Press Release

December 3, 2018
Cardin Joins Growing List of Cosponsors for the First Step Act

WASHINGTONSenator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has joined the growing list of cosponsors of the new First Step Act (S.3649). Twenty-eight senators, 14 Republicans and 14 Democrats, have now sponsored the legislation to reform America’s criminal justice system.

“I strongly support the bipartisan First Step Act, which makes long overdue changes to our broken criminal justice system.  It makes key sentencing and prison reform improvements and would create a more reasonable legal system as we strive to provide equal justice under the law to all Americans. Senator McConnell should bring this legislation to the floor without further delay. It is clear that our bill would garner overwhelming bipartisan approval in both the Senate and House,” Senator Cardin said.

In addition to Senator Cardin, other cosponsors of the First Step Act include:

  1. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa)
  2. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.)
  3. Mike Lee (R-Utah)
  4. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.)
  5. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)
  6. Cory Booker (D-N.J.)
  7. Tim Scott (R-S.C.)
  8. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.)
  9. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa)
  10. Jerry Moran (R-Kan.)
  11. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)
  12. Chris Coons (D-Del.)
  13. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.),
  14. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.),
  15. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.),
  16. Doug Jones (D-Ala.),
  17. Susan Collins (R-Maine),
  18. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.),
  19. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.),
  20. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.),
  21. Rand Paul (R-Ky.),
  22. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii)
  23. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)
  24. Angus King (I-Maine).
  25. Todd Young (R-Ind.)
  26. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii)
  27. Bill Cassidy (R-La.)

Here is a full list of cosponsors and endorsements from other organizations.

The First Step Act is backed by President Trump and endorsed by a number of law enforcement groups, including the nation’s largest police group.  It’s also now supported by 172 former federal prosecutors including two former Republican U.S. attorneys general, two former deputy attorneys general and a former director of the FBI along with sheriffs from 34 states across the country. The National Governor’s Association, which represents the governors of all 50 states, praised the bill earlier this week. And a broad coalition of conservative, progressive, and faith groups also support the bill.

The bill has also been endorsed by the oft-divergent editorial boards of the New York Times and the Wall Street Journal, as well as by the editorial board of the Houston Chronicle.

More information on the legislation can be found here:

 

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