[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 114 (Friday, July 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1527]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




            NATIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMISSION ACT OF 2010

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                               speech of

                  HON. HENRY C. ``HANK'' JOHNSON, JR.

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 2010

  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my 
support for H.R. 5143, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 
2010. I want to commend Representative Delahunt for his leadership on 
this legislation and dedication to our nation's criminal justice 
system.
  H.R. 5143 establishes the National Criminal Justice Commission and 
directs that commission to review all areas of the criminal justice 
system, including costs, practices, and policies. It also directs the 
commission to make findings upon their review and recommendations for 
changes to prevent, deter, and reduce crime and violence, reduce 
recidivism, improve cost-effectiveness, and ensure interests of justice 
at every step of the criminal justice system.
  As an attorney and former judge, I can say with confidence that I 
believe our criminal justice system is flawed. It is an expensive 
system that is in many ways ineffective. It is important that this 
commission be established and put to work immediately. We can no longer 
be satisfied with allowing crime to fester and spread throughout the 
nation, especially among our youth. Real solutions to deter crime are 
possible if we only take the time to invest in them. It's time we 
identify the problems in our criminal justice system and make tangible 
efforts to ameliorate the system.
  In our efforts to create ``a more perfect union'', we have to take a 
closer look at our nation and work to make our nation better for our 
children and the generations to follow. H.R. 5143 gives us an 
opportunity to do that.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support and pass H.R. 5143, the 
National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010.

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