Today, the United States Sentencing Commission voted unanimously to apply a reduction in the sentencing guideline levels applicable to most federal drug inmates retroactively. Unless Congress disapproves the amendment, beginning November 1, 2014, eligible inmates can ask courts to reduce their sentences. Courts will review a number of individualized factors, including public safety, in consideration of whether to grant these reductions.

Collateral consequences impair opportunities for employment, housing, public benefits, educational loans, and family connections. Although studies show that there are over 45,000 state and federal collateral consequences of conviction, judges in the United States are not required to warn convicted individuals of all of these consequences. These collateral consequences make re-entry, transition, and success difficult, if not, impossible. They also disproportionately affect women and children, especially those of color.

Opening Statements

Statement of the Honorable John Conyers, Jr.
for the Markup of H.R. 2278, the "Strengthen and Fortify Enforcement Act" (the SAFE Act)
by the Committee on the Judiciary

I am greatly disappointed that we are here today to consider H.R. 2278, the SAFE Act, just days after it was the subject of a contentious legislative hearing.

This bill moves our conversation in the wrong direction and returns the immigration debate to partisan solutions that have failed in the past.