Senate & House Lawmakers Release Updated First Step Act
Majority Leader, House Speaker pledge to consider criminal justice reform package this year
WASHINGTON – A bipartisan, bicameral group
of lawmakers today released revised text of the First Step Act to continue building support for criminal justice
reform. This update was brokered by the White House and a bipartisan group of lawmakers
in both chambers of Congress. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker Paul Ryan
have pledged to take up the revised package before the end of the year.
“Over the last several years, we’ve expanded support for
comprehensive criminal justice reform by listening to stakeholders and lawmakers
to strike a balance that reduces crime and recidivism, and the associated
taxpayer burden, while ensuring that dangerous and career criminals face steep
consequences for their actions. Today’s update represents the latest in our
effort to achieve this goal. I appreciate the engagement from many of my
colleagues to fine tune the most significant criminal justice reform in a
generation, and I applaud President Trump and the White House for bringing
everyone to the table to make this happen. Following these changes and the
growing demonstration of support for this bill, Leader McConnell is keeping his
word by pledging to hold a vote this year,” Senate
Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said.
“The bipartisan First Step Act is a once in a political lifetime
aligning of the stars. Republicans, Democrats, President Trump, Fraternal Order
of Police, and ACLU have all thrown their support behind our bill. This
bipartisan compromise could be one of the most important things we do when it
comes to criminal justice not only this year but for a long time. I commend my
colleagues for their spirit of cooperation on this important piece of
legislation and I look forward to getting this job done in the closing weeks of
this session,” Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin
said.
“After listening to many of our colleagues, this updated First
Step Act addresses each of the concerns we’ve heard from stakeholders across
the country. It is solid common-sense reform that will make our families
stronger and our communities safer and I look forward to debating it on the
Senate floor,” Senator Mike Lee said.
“Our broken criminal justice system is a cancer on the soul of our
nation that’s disproportionately preyed upon low-income Americans, the
addicted, and people of color. This bill is a meaningful step in the right
direction that will help correct the ills of the failed War on Drugs.
It will have a profound effect on thousands of families suffering under the
burden of our broken system,” Senator Cory
Booker said.
“This bill
does two important things: lowers the recidivism rate and reduces sentences for
nonviolent offenders which allows us to direct resources towards truly
dangerous criminals. For a nonviolent offender to be released early, the
offender has to acquire a necessary skill-set to be more productive once
released. The bill also gives more latitude to judges to make sure lengthy
sentences are not mandated for multiple nonviolent offenses. This has produced
a great burden on the system and has taken a lot of people out of the workforce
that could be productive. Finally, I very much appreciate Jared Kushner’s
tenacity when it comes to making sure the criminal justice reform legislation
becomes law. I also appreciate President Trump’s bold and energetic leadership
on this issue. It was also an honor working side by side with Senator Tim
Scott on another important reform. Senator McConnell’s announcement that the
Senate will take up criminal justice reform was music to my ears. Now, let’s
pass it into law,” said Senator Graham
“We know the reforms in this bill can yield real improvement in
our criminal justice system because they’ve worked in states like Rhode Island
and Texas. Now, we are poised to pass those reforms into law across the federal
system. I am proud of the bipartisan work that has led us to this moment, and
grateful to all the people – law enforcement, civil rights groups, former
inmates, state and local officials, community leaders, and so many more – who
helped us get here,” Senator Sheldon Whitehouse said.
“As an original co-sponsor of the
First Step Act, I want to thank each and every person who has played an
instrumental role in getting this once-in-a-generation bill to the Senate
floor. This has been a team effort that has spanned the political spectrum; and
for that, we should all celebrate. Meaningful criminal justice reform is just
one step in ensuring that the scales of justice are balanced for every
American —a core principle of our nation. I am thrilled that President Trump,
Chairman Grassley, various Senators, and advocacy groups worked side by side to
prove to the American public that Congress still works. I look forward to
ushering the First Step Act through the finish line and to the President’s
desk,” Senator Tim Scott said.
“The First Step Act represents years of bipartisan work to address
some of the most egregious and unjust outcomes in our criminal justice system.
While our work is not done, these reforms, and how senators came together to
produce them, represent the best of the Senate, and it will make a real
difference in the lives of so many. I am proud to cosponsor the First Step Act
and believe now is the time to pass this historic legislation,” Senator Patrick Leahy said.
“During my
chairmanship of the House Judiciary Committee, I have made reform of our
federal criminal justice system a top priority. It is clear that reforms are
necessary to protect Americans from crime, to help ensure that offenders become
productive members of society after they serve their time, and to adjust some
sentences that are currently excessive. I am extremely pleased that we have
reached a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on legislation to accomplish these
goals, and I urge immediate consideration of this legislation so that we can
send it to President Trump to sign into law,” House
Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte said.
“I am pleased to join with my colleagues in introducing the First
Step Act, an important bill that will advance criminal justice reform. This bill includes critical changes to our
sentencing laws that will reduce the impact of some mandatory minimum
sentences, notably with retroactive application of the reduced crack cocaine
sentences under the Fair Sentencing Act of 2010. The bill’s reauthorization of the Second
Chance Act is also a measure that is long overdue. We will continue to work in Congress
to oversee the implementation of these reforms as well as the new system to
allow some federal prisoners to earn early entry into pre-release custody.
