kelly a statement issued monday night judiciary chairman james sensenbrenner said his committee will mark up the usa freedom act on wednesday and hold a vote to pass it out of committee. but there could be a catch our teeth and sax reports. it was nearly ten months ago when republicans and democrats join together in the house of representatives. then came just a few votes shy of de funding of the city's ball collection of americans call records. since then there's been more disclosures letter calls for reform. email is read by the courts and even the president of the united states that the nsa needs to change. there haven't been any more votes in congress until now. the announcement this week that the house judiciary committee will vote on the usa freedom act on wednesday. the debate over nsa reform on capitol hill heats up again. that's because in both the house and in the senate there are two competing reform bills there's the usa freedom act worked its way through the house and senate judiciary committee. it has one hundred and forty three co sponsors in the house twenty one co sp

at this time unless there is objection, i want to offer a statement of our chairman, james sensenbrennerr the over-criminalization task force. know that our thoughts and prayers are for jim and his wife with the health issues that she has had for a week or so. our hearts and prayers go out for both of them. i have a statement here that i have entered into the record. hearing no objection, that will be so ordered. with that -- did you want to -- we will turn to the ranking member, mr. scott, for his statement. >> thank you, mr. chairman. even though the united states represents only 5% of the world's population, we account for over 25% of the prisoners. since 1980 our prison population has increased 1000%. the average federal sentence has doubled and drug convictions have tripled. the so-called war on drugs has been waged on minority and poor communities of color even though data shows minorities are no more likely to use or sell illegal drugs. the sentences are driven up by mandatory minimums. in fiscal year 2012 60% of convicted federal drug defendants were convicted of offenses carryin

at this time unless there is objection, i want to offer a statement of our chairman, james sensenbrenner, for the over-criminalization task force. know that our thoughts and prayers are for jim and his wife with the health issues that she has had for a week or so. our hearts and prayers go out for both of them. i have a statement here that i have entered into the record. hearing no objection, that will be so ordered. with that -- did you want to -- we will turn to the ranking member, mr. scott, for his statement. >> thank you, mr. chairman. even though the united states represents only 5% of the world's population, we account for over 25% of the prisoners. since 1980 our prison population has increased 1000%. the average federal sentence has doubled and drug convictions have tripled. the so-called war on drugs has been waged on minority and poor communities of color even though data shows minorities are no more likely to use or sell illegal drugs. the sentences are driven up by mandatory minimums. in fiscal year 2012 60% of convicted federal drug defendants were convicted of offenses car