We are thrilled to share the exciting highlights of the recent Congressional Briefing, "The Clean Slate Act: A Fresh Start for Second Chances," held on July 26, 2023. Read more in this blog post by Reginald Darby, CSI's Legislative Director.

On April 27, 2023, Congress introduced two bills that could unlock opportunities for millions of people in America: the Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act — two common-sense, bipartisan bills that would finally provide some relief to millions of Americans who often face lifelong economic barriers because of a past federal record. Learn more about the bills in this blog post.

On Thursday, April 27, 2023, the Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act were introduced in U.S. House of Representatives with bipartisan sponsorship.

Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Nancy Mace (R-SC) are lead sponsors of the Clean Slate Act, and Reps. Trone (D-MD) and Armstrong (R-ND) are lead sponsors of the Fresh Start Act.

These two substantial, bipartisan criminal justice reform efforts would provide some relief to the millions of people who face barriers because of a past arrest or conviction record.

Sheena Meade, CEO of The Clean Slate Initiative, issued the following statement in support of the bills…

Ahead of the committee markup, Sheena Meade, executive director of the Clean Slate Initiative, released the following statement:

“Working families deserve every chance to create a better life for themselves. Unfortunately, one in every three people in our country today has a past arrest or conviction record that impedes their ability to get a job, secure housing, get an education, and otherwise participate in civic life.

“Thankfully, bipartisan support in recent years has led to red, blue, and purple states passing Clean Slate laws that give people a fair chance at meaningful opportunities. Today, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee has an opportunity to ensure people with federal records are not left behind.

…Ahead of the press conference, Sheena Meade, executive director of the Clean Slate Initiative, issued the following statement:

“Congress has the opportunity to increase access to meaningful employment, education, and other opportunities for millions of Americans by passing the Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act. We have seen the transformational impact of Clean Slate laws on millions of working people in the states that have adopted these policies. It’s promising to see Congress building on that momentum and advancing these long overdue measures at the federal level.

“We know that 100 million Americans, one out of every three people in this country, face barriers solely because they have some kind of record. This bipartisan effort to pass Clean Slate Act and the Fresh Start Act would help get people back to work, boost local economies, and save taxpayers money in the long run. It’s time to ensure all Americans are given a fair shot at creating a better life for themselves and their families.”