We get results. And we don’t just mean passing legislation and saying we did something, like most politicians do…
We achieve government reforms that contribute to better governance and outcomes. So when we say we’re securing the rights and freedoms of all people, we mean it.
Better Governance and Outcomes
- As of 2014, the national crime rate was about half of what it was at its height in 1991, according to justice statistics. Violent crime had fallen by 51 percent since 1991, and property crime by 43 percent. In 2013 the violent crime rate was the lowest since 1970.
- Since 1993 the rate of violent crime has declined from 79.8 to 23.2 victimizations per 1,000 people, according to the National Crime Victimization Survey of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.
From Government Reforms
Most recently, we were instrumental in getting federal criminal justice reform legislation passed into law:
- First Step Act of 2018—became Public Law No: 115-391 on December 21, 2018. Greg Mitchell was in the Oval Office when President Donald J. Trump signed the bill into law.
To get this bill to the President’s desk, we were instrumental in getting the evolving versions passed through the House and Senate.
- S. 756, First Step Act of 2018:
- On December 20, 2018, the House passed this bill on a motion to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendment to the House amendment to S. 756. Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays (2/3 required): 358 – 36 (Roll No. 448).
- On December 18, 2018, the House amendment to S. 756 passed the Senate with an amendment (SA 4108) by Yea-Nay Vote. 87 – 12. Record Vote Number: 271.
- H.R. 5682, FIRST STEP Act:
- On May 22, 2018, this bill passed the House on a motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended. Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 360 – 59 (Roll no. 215).
- On May 9, 2018, this bill passed the House Judiciary Committee (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 25 – 5.
Prior to that, we were instrumental in getting several pieces of legislation passed into law, including:
- Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act:
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 23, 2016, and became Public Law No: 114-328.
- The Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act:
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 16, 2016, and became Public Law No: 114-281.
- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reauthorization Act of 2015
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on October 16, 2015, and became Public Law No: 114-071. [Text, PDF]
- On October 6, 2015, the bill passed the House by voice vote on motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill.
- On September 30, 2015, the bill passed the Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
- HR 5816, to extend the authorization for the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom
- The Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2014
- The Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 14, 2012, and is now Public Law No: 112-208.
- On December 6, 2012, the Senate passed H.R. 6156 without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 – 4. Record Vote Number: 223.
- On November 16, 2012, the House voted to pass H.R. 6156 by the Yeas and Nays: 365 – 43 (Roll no. 608). (text: CR H6401-6404).
- The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 23, 2011, and is now Public Law No: 112-75.
- On December 16, 2011, the House voted to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment (CR H9810).
- On December 13, 2011, H.R. 2867 passed the Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8553).
- On September 15, 2011, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2867, as amended, by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 – 21 (Roll no. 709). (text: CR 9/14/2011 H6152-6153).
- The Fair Sentencing Act of 2010
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on August 3, 2010, and became Public Law 111-220.
- The bill passed the House on July 28, 2010, by voice vote.
- The bill passed the Senate on March 17, 2010, by Unanimous Consent.
- H.R. 1127, to extend certain immigration programs (E-Verify Program, EB-5 Regional Pilot Center Program, and Special Immigrant Non-Minister Religious Worker Program)
- The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 20, 2009, and became Public Law No: 111-9.
- On March 11, 2009, the bill passed the Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S3033).
- On March 4, 2009, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass the bill by voice vote. (text: CR H2942).
- The Special Immigrant Nonminister Religious Worker Program Act
- The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 10, 2008, and is now Public Law No. 110-391.
- On September 27, 2008, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass the bill by voice vote. (text: CR H10265-10266).
- On September 26, 2008, S. 3606 passed the Senate without amendment by Unanimous Consent. (consideration: CR S9573-9574; text as passed Senate: CR S9573-9574).
- The Second Chance Act of 2007: Community Safety Through Recidivism Prevention
- The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on April 9, 2008, and became Public Law 110-199. Greg Mitchell was in the room when President Bush signed this bill into law.
- The bill passed the Senate on March 11, 2008, by Unanimous Consent.
- The bill passed the House on November 13, 2007, by the Yeas and Nays: 347 – 62 (Roll no. 1083).
We also played a significant supporting role in a major legislative victory in the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE). See Case Study: PACE
