On the recordJune 11, 2015
I am very pleased this morning to speak about a topic that I really believe there is a strong pathway forward. I have said often, as the ranking member on the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations, that as we look at the criminal justice system with a myriad of issues that have come to our attention from the American public, from asset forfeiture to mens rea to a number of issues dealing with police interaction with the community, this is a significant moment in America's history. We are a nation of laws, and we pride ourselves with understanding the very words of the Declaration of Independence that clearly says that we all are created equal with certain inalienable rights of life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The beginning words of the Constitution say that our Founding Fathers--although imperfect in many of the aspects of the Constitution based upon rights not given to women and rights not given to African Americans--did say that they formed this government to create a more perfect Union. Now, in 2015, we have an opportunity, again, as I said, to assess the criminal justice system in many ways. Let me cite for you some of the challenges that we face. For example, a 16-year-old in New York who was arrested for taking a knapsack--he shouldn't have taken a knapsack--was thrown into Rikers Island and had a $3,000 bail, which he or his family could not pay. He stayed in isolation for 3 years.…
