Highlights of Accomplishments The Firm Helped Achieve:

Criminal Justice Reform

H.R. 1593, The Second Chance Act of 2007:

  • The bill was signed into law by President George W. Bush on April 9, 2008, and is now Public Law No: 110-199.
  • On March 11, 2008, the Senate Judiciary Committee discharged (effectively passing) the bill by Unanimous Consent.  Later on March 11, the Senate passed the bill without amendment by Unanimous Consent.
  • On November 13, 2007, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 347 – 62 (Roll no. 1083). (text: CR H13565-13575).
  • On March 29, 2007, S. 1060 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Joseph Biden with 3 original cosponsors: Senators Sam Brownback, Patrick Leahy and Arlen Specter.  This bill earned 34 cosponsors.
  • On March 28, 2007, H.R. 1593 was marked up and reported favorably by voice vote out of the House Judiciary Committee.
  • On March 27, 2007, H.R. 1593 was marked up and reported favorably by voice vote out of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • On March 20, 2007, a hearing was held in the House Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • The bill earned 92 cosponsors.
  • On March 20, 2007, H.R. 1593 was introduced in the House by Congressman Danny Davis with 14 original cosponsors, including Congressmen Chris Cannon and Howard Coble.

S. 1711 & H.R. 4545, Drug Sentencing Reform and Cocaine Kingpin Trafficking Act of 2007:

  • On February 12, 2008, a hearing was held in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs.
  • On December 13, 2007, H.R. 4545 was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee with 22 original cosponsors.  The bill earned 43 cosponsors.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H15446-15448).
  • The bill earned 7 cosponsors.
  • On June 27, 2007, S. 1711, a bill to target cocaine kingpins and address sentencing disparity between crack and powder cocaine, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Joseph Biden.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8614-8615).

S. 1685, Fairness in Drug Sentencing Act of 2007:

  • On February 12, 2008, a hearing was held in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs.
  • On June 25, 2007, S. 1685, a bill to reduce the sentencing disparity between powder and crack cocaine violations, and to provide increased emphasis on aggravating factors relating to the seriousness of the offense and the culpability of the offender, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Orrin Hatch with 3 original cosponsors: Senators Ted Kennedy, Diane Feinstein and Arlen Specter.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S8358-8359).

S. 1383, Drug Sentencing Reform Act of 2007:

  • On February 12, 2008, a hearing was held in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs.
  • On May 14, 2007, S. 1383, a bill to reduce the disparity in punishment between crack and powder cocaine offenses, to more broadly focus the punishment for drug offenders on the seriousness of the offense and the culpability of the offender, and for other purposes, was introduced by Senator Jeff Sessions with 3 original cosponsors: Senators John Cornyn, Mark Pryor and Ken Salazar.

H.R. 4109, Prison Abuse Remedies Act of 2007:

  • On April 22, 2008, a hearing was held in the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • On November 8, 2007, a hearing was held in the House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security.
  • The bill attracted 11 cosponsors.
  • On November 7, 2007, H.R. 4109, a bill to provide for the redress of prison abuses, and for other purposes, was introduced in the House by Congressman Bobby Scott with one original cosponsor: Congressman John Conyers.

Immigration

S. 3606, 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).
  • On September 26, 2008, S. 3606, a bill to extend the special immigrant nonminister religious worker program and for other purposes, was introduced in the Senate by Senator Orrin Hatch.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S9668-9669).

H.R. 5570, Religious Worker Visa Extension Act of 2008:

  • On April 15, 2008, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, by voice vote. (consideration: CR H2284-2285).
  • On April 2, 2008, the bill was marked up by the Judiciary Committee, and ordered to be reported (amended) by voice vote.
  • On March 12, 2008, the bill was marked up by the Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law, and forwarded to the Full Committee by the Yeas and Nays: 8 – 1.
  • On March 10, 2008, H.R. 5570, a bill to amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to eliminate the sunset in the special immigrant nonminister religious worker visa program, was introduced in the House by Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren.