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• Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 9, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the March 9, 2016 hearing, "Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice," before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chairman Chuck Grassley: "Today I look forward to ensuring that this President isn't abusing his power, and ensuring that the rights of the American people are being protected. I want to discuss whether the President can use his executive authority to empty Guantanamo Bay by sending Al Qaeda terrorists to U.S. prisons. [...] I want to have a conversation about recent policy changes by the Department of Justice to investigate and prosecute individuals for corporate wrongdoing, an approach I have long called for since the 2008 financial and mortgage crisis. I want to explore a host of whistleblower issues relevant to the Department, including my recent FBI Whistleblower Protection Enhancement Act legislation. I also want to discuss with you yet another example of the Administration stonewalling Congress and using the Department of Justice as a tool for its resistance efforts. The American people are now aware that Secretary Clinton used a private email address and non-government server for all of her official business during her time at the Department of State. Over two thousand emails contain classified information, with some containing Top Secret/Sensitive Compartmented Information, and others relating to Special Access Programs. But the Department and the FBI have refused to officially confirm basic information about the scope and nature of the investigation to this Committee." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Loretta E. Lynch.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-03-09
• Impact of High Levels of Immigration on U.S. Workers, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, March 16, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the March 16, 2016 hearing, "Impact of High Levels of Immigration on U.S. Workers," before the Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Steven A. Camarota: "In this testimony, I will focus on four areas. First I will summarize the theoretic impact of immigration on the U.S. labor market. Second, I will discuss what the research shows about the actual impact of immigration on the wages and employment of natives. Third, I will describe what has been happening in the U.S. labor in the last 15 years. Finally, I will discuss the impact of immigration on the aging of American society and the need for workers. The overarching theme of my testimony will be that immigration does not confer significant economic benefits on the native-born. Instead, immigration tends to redistributed income from some American workers, often from the poorest and least educated, to business owners and other American workers. Moreover, the chief justification for the current high level of immigration that there is need for workers is not supported by the available evidence." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: George J. Borjas, Peter N. Kirsanow, Benjamin E. Johnson, David D. Kallick, and Steven A. Camarota.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-03-16
• Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance Between Public Safety and Privacy, Hearing Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, July 8, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the July 8, 2015 hearing on "Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance Between Public Safety and Privacy" held before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "The core of the Fourth Amendment is the requirement that, with limited exceptions, when a law enforcement officer is investigating a crime, the officer must obtain an individualized warrant or court order to conduct a search that would violate a person's reasonable expectation of privacy. And that order must be issued by a neutral and detached judge based on facts that demonstrate probable cause. Through this brilliant framework, for over 200 years, our constitutional system has preserved the rule of law, ensured our public safety is maintained, and protected our individual privacy and civil liberties in part through the separation of powers. But recently, prominent law enforcement officials have been questioning whether the laws Congress has enacted over the years to adapt that framework to changing technology, such as the Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act, or CALEA, are adequate to the task today." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Sally Quillian Yates, James B. Comey, Cyrus Vance Jr., Herbert Lin, and Peter Swire.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2015-07-08
• Researching the Potential Medical Benefits and Risks of Marijuana, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism of the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, July 13, 2016

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  This is a testimony compilation of the July 13, 2016 hearing "Researching the Potential Medical Benefits and Risks of Marijuana" held before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the statement of Chuck Grassley: "Today's hearing continues an important and timely discussion about researching the potential medical benefits of the marijuana plant and its constituent parts. Thousands of children throughout the United States suffer from rare, extreme forms of intractable epilepsy. In many of these cases, parents have reason to fear that their child's next seizure may be his or her last. These children are often treated with powerful drugs with strong side effects, which may also further incapacitate them. But in recent years, evidence has come to light suggesting that a substance called cannabidiol, or CBD, may help these children. CBD is a compound derived from the marijuana plant that can be administered in the form of an oil. It's not smoked, and it can't be used to get high. I've had Iowans come to my Iowa office and my county meetings, praising CBD oil because they say it has greatly reduced seizures and in some cases has eliminated them completely. So it appears CBD oil can have positive effects. But it's concerning that many of the CBD products that these parents must turn to are of unknown quality. So even though leading medical organizations typically reject the idea of smoked marijuana as medicine, many of them have called for further research into the potential medical use of CBD. To the extent possible, I believe we should be encouraging responsible, FDA-approved research on CBD and other parts of the marijuana plant, to unlock whatever potential medical benefit may lie within them -- for children with intractable epilepsy and any other patients who may benefit. But legitimate, medical research shouldn't be confused at all with smoking marijuana for recreational purposes, which the science tells us can be harmful and addictive, especially for young people." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kirsten Gillibrand, Cory Booker, Susan Weiss, Douglas Throckmorton, Daniele Piomelli, Stuart Gitlow, and Linden Barber.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-07-13
• Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to Be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Day 3), Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 22, 2017

