[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 163 (2017), Part 6]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 8611]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          PERSONAL EXPLANATION

                                  _____
                                 

                          HON. PRAMILA JAYAPAL

                             of washington

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, May 26, 2017

  Ms. JAYAPAL. Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that crimes against 
children are particularly egregious. It is our duty as members of 
Congress to do everything we can to prevent these crimes and hold 
offenders accountable. However, I felt compelled to vote against H.R. 
1842, H.R. 1862, and H.R. 1761, as each of these flawed bills would 
increase the application of mandatory minimum sentences in the U.S. 
criminal justice system. Judges already have the ability to impose 
harsh sentences in these cases as they see fit. Mandatory minimum 
sentences make it impossible for judges to take context or circumstance 
into consideration, which eliminates judicial discretion and 
compromises the futures of those at the hands of our justice system. 
Mandatory minimums create a glaring disproportionality between crime 
and according punishment and subsequently expand prison populations, 
strain resources and structures of support, and disproportionately 
impact communities of color. Because of my stance on this issue and my 
steadfast resolve to fight any expansion of mandatory minimum 
sentences, I have voted against each of these bills. I remain committed 
to protecting our children and doing everything in my power to prevent 
crimes against children from happening, but expanding mandatory 
minimums is not the answer. I look forward to working with my 
colleagues across the aisle as we continue to pursue critical reforms 
to the criminal justice system.

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