[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 75 (Wednesday, May 9, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2580-S2581]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             FIRST STEP Act

  Finally, Mr. President, on another matter, earlier today, the House 
Judiciary Committee took action on the FIRST STEP Act, which is 
companion legislation to the bill Mr. Whitehouse, the junior Senator 
from Rhode Island, and I introduced in the Senate. The committee's 
passage of this bipartisan legislation advances prison reforms tried 
out and proven in States like

[[Page S2581]]

Texas, Rhode Island, Georgia, and elsewhere, which was successfully 
implemented to rehabilitate low-risk offenders and save taxpayer 
dollars while reducing the crime rate and helping people reestablish 
themselves as productive members of society.
  This is not true across the board. I am not naive enough to think 
that people who go to prison--that we will be able to salvage and save 
every single one who comes out, but I do believe we can do much better 
if we give people the opportunity, those who have the will and the 
determination to take advantage of the opportunity to turn their lives 
around, to deal with their addiction, to deal with their lack of skills 
and education, and when given the opportunity to do so, decide they 
want to take advantage of that to turn their lives around.
  Helping low-risk offenders prepare to lead productive lives in our 
communities is a goal we should all share, regardless of where we are 
on the political spectrum. I applaud our colleagues in the House 
Judiciary Committee for this important action.
  Prison reform itself has never been controversial. Everyone in this 
Chamber can agree we need to better prepare folks who are about to be 
released from prison so they don't end up right back where they started 
and where we can help them lead a life that is law-abiding and 
productive and does help improve the safety and security of our 
communities. I look forward to continuing to work with our colleagues 
in the House and Senate as we move this important legislation forward.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Gardner). The Senator from Massachusetts.