Constitution
The Committee on the Judiciary plays an important role in protecting people's constitutional rights and-when the Constitution falls short of its promise "to form a more perfect Union"-in amending the Constitution. In the 116th Congress, the Committee passed a resolution to revoke the deadline for ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment and held hearings on state efforts to curb people's constitutional right to an abortion, the lasting negative impact of Citizens United on our campaign finance system, the constitutional role of the pardon power, and opportunities to reform presidential clemency. The Committee also filed several lawsuits to uphold its constitutional authority to conduct oversight of the executive branch. In the 117th Congress, the Committee will continue to build on these accomplishments and further the Constitution's promise of a more perfect Union.
More on Constitution
Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Congressman David Cicilline (D-RI) condemned the actions of House Judiciary Republicans who refused to vote on an amendment to H.R. 4768, the Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016. The amendment offered by Congressman David Cicilline, would have made clear that a judge cannot be disqualified on the basis of race, ethnicity, or national origin.
TUESDAY, JUNE 7
4:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law
Hearing on: "International Antitrust Enforcement: China and Beyond"
Witnesses:
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.), House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers (D-Mich.), Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wis.), and Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Ranking Member Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) issued the following joint statement on the one year anniversary of the enactment of the USA Freedom Act:
The House Judiciary Committee today approved by voice vote H.R. 5283, the Deterring Undue Enforcement by Protecting Rights of Citizens from Excessive Searches and Seizures Act of 2016 (Due Process Act) to strengthen protections for Americans' property through civil asset forfeiture reform.
Today's hearing is the 32nd anti-regulatory hearing that we have had since the beginning of the 112th Congress. The anti-regulatory fervor of some in Congress is no doubt passionate and heartfelt.
But, as I have noted repeatedly during the 31 previous hearings we have had on this topic, regulation is vital to protecting everyday Americans from a myriad of harms. And, broad agency authority is crucial to ensuring a well-run regulatory system that promotes public health and safety, while providing certainty for business.
In the history of the Republic, the House of Representatives has voted to impeach a federal official only 19 times. I served on this Committee to consider six of those 19 resolutions. I voted in favor of five of them. And I helped to draft articles of impeachment against President Richard Nixon-and joined with 20 Democrats and six Republicans-to send three of those articles to the House floor. The lessons I draw from these experiences are hard earned.
The 3 bills that are the subject of today's hearing would institute a "notice and cure" requirement under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. Specifically, these measures would prohibit a lawsuit from being commenced unless the plaintiff first gave the business owner "specific" notice of an alleged violation and an opportunity to fix or make "substantial" progress toward remedying such violation.
Let me begin by stating again what I stated previously when similar proposals were considered by our Committee.
Committee on the Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) and Committee on Education and the Workforce Ranking Member Bobby Scott (VA-03) unveiled the findings of a new report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) on actions needed to reduce racial and socioeconomic segregation, and address disparities in K-12 public schools. Ranking Members Conyers and Scott, along with retired Congressman and former Ranking Member George Miller, first requested this report in May 2014.
The House Judiciary Committee has announced its schedule for the week of May 16-20, 2016.\
TUESDAY, MAY 17
10:00 a.m. Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations
Hearing on: "Synthetic Drugs, Real Danger"
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
1:00 p.m. Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law
Hearing on: H.R. 4768, the "Separation of Powers Restoration Act of 2016"