Jim Sensenbrenner: “I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Congress has spent years talking about reducing crime, enacting fair…”

“I thank the gentleman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, Congress has spent years talking about reducing crime, enacting fair sentencing laws, and restoring lives. Today, we are putting our words into action, and this is historic. I am proud to have been a leader in this effort for over a decade: First, introducing the original Second Chance Act with the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Danny K. Davis), then serving as chairman of the Over Criminalization Task Force in 2013, and introducing a comprehensive criminal justice reform bill with the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott). This Congress, I sponsored the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, which helps prisoners rejoin their families and reenter society. I am happy to note that the First Step Act includes this reauthorization. The Second Chance Act was originally passed with bipartisan support and signed into law in 2008. This first-of-its-kind legislation authorized Federal grants for vital programs aimed at improving the reentry process and reducing recidivism. Grants have been used for a wide range of improved supervision practices and reentry programs, including employment assistance and job skills training, treatment for mental and substance abuse disorders, education, housing assistance, family services, and mentoring. Reauthorizing the Second Chance Act is an essential step to reducing our prison population and improving the overall criminal justice system.…”