WASHINGTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) introduced H.R. 4052, legislation to prohibit the use of the death penalty at the federal level and require re-sentencing of those currently on death row. The legislation comes after the U.S. Department of Justice’s announcement that they will resume the use of the death penalty for the first time in more than 16 years.

“The same racist rhetoric coming from the occupant of the White House – who called for the execution of the Exonerated 5, is what led to this racist, vile policy,” said Congresswoman Pressley. “It was wrong then and it’s wrong now and I am proud to introduce a bill that eliminates the use of capital punishment as a punitive measure.  The cruelty is the point – this is by design.

 

In addition to Congresswoman Pressley, the legislation is sponsored by Reps. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), Karen Bass (D-CA), Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-NJ), Joseph P. Kennedy III (D-MA), Justin Amash (I-MI), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Wm. Lacy Clay (D-MO), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), James McGovern (D-MA), Nydia Velazquez (D-NY), Anthony Brown (D-MD), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Jamie Raskin (D-MD), Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Danny Davis (D-IL), John Lewis (D-GA), Gregory Meeks (D-NY), Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), Alcee Hastings (D-FL), G.K. Butterfield (D-NC), Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY), Sanford Bishop (D-GA), Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (D-GA), Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Joyce Beatty (D-OH), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), and Bobby Rush (D-IL).

Congresswoman Pressley has been a staunch advocate for reforming the criminal legal system in our country. Earlier this year, she testified in support of re-enfranchising millions of Americans stripped of their right to vote by a system that is fundamentally unjust. Last month, she secured $3 million in funding to support children and families of incarcerated individuals.

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