[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 15]
[House]
[Pages 20808-20809]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




  UNITED STATES PAROLE COMMISSION EXTENSION AND SENTENCING COMMISSION 
                         AUTHORITY ACT OF 2005

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass 
the Senate bill (S. 1368) to extend the existence of the Parole 
Commission, and for other purposes.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                                S. 1368

       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 and Sentencing Commission Authority Act 
     of 2005''.

     SEC. 2. EXTENSION OF EXISTENCE OF THE PAROLE COMMISSION.

       For purposes of section 235(b) of the Sentencing Reform Act 
     of 1984 (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 
     ``eighteen years'' or ``eighteen-year period'' shall be 
     deemed a reference to ``21 years'' or ``21-year period'', 
     respectively.

     SEC. 3. PROVISION OF EMERGENCY AMENDMENT AUTHORITY FOR 
                   SENTENCING COMMISSION.

       In accordance with the procedure set forth in section 21(a) 
     of the Sentencing Act of 1987 (Public Law 100-182), as though 
     the authority under that Act had not expired, the United 
     States Sentencing Commission shall--
       (1) not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines, 
     commentary, and policy statements to implement section 6703 
     of the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 
     2004 (Public Law 108-458); and
       (2) not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment 
     of this Act, amend the Federal sentencing guidelines, 
     commentary, and policy statements to implement section 3 of 
     the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 (Public Law 108-
     358).

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. 
Scott) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. 
Sensenbrenner).


                             General Leave

  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all 
Members may have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend 
their remarks and include extraneous material on S. 1368, the Senate 
bill currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Wisconsin?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  Madam Speaker, I rise in support of S. 1368, the United States Parole 
Commission Extension and Sentencing

[[Page 20809]]

Commission Authority Act of 2005. This bill extends the Parole 
Commission for an additional 3 years and provides the Sentencing 
Commission with authority to adopt emergency guideline changes for 
obstruction of justice and anabolic steroids offenses.
  Congress initially created the Parole Commission in 1976. However, 
with the creation of Federal sentencing guidelines, the Parole 
Commission was slated to expire 5 years after the new sentencing system 
was implemented. Since the enactment of the Sentencing Reform Act of 
1984, Congress has extended the Parole Commission on several occasions. 
Without further congressional action, the Parole Commission is 
currently scheduled to expire on October 31, 2005.
  The Parole Commission is responsible for handling parole cases for 
offenders who were sentenced prior to the enactment of the Sentencing 
Reform Act of 1984, which created the Sentencing Commission, and 
eventually led to the elimination of Federal parole for offenders 
sentenced after 1987. Additionally, in 1997, the Parole Commission was 
assigned responsibility for supervising offenders in the District of 
Columbia, which were previously supervised by the D.C. Board of Parole. 
Enacting this bill is necessary in order for the Parole Commission to 
continue to carry on these important functions.
  The provisions in this bill relating to the Sentencing Commission's 
authority are needed to ensure that the Commission can expeditiously 
adopt new sentencing guidelines pursuant to two laws enacted during the 
previous Congress. Under this legislation, the Sentencing Commission 
will have 60 days to implement the new sentencing guidelines of section 
6703 of the Intelligence Reform Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, which 
increases penalties for obstruction of justice offenses involving 
international or domestic terrorism.
  Additionally, this legislation directs the Commission within 180 days 
to amend the Federal sentencing guidelines to reflect the seriousness 
of steroid offenses in accordance with the Anabolic Steroid Control Act 
of 2004. Granting emergency amendment authority to the Commission in 
these two areas will permit the Commission to promulgate appropriate 
amendments as quickly as possible.
  I urge my colleagues to support this measure.
  Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
may consume.
  Madam Speaker, S. 1368, which passed the Senate by unanimous consent, 
is identical to H.R. 3020, which was reported out of the Committee on 
the Judiciary by voice vote without apparent opposition.
  For the reasons outlined by the chairman of the Committee on the 
Judiciary, the bill will reauthorize the U.S. Parole Commission for an 
additional 3 years. It will also give the Sentencing Commission 
emergency authority to promulgate sentencing guidelines which will 
implement sentencing policies reflective of recent changes in Federal 
law relating to sentencing in areas of obstruction of justice and 
anabolic steroids. Both provisions are necessary to continue to 
properly implement Federal sentencing laws, and I, therefore, urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
  Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SENSENBRENNER. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Sensenbrenner) that the House suspend the 
rules and pass the Senate bill, S. 1368.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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