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  This testimony compilation made by the HSDL staff is from the March 22, 2017 hearing,"Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Day 3)," before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The purpose of this hearing was to consider the nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Bennet, Cory Gardner, Neal Katyal, Neil M. Gorsuch, Nancy Scott Degan, Shannon Edwards, Deanell Reece Tacha, Robert Harlan Henry, John L. Kane, Leah Bressack, Elisa Massimino, Jameel Jaffer, Jeff Perkins, Guerino J. Calemine III, Jeff Lamken, Lawrence Solum, Jonathan Turley, Karen Harned, Heather McGhee, Fatima Goss Graves, Pat Gallagher, Eve Hill, Peter Kirsanow, Alice Fisher, Hannah Smith, Tim Meyer, Jamil Jaffer, Kristen Clarke, Sarah Warbelow, Amy Hagstrom Miller, William Marshall, and Sandy Phillips.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-03-22
• Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to Be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Day 2), Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 21, 2017

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  This testimony compilation made by the HSDL staff is from the March 21, 2017 hearing,"Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Day 2)," before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The purpose of this hearing was to consider the nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Michael Bennet, Cory Gardner, Neal Katyal, Neil M. Gorsuch, Nancy Scott Degan, Shannon Edwards, Deanell Reece Tacha, Robert Harlan Henry, John L. Kane, Leah Bressack, Elisa Massimino, Jameel Jaffer, Jeff Perkins, Guerino J. Calemine III, Jeff Lamken, Lawrence Solum, Jonathan Turley, Karen Harned, Heather McGhee, Fatima Goss Graves, Pat Gallagher, Eve Hill, Peter Kirsanow, Alice Fisher, Hannah Smith, Tim Meyer, Jamil Jaffer, Kristen Clarke, Sarah Warbelow, Amy Hagstrom Miller, William Marshall, and Sandy Phillips.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-03-21
• Intellectual Property - Driver of Innovation: Making Our Lives Healthier, Safer, and More Productive, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, April 25, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the April 25, 2017 hearing on "Intellectual Property - Driver of Innovation: Making Our Lives Healthier, Safer, and More Productive," before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Today we're here to discuss how innovation is making our lives better and the role that our system of intellectual property [IP] protection plays in fostering innovation. This hearing will explore how the United States intellectual property system is supporting innovation and in the process, helping to save lives, feed the world, and change the way we interact with technology. We'll also hear from innovators and law enforcement about the nature and scope of some of the challenges that IP-intensive industries face in enforcing IP rights." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Matthew C. Allen, Kay Eron, Ashifi Gogo, Conor F. Madigan, and Neal Gutterson.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-04-25
• Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Day 4), Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 23, 2017

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  This testimony compilation made by the HSDL staff is from the March 23, 2017 hearing, "Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States (Day 4)," before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The purpose of this hearing was to consider the nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Nancy Scott Degan, Shannon Edwards, Deanell Reece Tacha, Robert Harlan Henry, John L. Kane, Leah Bressack, Elisa Massimino, Jameel Jaffer, Jeff Perkins, Guerino J. Calemine III, Jeff Lamken, Lawrence Solum, Jonathan Turley, Karen Harned, Heather McGhee, Fatima Goss Graves, Pat Gallagher, Eve Hill, Peter Kirsanow, Alice Fisher, Hannah Smith, Tim Meyer, Jamil Jaffer, Kristen Clarke, Sarah Warbelow, William Marshall, and Sandy Phillips.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-03-23
• Examining the Proposed FCC Privacy Rules, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 11, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the May 11, 2016 hearing, "Examining the Proposed FCC Privacy Rules," before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Privacy, Technology, and the Law, of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Senator Chuck Grassley: "I appreciate Chairman Flake holding this important oversight hearing. We have an excellent panel of witnesses and I thank you all for being here today. I'm looking forward to hearing your testimony on how the Federal Communication Commission's [FCC] proposed privacy rules affect consumers and broadband Internet providers. It's no secret that the growth and success of the Internet is due in large measure to the flexible, handsoff approach taken by regulators, which has characterized its early existence. It's this approach that has led to incredible innovation - allowing Americans to access information and entertainment, learn, and do business in radically different ways. At the same time, the rapid growth in technology has also resulted in new threats to individual privacy in ways that many of us never imagined. As such, the Federal Trade Commission has been active in seeking to ensure that individual privacy remains protected in the ever connected Internet world that we live in today and in the future." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Thomas Wheeler, Ajit Pai, Edith Ramirez, and Maureen Ohlhausen.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-05-11
• Oversight and Reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act: The Balance Between National Security, Privacy and Civil Liberty, Hearing Before the Committee on Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, May 10, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the May 10, 2016 hearing, "Oversight and Reauthorization of the FISA Amendments Act: The Balance Between National Security, Privacy and Civil Liberty," before the U.S. Senate Committee on Judiciary. From the opening statement of Senator Patrick Leahy: "One year ago this week, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed the USA FREEDOM Act. Several weeks later the Senate followed suit with broad bipartisan support - including a strong majority of the members of this Committee. That legislation marked the first major overhaul of the government's surveillance authorities in decades. Following revelations about dragnet surveillance programs, Vermonters and Americans across the country demanded limits on executive power. They demanded accountability and reform, and Congress responded. Today, the Senate Judiciary Committee will examine the FISA [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] Amendments Act, often referred to as Section 702. This law expires at the end of 2017. I am glad the Committee is getting an early start on this process to consider significant reforms. I hope we can avoid the needless expiration of authorities we saw last year when Republican leadership refused to bring up the USA FREEDOM Act. I also am glad that this hearing is being held in the open, so that the American people can be a part of this conversation." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kenneth L. Wainstein, Matthew G. Olsen, Elizabeth Goitein, David Medine, and Rachel L. Brand.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-05-10
• Counterfeits and Their Impact on Consumer Health Safety, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, April 27, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the April 27, 2016 hearing, "Counterfeits and Their Impact on Consumer Health Safety," before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Senator Chuck Grassley: "Good morning everyone. We're here to discuss an intellectual property crime that's growing in magnitude across the United States and around the globe: counterfeiting and, in particular, the impact of counterfeits on consumer health and safety. This is an important consumer protection issue, and a timely one, considering that yesterday was World IP [Intellectual Property] Day. We have an excellent panel of witnesses that will be able to provide us with their invaluable insights into this serious problem that affects us all. I thank them for being here today. The production and sale of counterfeit goods is a world-wide problem with tremendous economic and health ramifications. Governments, industries and consumers all are impacted by 'fakes.' Counterfeiters operate elaborate global networks to manufacture, export, import, and distribute their illegitimate products. They exploit border control weaknesses, poor regulatory frameworks, and overwhelmed law enforcement agencies to advance the sale of their illicit goods. While counterfeiters profit in the billions from their criminal activities, millions of consumers are at risk from their unsafe and ineffective products." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bruce Foucart, Conrad W. Wong, David Hirschmann, Shelley Duggan, and Greg Maguire.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-04-27
• Nomination Hearing: Jeff Sessions, Attorney General, Hearing Before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, December 9, 2016

