Senator Reid's remarks on February 14, 2002:

"Mr. President, ... historically [amendment co-sponsor Senator Specter] is one of the prosecutors we know about in this country. I say that because the two sponsors of this legislation are not people who are soft on crime. I, personally, as I stated earlier today, when I was in the State legislature, introduced legislation to make life without the possibility of parole mean what it says; that if you are sentenced to life without the possibility of parole, that is what it should be.

I want the record to be spread with the fact that Reid and Specter are for tough sentencing. We will do everything we can to put people in prison and jail who deserve to be in prison and jail. They should complete their sentences, but after that has been done and they have paid their debt to society, shouldn't they have the right to vote? That is what it is all about" (U.S. Senate Congressional Record 2002, S805, emphasis added).