MINK HAD INTRODUCED U.S. PAROLE REVIVAL BILL

Of all the well-deserved praise reported by the media for the late Patsy
Mink, her final, courageous legislative act has yet to be mentioned.

On July 26, Rep. Mink introduced HR 5296 in the U.S. House of
Representatives, titled "To Revive the System of Parole for Federal
Prisoners."

Since the Parole Commission Phase-Out Act of 1996, federal prisoners have
had little hope for parole or early release from long, mandatory minimum
sentences, most of which (60 percent) are for drug law violations. Mrs.
Mink's bill is intended to give hope to those nonviolent prisoners who are
serving disproportionately long mandatory minimum sentences dictated by drug
warriors in Congress and "lock-'em-up" prosecutors.

Hopefully, one of Rep. Mink's colleagues -- perhaps a colleague from Hawai'i
- -- will take the lead on seeing this bill through hearings. That will take
someone with the courage of Patsy Mink.

Donald M. Topping, President

Drug Policy Forum of Hawai'i