[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 117 (Wednesday, July 16, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1478]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




ON THE INTRODUCTION OF THE ``UNITED STATES PAROLE COMMISSION EXTENSION 
                             ACT OF 2008''

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. JOHN CONYERS JR.

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, July 16, 2008

  Mr. CONYERS. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the ``United 
States Parole Commission Extension Act of 2008'' with Ranking Member 
Lamar Smith and Representatives Bobby Scott, Louie Gohmert and Eleanor 
Holmes Norton. This legislation will extend the Parole Commissions' 
authority for another three years. This will be the fifth time since 
the elimination of Federal parole in 1987 that the Parole Commission 
has been reauthorized.
  In the more than 20 years since the elimination of Federal parole, 
Congress has debated whether or not to phase-out the Parole Commission. 
Currently, the Commission has jurisdiction over all decisions regarding 
parole release for D.C. prisoners and decisions on mandatory release 
supervision and revocation for all persons serving D.C. felony 
sentences. The Commission also has jurisdiction over Federal and 
foreign transfer treaty offenders convicted before November 1987, some 
military code offenders and state defendants in the U.S. Marshals 
Service Witness Protection Program. According to the Parole Commission, 
at least 7500 people will fall into one of these categories by 2010. 
This is why in the 1996 extension of the Parole Commission, Congress 
finally recognized that there would be a need for the Commission 
through 2002 and beyond.
  It is for these reasons that I am introducing this important 
legislation with my fellow Judiciary Committee Members and 
Representative Holmes Norton.




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