How to watch the House Judiciary

H.R. 2442, the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act of 2025; H.R. 9298, the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act; H.R. 9503, the Officer Leslie Coffelt U.S. Secret Service Police Act; H.R. 3342, the BOP Direct-Hire Authority Act; H.R. 10335, the Restoring Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Act of 2026; H.R. 9834, the No Racketeers on our Shores Act; and H.R. 8330, the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026

H.R. 3342 BOP Direct Hire Authority: debate and vote

Jim Jordan and 4 others

Members debate H.R. 3342 to grant broad direct-hire authority to the Bureau of Prisons, with Republicans prioritizing rapid hiring to address severe staffing shortages and Democrats warning about waiving civil service protections, veterans’ preference, and oversight, before considering union views, ICE hiring precedents, adopting an amendment in the nature of a substitute, and advancing the bill on a recorded party-line vote.

In this chapter

1. H.R. 3342 BOP Direct Hire Authority: sponsor’s staffing caseJim Jordan
2. Democratic opposition to H.R. 3342: civil service, veterans, oversightJamie Raskin
3. Prison safety vs. hiring safeguards: competing views on H.R. 3342
4. Unions, ICE hiring examples, and roll-call passage of H.R. 3342Glenn Grothman

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H.R. 2442, the Freedom from Unfair Gun Taxes Act of 2025; H.R. 9298, the Stopping Harmful and Outrageous Torts Act; H.R. 9503, the Officer Leslie Coffelt U.S. Secret Service Police Act; H.R. 3342, the BOP Direct-Hire Authority Act; H.R. 10335, the Restoring Civil Rights Attorney’s Fees Act of 2026; H.R. 9834, the No Racketeers on our Shores Act; and H.R. 8330, the Stop Climate Shakedowns Act of 2026

Committee opening and H.R. 9503 passage

Jim Jordan and 2 others

The chair opens the Judiciary Committee markup, sets procedural rules, and the committee quickly considers H.R. 9503, with bipartisan explanations of the bill’s purpose to rename the Secret Service Uniformed Division and a technical amendment before passing it by voice vote and completing committee action.

In this chapter

1. Committee opening and procedural frameworkJim Jordan
2. H.R. 9503 Secret Service Police Act: bipartisan rationaleJim Jordan
3. H.R. 9503: technical amendment and voice vote passageJim Jordan

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H.R. 9773, Permanent Trump Secure Border Act and Ratification of Subcommittee Assignments

Non-germane substitutes, family-detention limits, and bill title branding

Jamie Raskin Democratic

Broader Democratic attempts to insert legalization for Dreamers and TPS holders, create independent immigration courts, constrain family detention under “Orlen’s Law,” and strip “Permanent Trump” from the bill title are ruled non-germane or narrowly defeated, reinforcing the majority’s tight focus on Trump-era border policies.

In this chapter

1. Correa Dream and Promise Act substitute and Lofgren independent immigration courts proposal ruled not germane
2. Jayapal ‘Orlen’s Law’ family-detention limits and recorded defeat
3. Raskin amendment to strip 'Permanent Trump' from the titleJamie Raskin

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H.R. 9773, Permanent Trump Secure Border Act and Ratification of Subcommittee Assignments

Child protections and visa overstay offense

Jamie Raskin and 2 others

A series of amendments targets the bill’s new visa overstay misdemeanor and treatment of children, including efforts to shield minors, add a mens rea standard, guarantee counsel for unaccompanied children, and protect U.S.-citizen children from family detention, all of which are rejected on close, partisan votes.

In this chapter

1. Ross amendment: exclude minors from new visa overstay crimeJamie Raskin
2. Lofgren amendments to preserve/mandate counsel for unaccompanied childrenJamie Raskin
3. Jayapal amendment on detention of families with U.S.-citizen childrenJamie Raskin
4. McBath mens rea amendment for visa overstay offenseLucy McBath

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H.R. 9773, Permanent Trump Secure Border Act and Ratification of Subcommittee Assignments

Parole, detention facilities, and ICE accountability amendments

Jamie Raskin and 2 others

Members debate Democratic amendments on parole protections for military families, limits on warehouse-style detention and family detention, and body-camera requirements for ICE agents, highlighting stark disagreements over detention conditions, oversight, and enforcement practices.

