Political Quotes

“I thank Chairman Goodlatte as well as several distinguished members of the Judiciary Committee--in particular, Cedric Richmond and Karen Bass--for their leadership on this issue and, of course, my good friend Doug Collins for being a phenomenal champion of improving the lives of currently incarcerated individuals, folks who have no time for political games. These are individuals who are in the system right now without hope, without opportunity, without a meaningful chance at transforming themselves. And the FIRST STEP Act will provide that. It will give them an opportunity to get educated now, give them an opportunity to get vocational training now, a GED now, a college education now, give them the opportunity to deal with their substance abuse problem now, mental health counseling now. Why would we possibly refuse that? These individuals are amongst the least, the lost, and the left behind. And we have an opportunity, in a bipartisan way, to make a difference in their lives in so many areas. Any objective reading of this bill is that it will improve their quality of life. And what is so wonderful about this is that you have the right and the left, conservatives and progressives, united in this effort. Nothing meaningful is ever easy, but the mass incarceration epidemic has been with us for almost 50 years. You will not just take one legislative magic wand and wipe it away in one shot.…”