IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION 
H. RES. 312 
Expressing support for the designation of April 2023 as ‘‘Second Chance 
Month’’. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 20, 2023 
Mr. CA´RDENAS (for himself, Mr. TRONE, Mr. WESTERMAN, and Mr. BACON) 
submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee 
on the Judiciary 
RESOLUTION 
Expressing support for the designation of April 2023 as 
‘‘Second Chance Month’’. 
Whereas every individual is endowed with human dignity and 
value; 
Whereas redemption and second chances are values of the 
United States; 
Whereas millions of citizens of the United States have a 
criminal record; 
Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals return to their 
communities from Federal and State prisons every year; 
Whereas many individuals returning from Federal and State 
prisons have paid their debt for committing crimes but 
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still face significant legal and societal barriers (referred 
to in this preamble as ‘‘collateral consequences’’); 
Whereas collateral consequences for an individual returning 
from a Federal or State prison are often mandatory and 
take effect automatically, regardless of— 
(1) whether there is a nexus between the crime and 
public safety; 
(2) the seriousness of the crime; 
(3) the time that has passed since the individual 
committed the crime; or 
(4) the efforts of the individual to make amends or 
earn back the trust of the public; 
Whereas for individuals returning to their communities from 
Federal and State prisons, gaining meaningful employ-
ment is one of the most significant predictors of success-
ful reentry and has been shown to reduce future criminal 
activity; 
Whereas many individuals who have been incarcerated strug-
gle to find employment and access capital to start a small 
business because of collateral consequences, which are 
often not directly related to the offenses the individuals 
committed or any proven public safety benefit; 
Whereas many States have laws that prohibit an individual 
with a criminal record from working in certain industries 
or obtaining professional licenses; 
Whereas, in addition to employment, education has been 
shown to be a significant predictor of successful reentry 
for individuals returning from Federal and State prisons; 
Whereas an individual with a criminal record often has a 
lower level of educational attainment than the general 
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population and has significant difficulty acquiring admis-
sion to, and funding for, educational programs; 
Whereas an individual who has been convicted of certain 
crimes is often barred from receiving the financial aid 
necessary to acquire additional skills and knowledge; 
Whereas an individual with a criminal record— 
(1) faces collateral consequences in securing a place 
to live; and 
(2) is often barred from seeking access to public 
housing; 
Whereas collateral consequences prevent millions of individ-
uals in the United States from contributing fully to their 
families and communities; 
Whereas collateral consequences can contribute to recidivism, 
which increases crime and victimization and decreases 
public safety; 
Whereas collateral consequences have particularly impacted 
underserved communities of color and community rates of 
employment, housing stability, and recidivism; 
Whereas the inability to find gainful employment and other 
collateral consequences inhibits the economic mobility of 
an individual with a criminal record, which can negatively 
impact the well-being of the children and family of the 
individual for generations; 
Whereas the bipartisan First Step Act of 2018 (Public Law 
115–391; 132 Stat. 5194) was signed into law on Decem-
ber 21, 2018, to increase opportunities for individuals in-
carcerated in Federal prisons to participate in meaningful 
recidivism reduction programs and prepare for their sec-
ond chances; 
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Whereas the programs authorized by the Second Chance Act 
of 2007 (Public Law 110–199; 122 Stat. 657)— 
(1) have provided reentry services to more than 
164,000 individuals in 49 States and the District of Co-
lumbia since the date of enactment of the Act; and 
(2) were reauthorized by the First Step Act of 2018 
(Public Law 115–391; 132 Stat. 5194); 
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 
largest program in the United States that provides out-
reach to prisoners, former prisoners, and their families, 
falls on April 21; and 
Whereas the designation of April as ‘‘Second Chance Month’’ 
may contribute to— 
(1) increased public awareness about— 
(A) the impact of collateral consequences; and 
(B) the need for closure for individuals with a 
criminal record who have paid their debt; and 
(2) opportunities for individuals, employers, con-
gregations, and communities to extend second chances to 
those individuals: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) supports the designation of a ‘‘Second 
Chance Month’’; 
(2) honors the work of communities, govern-
mental institutions, nonprofit organizations, con-
gregations, employers, and individuals to remove un-
necessary legal and societal barriers that prevent in-
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dividuals with criminal records from becoming pro-
ductive members of society; and 
(3) calls upon the people of the United States 
to observe ‘‘Second Chance Month’’ through actions 
and programs that— 
(A) promote awareness of those unneces-
sary legal and social barriers; and 
(B) provide closure for individuals with a 
criminal record who have paid their debt. 
Æ 
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