U.S. Representative Tim Burchett (TN-02) announced the reintroduction of the Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act today, legislation cowritten with U.S. Representative Hakeem Jeffries (NY-08).
“Non-violent offenders deserve a second chance to succeed once they’ve paid their debt to society. Teaching formerly incarcerated folks important entrepreneurial skills opens doors to new opportunities that can help them rejoin their communities in a productive way,” Rep. Burchett said. “I'm thankful for Congressman Jeffries’ continued partnership on this issue.”
“America faces a mass incarceration epidemic, and we have worked together in a bipartisan fashion to pass groundbreaking criminal justice reforms like the First Step Act. Today we carry that legacy forward with the reintroduction of the Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act,” Rep. Jeffries said. “This bill is designed to make sure that formerly incarcerated individuals can use their God-given skills, talent and ability to bring business and entrepreneurial activities to life in their communities. I am proud to have worked with Rep. Burchett and Chairwoman Velázquez to reintroduce this important legislation.”
Rep. Burchett and Rep. Jeffries’ Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act, which is supported by House Small Business Committee Chairwoman Nydia Velázquez (NY-07), would launch a program where Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE) participants would provide entrepreneurial development training to the formerly incarcerated. Under the bill, SCORE would provide returning citizens with workshops, mentoring, and training opportunities designed to help them start and grow a small business.
In 2020, more than 41,000 incarcerated individuals were released from federal prisons. When transitioning from prison into a community, the formerly incarcerated face substantial obstacles to re-entering the workforce and a high risk of recidivism. Studies have shown that an estimated 60 percent of returning citizens remain unemployed a year after their release. The Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act seeks to increase job opportunities for returning citizens by directing Small Business Administration resource partners to extend entrepreneurial development training to federal prisons and formerly incarcerated individuals.
Rep. Burchett previously teamed up with Rep. Jeffries during the 116th Congress to introduce this legislation. On January 8, 2020, the Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act passed the United States House of Representatives.
Source: https://burchett.house.gov/media/press-releases/burchett-jeffries-reintroduce-prison-proprietorship-formerly-incarcerated-act
