[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 119 (Monday, July 21, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6979-S6980]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                PAROLE COMMISSION EXTENSION ACT OF 2008

  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the 
immediate consideration of S. 3294, introduced earlier today by 
Senators Leahy and Specter.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3294) to provide for the continued performance 
     of the functions of the United States Parole Commission.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, I am pleased the Senate will unanimously 
pass the United States Parole Commission Act of 2008, a bill Senator 
Specter and I introduced that will extend the life of the U.S. Parole 
Commission by 3 years. Without quick action by Congress, the Commission 
will expire on

[[Page S6980]]

October 31, 2008. Senate passage is an important first step to ensure 
this does not happen.
  The U.S. Parole Commission is responsible for granting or denying 
parole for incarcerated Federal and DC prisoners who were sentenced 
before the Federal and DC governments abolished parole. The Commission 
was created and empowered to consider the requests of these ``old law'' 
Federal and DC inmates, but it also has jurisdiction over DC offenders 
who are on supervised release from prison.
  Originally slated to expire in 1992, Congress has extended the life 
of the Commission four times. Another extension is necessary to ensure 
the orderly administration of the law, and to avoid the risk of 
premature release of offenders. If the authorization lapses, the law 
requires the Commission to set release dates for all parole-eligible 
Federal prisoners. In addition, there is no mechanism to handle DC 
parolees who are on supervised release from prison.
  A limited extension will avoid these potential problems, and will 
give the Justice Department time to evaluate whether any changes to the 
Commission are necessary.
  I urge the House to work quickly to pass this bill and send it to the 
President so that it can be effective before the Commission's 
authorization expires in October.
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask unanimous consent the bill be read three times and 
passed; the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, with no 
intervening action or debate; and any statements be printed in the 
Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The bill (S. 3294) was ordered to be engrossed for a third reading, 
was read the third time, and passed, as follows:

                                S. 3294

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``United States Parole 
     Commission Extension Act of 2008''.

     SEC. 2. AMENDMENT OF SENTENCING REFORM ACT OF 1984.

       For purposes of section 235(b) of the Sentencing Reform Act 
     of 1984 (18 U.S.C. 3551 note; Public Law 98-473; 98 Stat. 
     2032), as such section relates to chapter 311 of title 18, 
     United States Code, and the United States Parole Commission, 
     each reference in such section to ``21 years'' or ``21-year 
     period'' shall be deemed a reference to ``24 years'' or ``24-
     year period'', respectively.

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