In October, Representative Barbara Lee (CA-9) introduced H.R. 3699, a bill to prohibit any funds being expended to increase the number of members of the United States armed forces serving in Afghanistan. The bill currently has 27 cosponsors and has been referred to the House Committee on Armed Forces. Rep. Lee, a social worker, was the only opponent to George W. Bush’s War Resolution in 2002 by introducing House Concurrent Resolution 473 into the 107th Congress, which urged the United States to re-engage the diplomatic process and stressed the government’s commitment to the United Nations’ inspections process. NASW applauds the efforts of Representative Lee to restore peace.
Second Chance Act Reintroduced: Seminal Criminal Justice Reform Legislation
On April 16, 2024, the House of Representatives reintroduced a truly seminal bipartisan criminal justice reform bill called the Second Chance Act (SCA). This news of the reintroduction of SCA is more gratifying when we realize that it coincides with the act’s 16th anniversary.