Mike Honda: “it is with a troubled heart that I will be voting for the PROTECT Act today. The benefits of a national AMBER Alert…”

“it is with a troubled heart that I will be voting for the PROTECT Act today. The benefits of a national AMBER Alert network are undeniable, and I cannot support any further delay on its implementation. However, I do not believe that this Conference Report will make good law, and I fervently hope that Congress will soon repeal the egregious provisions that have been included. Though the Conference Committee was able to moderate the bill somewhat, it is still chock-full of what I considered to be bad policy. Regardless of what one thinks of these provisions, they should have received independent consideration and deliberation, rather than being tied to, and slowing down, a need as pressing as AMBER. I am particularly disturbed by the parts of this legislation that would eliminate judicial discretion. For example, Section 109 of this measure would fundamentally alter the carefully crafted and balanced system established by the Sentencing Reform Act. It undermines our independent judiciary, as well as the United States Sentencing Commission. It is a reversal of existing law that was inserted during floor debate, without committee hearings or any semblance of due deliberation.”