Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today introduced H.R. 3006, the Uniting American Families Act (UAFA), landmark legislation that would allow same-sex couples to sponsor their “permanent partners” for legal residency in the United States.  This right is currently afforded to opposite-sex couples under U.S. immigration law. Because the U.S. does not legally recognize… Read more »

At a Democratic hearing on the Downing Street Memo held yesterday by House Judiciary Ranking Member John Conyers and other Democratic members, one of the witnesses made false and offensive allegations about Israel’s role in the U.S. decision to go to war in Iraq. Congressman Nadler was not present during the disturbing testimony of former CIA agent Ray McGovern, but hearing of… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler will raise a question of the privileges of the House this evening regarding recent behavior by Judiciary Chairman Sensenbrenner and Republican abuses of power.  Below are his remarks, as prepared for delivery.  Following that text is a letter from Democratic Leader Pelosi to Speaker Hastert, directing the Speaker to ask Chairman Sensenbrenner to… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today offered an amendment to protect Americans’ medical records from secret searches by the FBI under powers granted by the USA PATRIOT Act.  Section 505 of the PATRIOT Act authorizes local FBI agents to demand private information using so-called “national security letters” (NSLs) – without getting a judge’s approval,… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) yesterday rose on the House floor to support a resolution condemning institutional anti-Semitism by United Nations member states and urging remedial action by U.N. officials.  The bipartisan resolution passed the House on a vote of 409-2.  Congressman Nadler’s remarks, as prepared for delivery, follow: “Mr. Speaker, I rise in… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-Brooklyn and Manhattan) hailed today’s Supreme Court decision upholding the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act of 2000 (RLUIPA). Rep. Nadler, along with Rep. Charles Canady, was the original sponsor of the legislation which passed, and was signed into law by President Clinton in 2000. “I am pleased that the Supreme Court has… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today introduced legislation to provide crucial checks against the unprecedented and dangerous “national security letter” authority granted to the FBI under Section 505 of the USA PATRIOT Act.  Congressman Nadler was joined in introducing the Stop Self-Authorized Secret Searches Act by Republican Congressman Jeff Flake (R-AZ). Section… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today introduced legislation to protect Section 8 housing from conversion to private-market rentals.  The Housing Preservation Matching Grant Act would provide two federal dollars for every dollar a state invests in affordable housing, including preservation, operating costs, capital expenditure, and acquisition. There are over half a million… Read more »

Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) today spoke on the House floor in favor H.R. 810, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005.  Congressman Nadler countered the argument that supporters of embryonic stem cell research oppose “people of faith.”  Many faiths, the Congressman said, demand the exploration of stem cell research as a promising tool in the religious… Read more »

During a House Judiciary Committee markup today, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) called on Congress to end the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.  The Committee considered a bill to grant “special immigrant status” to 50 foreign translators who have been working with the American military.  Congressman Nadler pointed out that under the U.S.… Read more »