~1--. 2014-(>299-F [ ] Wedn e sday, 'March 04, 2015... I.. FOIA Marker lhis is n~tatextual record. fhis FOIA Marker ihdicates that material has been rernoved du-ring FOIAprocessJng by George W. Bush Presidential Library staff. ' ' ' Records Management, White House Office of Subject Files - FGO'OE>-03A (Chief of Staff, Office Files) Stack: Row: Sect.: w 11' 1 Lota'tion or NARAN-Umb er: FR'C rt>: Shelf P'bs.: 1 Hollihger ID: 5 2 rn807 23670 11084 OA-Numb e f"':. 11084 Folder Titi~: 517106 '!
opp 0DF CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT THE WHITE HOUSE,'/ Andrew H. Card, Jr. Phone: (202) 456-6798 Fax: (202) 456-1907 DATE: Saturday, May 11, 2002 Nick Calio (LEG AFFAIRS WW Harriet Miers (STAFF SEC) WW For Your Information For Your Information 'ba This may be duplicative but just in case you didn't get a copy when the letter was sent in late March 2002 C Melissa Bennett... (202) 456-7256
MAY 10 ~ ' 02 1 7: 37 FR HONORABLE J MCDONALD 202 225 054'3 I U ':l4::>bl ':ll::'.l' ( t"'. laj.,rep. Juanita Mill1ender-McDonald ' Fax To: Mr. Andrew Card, Chief of From: Shirley Cooks, Chief of Staff, Office Staff, The White House of Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald Fax: 2021 456-1907 Phone: 2021456-6798 Date: May 1 o. 2002 Pages: 3 Re: The attached CC: ~' ~~~~~~~~~---;.-~~~~~~~~-,-~~~~~~~ 0 Ursent 0 For Review D Please Comment Congresswoman Millender-McDonald would like Mr. Card to' be aware of the attached letter to President Bush from Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, Mr. Jack Kemp and herself.
"JUANiTA MILLENDER-McDONALD 37TM D1sTR1c:T,', CAllroR1111" 125 CANNON BUllDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 0537 (202) 225-7924 FAX (202) 2'25-'7926 970 WEsT 191lln-iSTREH E11sr TowER, Sum: 900 'TORRANC<, CA 90502 (310) 536-1190 FAX (310) 5:~8-9672! E-MAii.: M;llendor.McDon ld@mol1.not1se,oov vvww.hou6b.qo\l/mill'endcr mcdon."11c:;i George W. Bush President of the United States The White House ~ Wa;shington, D.C. Qtongrc.as of t~c llnihll fates i!;ous.e nf itepre.a.entatiu.es mn.s~ingilln, mai: 20515-0537 March 26, 2002 COMMITTEE ON., iransf'ortation AND INFRAS'rRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEES ON AVIATION HIGHWAV5 l'nd TRANSIT WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT C:OMMITIEEON SMALl. BUSINESS FIANKING MEMBEFI SUBCOMIVllTTeE ON WORKFORCE, EMPOWERMENT AND GOyERNMENT PROGRAMS CO-CHAIR CONG~ESSIONAL WOMEN'S CP\UCUS De~r Mr. President: We' commend you for the leadership that you are demonstrating during these challenging times for the country and applaud your vigilance in your efforts to eradicate terrorism throughout the world. May God continue to give you wisdom on your journey for peace. Wei appreciate your taking a leadership role in Election Refonn by supporting the National Commission's recommendations. The nation must rid itself of the tragic events of the last presidential election and ensure the American people that each vote does count. Thus the reason for our letter. A part of the report submitted to you by those who served on the election reform corrunission recommended that every American who con1mits a crime and pays his or her debt to society should have their right to vote restored. We perceive this right as the most fundamental act performed by I citizens in our great representative democracy. America's penal system is built on the premise that offenders can repay their debt to society and return as fully rehabilitated individuals. But an estimated 3.9 'million Americans, or one in 50 adults, have permanently or currently lost the ability to vote because of a felony conviction. Permanent disenfranchisement fundamentally negates the prindple of rehabilitation. Rehabilitated individuals enjoy the restoration of every right - except voting. Beqause voting is integral to being a productive member of society, America shoµld be encouraging rehabilitated felons to vote, not prohibiting them. States have the extlusive power to restore voting rights to ex-offenders under the Constitution, but not all states make this automatic. Smne state laws vary on when a person convicted of a felony may regain his or her right to vote. These disparities cause confusion that can di8enfranchisc eligible voters. Seventeen states require specific gubernatorial action to regain voting PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER ~11
