Orrin Hatch: “The recent modifications to the bill are a great improvement. The bill is the result of the hard work and dedication of…”

“The recent modifications to the bill are a great improvement. The bill is the result of the hard work and dedication of many on both sides of the aisle. Most importantly, we have significantly reworked this bill so as to address the legitimate concerns you, Senators Kyl and Sessions as well as others have raised. Specifically, we made some changes to the capital representation section of the Innocence Protection Act. We worked with the House to add language similar to language in the amendment that you offered in the Judiciary Committee language that would require that a large majority of the funding in this area to go to the trial level, rather than to the appellate or habeas litigation. This shift in funding allocation is a further safeguard against your concerns that funds might go to particular advocacy groups because they typically become involved in these cases at the appellate level.”