Take Action – Ask Your Representative to Support
Vocational Training in the First Step Act
NLBMDA urges its members to take action by
contacting their Representative
and asking them to support vocational training for prisoners as part of the First Step Act, which provides reforms to the criminal justice system.
As the housing industry grows and demand for workers increases, the ongoing labor shortage is among the top impediments to continued growth. With the unemployment rate at 4%, the bill helps address the lack of workers in sectors such as residential construction while providing a second chance for individuals.
Nonprofit groups have worked with prisoners to train them for work in sectors such as residential construction. These programs have proven successful in helping hundreds of youth and adults reintegrate into society and reduce recidivism rates.
Last month, President Trump announced his support for the legislation, and follows an Executive Order issued in March bringing together more than a dozen Federal agencies to identify ways to discourage crime, improve public safety, and enhance the reentry process. The White House views job training for prisoners reaching the end of their sentence as helping build human capital in the economy.
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on a final criminal justice reform bill as soon as Thursday. Earlier this week, the Senate overwhelmingly approved the legislation by a vote of 87 to 12.
Please
contact your representative
and ask them t
o support job training for incarcerated individuals as part of criminal justice reform legislation backed by the White House.
Questions?
NLBMDA members with questions should contact Ben Gann, NLBMDA Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs, at
[email protected]
or 202.367.2346.