MRY 10 ' 02 1 7: 38 FR HONORRBLI::. J MLLJUNHLLJ.:::1:::1.::: <:::C:::b ~::>"I'::' 1 u ::i<+~o! ::n:~ir ~ ::!U AflL!T~ MILLENDER-McDONALD 37TH DISTRICT,: CALIFO~NIA 1 2$ CANNOt.i BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC:20Sl!i 0537 (202) 225-7924 FAX (202) 225-7926 970 WesT 190TH STRECT. EAST TOWEi\, SUITE 900 TORAAN(:E, Cl!. 90502 1310) 53~-1190 FAX (31 Ol 538 96 72 E-M/\IL'. Millender :McOo~.:ild@m~ll,houtre.go\I www.ticus~.9e>v/millcndcr-mc.doniile3 C!tongr.ess of tll e lltnif.eh ~fates ~nus uf ikpres.entatiues DllasI1ington 1 IC!! 2D515-DSl7 rights and twenty-one states can automatically restore voting rights. Sixteen states require rehabilitated felons to receive a presidential pardon. COMMl'1'TEE ON TRANSl?:PRTATION AND ' infrastructure SUBCOMMITTEES ON AVIATION HIGHWAYS AND TRANSIT WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITT~E ON SMALL BUSINESS RANKING MEMaER suacommittee ON WORkFORC~. fmfowerment ANO GOVERNMENT PROGRAMS CO-CH Alli CONGRESSIONAL WOM~N'!'i caucus The National Commission on Federal Election Reform, on which two of us served, recommended that each state allow for restoration of voting rights to otherwise eligible citizens who have been convicted of a felony once they have fully served their sentence, including any term of_probation or parole. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald has worked tirelessly during her tenhre in Congress on this issue by introducing HR 515 8 and pressing for its passage. She joins this letter as a concerned and committed stakeholder. Foimer Secretary Jack Kemp-with his Empower America - has been a proponent of this restoration of voting rights issue for years. I Mr'.. President, we respectfully request that you consider issuing a pre.sidential proclamation to encourage states to change their existing laws on,ex-felons voting rights. The proclamation would assist those states where ex-felons' voting rights are automatically restored upon clearance of their probation obligations. And itwould prompt those states where disparities in restoration of voting rights exist to give meaningful consideration to this important matter. We thank you for your time and await your favorable response. Sincerely, I i-- Gerald Ford Former President P~lN'f~D ON REC'rC~EO PAPER,..,...,, ** TOTRL PRGE.03 **
51?/tJ~ / ~-~3/1 CHIEF OF STAFF TO THE PRESIDENT THE WHITE HOUSE Andrew H. Card, Jr. Phone: (202) 456-6798 Fax: (202) 456-1907 DATE: Saturday, May 11, 2002 EGAFFAIRS WW For Your Information Harriet Miers STAFF SEC) WW For Your Information This *1ay be duplicative but just in case you didn't get a copy when the letter was sent in late March 2002 ',;_.. Melissa Bennett.,. (202) 456-7256
- MAY 10 '02 17:37 FR HONORABLE J MCDONALD 202 226 054g IU ~4~bl~~ ( ~.~1 Rep. Juanita.. Millender-McDonald Fax To: Mr. Andrew Card, Chief of From: Shirley Cooks, Chief of Staff, Office Staff. The White House of Rep. Juanita Millender McDonald Fax: 2021456-1907 Phone: 202/ 456-6798 Date: May 10, 2002 Pages: 3 Re: The attached CC: 0 Urgent 0 For Review D Please Comment Comments: Congresswoman Millender-McDonald would like Mr. Card to be aware of the attached letter to President Bush from Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, Mr. Jack Kemp and herself.
