releases: http://www.booker.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1038
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://www.booker.senate.gov?p=press_release&id=1038 | Booker, Johnson's “Ban the Box” Heads to President's Desk | 2019-12-17 | 2019 | 2019-12 | Democrat | House | NJ | Cory Booker | B001288 | www.booker.senate.gov | legacy | Fair Chance Act, included in NDAA, would give formerly incarcerated individuals a fairer chance at finding a job December 17, 2019 WASHINGTON, D.C. Abipartisanbill authored by U.S. Senators Cory Booker (D-NJ) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) to give individuals with past convictions a better chance to find employment passed the U.S. Senate today as part of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives approved NDAA and the bill now awaits President Trump's signature. After many fits and starts, we are finally about to give formerly incarcerated individualsasecond chance by eliminating a major hurdlethey face when job-searching,Sen.Booker said.This legislation willimmediately change lives byallowingthousands of qualified people with criminal records tomoremeaningfully integrateinto life outside prison walls. Getting this over the finish linewas truly a collaborative effort, and I'm grateful to our bipartisan, bicameral coalition andthe many stakeholder groups for their tireless advocacy. I know my late colleague, Chairman Elijah Cummings, is smiling down on us today because together,we have made a small, but important step in ensuring our criminal justice system better livesup to our ideals as a place for redemption and rehabilitation. Getting people back to work improves the safety of our communities, strengthens families, and reduces government dependence goals that all Americans share,Sen. Johnson said.If someone getting out of prison wants to work and be a productive member of society, we should do everything possible to facilitate that. Today's passage of the Fair Chance Act is an important step in that direction. The Fair Chance Act would give formerly incarcerated individuals a betterchanceto find employment by prohibiting the federal government and federal contractors from asking about the criminal history of a jobapplicant prior tothe extension ofa conditionaloffer of employment. Criminal records reduce thechanceof a callback or job offer by nearly 50 percent formenin general, makingit difficult for individuals to move on from past convictions and contribute to society.Black men with criminal records are 60 percent less likely to receive a callback or job offer than those without records. For individuals trying to turn the page on a difficult chapter in their lives, a criminal conviction poses a substantial barrier to employment. Earlier this year, Booker and Johnson testified on this bipartisan and bicameral legislation before two subcommittees oftheHouse Committee on Oversight and Reform. TheFair Chance Act builds upontheFirst Step Act,themost sweeping overhaul ofthecriminal justice system in a generation, which was signed into law last December.Booker was a key architect ofthelandmark bill and successfully fought to include provisions that effectively eliminatedthesolitary confinement of juvenilesin federal supervision andtheshackling of pregnant inmates. He also fought to include provisions that require healthcare products be provided to incarcerated women. The Fair Chance Act would: Prevent the federal governmentincluding the executive, legislative, and judicial branchesfrom requesting criminal history information from applicants until they reach the conditional offer stage. Prohibit federal contractors from requesting criminal history information from candidates for positions within the scope of federal contracts until the conditional offer stage. Include important exceptions for positions related to law enforcement and national security duties, positions requiring access to classified information, and positions for which access to criminal history information before the conditional offer stage is required by law. Require the Bureau of Justice Statistics, in coordination with the U.S. Census Bureau, to issue a report on the employment statistics of formerly incarcerated individuals. This legislation has been endorsed by ACLU; American Conservative Union; FreedomWorks; Justice Action Network; JustLeadershipUSA; Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights; National Employment Law Project; R Street Institute; Safer Foundation; and Brett L. Tolman, Former U.S. Attorney, District of Utah. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |