Press Releases
Mr. Speaker, the September 11, 2001 terrorist attack on the United States was the deadliest foreign attack on American soil in our Nation's history.
Its impact has been immeasurable as evidenced by the fact that we are still grappling with the cultural and policy implications stemming from the events of that day.
And, 15 years on, most Americans continue to feel its searing emotional impact, particularly as the anniversary date approaches this Sunday.
H.R. 3438, the "Require Evaluation before Implementing Executive Wishlists Act of 2016," would stay the enforcement of any rule imposing an annual cost to the economy in excess of $1 billion pending judicial review.
Notwithstanding the bill's colorful short title, H.R. 3438 would have a pernicious impact on rulemaking and the ability of agencies to respond to critical health and safety issues.
In essence, the bill would encourage anyone who wants to delay a significant rule from going into effect by simply seeking judicial review of the rule.
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Ranking Member Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA) today released the following statements after H.R. 5063, the Stop Settlement Slush Funds Act of 2016 passed the U.S. House of Representatives.
The purpose of today's hearing is to examine the Treasury Department's Judgment Fund.
Congress created the Judgment Fund in 1956 to reduce its appropriations workload.
Prior to establishing the Fund, Congress devoted an inordinate amount of its time to appropriating monies to satisfy run-of-the-mill legal judgments and settlements on a case-by-case basis.
Today, the Fund permits agencies to obtain payment for legal judgments and settlements without having to request appropriations from Congress under limited statutorily prescribed circumstances.
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and House Judiciary Crime Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) released the following statements after the White House announced the commutation of the sentences of 111 individuals earlier this week:
"We are grateful for having worked with President Obama to make reforms to our criminal justice system. Without his persistent leadership this would not have happened. It adds to the legacy of the 44th President," said Ranking Member Conyers.
Members of the bipartisan Policing Strategies Working Group traveled to Detroit, Michigan on August 29-30, 2016 to meet with local community leaders and law enforcement to discuss police accountability, aggression towards law enforcement, and public safety concerns related to these issues. The members who traveled to Detroit to join House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr.
Washington, D.C. (Aug. 30, 2016)-Today, Reps. Elijah E. Cummings, John Conyers, Jr., Elliot L. Engel, and Bennie G.
Last week, Ranking Members Bobby Scott (VA-03) and John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) of the Committees on Education and the Workforce and Judiciary, respectively, sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office (GAO) requesting data on the disparities in school discipline practices and student absenteeism. Recent studies show a large increase in the use of disciplinary actions and chronic absenteeism in public schools.
House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI) and Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Ranking Member Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) today released the following statements after the U.S. Department of Justice announced they will discontinue the use of privately operated prisons:
Today, 65 House Democrats, led by Reps. Maxine Waters (D-CA), Ranking Member of the Committee on Financial Services; John Conyers, Jr. (D-MI), Ranking Member of the Committee on the Judiciary; and Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law, sent a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau expressing strong support for its proposal to limit forced arbitration in consumer contracts.