Howard Berman: “I rise in support of H.R. 2048. This bill was marked up and favorably reported by voice vote by the Committee on the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 2048. This bill was marked up and favorably reported by voice vote by the Committee on the Judiciary on July 24. It is wholly non-controversial. It requires the Attorney General in consultation with the State Justice Institute to submit a report to the House and Senate Committees on the Judiciary regarding the effectiveness of the institute. The report will be due no later than October 1, 2002. The SJI is a useful project. Congress created it in 1984 to provide funds to improve the quality of justice in State courts. Congress also directed the SJI to facilitate enhanced coordination between State and Federal courts and develop solutions to common problems faced by all courts. It was last reauthorized in 1992. That expired in fiscal year 1996. While the Committee on Appropriations has continued to appropriate approximately $7 million annually for the State Justice Institute, it has not been formally reauthorized since 1996 by the authorizing committee of the Committee on the Judiciary. The ultimate purpose of the SJI report mandated by this legislation is to aid Congress in reauthorizing the SJI.”