In this chapter

1. Correa amendment on parole for parents of service members and veteransJamie Raskin
2. Lee (PA) warehouse and family detention amendment and detention conditions debateDarrell Issa
3. Raskin body-camera requirement for ICE agents: germaneness fights and voteJamie Raskin

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H.R. 9773, Permanent Trump Secure Border Act and Ratification of Subcommittee Assignments

Opening, bill overview, and partisan framing

Robert Onder and 1 other

The chair opens the markup, updates the subcommittee roster, brings up H.R. 9773, and Republicans and Democrats set out opposing border and immigration visions as the amendment in the nature of a substitute becomes the base text.

In this chapter

1. Opening, subcommittee roster, and calling up H.R. 9773Robert Onder
2. Mr. Roy: bill structure and GOP border rationale
3. Mr. Raskin and Democrats: alternative immigration vision and ICE abusesJamie Raskin
4. ANS adopted and broad Democratic critique of detention and DHS

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“The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II”

Race, hate labels, and real‑world impacts on groups

Late questioning centers on racial politics, the use of Alveda King as a GOP witness, SPLC’s labeling of groups like Family Research Council and Moms for Liberty, alleged media amplification of SPLC’s designations, and disputes over whether abortion and other culture‑war issues are linked to white supremacy.

In this chapter

1. Crockett confrontation and King’s response: Race, labels, and MLK legacy
2. Family Research Council shooting, Moms for Liberty, and personal impacts
3. Closing rounds: Media bias, Nazi tattoo case, abortion and white supremacy

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“The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II”

Second Q&A: Alleged money trail, DOJ collaboration, and informant practices

Laurel Lee and 1 other

Subsequent rounds focus on accusations that SPLC became a fundraising vehicle that secretly financed extremist activity, its cooperation with DOJ and FBI under multiple administrations, and whether paying informants and using shell entities reflects standard law‑enforcement practice or criminal deception, which SPLC and supportive members dispute.

In this chapter

1. Van Drew and New Jersey GOP: Money trail and donor deception claims
2. Colorado and Gooden: ADF whistleblowing vs. SPLC prosecution
3. North Carolina and Wyoming Democrats: Informants as standard practice
4. Biggs and Hageman: Shell companies, F9 relationship, and KKK fundingLaurel Lee

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“The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II”

SPLC criteria, hate map, and domestic extremism debates

Henry Johnson and 1 other

Members clash over SPLC’s hate‑group designations, including treatment of conservative religious organizations vs. Antifa and Jane’s Revenge, its work on antisemitism and democracy protection, and its role in warning about groups tied to January 6, with both sides invoking DOJ engagement and the broader domestic extremism threat.

In this chapter

1. Nadler and Roy: Competing narratives on SPLC criteria and bias
2. Trump, Proud Boys, and January 6: SPLC’s warnings and pardonsThomas Tiffany
3. McClintock/Cline block: DOJ engagement, Antifa and Jane’s Revenge

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“The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II”

Initial Q&A: Informant program and alleged donor fraud

Early questioning probes SPLC’s labeling of Christian figures, the value and transparency of its informant program, and whether donor funds were misused or misrepresented, with Democrats emphasizing longstanding public knowledge and Republicans pressing Fere on specific indictment allegations he declines to address.

In this chapter

1. Rep. Issa Q&A: Labeling of King, Charlie Kirk, and SPLC stance
2. Rep. Raskin Q&A: Informant value, slush fund, and fraud theory
3. Jordan vs. Fere: Detailed questioning on indictment allegations

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“The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II”

Witness panel: SPLC, critics, and legal framing

The chair seats and swears in witnesses, who deliver opening statements outlining SPLC’s civil‑rights mission and limits on its testimony, alongside sharp critiques from Alveda King and ADF about SPLC’s hate labeling and corporate influence, and McCord’s argument that the prosecution reflects politicized use of fraud law.

