Tom CottonVerified account

The First Step Act provides hundreds of new rights and privileges to federal prisoners. More phone time, reduced sentences, “compassionate release,” and early release credits. There is not a single benefit in the bill for the victims of these criminals.

Opponents falsely claim victim notification amendment wouldn’t allow victims to opt-out of notification. Current law for other notifications doesn’t mention “opt-outs,” but Bureau of Prisons still provides it. This will not change.

The amendment I offered with @SenJohnkennedy, cosponsored by Senators Barrasso, Kyl, Sasse, and Toomey, would notify victims before their victimizer is granted early prerelease custody and give victims a chance to make a statement to the warden. I hope my colleagues vote yes.

The senate should unanimously pass @SenatorLankford amendment #4121 to fix language in current bill that discriminates against Christian and other religious groups. Proud to sponsor this fix. Faith-based groups deserve full participation in federal prison system.

I'm proud to have @SenJohnKennedy, @SenJohnBarrasso, Senator Kyl, @SenSasse, and @SenToomey as cosponsors for this amendment. We only need 51 votes to make this bill a little better and safer. I urge all my colleagues to support it.

Now, please tell me which of the crimes in my amendment should remain eligible for early release time credits. Coercing a child to engage in sexual activity? Assaulting law enforcement? Assaulting a child? Carjacking? Bank robbery? Hate crimes? They should all be made ineligible.

I also strongly support @jiminhofe's amendment #4141 that would fix the unconstitutional, unfunded mandate in the First Step Act that could bankrupt local jails. This is a serious issue in the bill that has received little attention thus far.

And @SenSasse would also get rid of the section that reduces the penalty for repeat fentanyl trafficking in amendment #4142. Fentanyl traffickers deserve no leniency. I strongly support.

In amendment #4143, @SenSasse would fix the "productive activities" loophole that allows violent felons to gain early release credits by playing softball. Why do bill authors allow “productive activities” to qualify?

The @SenSasse amendment #4144 deserves support. It bans felons who assault police officers, violent bank robbers, and carjackers from early release. Violent offenders should not be eligible for early release to home confinement or to “supervised release.”

My colleague @Senorrinhatch has introduced comprehensive mens rea reform in amendment #4137 that I hope will be accepted by my colleagues. Disappointed this was not included in bill.

And @SenToomey amendment #4120 would provide more funding for victims of violent crimes. This is an outstanding and much-needed amendment that deserves my colleagues’ support.

I also support @SenToomey amendment #4119 that increases the penalty against violent felons who stalk children.

I am proud to support @SenToomey First Step Act amendment #4118 that would raise the penalty for felons who murder police officers or first responders by ensuring that capital punishment is an option.

While I still have concerns with First Step Act, I strongly support and am proud to sponsor @SenatorLankford amendment #4121 to ensure faith-based organizations can work with prisoners to improve lives and reduce recidivism. I urge my colleagues to pass this common sense fix.

It’s fair to disagree on the merits of offering early release as an incentive to “low-risk” violent offenders, but this claim being circulated is not true.