[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 167 (Thursday, November 21, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1725]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           SECOND CHANCE ACT

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, November 21, 2013

  Ms. LEE of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of 
reauthorizing the Second Chance Act.
   I'd like to thank my dear friend and colleague Rep. Danny Davis for 
being such a vocal and tireless advocate on what is a critical issue 
for communities in my district and throughout the country.
   I'd also like to thank my colleague Jim Sensenbrenner for his work 
on this issue and for introducing, along with Congressman Davis, H.R. 
3465 which would reauthorize this important law.
   The Second Chance Act, signed into law in 2008, has provided 
important resources and support to individuals re-entering their 
communities after being incarcerated.
   It has support from a broad coalition of organizations including 
from the civil rights, law enforcement, and behavioral health 
communities, in addition to many others.
   Since becoming law, the Second Chance Act has authorized nearly 600 
grants that have been award to local governments and nonprofit 
organizations in 49 states.
   These grants have played a critical role in addressing recidivism 
and increasing public safety.
   In my own district in the city of Oakland, a program known as the 
Comprehensive Community Cross System Reentry Support or C\3\RS, brings 
together government and nonprofit partners to re-engage youth in school 
after leaving a juvenile detention center.
  This has been a tremendously successful program. Of the 592 program 
participants, 442 were reenrolled in school and of the 161 who received 
job training, 102 were placed in jobs.
   This is but one example of the hundreds of successful programs that 
have helped previously incarcerated individuals get back on their feet 
and on the right path.
   That is why it is so important that we move swiftly to reauthorize 
the Second Chance Act.
   I call on House Republican leadership to bring this measure to the 
floor for a vote and give our communities and previously incarcerated 
individuals the support they need.

                          ____________________