WASHINGTON, DC– U.S. Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) today issued the following statement after the bipartisan Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act, broad-based legislation he introduced last month with a coalition of Republicans and Democrats to begin the process of reforming our criminal justice system, was passed today by the Senate Committee on the Judiciary.
“For decades, our broken criminal justice system has held our nation back from realizing its full potential. Today, with the passage of the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act by the Senate Judiciary Committee, we took another promising step forward for reform.
“Mass incarceration has had a crippling effect on taxpayers, our economy, our children, public safety and communities of color all while devaluing the very idea of justice in America. It is time we right this devastating wrong and restore integrity, justice, and compassion to our criminal justice system. I’m hopeful that this bill will soon be considered by the full Senate.”
The legislation was introduced by Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Cory Booker (D.NJ.), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), and Tim Scott (R-SC)