We need to pass the 'Effective Death Penalty Appeals Act,' and quickly, before another potentially innocent American is executed.

I believe we should revisit the restrictions placed on the habeas petitions of death row inmates in the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996.

this bill will fix the law as it stands to protect innocent Americans from execution.

Wouldn't it be better, instead of wasting a lot of time, money, and effort as to whether the procedures were followed properly, to get to the heart of the matter on the merits?

I would hate to see us completely eviscerate a State's rights to impose punishment.

This is not only unacceptable, but it undermines the very integrity of our criminal justice system.

The writ of habeas corpus is one of the most fundamental safeguards in our Constitution to prevent the imprisonment and execution of innocent people.

I thank Chairman Nadler for holding this important hearing and for his indispensable assistance in helping to develop H.R. 3986.

So in other words, one has to assume that if X percent of people would have been executed but for DNA evidence where DNA evidence is available, then probably a similar amount of people who are innocent are executed where the DNA evidence…

The death penalty is our society's most severe and permanent punishment.

To me, it is a clear case of someone who was executed even though they were innocent in this country.

we are laying the groundwork for comprehensive reform of Federal habeas corpus.