National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010

Floor Speech

* Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my support for H.R. 5143, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010. I want to commend Representative DELAHUNT for his leadership on this legislation and dedication to our nation's criminal justice system.

* H.R. 5143 establishes the National Criminal Justice Commission and directs that commission to review all areas of the criminal justice system, including costs, practices, and policies. It also directs the commission to make findings upon their review and recommendations for changes to prevent, deter, and reduce crime and violence, reduce recidivism, improve cost-effectiveness, and ensure interests of justice at every step of the criminal justice system.

* As an attorney and former judge, I can say with confidence that I believe our criminal justice system is flawed. It is an expensive system that is in many ways ineffective. It is important that this commission be established and put to work immediately. We can no longer be satisfied with allowing crime to fester and spread throughout the nation, especially among our youth. Real solutions to deter crime are possible if we only take the time to invest in them. It's time we identify the problems in our criminal justice system and make tangible efforts to ameliorate the system.

* In our efforts to create ``a more perfect union'', we have to take a closer look at our nation and work to make our nation better for our children and the generations to follow. H.R. 5143 gives us an opportunity to do that.

* Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support and pass H.R. 5143, the National Criminal Justice Commission Act of 2010.

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