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  This is the nomination hearing for to-be Attorney General Jeff Sessions compiled by the HSDL staff. This hearing was held before the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on December 9, 2016. The purpose of this hearing was to approve the nomination of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to the executive administration's appointment of Attorney General. The hearing includes various testimonies from witnesses expressing concerns for this nomination or expression their support for this nomination. A variety of statements have been submitted from groups around the United States to voice support or disapproval with the nomination of Jeff Sessions as U.S. Attorney General. Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Richard Shelby, Susan Collins, Jeff Sessions, Michael Mukasey, Oscar Vazquez, Peter Kirsanow, Amita Swadhin, Jayann Sepich, Cornell Brooks, Chuck Canterbury, David Cole, Larry Thompson, Cory Booker, Willie Huntley, John Lewis, Jesse Seroyer, Cedric Richmond and William Smith.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-12-09
• Adequacy of Criminal Intent Standards in Federal Prosecutions, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, January 20, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the January 20, 2016 hearing on "Adequacy of Criminal Intent Standards in Federal Prosecutions" held before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "The American people are calling out for sentencing reform. In October, the Judiciary Committee reported a bipartisan reform bill by a vote of 15-5. That bill focuses on sentencing reform and wouldn't change any substantive provision of federal criminal law. The bill has broad support from countless organizations from all over the political spectrum, including the NAACP, Americans for Tax Reform, the Leadership Conference for Civil and Human Rights, and Justice Fellowship. But there are members in both chambers who have decided to oppose any reform that does not make a far-reaching and substantive law change to mens rea, or criminal intent. They insist on this even though there are leading outside supporters of mens rea reform who have made it clear that they favor the reform bill without it. Today's hearing is an effort to try to get to the bottom of this issue." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Leslie Caldwell, Edwin Meese III, Robert Weissman, and Stephen A. Saltzburg.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-01-20
• Why is the Biometric Exit Tracking System Still Not in Place, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Immigration and National Interest of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, January 20, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the January 20, 2016 hearing "Why is the Biometric Exit Tracking System Still Not in Place?" before the Subcommittee on Immigration and National Interest. From the statement of Subcommittee Chairman Chuck Grassley: "Twenty years ago, Congress passed the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. A vital part of this law was the establishment of a comprehensive entry and exit control system that would collect a record of departure for every person departing the United States. Today, there is still no comprehensive exit system at our land, air, or sea ports of entry. [...] An exit program that uses biometrics rather than just biographics is a vital component of national security, ensuring that persons of interest have not falsified their exit record or stolen a person's identity to enter the country. Congress understands that developing a biometric exit program is a daunting and expensive task. Congress has already appropriated millions of dollars for the cause. [...] It is my hope that this administration will have a plan in place for implementing a biometric exit system. It's time to build on pilot programs, and it's time for airlines to work hand in hand with the government to make the system a reality." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: John Wagner, Anh Duong, Craig C. Healy, and Rebecca Gambler.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-01-20
• Attacking America's Epidemic of Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, Second Session, January 27, 2016

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  This is a testimony compilation of the January 27, 2016 hearing on "Attacking America's Epidemic of Heroin and Prescription Drug Abuse" held before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Addiction to opioids, primarily prescription pain killers and heroin, is driving this epidemic, which is destroying lives, families, and the fabric of entire communities. It's something I'm hearing about in Iowa, although other parts of the country have been hit even harder. At today's hearing, the committee hopes to learn more about this terrible epidemic, what's being done to address it, and how Congress can help. I look forward to learning more about the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, which is the result of the leadership of Senators Whitehouse, Portman, Klobuchar and Ayotte on this issue." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Kelly Ayotte, Jeanne Shaheen, Rob Portman, Peter Shumlin, Michael Botticelli, Nora D. Volkow, Kana Enomoto, Louis J. Milione, Enoch F. Willard, Tonda DaRe, and Linda E. Hurley.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-01-27
• Distortion of EB-5 Targeted Employment Areas: Time to End the Abuse, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, April 13, 2016

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  This testimony compilation is from the April 13, 2016 hearing, "The Distortion of EB-5 targeted Employment Areas: time to End the Abuse," before the U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Today, the committee will learn about Targeted Employment Areas, a term used in the Immigration and Nationality Act to describe rural areas and areas with high unemployment in which EB-5 investments are made. The law authorizes a lower investment threshold for such areas in order to incentivize foreign nationals to invest there. Targeted Employment Areas have been part of the EB-5 program since the beginning. Senator Gramm offered this concept as an amendment in 1989 to the Immigration Act of 1990." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Bob Goodlatte, John Conyers, Jr., Mark Amodei, Daniel J. Healy, Timothy Whipple, J.D., and Peter D. Joseph.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2016-04-13
• Law Enforcement Access to Data Stored Across Borders: Facilitating Cooperation and Protecting Rights, Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism of the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 24, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the May 24, 2017 hearing on "Law Enforcement Access to Data Stored Across Borders: Facilitating Cooperation and Protecting Rights," held before the U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism of the Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Today's hearing will help inform this Subcommittee of the Senate Judiciary Committee about a few of the most recent developments concerning possible reforms to the Electronic Communications Privacy Act." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Brad Wiegmann, Paddy McGuinness, Brad Smith, Jennifer Daskal, and Christopher W. Kelly.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-05-24
• Building America's Trust Through Border Security: Progress on the Southern Border, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 23, 2017

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  This is the May 23, 2017 hearing on "Building America's Trust Through Border Security: Progress on the Southern Border," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Effectively securing our Southern Border has been a concern for years, and it is one of the most persistent challenges facing the federal government. Amid transnational drug trafficking, unauthorized immigration, and international terror threats, securing our border remains a major security challenge."

