Spotlight Announcement

12/18/2007: Second Chance Act Moves Closer to Passage

Monday evening the U.S. House of Representatives adopted a concurrent resolution that makes minor technical changes to the Second Chance Act of 2007 (H.R.1593), which passed the House on Nov. 13th with a 347-62 vote. The resolution was made to address Senate concerns and includes new language to change the match for state and local government reentry grants and clarify the eligibility requirements for the elderly offender pilot program. This vote brings the legislation one step closer to being signed into law in 2008. Senate sponsors hope to vote on the bill later this week.

The Second Chance Act of 2007 was introduced earlier this year by Congressmen Danny Davis (D-IL) and Chris Cannon (R-UT) and Senators Joseph Biden (D-DE) and Arlen Specter (R-PA). The legislation, which enjoys broad bipartisan support from both chambers of Congress, authorizes a number of reentry grant programs including a grant program for state and local governments to develop reentry initiatives and a reentry program for community and faith-based organizations to deliver mentoring and transitional services.

For more information on the Second Chance Act, please contact Sara Paterni. To view resources on the Second Chance Act, please visit the Reentry Policy Council website.