Jack Brooks: “I rise in opposition to this amendment offered by the gentleman from New Mexico. I think the committee-reported bill has…”

“I rise in opposition to this amendment offered by the gentleman from New Mexico. I think the committee-reported bill has treated the State assurance issue very well in developing a tough yet workable program to create more prison space. What the bill requires is that the State assure the Federal Government that it has a comprehensive correctional plan. That strikes me as an eminently reasonable general requirement, and I am informed that it is widely supported by the Governors, State legislators, and others who have weighed in on the issue. Surely, any State correctional system should have a comprehensive plan on how to classify prisoners, how to manage its resources, how to rehabilitate those prisoners that can be rehabilitated, and so forth. However, to congressionally mandate specific changes to State criminal law before allowing States to build new prisons for violent offenders is contrary to the goal of incarcerating the bad actors we want off the street. I think language in the bill is perfectly appropriate, and I urge rejection of this amendment that would strike it.”