Press Releases
Today, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (MI-13) applauded the enactment of the "Debbie Smith Reauthorization Act of 2014" (H.R. 4323), which President Obama signed into law yesterday. This law authorizes funding of nearly $194 million for each of Fiscal Years 2015-2019 for the Department of Justice to administer various grants, including the Debbie Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in solving rape and other violent crimes.
Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. released the following statement on the resignation of U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder from the Department of Justice:
"Attorney General Eric Holder has delivered the utmost distinguished service during his tenure in the Obama administration. As the first African American to serve as attorney general, Mr. Holder has shown vigorous dedication to the American people and advancing civil rights for all.
Today, the House Judiciary Committee approved H.R. 5233, the Trade Secrets Protection Act by voice vote.


DETROIT – Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers Jr. (MI-13) released the following statement in response to ongoing events in Ferguson, Missouri:
"A few facts are clear: A young, unarmed man was shot by a police officer. A small town is under what is essentially martial law. Tear gas and rubber bullets are being used against everyday citizens. Serious and sweeping civil rights violations may have taken place in Ferguson, Missouri.
Following the tragic killing of Michael Brown, an unarmed African American teenager who was shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri on August 9, 2014, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers Jr. (MI-13), Congressman Wm. Lacy Clay (MO-01) and Congresswoman Marcia L. Fudge (OH-11) issued a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder asking the Department of Justice (DOJ) to formally investigate the shooting.
A copy of the letter sent to the DOJ is attached.
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