Federal Legislation Aimed at Preventing Wrongful Executions Introduced In Congress 

On March 7, 2001, U.S. Senators Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Gordon Smith (R - Ore.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Russ Feingold (D-Wisc.), joined U.S. Representatives William Delahunt (D-Mass.) and Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) to reintroduce the Innocence Protection Act in Congress. The bipartisan legislation seeks to address problems of fairness in the death penalty in order to avoid the risk of wrongful convictions and executions. The bill would have states provide qualified and experienced attorneys to all defendants facing the death penalty, and allow for greater access to DNA testing.  Both bills (S.486 and HR.912) began with record levels of bipartisan support - 16 (4 R, 12 D) original cosponsors in the Senate and 119 (19 R, 100 D) in the House.  Since the death penalty was reinstated, 95 people have been released from death row after new evidence led to their exoneration