In this chapter

1. Witness introductions and swearing-in
2. SPLC interim CEO: Mission, hate monitoring, and limits on testimony
3. Alveda King: Civil-rights legacy and critique of SPLC

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“The Southern Poverty Law Center: Manufacturing Hate, Part II”

Opening: Hearing scope and partisan framing

The chair opens the hearing on the Southern Poverty Law Center indictment, sets procedural rules, and Jordan and Raskin present opposing narratives on SPLC’s role, the DOJ’s conduct, and the legitimacy of undercover informants in extremism cases.

In this chapter

1. Opening of hearing and pledge
2. Chairman Jordan: Indictment and SPLC informant program
3. Ranking Member Raskin: Defense of SPLC and attack on Trump DOJ

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H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026; H. J. Res. 1, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices; H.R. 5437, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act; H.R. 175, the Deport Alien Gang Members Act; H.R. 1869, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025; and H.R. ____, the Congressional Records Protection Act

Nine-Justice Supreme Court amendment: authority over Court size and final vote

Jerrold Nadler Democratic

Debate on H.J. Res. 1 pits Republican arguments for constitutionally fixing the Court at nine to prevent ‘court packing’ against Democratic defenses of Congress’s Article I power and advocacy for structural reforms, including an unsuccessful Raskin amendment linking seats to circuits and later Democratic proposals on ethics and term limits, before the resolution is reported favorably 15–8.

In this chapter

1. Nine-Justice Supreme Court amendment: proponents’ case
2. Nine-Justice Supreme Court amendment: separation-of-powers and reform fight
3. Nine-Justice Supreme Court amendment: further amendments ruled out and final voteJerrold Nadler

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H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026; H. J. Res. 1, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices; H.R. 5437, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act; H.R. 175, the Deport Alien Gang Members Act; H.R. 1869, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025; and H.R. ____, the Congressional Records Protection Act

Deport Alien Gang Members Act: partisan immigration clash and vote

Jefferson Van Drew and 1 other

The Committee debates H.R. 175, with Republicans framing the bill as closing gaps in gang-related inadmissibility and removal while Democrats warn of overbroad ‘reason to believe’ standards and due-process risks, then considers a Republican substitute amid disputes over drug interdiction, sanctuary policies and civil liberties before approving the amended bill on a 15–8 recorded vote.

In this chapter

1. Deport Alien Gang Members Act: sponsor’s security rationale
2. Deport Alien Gang Members Act: due process and overbreadth objections
3. Deport Alien Gang Members Act: substitute, drug-boat operations, and partisan clashJefferson Van Drew
4. Deport Alien Gang Members Act: recorded committee voteJerrold Nadler

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H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026; H. J. Res. 1, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices; H.R. 5437, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act; H.R. 175, the Deport Alien Gang Members Act; H.R. 1869, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025; and H.R. ____, the Congressional Records Protection Act

Trade Crimes Act: DOJ task force markup

Members consider H.R. 1869 to establish a DOJ-led trade crimes task force focused on PRC-linked and other large-scale trade fraud, adopt an amendment in the nature of a substitute removing duplicative appropriations language, and report the bill favorably on a unanimous recorded vote.

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H.R. 8481, the Kayleigh’s Law Act of 2026; H. J. Res. 1, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States to require that the Supreme Court of the United States be composed of nine justices; H.R. 5437, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Stone Slab Products Act; H.R. 175, the Deport Alien Gang Members Act; H.R. 1869, the Protecting American Industry and Labor from International Trade Crimes Act of 2025; and H.R. ____, the Congressional Records Protection Act

Kayleigh’s Law Act: markup and passage

The Chair opens the markup on H.R. 8481, with sponsors outlining lifetime federal no-contact orders for victims of serious violent and sexual offenses, followed by consideration and adoption of a bipartisan substitute and final 23–0 reporting of the bill with authority for technical and conforming changes.

In this chapter

1. Committee convenes and Kayleigh’s Law markup opens
2. Kayleigh’s Law: bipartisan amendments and final passage

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