Press Releases

On February 28, 2019 at 12:00 pm, the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, led by Subcommittee Chairman Steve Cohen (D-TN), will hold a hearing on the National Emergencies Act of 1976. The hearing will examine President Donald Trump’s recent national emergency declaration at the southern border and other issues relating to the National Emergencies Act. This will be the first congressional hearing on the National Emergencies Act in more than 40 years.

On February 15, 2019,  House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), along with the Judiciary Subcommittee Chairs and Vice Chair, sent a letter to President Donald Trump to demand answers after he declared a national emergency at the southern border and to request hearings with White House Counsel Pat A. Cipollone and Justice Department officials.

Witnesses:      

Liza Goitein, Co-Director, Liberty and National Security Program, Brennan Center for Justice.   

Nayda Alvarez, Resident of La Rosita, Texas who is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by several landowners challenging the legality of the President’s emergency declaration. 

Stuart Gerson, former Acting Attorney General and Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Division, United States Department of Justice in the George H.W. Bush Administration. He is co-counsel with Harvard Law Professor Laurence Tribe in a suit brought by El Paso County, Texas challenging the legality of the emergency declaration. 

Jonathan Turley, J.B. and Maurice C. Shapiro Professor of Public Interest Law, George Washington University Law School.

Date:               Thursday, February 28, 2019

Time:              12:00 p.m.

Location:         2141 Rayburn House Office Building

Washington D.C.

Livestream:   The hearing will stream live here.

Camera crews wishing to cover must be congressionally credentialed with the House Radio-TV Gallery (202) 225-5214.