Media Center

Conyers Floor Statement Opposing H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act

| Posted in Opening Statement

Floor Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr. H.R. 3309, the “Innovation Act” December 5, 2013 Madam Speaker: There are few economic issues this Congress will face that are more important than our patent law system. Intellectual property is responsible for nearly half of our nation’s gross domestic product and one third of all jobs in the U.S. economy. Our patent system, while not perfect, is... Read more »

Ranking Member Conyers Statement at Judiciary Hearing on Presidential Powers

| Posted in Opening Statement

Statement of Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. Hearing on: The President’s Constitutional Duty to Faithfully Execute the Laws Committee on the Judiciary Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 10:00 AM 2141 Rayburn Building The president’s constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws would be an important issue worthy of a hearing by the full committee if there was any evidence that the president has in... Read more »

Conyers, Durbin, Cummings & Bicameral Members Request Justice Department Collect More Data on “Stand Your Ground” Laws

| Posted in Press Releases

(DETROIT) – Today, ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), along with Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), Congressman Bobby Scott (D-Va.), Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), and Congressman Luis Guti... Read more »

Conyers & Watt: Goodlatte’s Manager’s Amendment Will Harm the Patent System

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: Antitrust

Today, U.S. House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte announced the Markup of H.R. 3309, the “Innovation Act,” this Wednesday, November 20th. In announcing the Markup, Chairman Goodlatte released a Manager’s Amendment making changes to H.R. 3309. In addition, this afternoon Senate Judiciary Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) and Senator Mike Lee (R-Utah) introduced the “Patent Transparency and Improvemen... Read more »

Conyers Presses Senate Republicans to Call Off Their Judicial Blockade and Confirm Judge Robert Wilkins

| Posted in Press Releases

This Monday, the United States Senate will consider the nomination of Judge Robert L. Wilkins to the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. Over the course of the last month, Senate Republicans have derailed the nominations of two other well-qualified appointees to the same court, considered the second highest in the land, leaving three vacancies in place. In light of... Read more »

Ranking Member Conyers Statement at Judiciary Hearing on Antitrust Enforcement Agencies

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: Antitrust

Today, the U.S. House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law held a hearing entitled, “Oversight of the Antitrust Enforcement Agencies.” Specifically, this oversight hearing focused on the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division and the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Competition’s antitrust efforts. During his opening remarks, Ranking Member John Conyers... Read more »

As the Prison Population Skyrockets, Conyers Urges Congress to Curb Mandatory Minimum Sentencing & Focus on Rehabilitation

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee Overcriminalization Task Force held a hearing entitled, “Regulatory Crime: Solutions.” At the hearing, Mr. John S. Baker, Jr., Ph.D. - a visiting professor at Georgetown Law School - and Mr. Lucian E. Dervan - an assistant professor at Southern Illinois University School of Law - testified, advocating for a rethink in the United States’ criminal justice sy... Read more »

Conyers: House Republicans Put Special Interests Ahead of Asbestos Victims

| Posted in Press Releases

Today, the House of Representatives voted 221 to 199 to pass H.R. 982, the “Furthering Asbestos Claim Transparency Act (FACT) of 2013.” This legislation requires an asbestos trust to file quarterly reports with a bankruptcy court that includes asbestos victim’s personally identifying information. After passage of the bill, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement: “Th... Read more »

Conyers & Bipartisan Representatives Introduce Second Chance Act Reauthorization to Disrupt the Prison Pipeline

| Posted in Press Releases
Tags: Crime

Today, House Judiciary Committee Ranking Member John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. (R-Wisc.), Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet Chairman Howard Coble (R-N.C.), and Congressman Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) introduced H.R. 3465, the Second Chance Reauthorization Act. The Sec... Read more »