Washington, D.C.- “I am pleased to salute Congressman Danny Davis (IL), my colleagues in the House and Members of the U.S. Senate for affording Americans a second chance at life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, by passing the Second Chance Act of 2007,” said Congresswoman Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-MI), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus. “This historic piece of legislation will provide essential resources for ex-offenders who are reentering our society.”

“Congressman Davis, the chief sponsor of the Second Chance Act, exhibited supreme social and moral consciousness in drafting this bill and the steadfastness to fight for five years to ensure passage.”

“According to a new report from the Congressional Research Service, ‘Offender Reentry: Correctional Statistics, Reintegration into the Community, and Recidivism,’ the United States incarcerates more of its citizens than any other nation in the world. The report also indicates that of the 2.2 million people currently incarcerated, over 95% of offenders currently serving prison sentences will return to the community at some point. This bill will invest the drug treatment, education, job training programs, along with valuable family services designed to build a stronger and healthier America.”

“We urge President Bush to endorse this bill and move America in a new direction.”