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-05-23
• MS-13 Problem: Investigating Gang Membership, Its Nexus to Illegal Immigration, and Federal Efforts to End the Threat, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 21, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the June 21, 2017 hearing on "The MS-13 Problem: Investigating Gang Membership, Its Nexus to Illegal Immigration, and Federal Efforts to End the Threat," held before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "The topic of today's hearing involves the MS-13 crisis that's growing and spreading in communities across our nation. The atrocities of these criminals are not new. This group has existed since the 1980s, and has made a reputation for itself as a perpetrator of extreme-and often gruesome-violence. This organization has been dubbed the world's "most dangerous gang," and some say it could be a terrorist organization. But, you wouldn't expect anything less from a group whose motto is 'kill, rape, and control.' Unfortunately, over the past two years, this terrifying motto has become a vicious reality for many communities across our nation. So far this year, the gang has been publicly linked to dozens of high-profile killings, rapes, and assaults across the country, from the Washington D.C. metro area to Houston, Texas. Undoubtedly, there are many more that simply haven't been reported." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Carla Provost, Scott Lloyd, Derek Benner, Matthew Albence, and Kenneth Blanco.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-06-21
• Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 20, 2017

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  This testimony compilation made by the HSDL staff is from the March 20, 2017 hearing, "Nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States," before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. The purpose of this hearing was to consider the nomination of the Honorable Neil M. Gorsuch as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Chuck Grassley, Dianne Feinstein, Orrin Hatch, Patrick Leahy, Richard J. Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Michael S. Lee, Amy Klobuchar, Ted Cruz, Al Franken, Christopher A. Coons, Richard Blumenthal, Mike Crapo, Mazie Hirono, John Kennedy, Michael Bennet, Cory Gardner, Neal Katyal, and Neil M. Gorsuch.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-03-20
• Vows for Visas: Investigating K-1 Fiancé Fraud, Hearing Before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, United States Congress, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, March 15, 2017

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  This is a testimony compilation of the March 15, 2017 hearing on "Vows for Visas: Investigating K-1 Fiancé Fraud" held before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Recent reports have shown that the number foreign nationals who defraud American citizens to enter our country and receive a green card are increasing. In fact, petitions for the K-1 fiancé visa have been increasing every single year. The State Department issued 44,000 in fiscal year 2016, which is 27 percent more than 2012. 89% of K-1 visa petitions are approved by Citizenship and Immigration Services." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Elena Lopez, Grace Huang, Jamal Hussain, Greg Nevano, Matthew Emrich, Donald Neufeld, Daniel Renaud, and David Donahue.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-03-15
• Responses to the Increase in Religious Hate Crimes, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 2, 2017

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  This testimony compilation made by the HSDL staff is from the May 2, 2017 hearing, "Responses to the Increase in Religious Hate Crimes" before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the statement of Chairman Chuck Grassley: "The Senate Judiciary Committee today is holding a hearing on 'Reponses to the Increase in Religious Hate Crimes'. This is a subject of great bipartisan interest in the Committee. Religious hate crimes harm victims and communities. Many of these crimes would never have been committed but for hatred. They run counter to American values such as religious freedom and tolerance. Americans have the right to be safe against those who would treat them as members of religious groups rather than as individuals. Religious hate crimes are on the rise. Crimes against Jews are the most common religious hate crimes and they have increased. Religious hate crimes against Muslims are the fastest growing category. These crimes increased by 67% between 2014 and 2015, the last year for which FBI figures are available. I have been contacted by fearful Iowans. Fear for practicing one's religion should never happen in this country. This problem has been growing for some time, and is not new." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Eric Treene, Jonathan A. Greenblatt, Prabhjot Singh, Vanita Gupta, and Will D. Johnson.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-05-02
• Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, May 3, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the May 3, 2017 hearing "Oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation" before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "Director Comey, welcome and thank you for all the FBI does to keep Americans safe. There has been a lot of controversy surrounding the FBI since the last time you were here in 2015. In March, you publicly acknowledged that the FBI is investigating allegations of coordination between the Trump campaign and Russia's efforts to interfere in the 2016 election. Under President Obama's order, former DNI [Director of National Intelligence] Clapper had been in charge of the Intelligence Community's review of that interference. Mr. Clapper testified that President Obama asked the intelligence community to compile all available information. After he left office, Mr. Clapper said there was no evidence of collusion whatsoever. The New York Times also reported that American officials had found no proof of collusion. So, where is all this speculation about collusion coming from? In January, Buzzfeed published a dossier spinning wild conspiracy theories about the Trump campaign. Buzzfeed acknowledged that the claims were unverified, and some of the details were clearly wrong. It has since been sued for publishing them. Since then, much of the dossier has been proven wrong, and many of its outlandish claims have failed to gain traction. For example, no one's looking for moles or Russian agents embedded in the DNC [Democratic National Committee]. Yet some continue to quote parts of this document as if it were gospel. And according to press reports, the FBI has relied on it to justify its current investigation. There have even been reports that the FBI agreed to pay the author of the dossier--who paid his sources, who also paid their 'sub sources.' Where did the money come from and what motivated the people writing the checks?" Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: James B. Comey.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017-05-03
• United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security [website]

