IV 

115TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. RES. 789 

Expressing support for designation of April 2018 as ‘‘Second Chance Month’’. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 19, 2018 

Mr. CA ́RDENAS (for himself and Mr. LEWIS of Minnesota) submitted the 

following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 

RESOLUTION 

Expressing support for designation of April 2018 as ‘‘Second 

Chance Month’’. 

Whereas every person is endowed with human dignity and 

value; 

Whereas redemption and second chances are American values; 

Whereas millions of American citizens have a criminal record; 

Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals returned to 

their community from State and Federal prisons every 

year; 

Whereas returning citizens have paid their debt after committing a crime but still face significant barriers, also known 

as collateral consequences; 


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Whereas many of these consequences are mandatory, taking 

effect automatically regardless of a nexus to public safety, the seriousness of the offense, the time passed since 

the offense, or the individual’s efforts to make amends or 

earn back the public’s trust; 

Whereas gaining meaningful employment is one of the most 

significant predictors of successful reentry and reducing 

future criminal activity; 

Whereas many individuals who have previously been incarcerated struggle to find employment because of both societal 

and legal barriers which are often not directly related to 

the offense committed or any proven public safety benefit; 

Whereas many States have laws which prohibit individuals 

with a criminal record from working in certain industries 

or obtaining professional licenses; 

Whereas education has also been shown to be a significant 

predictor of successful reentry; 

Whereas many individuals with a criminal record have lower 

levels of educational attainment than the general population and have significant difficulty acquiring admission 

to and funding for educational programs; 

Whereas many individuals convicted of certain crimes are 

barred from receiving the financial aid necessary to acquire additional skills and knowledge; 

Whereas many individuals with a criminal history also face 

significant barriers in securing a place to live; 

Whereas many individuals with criminal history are barred 

from seeking access to public housing; 


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Whereas many people with a criminal history also face other 

significant barriers, such as an inability to regain voting 

rights, volunteer in their community, secure identification 

documentation, and significant debt as a result of their 

conviction and incarceration; 

Whereas these barriers prevent millions of Americans from 

contributing fully to their families and communities; 

Whereas these barriers can contribute to recidivism, which increases crime and victimization and decreases public safety; 

Whereas the inability to find gainful employment and other 

collateral consequences of conviction inhibit the economic 

mobility of people with criminal histories, which can negatively impact the well-being of their children and families for generations; 

Whereas the President in the 2018 State of the Union expressed, ‘‘As America regains its strength, this opportunity must be extended to all citizens. That is why this 

year we will embark on reforming our prisons to help 

former inmates who have served their time get a second 

chance at life.’’; 

Whereas April 9, 2018, marks the 10-year anniversary of the 

Second Chance Act of 2008, which has provided reentry 

services to over 166,000 people in 49 states and the District of Columbia since its passage; 

Whereas the anniversary of the death of Charles Colson, who 

used his second chance following his incarceration for a 

Watergate-related crime to found Prison Fellowship, the 

Nation’s largest outreach to prisoners, former prisoners, 

and their families, falls on April 21, 2012; and 


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Whereas the designation of April as Second Chance Month 

can contribute to increased public awareness about the 

impact of collateral consequences, the need for closure for 

those who have paid their debt, and opportunities for individuals, employers, congregations, and communities to 

extend second chances: Now, therefore, be it 

1 Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 

2 (1) honors the work of communities, govern3 mental entities, nonprofit organizations, congrega4 tions, employers, and individuals to remove unneces5 sary legal and societal barriers that prevent an indi6 vidual with a criminal record from becoming a pro7 ductive member of society; and 

8 (2) calls on the people of the United States to 

9 observe Second Chance Month through actions and 

10 programs that— 

11 (A) promote awareness of collateral con12 sequences; and 

13 (B) provide closure for individuals who 

14 have paid their debts. 

Æ 


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