[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 57 (Thursday, April 10, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2938-S2939]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           SECOND CHANCE ACT

   Mr. BROWNBACK. Mr. President, I rise today to acknowledge the 
Presidential signing of a bill that was two and a half Congresses in 
the making, the Second Chance Act. This bill, which focuses on 
reinventing the way in which we create prison reentry programs, will 
have a dramatic and positive effect on hundreds of thousands of lives--
lives that will be changed for the better.
  I am equally pleased that the President signaled his support for this 
much needed legislation by hosting a bill signing ceremony this morning 
at the White House. I was delighted to join my colleagues in both the 
Senate and the House of Representatives, as well as the organizations 
that helped make this bill a reality--it was truly a magnificent event.
  Over 650,000 individuals will be released from our Federal and State 
prisons, and 9 million are released from jails. Approximately two out 
of every three individuals released from prison or jail commit more 
crimes and will be rearrested within 3 years of release, placing 
increasing financial burdens on our States and decreasing public 
safety.
  Recidivism is costly, in both personal and financial terms. Consider: 
The American taxpayers spent approximately $9 billion per year on 
corrections in 1982 and in 2002--nearly two decades later--taxpayers 
spent $60 billion. This current criminal justice system is not working, 
does not make our cities and States safer and is unacceptable and must 
be addressed.
  The Second Chance Act will address these major issues in the area of 
corrections. By providing grant money to States through the Department 
of Justice and the Department of Labor, the bill encourages the 
creation of innovative programs geared toward improving public safety, 
decreasing the financial burden on States and successfully 
reintegrating ex-offenders into society.
  Additionally, this bill authorizes two grant programs designed to aid 
nonprofit organizations--faith-based and community-based 
organizations--that provide programs to those incarcerated. As you may 
know, faith-based programs are very successful in reintegrating 
offenders into society. A 2002 study found that faith-based prison 
programs result in a significantly lower rate of re-arrest than 
vocation-based programs--16 percent versus 36 percent.
  I and my Senate and House colleagues have worked extremely hard over 
the past 4 years on this measure that encompasses Federal, State, 
local, and nonprofit programs. I would especially like to thank Ranking 
Member Specter, Chairman Biden, and Chairman Leahy. Our partnership 
over the last years has been a true testament to bipartisanship. We 
were able to put aside our policy differences for the good of those in 
need and come together on a bill that will provide hope and aid to 
those incarcerated. The bill will also provide assistance to those most 
vulnerable and often overlooked--the children of incarcerated parents. 
Nearly half of all prisoners have children, and it is estimated that 
one in five of those children will follow their parent into the prison 
system--this broken system must change, and the Second Chance Act will 
facilitate such needed change.
  Indeed this bill is much needed and will serve as a catalyst for 
systemic change. This bill is supported by the hard work and 
determination of over 200 organizations, such as Prison Fellowship 
Ministries, Open Society, the Council of State Governments, and the 
U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, as well as many State and local 
government correction officials and law enforcement officials--a truly 
bipartisan/bicameral coalition of partners committed to changing the 
criminal justice system.
  I commend the tremendous--truly tremendous work these organizations 
completed on behalf of this bill. Without their partnership, the bill 
may not have become reality. Through their perseverance and help, much 
needed reentry resources will be funded to help give those in our 
prison system a second chance at life. Through substance abuse 
programs, education, and job training programs, those incarcerated will 
be given a second chance to be productive citizens. Perhaps most 
importantly, prisoners will be given a second chance to reconnect with 
their families through family-based treatment and mentoring programs.
  This is a monumental bill that will change the lives of countless 
individuals and will keep our communities safer by reducing recidivism 
rates drastically--the goal, 50 percent in 5 years--and it can be done.
  Kansas has proven it. In slightly less time than it took us to enact 
this bill--3 years--Kansas cut their monthly revocation rate by 44 
percent . . . 44 percent. I understand that they can also track the 
recidivism rate for ex-offenders in the 12-18 months of a parolee's 
release. Even more striking, the State has been able to reduce, by 41 
percent, the number of criminal convictions over the last 3 years--
proving that reentry programs work.
  This is amazing, and I know that with the aid of the Second Chance 
Act other States are on their way to these successes as well.
  I would like to also take a moment to recognize State Representative 
Pat Colloton from Kansas who was also here today to share in this 
celebration and is one of the leaders in Kansas on this issue.
  Mr. President, this has been a great day for the supporters of the 
Second Chance Act. I commend them for their efforts, and I ask 
unanimous consent that the full list of organizations that support this 
program be printed in the Record for their outstanding work on this 
issue.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

