[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 789 Introduced in House (IH)]

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115th CONGRESS
  2d Session
H. RES. 789

  Expressing support for designation of April 2018 as ``Second Chance 
                                Month''.


_______________________________________________________________________


                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                             March 19, 2018

  Mr. Cardenas (for himself and Mr. Lewis of Minnesota) submitted the 
   following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the 
                               Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
  Expressing support for designation of April 2018 as ``Second Chance 
                                Month''.

Whereas every person is endowed with human dignity and value;
Whereas redemption and second chances are American values;
Whereas millions of American citizens have a criminal record;
Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals returned to their community from 
        State and Federal prisons every year;
Whereas returning citizens have paid their debt after committing a crime but 
        still face significant barriers, also known as collateral consequences;
Whereas many of these consequences are mandatory, taking effect automatically 
        regardless of a nexus to public safety, the seriousness of the offense, 
        the time passed since the offense, or the individual's efforts to make 
        amends or earn back the public's trust;
Whereas gaining meaningful employment is one of the most significant predictors 
        of successful reentry and reducing future criminal activity;
Whereas many individuals who have previously been incarcerated struggle to find 
        employment because of both societal and legal barriers which are often 
        not directly related to the offense committed or any proven public 
        safety benefit;
Whereas many States have laws which prohibit individuals with a criminal record 
        from working in certain industries or obtaining professional licenses;
Whereas education has also been shown to be a significant predictor of 
        successful reentry;
Whereas many individuals with a criminal record have lower levels of educational 
        attainment than the general population and have significant difficulty 
        acquiring admission to and funding for educational programs;
Whereas many individuals convicted of certain crimes are barred from receiving 
        the financial aid necessary to acquire additional skills and knowledge;
Whereas many individuals with a criminal history also face significant barriers 
        in securing a place to live;
Whereas many individuals with criminal history are barred from seeking access to 
        public housing;
Whereas many people with a criminal history also face other significant 
        barriers, such as an inability to regain voting rights, volunteer in 
        their community, secure identification documentation, and significant 
        debt as a result of their conviction and incarceration;
Whereas these barriers prevent millions of Americans from contributing fully to 
        their families and communities;
Whereas these barriers can contribute to recidivism, which increases crime and 
        victimization and decreases public safety;
Whereas the inability to find gainful employment and other collateral 
        consequences of conviction inhibit the economic mobility of people with 
        criminal histories, which can negatively impact the well-being of their 
        children and families for generations;
Whereas the President in the 2018 State of the Union expressed, ``As America 
        regains its strength, this opportunity must be extended to all citizens. 
        That is why this year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help 
        former inmates who have served their time get a second chance at 
        life.'';
Whereas April 9, 2018, marks the 10-year anniversary of the Second Chance Act of 
        2008, which has provided reentry services to over 166,000 people in 49 
        states and the District of Columbia since its passage;
Whereas the anniversary of the death of Charles Colson, who used his second 
        chance following his incarceration for a Watergate-related crime to 
        found Prison Fellowship, the Nation's largest outreach to prisoners, 
        former prisoners, and their families, falls on April 21, 2012; and
Whereas the designation of April as Second Chance Month can contribute to 
        increased public awareness about the impact of collateral consequences, 
        the need for closure for those who have paid their debt, and 
        opportunities for individuals, employers, congregations, and communities 
        to extend second chances: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
            (1) honors the work of communities, governmental entities, 
        nonprofit organizations, congregations, employers, and 
        individuals to remove unnecessary legal and societal barriers 
        that prevent an individual with a criminal record from becoming 
        a productive member of society; and
            (2) calls on the people of the United States to observe 
        Second Chance Month through actions and programs that--
                    (A) promote awareness of collateral consequences; 
                and
                    (B) provide closure for individuals who have paid 
                their debts.
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