Austin News

U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced the Workforce Reentry Act, aiming to strengthen and make permanent a pilot program that funds organizations with a successful track record of providing career development opportunities to formerly incarcerated individuals.

“One of the greatest challenges individuals face when leaving prison is the ability to find and hold a job,” said Sen. Cornyn. “This legislation would help fill this gap and reduce recidivism by ensuring more Texans have access to the tools and training needed to gain employment and turn their lives around.”

“Finding gainful employment is a critical first step for those looking for a fresh start and is necessary to become a productive member of society,” said Sen. Tillis. “This legislation will reduce recidivism by making the transition back to society easier and paving the way for a better future for those leaving incarceration.”

More than 650,000 men and women nationwide, including 78,000 inmates in Texas, are released from prison each year. Unfortunately, more than 40% of individuals released are rearrested within one year, and more than 75% are rearrested within five years. Ensuring formerly incarcerated individuals have access to career development opportunities, including mentoring and skills-based training, can help them integrate into the workforce, reducing recidivism.

Since 2005, the U.S. Department of Labor has operated the loosely-structured Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) program under the Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act (WIOA). The REO program has awarded funding to numerous organizations providing mentoring, job training, education, and case management services to formerly incarcerated individuals. However, independent evaluations have found that the REO program lacks direction, accountability, and oversight.

The Workforce Reentry Act aims to incorporate necessary reforms by:

- Making permanent the U.S. Department of Labor’s Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) pilot program that provides funding to entities training individuals exiting the criminal justice system;

- Promoting best practices for preparing previously incarcerated individuals for the workforce;

- Allowing additional funding to be awarded to programs proven successful in expanding their capacity.

U.S. Congressmen Nathaniel Moran (TX-01) and Lloyd Smucker (PA-11) led similar legislation in the House of Representatives as part of the Stronger Workforce for America Act authored by Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (NC-05).