There is still more work to be done to ensure our criminal justice system is
equally fair and just for every American; however, this bill is its namesake: a
positive first step,” House Judiciary Committee
Ranking Member Jerry Nadler said.
“Seventeen months ago, the
People’s House partnered with the White House to improve public safety by
lowering recidivism and prioritizing evidence-based rehabilitation, and we’ve
continued moving forward with the Senate since the House passed this bill
360-59 last May. Lawmakers across both chambers and both parties agree that the
time to act is now, and we agree on what that action looks like. Today, I stand
with my colleagues in the House and Senate as we take strides that move the
First Step Act closer to the president's desk," Congressman Doug Collins said.
“The First Step Act is a historic piece of legislation that
strikes a forceful blow against the mass incarceration epidemic in America.
This bill will meaningfully reform our broken criminal justice system, enact
fairer sentencing laws, reduce recidivism and save taxpayer dollars. It is a
significant step toward redemption for thousands of non-violent drug offenders
harshly treated by unjust crack-cocaine laws. The FIRST STEP Act represents the
beginning of the end of over-criminalization in America,” Congressman Hakeem Jeffries said.
“Criminal justice reform has been a top priority of the House
Judiciary Committee for the last three and a half years, and I’m glad to help
move it forward. I’m also pleased that this comprehensive package includes my
reauthorization of the Second Chance Act, which has been widely successful in
helping former inmates transition back to society,” Congressman Jim Sensenbrenner said.
“I am pleased that our diligent efforts in the House allowed a
fruitful yield in the inclusion of sentencing reform to the First Step
Act. I am also pleased that my amendment
to create an Independent Review Committee that will oversee the implementation
of the risk assessment tools and the bill generally, was also included in the
final version of this bill. I look forward, in the next Congress, to expanding
upon this preliminary progress,” Congresswoman
Sheila Jackson Lee said.
“This bill is a good first step to address the issue of mass
incarceration. I am pleased to work with my colleagues in both chambers to
include a provision that addresses the egregious practice of shackling women
who are pregnant, especially during labor and delivery. I’m excited that
Congress will be coming together in a bipartisan fashion on this important
issue and I look forward to continuing to work on criminal justice reform in
the upcoming Congress,” Congresswoman Karen Bass said.
The revised
legislation further clarifies eligibility for earned time credits following
successful completion of evidence-based recidivism reduction programs, and
expands on the existing list of disqualifying offenses. The changes address
points raised by some law enforcement groups and provides for additional
transparency in the Bureau of Prisons’ risk assessment framework. A summary of
the update can be found HERE.
Text is available HERE.
The First Step Act is endorsed by President Trump
and cosponsored
by more than a third of the Senate, evenly balanced among Democrats and
Republicans. The recent updates to the bill have garnered the support of
additional senators in recent days, including Senators Thom Tillis, Ted Cruz,
David Perdue and John Cornyn.
Here’s a
complete list of current cosponsors:
1. Chuck Grassley
(R-Iowa)
2. Dick Durbin
(D-Ill.)
3. Mike Lee
(R-Utah)
4. Sheldon
Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
5. Lindsey Graham
(R-S.C.)
6. Cory Booker
(D-N.J.)
7. Tim Scott
(R-S.C.)
8. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.)
9. Joni Ernst
(R-Iowa)
10. Jerry Moran
(R-Kan.)
11. Amy Klobuchar
(D-Minn.)
12. Chris Coons
(D-Del.)
13. Jeff Flake
(R-Ariz.)
14. Richard
Blumenthal (D-Conn.)
15. Pat Roberts
(R-Kan.)
16. Doug Jones (D-Ala.)
17. Susan Collins
(R-Maine)
18. Tammy Duckworth
(D-Ill.)
19. Lamar Alexander
(R-Tenn.)
20. Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-N.Y.)
21. Rand Paul
(R-Ky.)
22. Mazie Hirono
(D-Hawaii)
23. Rob Portman
(R-Ohio)
24. Angus King
(I-Maine)
25. Todd Young
(R-Ind.)
26. Brian Schatz
(D-Hawaii)
27. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)
28. Ben Cardin
(D-Md.)
29. Steve Daines
(R-Mont.)
30. Tina Smith
(D-Minn.)
31. Thom Tillis
(R-N.C.)
32. Michael Bennet
(D-Colo.)
33. Ted Cruz
(R-Texas)
34. Chris Van
Hollen (D-Md.)
The First Step Act is backed by a number of
law enforcement groups, including the nation’s
largest police group. It’s also supported
by 172 former federal prosecutors including two former
Republican U.S. attorneys general, two former deputy attorneys general and a
former director of the FBI along with sheriffs
from 34 states across the country. The National Governor’s
Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states, praised
the bill. A broad coalition of conservative and progressive groups
along with a host of business leaders and faith-based organizations also
support the First Step Act.
More
information on the revised First Step Act
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