{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-announces-house-approval-of-criminal-justice-reform-package", "Higgins Announces House Approval of Criminal Justice Reform Package", "2018-12-20", "2018", "2018-12", "Democrat", "House", "NY", "Brian Higgins", "H001038", "higgins.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-26) announced bipartisan adoption by the House of Representatives of the First Step Act (S. 756). The bill provides a comprehensive package of reforms to federal sentencing guidelines and the federal prison system.\nThis represents a necessary first step in addressing outdated and inequitable policies, reducing recidivism among inmates, and undoing a broken system that has led to mass incarceration, said Congressman Higgins.\nThe legislation provides:\n Greater flexibility in sentencing\n\tReforms to mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses\n\tCorrection officer training\n\tCreation of a committee to evaluate risk assessment and provide recommendations for improvement\n\tRestrictions on juvenile solitary confinement\n\tCorrection of the good-time credit to accurately reflect Congressional intent\n\tEvidence-based opioid treatment, employment assistance, mentoring and other programming that supports success upon returning to the community\n \nThe bill was approved in the House on December 20, 2018 by a vote of 358-36 and adopted by the Senate with a vote of 87-12 on December 18, 2018. The legislation will now move to the President's desk for his signature.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://higgins.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/higgins-announces-house-approval-of-criminal-justice-reform-package"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.3244010042399168, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}