WASHINGTON, D.C. – Lisa A. Rickard, president of the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform (ILR), made the following statement today about the U.S. House of Representatives Judiciary Committee’s passage of the Criminal Code Improvement Act of 2015 (H.R. 4002). The legislation would require federal prosecutors to prove criminal intent when pursuing prosecutions.

“The House Judiciary Committee has taken an important step toward improving the federal criminal code to protect Americans from abusive over-enforcement.

“There are presently more than 5,000 federal crimes and hundreds of thousands of criminal regulations now on the books. This Act ensures that everyday Americans are protected against prosecution unless the government proves they acted with criminal intent.”

ILR seeks to promote civil justice reform through legislative, political, judicial, and educational activities at the global, national, state, and local levels

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.

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