Orrin Hatch: “I feel constrained to oppose the Levin amendment provision that is filed on this bill before the Senate, as it is a…”

“I feel constrained to oppose the Levin amendment provision that is filed on this bill before the Senate, as it is a matter that is properly within the jurisdiction of the Judiciary Committee which has not had an opportunity to consider it. More importantly, in my view, this amendment, while well intentioned, is unwise policy. This amendment would essentially abolish the Federal Government's purchasing preference for products supplied by Federal Prison Industries [FPI], also known by its trade name of UNICOR. FPI is the Federal corporation charged by Congress with the mission of training and employing Federal prison inmates. For more than 60 years, this correctional program has provided inmates with the opportunity to learn practical work habits and skills, and has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support in Congress and from each Republican and Democrat administration. FPI and its training programs at Federal prisons across the Nation have been credited with helping to lower recidivism and ensuring better job-related success for prisoners upon their release--a result that all of us applaud. This amendment, in its starkest terms, requires of us a choice-- either we want Federal inmates to work, or we do not. I believe that we do want inmates to work, and therefore I must oppose this amendment.”