Sheila Jackson Lee: “I, too, want to offer my appreciation for all of my colleagues--in particular, those who have offered this legislation.…”

“I, too, want to offer my appreciation for all of my colleagues--in particular, those who have offered this legislation. I recall, in the Congress preceding this, we offered a bipartisan combination of comprehensive criminal justice reform, took bills that included prison reform and sentencing reform, and were really on the way to passing that combination of very important partnership. Unfortunately, the politics of that time got in the way. But my appreciation to Mr. Jeffries and Mr. Collins. It really is the coming together of Members. Mr. Nadler worked very hard to inject very important provisions, as well as many other Members. And they even did so on the day of the markup. And all but one that Mr. Richmond, Ms. Jackson Lee, Ms. Jayapal, and Mrs. Demings put in on retroactivity failed in the committee. So let me give an open letter to the mothers and fathers of incarcerated persons who are in our constituency and, as well, to those inmates who may, by chance, be looking at this debate. Having recently visited one of the Federal centers, I know that inmates are astute and concerned about their future. So I think it is important to establish to those parents why Democrats have consistently tried to sew together, tried to stitch together the idea of sentencing reduction and prison reform. Elements of this bill are striking and good.…”