For too many years state courts have treated the victims of crime as though they are simply part of the evidence, and have done little if anything to address their wants, needs, and desires during the penalty phase of the trial. We believe that this has had a deleterious effect not just on the relationship between men and women, but also between the white community and the black community, and between the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and the straight community. Therefore we, the undersigned, call on Speaker of the House John Boehner to introduce legislation, under the authority of the Commerce Clause of the U.S. Constitution, that would require state courts to focus, to the greatest degree possible, on these wants, needs, and desires, both financially and otherwise, during the penalty phase of the trial. Additionally, we call on Speaker Boehner to include in this legislation a requirement that victims of crime be given at least some control over the pardon process. Finally, we call on Speaker Boehner to introduce legislation that would place the same requirement on federal courts.