Washington, D.C. – Today, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-NY) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed 11 bills within the Committee's jurisdiction:

"I am extremely proud of the bipartisan legislation passed by the House of Representatives today, including legislation that will reform our criminal justice system, increase transparency in the federal judiciary, protect the legal interest of servicemembers and veterans, improve our nation's bankruptcy laws, and ensure a more humane immigration system," said Chairman Nadler. "The Judiciary Committee is committed to providing meaningful solutions to the challenges facing the American people, and the legislation passed today will do just that. I am grateful to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their tireless work, and I look forward to seeing these bills signed into law." 

The House of Representatives passed the following bills:

H.R. 8161, the One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program Act of 2020

The One Stop Shop Community Reentry Program, introduced by Representatives Karen Bass (D-CA) and Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA), authorizes grants to community organizations to create centralized reentry intake and coordination centers that would guide individuals recently released from correctional facilities through the difficult process of rejoining their communities. The bill was passed by a voice vote.

S. 2258, the Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act of 2019

The Criminal Antitrust Anti-Retaliation Act, introduced by Senator Chuck Grassley (R-IA) with similar legislation introduced by Chairman Nadler and Representatives Joe Neguse (D-CO), David N. Cicilline (D-RI) and Jim Sensenbrenner (D-WI) establishes new whistleblower protections for employees who report a criminal antitrust violation to the federal government or a supervisor. The bill was passed by a voice vote.

H.R. 683, the Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act

The Puerto Rico Recovery Accuracy in Disclosures Act or PRRADA, introduced by Representative Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), creates transparency requirements regarding compensation for bankruptcy cases initiated under the Puerto Rico Oversight Management and Economic Stability Act (PROMESA). The bill guarantees to the people of Puerto Rico the same transparency and disclosure practices required by law in U.S. mainland bankruptcies. The bill was passed by a voice vote.

S. 134 , the Combat Online Predators Act

The Combat Online Predators Act, introduced by Senators Pat Toomey (R-PA) and Bob Casey (D-PA), increases criminal penalties for the stalking of children and ensures law enforcement officials evaluate and update practices to combat online harassment of children. The bill was passed by a voice vote.

H.R. 8354, the Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act of 2020

The Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative Act, introduced by Representative Veronica Escobar (D-TX), permanently establishes a Servicemembers and Veterans Initiative with the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice in order to promote the legal interests of servicemembers, veterans, and their families. It would also require the appointment of a liaison to the Assistant Attorney General for the Criminal Division to coordinate Federal prosecutions of cases involving fraud against servicemembers. The bill was passed by a vote of 400-1.

H.R. 8235, the Open Courts Act of 2020

The Open Courts Act, introduced by Representative Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA) and Doug Collins (R-GA), would modernize the federal judiciary’s court records systems and would eliminate the paywall (called PACER) that requires the public to pay more than $140 million each year to access these public records. The new system will provide a stable, secure, and easily searchable site to file and access court records, which will be available to the public free of charge. The bill was passed by a voice vote. 

S. 3703, the Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act

The Promoting Alzheimer's Awareness to Prevent Elder Abuse Act, introduced by Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) with similar legislation introduced by Representative Ted Deutch (D-FL), requires the Department of Justice to ensure elder abuse training materials take into account individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. The bill was passed by unanimous consent. 

H.R. 631, For the Relief of Arpita Kurdekar, Girish Kurdekar, and Vandana Kurdekar

This legislation, introduced by Representative Annie Kuster (D-NH), provides for the relief of Arpita Kurdekar, Girish Kurdekar, and Vandana Kurdekar. The bill was passed by unanimous consent. 

H.R. 4225, For the Relief of Maria Isabel Bueso Barrera, Alberto Bueso Mendoza, and Karla Maria Barrera De Bueso

This legislation, introduced by Representative Mark DeSaulnier (D-CA), provides for the relief of Maria Isabel Bueso Barrera, Alberto Bueso Mendoza, and Karla Maria Barrera De Bueso. The bill was passed by unanimous consent. 

H.R. 7146, For the Relief of Victoria Galindo Lopez

This legislation, introduced by Representative Julia Brownley (D-CA), provides for the relief of Victoria Galindo Lopez. The bill was passed by unanimous consent. 

H.R. 7572 – For the Relief of Median El-Moustrah

This legislation, introduced by Representative Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), provides for the relief of Median El-Moustrah. The bill was passed by unanimous consent.