            Organizations that Support the Second Chance Act

       Access Community Health Network of Chicago; Addictions 
     Coalition of Delaware, Inc.; AdvoCare, Inc., Hancock, MD; All 
     of Us or None Oklahoma; Alliance for Children and Families; 
     Alston Wilkes Society, South Carolina; Alvis House, Inc., 
     Columbus, OH; American Academy of Child and Adolescent 
     Psychiatry; American Bar Association; American Catholic 
     Correctional Chaplains Association; American Center for Law 
     and Justice; American Conservative Union; American 
     Correctional Association; Amercan Correctional Chaplains 
     Association; American Counseling Association; American Jail 
     Association; American Probation and Parole Association; 
     American Psychological Association; The Arc of the United 
     States; Arizona Statewide TASC: Treatment Assessment & 
     Screening Center.
       Association for Better Living and Education; Association of 
     Citizens for Social Reform; Association of State Correctional 
     Administrators; A T Roseborough & Associated, Inc.; ATTIC 
     Corrections Services, Inc., Madison, WI; BASICS, Inc.--Bronx, 
     New York; Big Brothers Big Sisters of America; BOP Watch; The 
     Bronx Defenders; Broward County Regional Project Safe 
     Neighborhoods Task

[[Page S2939]]

     Force; California Association of Alcohol and Drug Program 
     Executives; Catholic Charities USA; Center for Community 
     Alternatives; Center for Community Corrections, Syracuse, NY; 
     Center for Employment Opportunities (CEO)--New York; Center 
     for Law and Social Policy; Center for Public Justice; Center 
     for Youth as Resources; Center on Juvenile and Criminal 
     Justice; Changin' Lives, Sugarland, TX.
       Chicago Coalition for the Homeless; Child Welfare League of 
     America; Children's Defense Fund; Christian Coalition; Church 
     Council of Greater Seattle; Church Women United; Citizens 
     United for Rehabilitation of Errants--Virginia, Inc.; 
     Coalition for Juvenile Justice; Coalition of Community 
     Corrections Providers--New Jersey; Coalition to End 
     Homelessness, Ft. Lauderdale, FL; Concerned Citizens 
     Coalition, Front Royal, VA; The Consortium for Citizens 
     with Disabilities Criminal Justice Policy Task; Force; 
     Corporation for Supportive Housing; Correctional Education 
     Association; Council of Juvenile Correctional 
     Administrators; Covenant House; Criminon International; 
     D.C. Prisoners' Legal Services Project; Delaware Center 
     for Justice, Inc.; East Bay Community Law Center, 
     Berkeley, CA.
       East County One Stop, OR; Evangelical Lutheran Church in 
     America; FAAM--Utah Chapter; F.A.C.E.--Baltimore, MD; Family 
     Justice, New York, NY; Family Research Council; Family 
     Service Agency, AZ; Federal Defense Associates, Santa Ana, 
     CA; Federal Prison Policy Project; Federation of Families for 
     Children's Mental Health; Fifth Avenue Committee; Fight 
     Crime: Invest in Kids; Foster Family-based Treatment 
     Association; Friends and Family of Incarcerated Persons, Las 
     Vegas, NV; Gastineau Human Services Corporation--Juneau, AK; 
     Goodwill Industries International; HARP (Housing Assistance 
     and Resource Program), Lebanon, PA; Haymarket Center of 
     Chicago; Heartland Alliance for Human Needs and Human Rights; 
     Horizon Faith-based Communities in Prisons.
       Human Kindness Foundation; Idaho Department of Correction; 
     Illinois TASC; Indiana Citizens United for Rehabilitation of 
     Errants; International Association of Reentry; International 
     Community Corrections Association; Jacksonville Area Legal 
     Aid, Prisoner Reentry Program; Jewish Prisoner Services 
     International; Johnson Institute; Justice Fellowship; Justice 
     Watch, Inc.; Kids First Coalition; Leadership Conference 
     on Civil Rights; Learning Disabilities Association of 
     America; Legal Action Center; Lifetrack Resources--
     Minnesota; Local Initiative Support Corporation (LISC); 
     Lutheran Services of America; Marion County Reentry Court, 
     Indianapolis, IN; Mennonite Central Committee Washington 
     Office.
       Montgomery County (MD) Department of Correction and 
     Rehabilitation; NAACP; NAACP Legal Defense & Educational 
