Congressman Steve Cohen (TN-09), a senior member of the Judiciary Committee and its Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, today questioned expert witnesses at a hearing entitled “The First Step Act, The Pandemic, and Compassionate Release: What Are the Next Steps for the Federal Bureau of Prisons?”
In his line of questioning, Congressman Cohen said that the First Step Act, which he supported, was a notable Trump Administration legislative accomplishment. Congressman Cohen also noted that he has long advocated the release of those in prison who are of advanced age or face threats to their health from incarceration – for both compassionate and economic reasons.
See Congressman Cohen’s entire line of questioning here.
Witnesses at today’s hearing were:
- Homer Venters, Adjunct Clinical Associate Professor, NYU School of Global Public Health;
- Alison Guernsey, Clinical Associate Professor of Law, University of Iowa College of Law;
- Gwen Levi, Baltimore, Maryland;
- Melissa Hamilton, Professor of Law and Criminal Justice, University of Surrey School of Law;
- Gretta L. Goodwin, Director, Homeland Security and Justice, U.S. Government Accountability Office;
- Julie Kelly, Senior Contributor, American Greatness.
