Thirty-Two Senators Now Cosponsoring First Step Act
Daines, Smith, Tillis, Bennet Endorse Criminal Justice Reform Package
WASHINGTON – Senators Steve
Daines (R-Mont.), Tina Smith (D-Minn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Michael Bennet
(D-Colo.) have joined the growing list of cosponsors of the new First
Step Act (S.3649).
A balanced bipartisan crowd of 30 senators have now sponsored the
legislation—endorsed by the President—to reform America’s criminal justice
system.
“Meth use has
skyrocketed in Montana. We need to make sure we have every tool available to
fight against an epidemic that is tearing families apart and increasing violent
crimes in our state. I’m glad to have worked to keep high level meth dealers and
other hardened criminals off our streets. The First Step Act also uses proven
tools to reduce recidivism to help protect Montana families and communities and
save taxpayer dollars. I’m happy to cosponsor the bill,” Daines said.
“I am proud to
join my colleagues in cosponsoring the First Step Act, which will make
meaningful changes to our federal criminal justice system to reduce disparities
in sentencing, improve the fairness and effectiveness of our criminal justice
system, and keep our communities safe. This bill represents a historic
opportunity to implement evidence-based policy reforms and strengthen the
public’s faith in the integrity of our criminal justice system,” Smith said.
“One of my
proudest moments as Speaker of the House in North Carolina was passing the
Justice Reinvestment Act, a landmark state law that implemented a number of
commonsense, bipartisan reforms that resulted in reduced crime, fewer prisons,
and lower recidivism rates in North Carolina. With the First Step Act, we now
have the opportunity to implement similar, once in a generation criminal justice
reforms at the federal level. These commonsense reforms will make our
communities safer, modernize outdated and unfair sentencing laws and provide
federal prisoners with the tools they need to return to society and become
productive members of our communities. Chairman Grassley’s leadership has been
unparalleled, and his relentless efforts to forge a bipartisan compromise on
such a difficult issue should be applauded. I look forward to working with
Chairman Grassley to build support for the First Step Act,” Tillis said.
“This bill is
the result of principled bipartisan compromise—regrettably a rare sight in
today’s Senate—that has earned broad support from both the law enforcement
community and criminal justice reform advocates. These reforms are a first step
in a longer effort to reduce mass incarceration and restore faith in our
justice system. Leader McConnell should schedule a vote on the Senate floor
before the end of the year,” Bennet
said.
Cosponsors
of the First Step Act include:
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.)
The
First Step Act is backed by President Trump and endorsed by a number of
law enforcement groups, including the nation’s
largest police group. It’s also
now 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, also praised
the bill. And a broad coalition of conservative, progressive, and
faith groups also support the First Step
Act.
The
bill has also been endorsed by the oft-divergent editorial boards of the New
York Times and the Wall Street Journal,
as well as by the editorial boards of USA
Today, Bloomberg
and the Houston
Chronicle.
More
information on the legislation can be found here:
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