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
"At the markup for the resolution establishing the Executive Overreach Task Force, I had expressed the concern that this Task Force might be used as a platform for partisan political attacks.
"I also expressed the hope that we could work collaboratively in some areas of mutual interest, in particular those centering on strengthening Congress's ability to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch.
"I remain hopeful that there is room on this Task Force for some bipartisan cooperation.
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to associate myself with your comments about our jurisdiction.
"It is not an accident that the House Judiciary Committee is the committee of primary jurisdiction with respect to the legal architecture of government surveillance.
"In times of heightened tension, many of our colleagues will rush to do something, anything, to get out in front of an issue. We welcome their voices in the debate-but it is here, in this Committee room, that the House begins to make decisions about the tools and methods available to law enforcement.
"Debates about the proper scope of executive power and its relationship to legislative authority are as old as the Nation itself.
"As the Committee charged with examining issues arising under our Constitution, it is important that we regularly discuss such fundamental matters about our Nation's basic governing framework.
"Today's resolution, which would establish an 'Executive Overreach Task Force' for the next 6 months, is ostensibly the latest effort to fulfill this important obligation.
The House of Representatives today approved the Judicial Redress Act of 2015 (H.R. 1428) by a bipartisan vote of #-#.
"I want to take a moment to walk through the events that have led up to this hearing:
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
2:00 p.m. Full Committee hearing
2141 Rayburn House Office Building
Witnesses
Last night, during an appearance on CNN's Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer, Rep. Jason Chaffetz, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, admitted that he has not identified any evidence that Planned Parenthood has violated any laws:
Blitzer: "Is there any evidence in your opinion that Planned Parenthood has broken any law?"
Chaffetz: "No, I'm not suggesting that they broke the law."
"As today's one-sided hearing title suggests, we will likely hear a series of allegations leveled against Planned Parenthood that it engaged in unlawful conduct based solely on a series of deceptively-edited undercover videos.
"Notably, the Center for Medical Progress – the entity that filmed these videos and which could answer significant and troubling questions about their accuracy and veracity -- is not here today.
"In addition, the Majority chose not to invite Planned Parenthood, the target of today's attacks.