Support for First Step Act Keeps Building in Senate
Cassidy, Cardin Join Growing List of Cosponsors
WASHINGTON – Senators
Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-La.) and Ben Cardin (D-Md.) have joined the growing list
of cosponsors of the new First
Step Act (S.3649). A crowd of 28 senators, fourteen
Republicans and fourteen Democrats, have now sponsored the legislation—endorsed
by the President—to reform America’s criminal justice system.
“I
agree with President Trump. This reform makes society safer. Equipping
non-violent and low risk parolees to re-enter society, get a job and stay out
of trouble can break the cycle of recidivism and crime. This also saves
taxpayers money. Keeping geriatric inmates with Alzheimer’s under guard is a
waste of prison beds,” Dr. Cassidy said.
“I
strongly support the bipartisan First Step Act, which makes long overdue
changes to our broken criminal justice system. It makes key sentencing
and prison reform improvements and would create a more reasonable legal system
as we strive to provide equal justice under the law to all Americans. Senator
McConnell should bring this legislation to the floor without further delay. It
is clear that our bill would garner overwhelming bipartisan approval in both
the Senate and House,” Sen. Cardin said.
Cosponsors
of the First Step Act include:
1. Chuck Grassley
(R-Iowa)
2. Dick Durbin
(D-Ill.)
3. Mike Lee
(R-Utah)
4. Sheldon
Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
5. Lindsey Graham
(R-S.C.)
6. Cory Booker
(D-N.J.)
7. Tim Scott
(R-S.C.)
8. Patrick Leahy
(D-Vt.)
9. Joni Ernst
(R-Iowa)
10. Jerry Moran
(R-Kan.)
11. Amy Klobuchar
(D-Minn.)
12. Chris Coons
(D-Del.)
13. Jeff Flake
(R-Ariz.),
14. Richard
Blumenthal (D-Conn.),
15. Pat Roberts
(R-Kan.),
16. Doug Jones
(D-Ala.),
17. Susan Collins
(R-Maine),
18. Tammy Duckworth
(D-Ill.),
19. Lamar Alexander
(R-Tenn.),
20. Kirsten
Gillibrand (D-N.Y.),
21. Rand Paul
(R-Ky.),
22. Mazie Hirono
(D-Hawaii)
23. Rob Portman
(R-Ohio)
24. Angus King
(I-Maine).
25. Todd Young
(R-Ind.)
26. Brian Schatz
(D-Hawaii)
27. Bill Cassidy
(R-La.)
28. Ben Cardin
(D-Md.)
The
First Step Act is backed by President Trump and endorsed by a number of
law enforcement groups, including the nation’s
largest police group. It’s also
now supported by 172 former federal prosecutors including two former
Republican U.S. attorneys general, two former deputy attorneys general and a
former director of the FBI along with sheriffs
from 34 states across the country. The National Governor’s
Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states, praised
the bill earlier this week. And a broad coalition of conservative,
progressive, and faith groups also support the bill.
The
bill has also been endorsed by the oft-divergent editorial boards of the New
York Times and the Wall Street Journal,
as well as by the editorial board of the Houston
Chronicle.
More
information on the legislation can be found here:
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