Eleanor Holmes Norton: “My friend suggests that the BOP actually collects this $20 million. I would submit to him and challenge him to show me…”

“My friend suggests that the BOP actually collects this $20 million. I would submit to him and challenge him to show me that the burden of trying to collect these fees does not outweigh any actual reimbursement. These people have no jobs. If they had jobs, they would almost surely be minimum wage jobs. I want to ask my friend if he would rather the BOP be paid the de minimis cost to the government--which they hardly ever collect, I am almost sure--or would they rather this money go to child support, or go to pay subsistence fees? This is a cruel burden for people getting out of prison at a time when the crime rate is low. It sends inmates back to the streets, which is the only recourse they have for gaining money. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”