A bill to provide funds for programs that help formerly incarcerated men and women reenter society has unexpectedly stalled in the U.S. Congress. H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act, was introduced by Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill) in March and was passed the same month by the House Judiciary Committee, with bipartisan support.

On May 15, the bill was scheduled for a vote in the full House of Representatives, where 290 votes were needed for passage. At the last minute, Democratic leaders who were concerned that there were not enough votes to ensure passage pulled it from the schedule.

Rep. Davis plans to address concerns raised by some lawmakers and reschedule a vote on the bill. There is also a Senate version of the Second Chance Act, S. 1060, introduced by Sen. Joseph Biden (D-De). This bill has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, but no action has yet been taken on it.

The Second Chance Act would provide reentry funding on the state and local level to support ex-offenders’ needs for housing, mental health and substance abuse treatment, education, employment, and rebuilding family and community ties. Also in the bill are elderly prisoner relief provisions and halfway house provisions.

The Second Chance Act has 93 bipartisan co-sponsors in the House. The House leadership needs to shore up support and bring the bill for a vote. And, as Delawareans, we need to contact Senator Biden’s office (202-224-5042 or 302-573-6345) to urge him to push for a vote on the bill by the Senate Judiciary Committee.

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