John Conyers

It is my pleasure to yield 1 minute to the distinguished gentlelady from California (Ms. Chu).

I am pleased now to yield 2 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Johnson), a ranking member of a subcommittee on the House Judiciary Committee.

I am pleased to yield 3 minutes to the distinguished gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Gutierrez).

It is my pleasure to yield 3 minutes to the gentlelady from California (Ms. Lofgren), who is the ranking member of the Immigration Subcommittee on Judiciary.

Section 512 creates a mechanism that immunizes certain service providers from liability as long as they don't derive financial benefit from infringing activity.

I welcome the witnesses as well and congratulate Jerry Nadler for his long continuing interest in copyright law.

This is one of the more important discussions we have been having on this Task Force, and I commend the Chairman for inviting these witnesses that are here.

The Honorable John Conyers, Jr., a Representative in Congress from the State of Michigan, and Ranking Member, Committee on the Judiciary.

We have counted 4,450 Federal crimes on the books.

I think that is an important consideration.

Well, I think I am going to have to have staff research this because I am not sure if that is correct or not.

Well, then the natural question that follows is why not?

The vast majority of licensed gun dealers seem to abide by the law, but a small percentage of dealers violate the law and supply a disproportionate amount of guns used in crime.

I urge that we adopt legislation to strengthen our gun laws and enact after careful consideration H.R. 452, the Gun Trafficking Prevention Act.

If we are truly interested in reducing gun violence, we must act now on legislation to strengthen our gun laws.

I think there are numerous examples of other presidents actually exercising this discretion far more than the current occupant of the White House.

To begin with, let's acknowledge what today's hearing is really about: it is yet another attempt by the Majority to prevent the President's implementation of duly enacted legislative initiatives that they oppose.

Yet today's hearing--like the hearing we held on this very same topic just 3 months ago--is being held in the absence of any evidence of such failure.

A discussion about enforcing the President's constitutional duty to faithfully execute the laws would be a fruitful undertaking if there was any evidence that the President has, in fact, failed to fulfill this duty.

Today's hearing is really about yet another attempt by the majority to prevent the President's implementation of duly enacted legislative initiatives that they oppose.

Thank you, Chairman Goodlatte. I welcome the first panel of Members as witnesses, and begin this discussion from a different perspective about enforcing the President's constitutional duty to faithfully execute laws.

I would strenuously urge anybody else in the room that wants to display signs to only get evicted, that it is not helping your views on it.

An unruly presence in the hearing room does not aid your cause in any way, my friends.

Is it reasonable that we should shoot for a goal that would allow people to have lawyers in case they cannot afford them?

Now, let me take this moment to assure them that the President is enforcing our immigration laws vigorously...