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  This is the website for the Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security, the jurisdiction of which includes: "(1) Immigration, citizenship, and refugee laws; (2) Oversight of the immigration functions of the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Ombudsman Citizenship and Immigration Services; (3) Oversight of the immigration-related functions of the Department of Justice, the Department of State, the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, and the Department of Labor; (4) Oversight of international migration, internally displaced persons, and refugee laws and policy; and (5) Private immigration relief bills." The site includes information about the chairman and ranking member, as well as hearings and news.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary
• S. Rept. 110-442: State Secrets Protection Act, Report together with Minority Views to Accompany s. 2533, August 1 2008

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  This is a report on the State Secrets Protection Act submitted by the Committee on the Judiciary. "The 'state secrets privilege' is a common law rule of evidence that the Federal Government can invoke to prevent materials from being publicly disclosed in civil court proceedings, if the Government establishes that such disclosure would harm the Nation. In the early 1970s, Congress considered including a state secrets provision in the Federal Rules of Evidence, but it ultimately decided not to include any privileges. Although numerous laws govern the handling of classified documents and other information that may implicate state secrets in specific contexts, the state secrets privilege has never been codified in statute. […] The State Secrets Protection Act allows the United States to preserve its commitment to constitutional rights and the rule of law, without compromising its national defense or foreign policy objectives. Rather than invent new tools or procedures for Federal courts in reviewing claims of the state secrets privilege, the bill draws on existing practices to make judicial review more regular and more rigorous--and to protect all legitimate state secrets."

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2008-08-01
• FISA Amendments Act: Reauthorizing America's vi tal National Security Authority and Protecting Privacy and Civil Liberties, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, U.S. Senate, One Hundred Fifteenth Congress, First Session, June 27, 2017

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  This testimony compilation is from the June 27, 2017 hearing, "The FISA [Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act] Amendments Act: Reauthorizing America's Vital National Security Authority and Protecting Privacy and Civil Liberties," before the U.S. Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chuck Grassley: "This Committee last held an oversight hearing on Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act in May 2016. Since then, the drumbeat of terror attacks against the United States and our allies has continued. A month after our hearing, a terrorist attacked an Orlando nightclub, killing 50 and wounding 53. That same month, a terrorist detonated pipe bombs in New Jersey and New York, injuring about 30. Last month, Great Britain suffered its worst terror attack in over a decade. A suicide bomber killed 22 and seriously injured many more at a concert in Manchester. Many of the dead and wounded were children and young people.These attacks underscore that the first responsibility of government is to ensure that those who protect us every day have the tools to keep us safe. And these tools must adapt to the technological landscape and the evolving security threats we face. But at the same time, of course, the rights and liberties enshrined in our Constitution are fixed. They require our constant vigilance to maintain. Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, which provides the government the authority to collect the electronic communications of foreigners located outside the United States with the compelled assistance of American companies, sits at the intersection of these responsibilities." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Stuart J. Evans, Carl Ghattas, Bradley Booker, Paul F. Morris, Matthew G. Olsen, Adam I. Klein, Elizabeth Goitein, and Elisebeth B. Collins.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2017
• United States Senate: Committee on the Judiciary [website]

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  One of the Senate's original standing committees, the Committee on the Judiciary was first authorized on December 10, 1816. The Committee has one of the broadest jurisdictions in the Senate, ranging from criminal justice to antitrust and intellectual property law.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary
• Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act: Renewing the Commitment to Victims of Human Trafficking: Hearing Before the United States Senate Committee on the Judiciary, One Hundred and Twelfth Congress, September 14, 2011

