On the recordNovember 12, 2013
The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution states that ``in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right . . . to have the assistance of counsel for his defence.'' H. Res. 196 supports the Sixth Amendment, the right to counsel, and strategies to ensure that indigent defendants in all felony cases are adequately represented by counsel. Fifty years ago, Mr. Speaker, the Supreme Court, in Gideon v. Wainwright, held that providing counsel to indigent defendants is one of the essential requirements of the Sixth Amendment. Writing for the majority, Justice Black stated: From the very beginning, our State and national constitutions and laws have laid great emphasis on procedural and substantive safeguards designed to assure fair trials before impartial tribunals in which every defendant stands equal before the law. Since the Gideon decision, the Supreme Court has held that absent a knowing and intelligent waiver, no person may be imprisoned for any offense, whether classified as petty, misdemeanor, or felony, unless that person was represented by counsel at his or her trial. This resolution reaffirms Congress' continued commitment to pursuing fairness in our criminal justice system and calls on States to help ensure that defendants are adequately represented by counsel. I urge Members to support it, and I reserve the balance of my time.
