in cooperation with Workforce Solutions Capital Area.

Congressman Smith: “In these difficult economic times, there are still too many unemployed residents looking for work in our state’s Capital. That’s why today I hosted a job fair for Austin-area residents to connect job seekers with local job creators looking to hire. We had more than 55 employers participate and over 600 job seekers attend the event.

“Austin is a great place to live and work. I appreciate all the employers and groups that participated in today’s event and hope that it helps Austin-area job seekers find long-term and lasting employment.”

Alan Miller, Executive Director for Workforce Solutions Capital Area: “Workforce Solutions Capital Area is pleased to partner with Congressman Smith on this job fair. Any opportunity to help connect employers and job seekers is beneficial and we appreciate the Congressman’s efforts in helping put Austin back to work.”

Employers at today’s event included AT&T, the Austin Police Department, Dell, Dr. Pepper Snapple Group, eBay, Seton Health Care, and UT Austin. A full list of participating employers can be found here.

For more information about the Austin Job Fair and Congressman Smith’s efforts to help grow our economy and create jobs for American workers, please visit Congressman Smith’s website at www.lamarsmith.house.gov.

Congressman Smith Joins Local Students in Discussion with Astronauts Aboard the International Space Station

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Smith (TX-21) joined more than 100 students at O. Henry Middle School in a live video discussion with astronauts aboard the International Space Station. Congressman Smith kicked off the discussion with the space station and spoke to students about the importance of space exploration and science education.

American astronauts Dan Burbank and Don Pettit, along with European astronaut André Kuipers, answered questions from students via a live television downlink to teach students about living and working in space.

Congressman Smith: “For over ten years, NASA astronauts have been living and working onboard the International Space Station, an amazing engineering achievement. The Space Station is roughly the size of a football field and has more livable space than a five-bedroom house. It includes science laboratories for six astronauts living and working onboard.

“Gene Cernan, the last American astronaut to set foot on the Moon, recently testified before Congress about the importance of science education saying, ‘Tell young people in school today to keep shooting for the Moon—to study math, science, and engineering—because even if they miss the Moon they’ll still be amongst the stars.’

“My hope for the students we met today is that many will pursue careers in science and use their knowledge to explore strange new worlds and better understand our universe.”

Congressman Smith is vice-chair of the House Science Committee’s Space & Aeronautics Subcommittee. He supports legislation to help encourage science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education for America’s youth.

Events like today are part of NASA’s Teaching from Space Program, which supports learning opportunities and builds partnerships with the education community using the unique environment of space. This in-flight education downlink is one in a series with educational organizations in the United States to encourage STEM teaching and learning.