William F. Smith

It is important to stress that congressional oversight of Executive Branch actions is justifiable only as a means of facilitating the legislative task of enacting, amending, or repealing laws.

In the interests of transparency, because Republicans, the media and the American public were shut out of negotiations, I am suggesting a new name for the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this so-called stimulus bill. Based on what…

The national media spells scandal without the ``D.'' Two weeks ago the Governor of Illinois was removed from office. All three television networks ran full reports on the story the same night and again the following morning. Not one report…

Some people look at the huge, so- called economic stimulus bill and think it's a Christmas present. But the Federal Government is not Santa Claus. Elves are not producing this money. This money isn't free, and the American people will get…

H.R. 6304 may well be one of the most important pieces of legislation we pass this Congress. For 4 months America has been more vulnerable to attacks by our enemies, because of the refusal by some to bring a commonsense bill to the floor…

This week NBC News aired an interview with President Bush in which it removed key statements from the President's response to a question about diplomatic relations with Iran. While some editing is to be expected, in this case NBC…

During a telephone town meeting last night, I asked my constituents, ``Do you think the media are fair and objective in their news coverage?'' Ninety-one percent of the almost 400 respondents said the media are not fair, and only 7 percent…

They expressed particular concern about requiring prior court approval to gather foreign intelligence from foreign targets located overseas. The letter says: ``Congress did not include such a requirement when it passed the original FISA…

There is nothing more germane to the security of the American people than to take up the Senate bill as quickly as possible. Now I would like to reiterate my disappointment that the majority has raised a point of order against this motion…

The Democratic majority's decision to ignore the requests of our intelligence community has endangered our national security. Why do House Democrats refuse to give the intelligence community the tools they need to protect American lives? A…

Two-thirds of Americans say voters should be required to show photo identification before voting, according to a new Fox 5-Washington Times-Rasmussen survey. But not one major newspaper, aside from the Washington Times, featured those poll…

A study by Harvard University and the Project for Excellence in Journalism has reaffirmed what many of us have long observed: Media coverage of Democratic Presidential candidates has been far more abundant and favorable than coverage of…

This nonbinding resolution is really a nonsensical political statement. It would deprive the generals and the troops of the reinforcements they desperately need. How would you feel if you were an American soldier in Iraq and Congress…

Today I introduce the Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle Act of 2006, H.R. 5538. This bill will help reduce our Nation's dependence on foreign sources of oil by promoting plug-in vehicles and advancing new vehicle technologies. It also…

The Bureau of Justice Assistance has acquired considerable expertise in the administration of the Public Safety Officers' Benefits Act since its enactment in 1976, and courts have properly accorded the Bureau's interpretations of the Act…

The gentleman and I have spoken about this before. I happen to think that the problem lies with current law and not with this particular piece of legislation. But in any case, I share the gentleman's concerns and will work with him to…

I will not repeat the chairman's description of the bill's contents, but I would note that his bill is identical to the text of the legislation we passed in the last Congress by a vote of 418-0. H.R. 1038 helps the Multidistrict Litigation…

H.R. 1417 is a bipartisan effort to reform the process of copyright royalty rate-making and distribution in a way that is fair to all participants. It is important to the artists, songwriters, music publishers, and webcasters caught in a…

I would emphasize that during my Subcommittee's oversight hearing on judgeship needs last year we received testimony from the Judicial Conference and others that supported the requests that are a part of this package. The need to create…

This week no single media organization will receive the media bias award. However, the public has made clear its views of the media as an institution. The American people feel standards of journalism have eroded. Advocacy has replaced…

For years, the Misery Index has measured the good or bad impact of the economy on everyday Americans. The Misery Index is the combination of the unemployment rate and the inflation rate. President George Bush has the lowest Misery Index of…

So Senator Kerry has picked Senator Edwards as his running mate. That means the Senator with the most liberal voting record has picked the person with the fourth most-liberal voting record. That does not sound like mainstream to me, and…

Last year illegal aliens cost taxpayers more than $1 billion in hospital costs. I support H.R. 3722, introduced by the gentleman from California (Mr. Rohrabacher), which requires hospitals to report the immigration status of the…

Yesterday I released a letter signed by 75 Members of Congress to Commissioner Jamie Gorelick. We have serious concerns about her impartiality as a member of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States. Commissioner…