[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 52 (Tuesday, April 1, 2014)]
[Senate]
[Pages S1912-S1913]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  JUSTICE FOR ALL REAUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr. President, last week, I called on members of the 
Senate to come together and support reauthorization of the Justice for 
All Act, a bipartisan law that increased resources devoted to DNA and 
other forensic technology, established safeguards to prevent wrongful 
convictions, and enhanced protections for crime victims. The bipartisan 
bill to reauthorize this historic law was reported unanimously by the 
Senate Judiciary Committee last fall. Every Senate Democrat has cleared 
the way for passage of this important measure, and I hope Senate 
Republicans will soon follow suit so that we can take one step closer 
to reauthorizing this law that protects and supports victims of crime.
  The programs created by the Justice for All Act have had an enormous 
impact, and it is crucial that we reauthorize them. The legislation 
strengthens important rights for crime victims, reauthorizes the Debbie 
Smith DNA Backlog Grant Program, seeks to improve the quality of 
indigent defense, and increases access to post-conviction DNA testing 
to help protect the innocent.
  The reauthorization legislation also strengthens the Kirk Bloodsworth 
Post Conviction DNA Testing Grant Program. Kirk Bloodsworth was the 
first person in the United States to be exonerated from a death row 
crime through the use of DNA evidence. The program named for Mr. 
Bloodsworth provides grants to States for testing in those criminal 
cases like Mr. Bloodsworth's where someone has been convicted but where 
significant DNA evidence was not tested. The Justice for All 
Reauthorization Act of 2013 expands State access to post-conviction DNA 
testing funds by restricting the evidence preservation conditions set 
for this program to felony cases, which is a more attainable goal for 
States.
  This legislation also takes important steps to ensure that all 
criminal defendants, including those who cannot afford a lawyer, 
receive effective representation. It requires the Department of Justice 
to assist States in developing an effective and efficient system of 
indigent defense. I know as a former prosecutor that the system only 
works as it should when each side is well represented by competent and 
well-trained counsel.
  The bill also asks States to produce comprehensive plans for their 
criminal justice systems, which will help to ensure that criminal 
justice systems operate effectively as a whole and that all parts of 
the system work together and receive the resources they need.
  The bill reauthorizes and improves key grant programs in a variety of 
areas throughout the criminal justice system. Importantly, it increases 
authorized funding for the Paul Coverdell Forensic Science Improvement 
Grant program, which is a vital program to assist forensic laboratories 
in performing the many forensic tests that are essential to solving 
crimes and prosecuting perpetrators.
  We need to continue the bipartisan work that has been done. During 
the Judiciary Committee mark-up we unanimously adopted amendments 
before passing the bill, one from Senator Dianne Feinstein, and one 
from Senator Jeff Flake. Both amendments strengthened rights for crime 
victims, and added to the comprehensive improvements contained in the 
bill.
  I thank Senators Coons, Udall of New Mexico, McConnell, Klobuchar, 
Franken, Portman, Feinstein, Hatch, Schumer, Landrieu, Burr, Collins, 
Bennet, and Shaheen for their support as cosponsors of this bill.
  I am glad to be partnering with Senator John Cornyn on this 
legislation. We have done important work in the Judiciary Committee to 
support law enforcement and victims of crime. Last week, he and I 
introduced sweeping legislation to improve the use of forensic evidence 
in criminal cases. The Criminal Justice and Forensic Science Reform Act 
helps ensure that forensic labs throughout the Nation operate according 
to the highest standards, and that State and local labs have the 
resources they need. Both that measure and the Justice for All 
Reauthorization Act of 2013 are important priorities to support our 
criminal justice system and law enforcement.

[[Page S1913]]

  We must stand behind these bipartisan efforts, and I urge Senate 
Republicans to join all Senate Democrats in supporting passage of the 
Justice for All Reauthorization Act of 2013.

                          ____________________