Highlights of Accomplishments The Firm Helped Achieve:

Criminal Justice Reform

On August 1, 2012, the Senate Judiciary Committee held a hearing on “Rising Prison Costs: Restricting Budgets and Crime Prevention Options.”  (https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/rising-prison-costs-restricting-budgets-and-crime-prevention-options)

International Religious Freedom

H.R. 6156, Russia and Moldova Jackson-Vanik Repeal and Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012:

  • The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 14, 2012, and is now Public Law No: 112-208.
  • On December 6, 2012, the Senate passed H.R. 6156 without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 92 – 4. Record Vote Number: 223.
  • On November 16, 2012, the House voted to pass H.R. 6156 by the Yeas and Nays: 365 – 43 (Roll no. 608). (text: CR H6401-6404).
  • On July 26, 2012, the Committee on Ways and Means held a consideration and mark-up session, and then ordered the bill to be reported by voice vote.
  • The bill attracted 14 cosponsors.
  • On July 19, 2012, H.R. 6156 was introduced by Congressman Dave Camp with 9 original cosponsors.

H.R. 4405, Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012:

  • On June 7, 2012, the Committee on Foreign Affairs held a consideration and mark-up session, and then ordered the bill to be reported (amended) by voice vote.
  • The bill attracted 80 cosponsors.
  • On May 19, 2012,H.R 4405, a bill to impose sanctions on persons responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, and for other gross violations of human rights in the Russian Federation, and for other purposes, was introduced by Congressman James McGovern with 15 original cosponsors.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E594-595).

H.R. 2867 & S. 1875, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011:

  • The bill was signed into law by President Barack Obama on December 23, 2011, and is now Public Law No: 112-75.
  • On December 16, 2011, the House voted to suspend the rules and agree to the Senate amendments by voice vote. (text as House agreed to Senate amendment (CR H9810).
  • On December 13, 2011, H.R. 2867 passed the Senate with amendments by Voice Vote. (text: CR S8553).
  • On November 15, 2011, S. 1875 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Mike Lee with one original cosponsor: Senator Marco Rubio.
  • On September 15, 2011, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass H.R. 2867, as amended, by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 391 – 21 (Roll no. 709). (text: CR 9/14/2011 H6152-6153).
  • The bill attracted 5 cosponsors.
  • On September 8, 2011, H.R. 2867 was introduced in the House by Congressman Frank Wolf with original cosponsors: House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Ranking Member Howard Berman.

H.R. 440,  To provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia:

  • On July 29, 2011, the House voted to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended, by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 402 – 20 (Roll no. 673). (text: CR 7/27/2011 H5595-5596).
  • The bill attracted 80 cosponsors.
  • On January 25, 2011, H.R. 440 was introduced by Congressman Frank Wolf with 5 original cosponsors: Congresswoman Anna Eshoo, Congressmen Trent Franks, Rush Holt and Chris Smith.   Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR H402), and (CR E106-107).

S. 1245, Near East and South Central Asia Religious Freedom Act of 2011:

  • The bill attracted 7 cosponsors.
  • On June 22, 2011, S. 1245, a bill to provide for the establishment of the Special Envoy to Promote Religious Freedom of Religious Minorities in the Near East and South Central Asia, was introduced by Senator Roy Blunt with one original cosponsor: Senator Carl Levin.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S4028).

H.R. 1856, International Religious Freedom Amendments of 2011:

  • The bill attracted 42 cosponsors.
  • On May 11, 2011, H.R. 1856, a bill to amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 (IRFA) to strengthen the promotion of religious freedom in the United States foreign policy and to reauthorize the U.S Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), was introduced in the House by Congressman Frank Wolf with one original cosponsor: Congressman Chris Smith.  Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E853-854).

House Resolution 134, condemning the Government of Iran for its state-sponsored persecution of its Baha’i minority and its continued violation of the International Covenants on Human Rights:

  • On January 1, 2013, the House voted to suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, as amended, by voice vote. (text: CR 12/31/2012 H7500-7501).
  • The resolution attracted 146 cosponsors.
  • On March 1, 2011, House Resolution 134 was introduced by Congressman Robert Dold with 3 original cosponsors.