- MAY 10 '02 17:37 FR HONORRBLc J MCLJUNHLLJ ~~~ ~~b ~~q~ IU ~q~oi~~( "JUANITA MILLENDER-McDONALD 37TH DISTRICT, CAltrORNll\ I 2 5 CANNON Bl.o'lDING WASHINGTON, DC 20515 0537 (202) 225-7924 FAX (202) 225. '7926 970 WEST 190TH STREET EAST T f;lw~r, SUITf 900 TORRANCf, CA 90502 (310) 536 1190 FAX (310) 538 9672 E-MAii.: MH:endar.McDonold@=ll.nouae.oov www.hou&e.go\l/miljendcr mcdonilk:i George W. Bush President of the United States The White HolLse Washington, D.C. Qtnngre.as nf tlf r 1Jlnihil ~fat.es il;ous.e of ihpreli.entntiu.es Elhts~ingt11n, mar 2DS15-D537 March 26, 2002 COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUllCOMMl'rTEES ON AVIATION HIGHWAV5 l'nd TRANSIT WATER RESOURCES AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTEE ON SMALL BUSINESS RANKING MEMBER SUBCOMIVllTTEE ON WORKFORCE, EMPOWERMENT AND GOVERNMENT PF\OGR.AMS CO-CHAIR CONGRESSIONAL WOMEN'S CAUCUS Dear Mr. President: We commend you for the leadership that you are demonstrating during these challenging ti1nes for the country and applaud your vigilance in your efforts to eradicate terrorism throughout the world. May God continue to give you wisdom on your journey for peace. We appreciate your taking a leadership role in Election Reform by supporting the National Corrunission's recommendations. The nation must rid itself of the tragic events of the last presidential election and ensure the American people that each vote does co1mt. Thus the reason for our letter. A part of the report submitted to you by those who served on the election reform cormnission recommended that every American who commits a crime and pays his or her debt to society should have their right to vote restored. We perceive this right as the most fundan1ental act performed by citizens in our great representative democracy. America's penal system is built on the premise that offenders can repay their debt to society and return as fully rehabilitated individuals. But an estimated 3.9 million Americans, or one in 50 adults, have pennanently or c urrently lost the ability to vote because of a felony conviction. Permanent disenfranchisement fundamentally negates the prindple of rehabilitation. Rehabilitated individuals enjoy the restoration of every right - except voting. Because voting is integral to being a productive member of society, America should be encouraging rehabilitated felons to vote, not prohibiting them. States have the extlusive power to restore voting rights to ex-offenders nnder the Constitution, but not all states make this automatic. S01ne state laws vary on when a person convicted of a felony may regain his or her right to vote. These disparities cause confusion that can disenfranchise eligible voters. Seventeen states require specific gubernatorial action to regain voting... PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER
- MAY 10 '02 17:38 FR HONORRBLc J MCUUNHLLJ ~~~ ~~b ~~~~ 1u ~~~oi~~r r ~..., duanl'f~ MILLENDER-McDONALD 37TH DISTlllCT, CALIFOANIA 1 2$ CANNON BUILDING WASHINGTON, DC 201$16-0537 (202) 225-7924 FAX (202) 225-?926 970 WE$T 190TH STRECT EAST TOWEi\, SUITE 900 TORRANCE, CA 90502 (310) 536-1190 FAX (3101 638 9672 E-Mf\IL! Millcndcr.McOe>n ld@m ll,houoe.ijoy www.hcusc.5:1ov/mill~ndcr-mc.donfl.l(i C!tongr.ess of tilt Rnit.e~ tatts i6;ous.e of ihpr.esrntntiu:es D!lasl1ingtnn, mm 20515-0537 rights and twenty-one states can automatically restore voting rights. Sixteen states require rehabilitated felons to receive a presidential pardon_ COMMl'l'TEE ON TRANSPORTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE SUBCOMMITTEES ON AVIATION HIGHWAYS ANO TRANSIT WATER RESOl.IRCfS AND ENVIRONMENT COMMITTeE ON SMALL BUSINl:.SS RANKINCi MEMeER SUBCOMMITTEE ON WORKFORC~. EMPOWERMENT ANO GOVERNMENT PROGRAM~ CO-CHAii\ CONGRfSSIONA!. WOM~N'!i caucus The National Commission on Federal Election Reform, on which two of us served, recommended that each state allow for restoration of voting rights to otherwise eligible citizens who have been convicted of a felony once they have fully served their sentence, including any term of probation or parole. Congresswoman Millender-McDonald has worked tirelessly during her tenure in Congress on this issue by introducing HR 515 8 and pressing for its passage. She joins this letter as a concerned and committed stakeholder. Former Secretary Jack Kemp -with his Empower America - has been a proponent of this restoration of voting rights issue for years. Mr. President, we respectfully request that you consider issuing a presidential proclamation to encourage states to change their existing laws on ex-felons voting rights. The proclamation would assist those states where ex-felons' voting rights are automatically restored upon clearance of their probation obligations. And it would prompt those states where disparities in restoration of voting rights exist to give meaningful consideration to this important 1natter. We thank you :for your time and await your favorable response. Sincerely, -- / ~~~ Gerald Ford Former.President f'rin1'~d ON REC'rCLEO PAPER ~ ** TOTAL PRGE.03 **