     Fund, Inc.; NAADAC--The Association for Addiction 
     Professionals; National AIDS Housing Coalition; National 
     Alliance for the Mentally III; National Alliance of Faith and 
     Justice; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National 
     Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice; National 
     Association for Children of Alcoholics; National Association 
     for Children's Behavioral Health; National Association of 
     Counties; National Association of Drug Court Professionals; 
     National Association of Protection and Advocacy Systems; 
     National Association of School Psychology; National 
     Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors; 
     National Association of State Mental Health Program 
     Directors; National Black Caucus of State Legislators 
     (NBCSL); National Black Church Taskforce Initiative on Crime 
     and Criminal Justice; National Citizens United for 
     Rehabilitation of Errants (CURE).
       National Coalition of Full Opportunity for Felons (NCFOF); 
     National Committee on Community Corrections; National 
     Consortium of TASC Programs Inc.; National Correctional 
     Industries Association; National Council for Community 
     Behavorial Healthcare; National Council of La Raza; National 
     HIRE Network; National Independent Living Association; 
     National Law Center on Homelessness & Poverty; National Low 
     Income Housing Coalition; National Network for Youth; 
     National Re-Entry Resource Center; National Religious Affairs 
     Association; National Sheriffs' Association; National 
     TASC; National Transitional Jobs Network; National Urban 
     League; New Hope Project--Wisconsin; New Jersey Community 
     Corrections Association; New York City Departments of 
     Correction and Probation.
       New York Therapeutic Communities, Inc.; NY TCA; Noisette 
     Foundation, North Charleston, SC; North Carolina TASC 
     Training Institute; North West Community Corrections Center--
     Bowling Green, OH; Office of the Appellate Defender in New 
     York; Ohio Community Corrections Association; Ohio Department 
     of Rehabilitation and Correction; Ohio TASC Partnership; Our 
     Daughters & Sons Support Group, Newport News, VA; Pacific 
     Mountain WorkSource; Physicians for Human Rights; Pioneer 
     Human Services--Seattle, WA; Police Executive Research Forum 
     (PERF); Positive Resistance, Inc.; Presbyterian Church (USA), 
     Washington Office; Prevent Child Abuse America; Prison 
     Fellowship; Prison Ministry and Criminal Justice Commission 
     of the National Baptist Convention, USA, Inc.; Prisons 
     Foundation.
       Public/Private Ventures; Rebecca Project for Human Rights; 
     Tarzana Treatment Centers; Region 1 TASC Regional 
     Coordinating Entity of Coastal Horizons Center, Inc.; 
     Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD, Inc.); 
     Restoration Enterprises, Redding, CA; The Safer Foundation; 
     The Salvation Army; Samaritan Village; Sargent Shriver 
     National Center on Poverty Law--Chicago; School Social Work 
     Association of America; Seattle Ready4Work; Second Chance, 
     San Diego, CA; Second Chance Ready4Work, Memphis, TN; The 
     Sentencing Project; SHAR, Inc.; Society For Return To Honor, 
     AZ; Southend Community Services/Our Piece of the Pie, 
     Hartford, CT; State Associations of Addiction Services 
     (SAAS); Stay'n Out and Serendipity Programs.
       Stella Maris, Inc.--Cleveland, OH; STEPS To End Family 
     Violence, New York, NY; Students for Sensible Drug Policy; 
     Therapeutic Communities of America; Transitional Living 
     Centers, Inc.--Williamsport, PA; TurnAround Village, LTD; 
     United Cerebral Palsy; United Church of Christ/Justice & 
     Witness Ministries; United Methodist Church General Board of 
     Church and Society; United States Conference of Catholic 
     Bishops; United States Conference of Mayors; University of 
     Alabama, Birmingham TASC; UrbaneKnights, Inc.; Virginia CURE; 
     Volunteers of America; Washington Legal Clinic for the 
     Homeless; WestCare Foundation--Las Vegas, NV; The Wilberforce 
     Forum; Women of Reform Judaism; Word of Hope Ministries, 
     Inc./Ready4Work; Youth Advocate Programs, Inc.; Youth Law 
     Center.

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