Washington, D.C. – Today, in a virtual markup, the House Judiciary Committee advanced several bipartisan pieces of legislation, including: H.R 683, the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act; HR. 6196, the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020; H.R. 5053, the Justice for Juveniles Act; and H.R. 8124, the Criminal Judicial Administration Act of 2020. The bills now head to the House floor for a full vote. 

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) released the following statement on the virtual markup: 

“I am extremely proud of the Judiciary Committee for today's successful virtual markup.  The four bipartisan bills voted out favorably provide meaningful reform to our criminal justice system, modernizes our trademark system, and supports Puerto Rico as the Island addresses its ongoing  debt crisis. Our efforts prove that when we work together, we can provide real solutions for the American people. I am grateful to all my colleagues on the Committee who worked diligently on the legislation passed today, and I look forward to the full House voting on these bills soon.”

Background:

H.R. 683, the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act:
The Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act or PRRADA, introduced by Congresswomen Nydia M. Velazquez (D-NY), closes a loophole in Puerto Rico’s debt restructuring process, improves transparency, and restores confidence and integrity in the process. The bill guarantees to the people of Puerto Rico the same transparency and disclosure practices required by law in U.S. mainland bankruptcies. 

H.R. 6196, the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020: 
The Trademark Modernization Act of 2020, introduced by Representatives Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), Martha Roby (R-AL), and Doug Collins (R-GA), creates new processes to allow small business to challenge improper registrations through new, more efficient, and less costly ex parte cancellation proceedings. The bill also modernizes trademark examination practice by allowing the United States Patent and Trademark Office to set trademark examination deadlines that are more in concert with the availability of electronic communication today, and it ensures that injunctive relief will be available in appropriate cases for parties prevailing on trademark claims. 

H.R. 5053, the Justice for Juveniles Act:
The Justice for Juveniles Act, introduced by Representatives Mary Gay Scanlon (D-PA), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Kelly Armstrong (R-ND), Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) and John Katko (R-NY), would exempt youth from having to comply with the unfair administrative burden of having to “exhaust” their remedies before being authorized to access the courts. The administrative requirements, as applied to youth, is inconsistent with today’s scientific understanding of the cognitive development of young people. 

H.R. 8124, the Criminal Judicial Administration Act of 2020: 
The Criminal Judicial Administration Act, introduced by Representatives Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and Martha Roby (R-AL), authorizes courts, in the interests of justice, to order the U.S. Marshals to cover roundtrip travel and subsistence for defendants who must attend court hearings, but cannot afford to pay this on their own. The bill also amends current law to authorize a magistrate judge to hear post-judgment motions in misdemeanor cases in which he or she exercised trial jurisdiction.