H.R. 875, the Protect Our Communities from DUIs Act; H.R. 176, the No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act; H.R. 1071, the No Censors on our Shores Act; and Adoption of the 119th Congress Authorization and Oversight Plan

Committee on the Judiciary

2025-02-26

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Source: Congress.gov

Summary

This detailed transcript captures a comprehensive markup session of the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee, focusing on several key legislative and oversight elements. The session covers the debate and amendment process on civil rights legislation, including a measure to address racial discrimination in housing and employment, followed by an in-depth examination of law enforcement oversight, particularly concerning January 6th Capitol insurrectionists. The discussion includes significant debate on the constitutional and ethical responsibilities of Congress in overseeing the executive's pardon power and ensuring accountability for violent acts against law enforcement. The markup session concludes with the formal adoption of the committee's overall oversight plan, incorporating multiple proposed amendments related to governmental ethics, constitutional integrity, and public safety, with a record of final voting results reflecting a bipartisan yet contested outcome. Throughout the session, the committee navigates complex and sensitive issues that touch on constitutional principles, criminal justice reform, and the balance of power among the three branches of government.

Participants

Transcript

Thank you.
The committee will come to order without objection.  The chair is authorized to declare recess at any time pursuant to Committee Rule 2 and House Rule 11, Clause 2.  The chairman may postpone further proceedings today on the question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an amendment for which a recorded vote is ordered.
I now recognize the gentleman from North Carolina, Mr. Harris, to lead us in the pledge.   I think the gentleman now recognize, pursuant to notice, excuse me, I call up HR 1071, the No Censors on Our Shores Act for purposes of markup and move that the committee report it in favor to the House.  The clerk will report the bill.  HR 1071 to provide that.  Without objection, the bill will be considered as read and open for amendment at any point.  The chair now recognizes the sponsor of the legislation, the gentleman from California, Mr. Issa, for an opening statement.
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Unknown (SPEAKER_15)
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  When I came to Congress quite a few years ago, I was fortunate enough to serve on the Foreign Affairs Committee.  And as a rookie under Chairman Henry Hyde, I learned a lot.  One of them was, in fact, politics stops at the water's edge.
Meaning, of course, within the borders, we could be divided as Republicans and Democrats.   But beyond our borders, we have to be united, and we historically have been.  But times have changed.  In some ways, that part is still true.  What I mean by that is when a foreign nation chooses or causes the censorship or the denial of free speech or the First Amendment rights of an American,   through their policies abroad, America stands united.  Hard to believe that in fact, we as a nation, in the effort to export free speech and the ideas of freedom for more than 200 years, seemingly are slipping backwards.  Right now, in Brazil,   And some of this legislation comes from that specific example.  But also, in the European Union, in the UK, in Australia, in fact, censorship of American citizens' rights on public access media such as X and Meta have, in fact, been systematically censored.   And in fact, the cause of this bill came from when Elon Musk refused to take, if you will, the demands of Brazil, and X was taken offline in an entire country.   We have seen censorship of what others want to have their free speech begin to happen.  That means that America expressing its own views in America or the views of freedom around the world can no longer do that unless we stand up.  So my bill seeks to simply say, go ahead, ignore the First Amendment in your own country.
It's your right.   absolutely you can and and and if you want to shut down x meta google any of them you want but don't expect to come to america under a u.s visa don't expect to be in america and remain if in fact you are the perpetrator of that extinguishing of free speech in short   We're not going beyond the water's edge.  We do nothing to people abroad.  But when you come on our shores, we stand united for the First Amendment.  For that reason, this legislation very simply says that in fact, denying the ability to remain here or to come here of someone who has participated in stifling free speech will in fact be the policy of our nation.  For that reason,   I want people to understand, it's not whose speech was denied, it's that an American speech or an American organization's speech was denied.  We seek in no way   to influence someone's overseas activity other than to say, we do export our belief in free access of all.  As a matter of fact, I just came back from the Middle East, where one of our greatest exports today is in fact helping Iranian dissidents circumvent the censorship that goes on in Iran so that there can be communication of those who object to that totalitarian regime.   Would we cave to that?  No.  And we should not cave to somebody simply because they say they're a democracy while, in fact, being a democracy except when it comes to American free speech.  With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.  Chairman Yields back.  Chair Naum recognizes the ranking member for an opening statement.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.  I like Mr. Issa's bill.  In fact, at first blush, it sounded like a great bill to me, protecting the First Amendment rights of our citizens against foreign dictators and autocrats on a rampage against the First Amendment rights of our people.  And we know that there are a lot of those dictators and autocrats out there.  I thought immediately of the Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkowitz, who was charged in Russia on completely bogus espionage charges

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