"We cannot--we cannot--perpetuate a system in which people have nowhere to go other than a life of crime."
"We think we have gotten rid of debtors prison, but it is alive and well in our Nation."
"We cannot have a Nation where we are raising children of incarcerated adults, which is happening now."
"A child with an incarcerated father is more likely to be suspended from school than a peer without an incarcerated father."
"Now is the time for criminal justice reform, and the SAFE Justice Act delivers the change necessary to enact fairness in sentencing."
"Unfortunately, Mr. Chairman, rather than this rational, thoughtful approach, too many politicians across the country have chosen to play politics with crime policy."
"As appealing as these policies may sound, their impact has overloaded our prisons."
"Our bill restores the original congressional intent on these penalties and applies the evidence-based approach from the States."
"The research shows that providing incentives to inmates to complete educational, vocational, substance abuse, mental health, and traditional programs will help reduce both recidivism and the amount of..."
"The provisions of this bill will save money and reduce crime."
"It incorporates the work of the Over-Criminalization Task Force."
"I believe that we need to be investing a lot in the beginning of this experience and that is in the mother's stomach."