Rep. McGarvey Introduces Bill to Invest in Entrepreneurship, Reduce Recidivism
WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 26, 2024) – This week, Congressman Morgan McGarvey (D-KY-03) and Congressman Tim Burchett (R-TN-02) introduced H.R. 9841, the Prison to Proprietorship for the Formerly Incarcerated Act, bipartisan legislation that would provide in-depth entrepreneurship training to formerly- incarcerated individuals looking to start a business or enter the workforce.
“Nearly all incarcerated people will complete their sentence and return to their community—we have to make sure that we’re laying a strong foundation for success post-incarceration,” said Rep. McGarvey. “By providing a path to entrepreneurship for formerly-incarcerated Americans, my bill not only works to reduce recidivism, but also gives returning citizens the tools they need to start a business and achieve their American dream."
The Prison to Proprietorship for the Formerly Incarcerated Act would direct SCORE—a program within the Small Business Administration that offers free or low-cost mentorship and training to entrepreneurs—to provide formerly incarcerated individuals with one-on-one mentoring, workshops, and online instruction specifically tailored to their unique needs.
“Around 95% of incarcerated people get released and end up back on the streets,” said Rep. Burchett. “We need to make sure they’re prepared to rejoin their communities, and teaching them entrepreneurial skills helps them get a fresh start.”
BACKGROUND:
Despite steps to reform and improve our criminal justice system, returning citizens face significant barriers to reentering the workforce, and studies have shown that recidivism rates tend to be higher for those individuals who lack employment. As reported by the Council for State Governments, states spent an estimated $8 billion on reincarceration costs for people who exited prison in 2022, and The Department of Justice estimates that 82 percent of individuals released from state prisons were rearrested at least once during the 10 years following release.
Programs that teach formerly incarcerated individuals leadership skills, financial literacy, networking, and how to develop a business plan reduce recidivism and create more opportunities for returning citizens. As the flagship agency tasked with supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses, the Small Business Administration has the expertise and experience to teach those skills.
View text of the bill here.
A one pager for the bill is available here.
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