Congressman Hakeem Jeffries

The House of Representatives passed the Synthetic Drug Awareness Act, a bipartisan bill sponsored by U.S. Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Trey Gowdy (R-SC) that will direct the Surgeon General to prepare a report on the public health effects of synthetic drug use by 12 to 18 year olds in America.

After the House passed its bipartisan prison reform bill late last month, GOP Rep. Doug Collins and Democratic Rep. Hakeem Jeffries quickly met on the floor for a celebratory embrace. Months of late-night calls, lobbying and tough negotiations had led to a whopping 360-59 vote — and the third piece of legislation Jeffries and Collins have ushered through the House together in a matter of months.

The House voted to pass the most substantial prison reform effort to date. H.R. 5682, the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed, Safely Transitioning Every Person Act (FIRST STEP), is a bipartisan bill sponsored by Republican Congressman Doug Collins (GA-09) and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08), that will propel formerly-incarcerated individuals toward success when they return home, while enacting targeted reforms that would improve public safety and reduce recidivism.

The House Judiciary Committee passed H.R. 5682, the Formerly Incarcerated Reenter Society Transformed, Safely Transitioning Every Person Act (FIRST STEP). The bipartisan bill, sponsored by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and Republican Congressman Doug Collins (GA-9), aims to propel formerly-incarcerated individuals toward success when they return home, while enacting targeted reforms that would improve public safety and reduce recidivism. It authorizes $50 million per year for five years to develop new programs, including education, vocational training and mental health counseling.

Congressman Jeffries announced that Donald Trump has signed into law the Keep America’s Refuges Operational Act (KARO), H.R. 3979. This law will help protect our wildlife by reauthorizing the National Wildlife Refuge System volunteer, community partnership and education programs that help ensure Americans can visit, explore, fish, hunt and study wildlife for generations to come. The legislation’s co-sponsors in the House and Senate include Republican Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-01); Democratic Senator Tom Carper [DE] and Republican Senator John Barrasso (WY).