The vote scheduled in the House this week on H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act, has been postponed. Democratic leadership had placed the bill on the suspension calendar, but now have delayed the vote until Republicans can assure enough votes for swift passage.
The bill’s sponsors, Congressmen Danny Davis (D-IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT), are working closely with leadership to place it back on the calendar for a vote as soon as possible.
The Second Chance Act, which has broad bipartisan support in both the House and the Senate, is the first piece of comprehensive legislation designed to reduce recidivism, increase public safety, and help ensure the safe and successful return of prisoners to the community. The bill authorizes up to $65 million dollars in grants to state and local governments to develop prisoner re-entry initiatives, including projects that seek to connect people coming out of prisons or jails with mental health services.
Cosponsors of the bill include Judiciary Chairman John Conyers (D - MI) and Ranking Member Lamar Smith (R - TX), former Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner (R - WI), current Chair of the Crime Subcommittee Bobby Scott (D - VA) and Ranking Member Randy Forbes (R - VA), former Crime Subcommittee Chair Howard Coble (R - NC), and Judiciary Committee members Reps. Chris Cannon (R - UT), Steve Chabot (R - OH), Sheila Jackson-Lee (D - TX), Hank Johnson (D - GA), and Adam Schiff (D - CA).
For more information on the Second Chance Act visit the Re-Entry Policy Council website or contact Sara Paterni [Email address: spaterni #AT# csg.org - replace #AT# with @ ].
Tags: Advocacy, Ending Homelessness, Supportive Housing
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Thank you for reporting on the Second Chance Act of 2007. We are The Rehabilitated Project (”TRP”
http://www.rehabilitated.org have formed a coalition of supporters for this act and Congressman Charles Rangel’s Act (HR 623). Both of these acts are vitally important to all those concerned with restorative justice and assisting ex-offenders reintegrate. If you would like to become part of our coalition, please don’t hesitate to visit us at http://www.rehabilitated.org/contact.htm or call me at 949-493-6000. While Congressman Davis’ bill helps reintegrate through education and job training, Charles Rangel’s bill helps with expungement of criminal convictions so that the meaningful employment, professional licensure, education and housing can be obtained. BOTH of these bills deserve our support AND hard work. Come join our coalition and let’s get the work done. Thanks,
Charles Benninghoff, Founder
The Rehabilitated Project
PS - to see just one reason why we need to pass Charlie’s bill, read the statistics about the death of the presidential pardon power (see http://www.rehabilitated.org/compassion). If President Bush pardoned people - so they could get jobs, education, housing and other opportunities all of the country enjoys - at the same rate as was done in the 1920’s, there would have been more than 10,000 pardons in the last 12 months. The actual number is about 15. In fact, Bush’s record is so bad the White House has refused to publish the actual figures.