Mr. Chairman, I have represented a number of political prisoners over the years from the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe at the time who were committed to a psychiatric hospital, not for reasons of treatment but for reasons of criminalization and punishment.
This is the other way around, Mr. Chairman. We are in a democracy. I am saying that people who have a mental illness or a disability should be able to get the treatment they deserve and not be criminalized. This is the exact reverse of the example that Mr. Woodworth is giving. We do have these situations before the courts in this regard.
I am saying that in this entire legislation—and this is on the issue of mandatory minimums, so it is applicable here—there is no protective provision with regard to those who are suffering from mental illness or mental disability. This is being offered within the framework of the mandatory minimums with which we are dealing, and it is being offered for purposes of allowing the Attorney General to approve the program that can provide for treatment rather than incarceration.