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    October 2021 Washington Letter

     

    Federal Government

    Criminal Justice Reform

    The ABA has urged the Senate to promptly enact critical criminal justice reforms and expressed encouragement about reports that Senate leaders may take up take up three bills targeting specific corrections and sentencing issues this year.

    This Month's Articles

    Advocate of the Month

    In recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, we are proud to honor Maricarmen Garza as our Advocate of the Month for October 2021! Maricarmen is a steadfast advocate for survivors of gender-based violence. She currently serves as Chief of Programs for the Tahirih Justice Center, the only national, multi-city organization providing a broad range of direct legal services, policy advocacy, and training and education to protect immigrant women and girls fleeing gender-based violence. Prior to joining Tahirih, Maricarmen worked with Texas RioGrande Legal Aid (TRLA). As a TRLA attorney Maricarmen, focused her legal practice on assisting survivors of gender-based violence with complex family law and victim privacy matters. Maricarmen initiated and managed one of TRLA’s most successful and longstanding projects of the organization, the Legal Alliance for Survivors of Abuse (LASA), a unique collaboration between TRLA and domestic violence shelters and rape crisis centers in the 68 Texas counties served by TRLA.

    Legislative Research Tip

    Video of House and Senate Proceedings on Congress.gov Congress.gov has links to live video of House and Senate proceedings. On the homepage under “Current Legislative Activities” link to “Live Video” for a webcast of House or Senate floor proceedings or "Video Archive" for past sessions. House committee hearings are also available for viewing at the Committee Hearings Video page, with a full daily schedule under the “Committee Meetings” heading on the homepage.

    About the Washington Letter

    The ABA Washington Letter is a monthly publication produced by the Governmental Affairs Office to report and analyze congressional and executive branch action on legislative issues of interest to the ABA and the legal profession. The newsletter highlights ABA involvement in the federal legislative process and focuses on the association's legislative and governmental priorities and other issues on which the ABA has policy.

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