Judiciary
More on Judiciary
January 30, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC – Reps. Raúl Labrador (R-ID) and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-VA), authors of H.R. 3382, theSmarter Sentencing Act, commended the Senate Judiciary Committee today for approving S. 1410, the Senate version of the bill. The Smarter Sentencing Act would reform criminal sentencing laws, empowering judges to make individualized assessments in nonviolent drug cases. This would ensure that limited resources are focused on the most serious offenders, while maintaining public safety.
Issues:Civil Rights
January 23, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board (PCLOB) released a report criticizing and calling for an end to the National Security Agency's (NSA) sweeping telephone metadata collection program. The PCLOB cited the program, currently permitted under Section 215 of the PATRIOT Act, as having "little unique value" in investigating and preventing terrorism. This comes on the heels of President Obama's speech at the Department of Justice last Friday calling for Congressional action to curb excesses in the United State's surveillance programs. After the report was released, Representatives John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.), Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.) issued the following statement:
Issues:Civil Rights
January 17, 2014
House Judiciary Democrats Seek Legislative Action on Comprehensive Surveillance ReformWASHINGTON, DC – Today, Ranking Member of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) attended President Obama's address on surveillance reform at the Department of Justice. In his remarks, the President concurred with many of the findings of the Review Group he convened on Intelligence and Communications Technologies–including its recommendation that the government should no longer engage in the bulk collection of telephone metadata at the National Security Agency (NSA). After the President concluded his remarks, Congressman Conyers, Congressman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.), and Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (D-Va.) issued the following statement:
Issues:Civil Rights
December 12, 2013
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in support of H.R. 1447, the Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2013. This bill would require State and Federal law enforcement agencies to report to the Department of Justice information about the deaths of individuals in their custody.We have learned from history how useful this information can be. In the 1980s, there was increased focus on conditions in State and local jails and prisons and the problem of prisoners dying in custody.
Issues:Civil Rights
December 9, 2013
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, we all agree that child abuse is a horrific problem, and the abuse of Kilah Davenport is a tragedy. We must take appropriate steps to try to prevent such future tragedies.Child abuse is a widespread problem. In 2011, approximately 681,000 children were victims of maltreatment, and approximately 3.3 million children received preventative services from Child Protective Services agencies in the United States.
November 26, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Senator Dick Durbin, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights, and Rep. Elijah E. Cummings, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, along with Senator Mazie Hirono and Reps. John Conyers, Jr., Bobby Scott, Marcia Fudge, and Luis Gutiérrez, sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder requesting that the Department of Justice collect additional information on "stand your ground" laws to fully document their disparate racial impacts in communities across the country.
Issues:Civil Rights
November 22, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott, the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations on the House Judiciary Committee, commended the Federal Communications Commission's denial yesterday of petitions urging the FCC to stay the Commission's order reducing high long-distance calling rates paid by prisoners and their families.
Issues:Civil Rights
November 15, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03), a senior member of the House Judiciary Committee, released the following statement on H.Res. 411, articles of impeachment against Attorney General Eric Holder:
November 14, 2013
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressmen Walter B. Jones (NC-3), David Price (NC-4), and Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-3) introduced legislation that would make it illegal for candidates or employees associated with federal political committees to use committee funds for personal activities.
Issues:Voting Rights
November 13, 2013
Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this bill.