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Final Push: Prison Reform Bill

For the last 10 years, Rabbi Moshe Margaretten has been working tirelessly to reform the correctional system of America. After seeing the emotional and financial damage that families endure when their loved ones are imprisoned, Rabbi Margeretten enlisted the help of Gary Apfel and other activists to see how they can change things. Over 1 million dollars has been invested to hire the best lobbyist teams and legal experts to help pass a prison bill that would reduce sentencing time and promote better rehab programs. There were days when it seemed impossible, when all their effort seemed for naught, when experts advised them to give up. But they didn’t.

Now the bill is in its final and most critical stage. The defining moment is NOW!

The Process of Passing a Bill:

1. Bill is Drafted: Members of Congress, the Executive Branch, and even outside groups can draft bills.

2. Introduced in House: Representative introduces the bill in the House.

3. Sent to Committee: The Speaker of the House sends the bill to a committee.

4. Committee Action: Most bills die here. The committee may pigeonhole, table, amend, or vote on the bill.

5, Rules Committee: It decides the rules for debate, and when the bill will come up for debate.

6. Floor Action: House debates the bill. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it goes to the Senate.

7. Introduced in Senate: A Senator introduces the bill, which is sent to a committee.

8. Committee Action: Same procedure as in the House. If the committee majority votes for the bill, it goes to the whole Senate.

9. Bill Called Up: Majority floor leader decides when the whole Senate will consider the bill.

10. Floor Action: The Bill is debated. If a majority votes in favor of the bill, it is returned to the House.

11. Presidential Action: The president may sign (approve) the bill or veto (reject) it. If approved, it becomes law.

12. Vote to Override: If the president vetoes the bill, it can still become law if two thirds of both houses vote to override the veto.

In the next few days, the bill will be brought to the Senate floor for a vote! This is the final showdown. This is where the journey begins or ends. This is when you can change the future of hundreds of inmates in our community.