WASHINGTON – Yesterday, Congresswoman Madeleine Dean was appointed to the House Judiciary Committee, a powerful body charged with overseeing Federal courts, administrative agencies and Federal law enforcement. The Committee tackles a wide range of issues, including border security, government ethics and oversight, intellectual property, and national security.
“The Judiciary Committee addresses issues that touch the lives of my constituents directly, including protecting the Constitution, working for meaningful gun safety legislation, and ensuring that the legal system works for everyone – not just the few,” said Rep. Dean. “I look forward to getting started.”
The Committee began work immediately, meeting to plan upcoming legislative work and public hearings.
“Good government requires meaningful oversight and a firm commitment to the rule of law,” said Rep. Dean. “That’s how we ensure equal justice for all. I’m eager to use the Committee’s powers to ensure much-needed government ethics reform – and to hold public officials accountable.”
Rep. Dean also served six-and-a-half years in the Pennsylvania State House – deeply valuable preparation for Capitol Hill. During her time in Harrisburg, Rep. Dean served on the Judiciary Committee. After Sandy Hook, she also founded and chaired the PA SAFE Caucus, a group of legislators and advocates working to enact sensible gun violence prevention policy and save lives – including an important domestic violence gun measure that was signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf.
“Gun violence kills or wounds 125,000 Americans every year – including approximately 100 people in the Fourth Congressional District last year,” said Rep. Dean. “This has to stop.”
Rep. Dean is also determined to carry her work on criminal justice reform to the federal level. “In Pennsylvania, we brought incarceration and recidivism rates down – improving citizens’ lives and creating huge savings in our state’s correctional budget. I look forward to developing thoughtful criminal justice policy in Washington as well.”
Judiciary Committee Chairman Nadler commented on Rep. Dean’s appointment to the committee. “I am proud to welcome Congresswoman Madeleine Dean to the House Committee on the Judiciary,” said Chairman Nadler (D-NY). “Representative Dean brings incredible experience with her as a lawyer and former Pennsylvania State Representative working on gun safety, criminal justice, and ethics reform, issues that are central to the role and jurisdiction of our Committee. At such a critical time in our Nation’s history, I look forward to working with Congresswoman Dean as we continue the important work of the Judiciary Committee in fighting to protect the rule of law, strengthening our safety and security from enemies foreign and domestic, shielding Americans’ civil rights and civil liberties, and guaranteeing that all people, no matter their age, race, gender, religion, ability, finances, nationality, or sexual orientation, are treated fairly and equally.”
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For more information, please contact Matt Bieber, Communications Director for Rep. Dean, at 202-569-2879 or Matthew.Bieber@mail.house.gov.
