Press Releases
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), as part of a bipartisan coalition of sixteen Members of Congress, filed an amicus brief with the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), urging the court to release its secret opinions interpreting Section 215 of the Patriot Act. Recent leaks to the media revealed that the National Security Agency (NSA) has conducted a massive surveillance program on all domestic telephone users over the last seven years.
Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), Mike Honda (D-San Jose) and Anna G. Eshoo (D-Palo Alto) introduced the Patents And Trademarks Encourage New Technology (PATENT) Jobs Act today to exempt the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) from the debilitating cuts imposed by budget sequestration (bill text). Even though the USPTO is funded solely by patent user fees, the sequester requires cuts of nearly $150 million in the agency's funding.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose), the Chair of the California Congressional Delegation (CDCD), is spearheading an effort with 26 of her colleagues in the delegation to designate McDonnell Hall in San Jose, Calif., as a National Historic Landmark because of the significant role it played in the life of civil rights leader Cesar Chavez.
Today Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D- CA), chair of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation, released the following statement reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on California's Proposition 8. The 2008 ballot measure limited marriage to a man and a woman. The Supreme Court today vacated a previous Ninth Circuit Court ruling, which in turn upheld the lower court's ruling declaring Prop 8 unconstitutional:
Today Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D- CA) released the following statement reacting to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). DOMA, enacted in 1996, bars federal recognition of same-sex marriages and restricts federal benefits for same-sex couples:
Today Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), a senior Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee and House Committee on Administration, released the following statement in response to the Supreme Court's ruling on the 1965 Voting Rights Act. The landmark law, renewed four times since enactment, most recently in 2006, protects voter's rights from intimidation or discrimination by requiring selected districts and states to gain federal preclearance before changing voting procedures or qualifications:
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), along with Reps. James Sensenbrenner (R-WI), Mike Doyle (D-PA), Yvette Clarke (D-NY) and Jared Polis (D-CO), have introduced H.R. 2454, the Aaron's Law Act of 2013. Named in honor of the late Internet innovator and activist Aaron Swartz, the bipartisan legislation would reform the quarter-century old Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (CFAA) to work for the digital age. Swartz's passing in January spotlighted serious problems with the vague wording of the CFAA.
Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) delivered the following statement during a mark-up of H.R. 2278, the "Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act" (The SAFE Act), in the House Judiciary Committee:
Thank you Mr. Chairman. This bill must be opposed.
It would turn millions of undocumented immigrants into criminals overnight.
It would turn State and local law enforcement officers around the country into immigration agents.
It would expand mandatory and prolonged detention.
Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) delivered the following statement on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives opposing H.R. 1797, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ) who claimed during a House Judiciary Committee hearing that "The incidence of rape resulting in pregnancy are very low." Rep. Lofgren was asked by House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to manage the minority's floor debate opposing the anti-women's health and reproductive rights bill:
Reps. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA) and Trent Franks (R-AZ) today introduced H.R. 2309, the Wireless Tax Fairness Act. This bipartisan, pro-consumer bill would place a 5-year moratorium on new taxes or fees for wireless services. On average, wireless customers pay 17.2% in taxes and fees, largely imposed on the state and municipal levels.
