USA Today: Vote on Strongly Bipartisan First Step Act
USA
Today’s editorial board joined a
growing list of major national news leaders in endorsing the First
Step Act. The bipartisan criminal justice reform bill has been
praised by the New
York Times and the Wall Street Journal
editorial boards, as well as the Houston
Chronicle.
“Bipartisan
support for the [First Step Act] extends well beyond Congress. President
Donald Trump has endorsed it, as have the Koch brothers on the
right to the ACLU on the left.“
…
“The measure
would also go a long way toward helping inmates successfully
re-enter society, an urgent task in a nation where nearly
50 percent of federal offenders return to the
criminal justice system within eight years.”
…
“The Senate
proposal represents the most realistic chance in years to
improve the nation's criminal justice system. Republicans and
Democrats agree that the system needs an overhaul. Let the Senate vote.”
The
First Step Act is backed by President Trump and is currently
cosponsored by 28 senators. It is 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 bill.
More
information on the legislation can be found here:
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