,,iii #aaith ,,congress #b;d ,session ,s4 ,,res4 #gjj ,,in ,,the ,,senate ,,of ,,the ,,united ,,states ,april #bi1 #bjbf,mr4 ,markey 7for himself1 ,ms4 ,klobuchar1 ,mr4 ,durbin1 ,ms4 ,duckworth1 ,mr4 ,padilla1 ,ms4 ,smith1 ,mr4 ,booker1 ,ms4 ,hirono1 ,ms4 ,warren1 and ,mr4 ,welch7 submitted the following resolution2 which was referred to the ,committee on ,health1 ,education1 ,labor1 and ,pensions ,,resolution ,expressing support for the designation of ,april #a1 #bjbf1 through ,april #cj1 #bjbf1 as ,fair ,chance ,jobs ,month4 ,whereas1 in the ,united ,states-- 7#a7 nearly #hj1jjj1jjj people have a record of arrest or conviction2 7#b7 an estimated #ai1jjj1jjj people have felony convictions2 7#c7 nearly #ac1jjj1jjj people are charged each year with misdemeanor offenses2 7#d7 more than #fjj1jjj people are released each year from ,federal and ,state prisons2 7#e7 ,black1 ,indigenous1 and ,latino people are #e1 #d4b1 and #b4d times more likely than ,white people to be incarcerated1 respectively1 and also face higher rates of arrest2 and 7#f7 ,,lgbtq individuals are #c times more likely to be incarcerated and also face higher rates of arrest2 ,whereas people who have been convicted of a crime and served their sentence continue to face consequences after release due to systemic biases and stigmas against formerly incarcerated individuals2 ,whereas recidivism rates in the ,united ,states are among the highest in the world1 with almost #dd percent of people who are released returning to incarceration within #a year2 ,whereas1 in the ,united ,states1 nearly #b_/c of the formerly incarcerated population is jobless at any given time2 ,whereas1 in the ,united ,states1 nearly #ad1jjj laws and regulations and #dh1jjj collateral consequences restrict formerly incarcerated individuals from getting professional licenses needed to work in some jobs2 ,whereas #bj ,states and the ,district of ,columbia allow occupational licensing boards to categorically reject applicants with prior convictions2 ,whereas obstacles to employment1 such as difficulty obtaining identification needed for employment1 add undue burdens on returning citizens and formerly incarcerated individuals2 ,whereas formerly incarcerated individuals earn nearly #ajj less per week than the average worker2 ,whereas fair-chance employers can leverage financial incentives1 such as the work opportunity tax credit1 to benefit from hiring formerly incarcerated individuals2 ,whereas employing returning citizens and formerly incarcerated individuals will result in a robust1 vibrant1 diverse1 and resilient workforce2 ,whereas having jobs that pay living wages are conducive to health1 provide opportunities for skillset development1 provide opportunities for promotion1 and provide benefits that will facilitate stable employment and reduce recidivism2 ,whereas returning citizens who have received vocational training while incarcerated are #bh percent more likely to obtain employment within #a year of reentry into society than those lacking such training2 and ,whereas1 in addition to employment insecurity1 returning citizens and formerly incarcerated people face numerous other obstacles to reentry and societal reintegration1 including-- 7#a7 housing insecurity and homelessness rates that are #aj times higher than the general public2 7#b7 near total restrictions in #ab ,states on access to temporary assistance for needy families established under part ,a of title ,,iv of the ,social ,security ,act 7#db ,u4,s4,c4 #fja et seq47 or the supplemental nutrition assistance program established under the ,food and ,nutrition ,act of #bjjh 7#g ,u4,s4,c4 #bjaa et seq472 and 7#c7 greater prevalence of chronic health conditions1 lower quality and coverage of health insurance1 and mortality rates that are #ac times higher than the general public3 ,now1 therefore1 be it ,that the ,senate-- 7#a7 expresses support for the designation of ,april #a1 #bjbf1 through ,april #cj1 #bjbf1 as ,fair ,chance ,jobs ,month2 and 7#b7 supports efforts to-- 7,a7 ensure that people directly impacted by incarceration obtain stable and high-quality employment1 housing1 healthcare1 and nutrition2 7,b7 dismantle structural barriers to fair-chance hiring and employment1 such as licensing restrictions1 employer liability1 and insurance restrictions2 7,c7 expand workforce development programs for returning citizens1 formerly incarcerated individuals1 and others directly impacted by incarceration1 including-- 7i7 pre-apprenticeship programs2 7ii7 registered apprenticeship programs2 7iii7 career coaching1 rsum building1 technology literacy1 and other skillset development programs2 and 7iv7 programs that educate employers on best practices for1 and the benefits of1 fair-chance hiring2 7,d7 match job providers with returning citizens and formerly incarcerated individuals seeking jobs2 7,e7 support efforts from labor unions and worker organizations to engage returning citizens and formerly incarcerated individuals who are seeking jobs2 7,f7 publicize work opportunities that are open to applicants with prior arrest or conviction records2 and 7,g7 foster greater collaboration and dialogue between ,federal1 ,state1 and local government agencies1 community-based organizations1 advocacy groups1 employers1 labor unions1 currently and formerly incarcerated individuals1 and others directly impacted by incarceration to enhance fair-chance hiring and employment and help to heal communities impacted by mass incarceration4