America was founded on the principle of government by the people and for the people. But too often, the federal government just gets in our way. To see a recent example, we need look no further than the failed launch of the Obamacare website. But the website is just a symptom of a much larger problem—an ever expanding federal government without limits. 

Science Committee Chairman Smith at a hearing on abusive EPA regulations.

In the last five years, the deficit has jumped to nearly $17 trillion. And whether it’s the President’s takeover of health care or EPA’s abusive regulatory agenda, the federal government continues to try to take the power away from the people.

We must preserve the system established by our Founders to protect the rights and liberties of the American people from government overreach and abuse. 

I will continue to work to rein in abusive government regulations, reduce wasteful spending and restore accountability for the American people.

To receive regular updates, please sign up for my E-Newsletter, visit my website or follow me on Facebook and Twitter.

As always, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 202-225-4236 to share your views.

Sincerely,

Lamar Smith
Member of Congress

Ensuring Fair and Affordable Health Care

When it comes to Obamacare, the President’s broken promises are piling up. He promised that if you like your plan, you can keep it. But for millions of Americans, that’s not true. 

He said that the law would make health insurance more affordable. But across the country, Americans are seeing their premiums go up, not down.

And by launching Healthcare.gov, the Obama administration sent the message that the website was safe, secure and open for business. That wasn’t true either.

The more the American people find out about Obamacare, the less they like it. We need to replace Obamacare with common-sense solutions that lower costs, expand access to care, and eliminate unfair mandates and penalties.

Reining in EPA Regulations

The EPA’s efforts to expand its regulatory reach across the U.S. represent a troubling trend. For example, the agency’s proposed water rule is an unprecedented power grab. Under the rule, the EPA would have the power to regulate all streams, lakes and ponds, including those on private property. This could be the largest expansion of EPA regulatory authority ever.

Equally troubling, the EPA continues to rely on secret science and undisclosed data to support its regulations. As Chairman of the Science, Space, and Technology Committee, I issued a subpoena that requires the EPA to make this information public. It was the Science Committee’s first subpoena in 21 years.

It’s the EPA’s responsibility to ensure that the science it uses is transparent and that its claims can be verified independently. The EPA must either make this data public, or commit to no longer using secret science to support its regulations. Only then can the American people decide whether the costs of EPA’s regulatory agenda are supported by the facts.

More information on my work as Chairman of the Science Committee can be found here.

Balancing the Budget

Under the Obama administration, the national debt has increased 50%–$6 trillion. That’s the largest increase under any President. The federal government now borrows 25 cents on every dollar it spends. This is a drag on economic growth and contributes to high unemployment. 

To secure our nation’s fiscal future, we must put an end to the federal government’s spending spree. American families and individuals balance their budgets every day. The federal government should do the same. 

I will continue to support a Balanced Budget Amendment to force the federal government to practice fiscal restraint. 

Protecting American Workers

America has the most generous immigration system in the world, admitting one million legal immigrants each year. That generosity should continue. But as Congress considers immigration reform, we must make sure that our immigration laws protect the interests of American workers.

Unfortunately, the proposal supported by the President puts illegal immigrants before Americans. The bill gives amnesty to 12 million illegal immigrants. This will flood the market with new workers, costing many Americans their jobs and depressing their wages. Instead of setting a deadline to secure the border, the bill simply calls for a plan. But plans are meaningless without action and enforcement.

Rather than support the President’s plan, Congress should promote policies that put the interests of the American people first. We can reduce illegal immigration and protect jobs for American workers by securing the border and enforcing current immigration laws.

Fighting Frivolous Lawsuits

Lawsuit abuse is common in America because lawyers who bring frivolous suits have everything to gain and nothing to lose. Attorneys can file worthless suits without fear of penalty. Meanwhile, defendants are faced with years of litigation, attorneys’ fees, and an unfairly damaged reputation.

Last month, the House of Representatives approved legislation that I authored to fight frivolous lawsuits. The bill restores accountability to our legal system by making attorneys who file worthless lawsuits pay the legal fees of innocent defendants. It encourages attorneys to think twice before filing frivolous lawsuits.