[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 70 (Saturday, April 20, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E378]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                RECOGNIZING APRIL AS SECOND CHANCE MONTH

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. DANNY K. DAVIS

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                        Saturday, April 20, 2024

  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I wish to take a moment to 
celebrate April as Second Chance Month--a time to recognize that 
interventions that help justice-involved individuals make our 
communities safer and healthier, grow our economy, and reduce 
recidivism.
  I am deeply proud of my successes during my Congressional career that 
have given people a second chance. The impact of the criminal justice 
system is deep and harmful--breaking families, removing workers from 
their workplace, and weakening our families, communities, and economy. 
We know that providing opportunity for improvement strengthens lives, 
and it also saves taxpayer resources on re-incarceration that could 
support citizens in other ways, with the Illinois Sentencing Policy 
Advisory Council estimating that the average cost associated with one 
recidivism event is $151,662. Further, economists recognize that 
integrating individuals with records into the workforce boosts our 
economy by increasing earnings and tax revenue.
  In April of 2008, Congress passed and President George Bush enacted 
my bill--the Second Chance Act. This law has provided over $600 million 
to state, local, and tribal governments as well as reentry-focused non-
profit organizations to operate programs and services to ensure the 
success of people reentering their communities after incarceration. A 
study completed by Texas Southern University of the effectiveness of 
the Second Chance Act in Alabama, Mississippi, and Georgia found that 
education, vocational and work release programs, substance abuse 
programs, and family support are integral activities in reducing 
recidivism. Just this week, I joined with colleagues from both sides of 
the aisle and in both chambers to reintroduce the Second Chance 
Reauthorization Act to keep these programs running.
  Research demonstrates that postsecondary correctional education is 
greatly needed, has tremendous effectiveness, increases economic well-
being, reduces recidivism, and saves taxpayers money. Two of my bills 
to improve educational opportunity for justice-involved individuals 
became law in 2019. The REAL (Restoring Education and Learning) Act 
restored Pell grant eligibility to the incarcerated. According to the 
Vera Institute study, states can save an average of $7.6 million in 
incarceration costs each year for which people in prison have access to 
Pell Grants. The FAFSA act removed the prohibition on federal student 
aid to people with felony drug convictions. This policy unfairly 
targeted poor and minority students and cost society more in terms of 
crime and lost economic productivity. These policy changes are smart, 
cost-effective investments of taxpayer dollars.
  Unfortunately, more needs to be done to improve educational access 
for justice-involved individuals. My DEMO (Demonstrating that 
Empowerment Makes Opportunities) Act would help those with records 
obtain successful health careers. This bill is modeled on the 
successful work of Johns Hopkins and the Safer Foundation that created 
intensive training programs for workers in hospitals coupled with legal 
services, support services, technical assistance for businesses, and 
job placement services. The programs are wildly successful, giving 
people with records good jobs and giving the hospitals quality, loyal 
workers. My ED ACCESS Act would repeal the lifetime ban on the American 
Opportunity Tax Credit for those with felony drug convictions. The 
antiquated lifetime AOTC ban for people with felony drug convictions 
makes it harder for these individuals to afford college and get their 
lives on track. My REO (Reentry Employment Opportunities) Act would 
codify the successful REO program that improves job training for 
justice-impacted workers. I am pleased that the House passed a WIOA 
bill this month that included key provisions of my bill.
  We also must do more to divert people from the criminal justice 
system. Each year about 20,000 youth enter foster care due to parental 
incarceration. I worked with Rep. Barbara Lee to secure money in FY22 
to help parents whose children would be orphaned were they to enter 
prison. This trauma is avoidable, and quality diversion programs can 
strengthen families and protect millions of children from harm.
  I support and applaud my home state of Illinois for enacting the 
SAFE-T Act to eliminate cash bail. Illinois was the first state to end 
cash bail. This ban was championed by the Illinois Legislative Black 
Caucus. Justice should not target the poor. Individuals who pose a 
threat to the community will remain in jail, but those who simply can't 
pay for bail will not. According to a November report from Researchers 
at Loyola University of Chicago's Center for Criminal Justice, the Cook 
County jail population decreased by 12% in the month after 
implementation, with similar decreases in several other Illinois 
counties.
  As we celebrate Second Chance Act month, I recognize our successes 
and commit myself to continue to do more to help those who made 
mistakes to get the opportunities to turn their lives around.

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