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  This testimony compilation is from the September 14, 2011 hearing, "The Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act: Renewing the Commitment to Victims of Human Trafficking," before the U.S. Senate on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Patrick Leahy: "Today, this Committee considers the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2011, and how best to continue and improve our efforts to end once and for all human trafficking at home and abroad. Human trafficking is a modern-day form of slavery in which victims are forced into labor or sexual exploitation. Traffickers prey on the most vulnerable members of society, and no country is immune. It happens even here, in our own backyard. […] Today's hearing aims to highlight the important anti-human trafficking work that the Federal Government is doing as a result of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. We also hope to discover ways we can do this crucial work better and more efficiently in the future. Today we have witnesses from three Federal agencies that play key roles in Federal efforts to end human trafficking. The Departments of Justice, State, and Homeland Security investigate human trafficking crimes, use diplomatic tools to stop human trafficking in other countries, and ensure that trafficking victims receive crucial assistance and resources to assist law enforcement and begin to the long process of recovery." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Patrick Leahy, Mary Lou Leary, Luis CdeBaca, and Kelly Ryan.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2011-09-14
• Human Trafficking in the United States: Protecting the Victims, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, February 24, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the February 24, 2015 hearing "Human Trafficking in the United States: Protecting the Victims," held before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chairman Chuck Grassley: "We know that human trafficking occurs in every state and that it affects both U.S. citizens and noncitizens. We know that, at least within the United States, noncitizens are more likely to be found in labor trafficking. We know, too, that women and girls may be especially likely to be targets of certain forms of trafficking. Experts tell us that many of the U.S. citizen victims of sex trafficking are teenagers. Up to 100,000 minors are being sexually trafficked in the United States each year, according to the Polaris Project. Through threats or deceit, human traffickers force the most vulnerable members of society into servitude to meet the demand for cheap labor and sex workers. The good news is that we have made some progress in combating human trafficking since 1994, when one of our hearing witnesses was being exploited as a 14-year old. Two decades ago, there were no federal anti-trafficking laws on the books. I am pleased to have played a role in the enactment, 15 years ago, of the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act. I voted for the law when it was first being debated by Congress in 2000, and I have worked with my colleagues on several occasions since then to make sure it was extended. In addition, today, every state has a law outlawing trafficking. Numerous states updated their human trafficking laws in just the last year. But much work remains to be done, particularly to protect our most vulnerable youths from traffickers and to curb the demand for sex trafficking." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: Susan M. Collins, Kirsten Gillibrand, Kelly Ayotte, Barbara A. Mikulski, Holly Austin Smith, Malika Saada Sar, Jayne Bigelsen, and Michael Ferjak.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2015-02-24
• Oversight of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Ensuring Agency Priorities Comply with the Law, Hearing Before the Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, United States Senate, One Hundred Fourteenth Congress, First Session, March 3, 2015

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  This is a testimony compilation of the March 3, 2015 hearing "Oversight of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services: Ensuring Agency Priorities Comply with the Law," held before the Senate Committee on the Judiciary. From the opening statement of Chairman Chuck Grassley: "We can learn a lot about the poor implementation of the DACA [Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals] program. We know that the department has very low standards, and very poor anti-fraud and abuse controls. We know they have a philosophy to get to a 'yes' and ensure that every alien has an opportunity to apply and win their case. We know the program is a haven for loopholes and mischief. And, based on how resources had to be diverted from existing programs to handle 800,000 DACA cases, we know that piling 5 million more people onto their workload is a recipe for disaster that jeopardizes the safety of the homeland and the public. The American people have lost faith in our government's ability to enforce the laws. Despite concerns from Congress and the public, the President has proceeded to authorize hundreds of thousands of illegally-present individuals to live and work in the country, in flagrant disregard of the law and the Constitution. Today's hearing is an opportunity to examine the issues I have discussed and learn how the agency in charge of immigration benefits will fulfill its mission while protecting the homeland. I look forward to hearing from our witnesses, including in particular one individual who helped author the 2010 amnesty memo. I expect transparency and forthright answers so that we can learn from the mistakes made and understand where the Obama administration is headed from here." Statements, letters, and materials submitted for the record include those of the following: joint testimony provided by Joseph Moore, Donald Neufeld, and Dan Renaud.

  United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on the Judiciary

  2015-03-03