FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Trone.Press@mail.house.gov

Congressman Trone’s Legislation to Provide Apprenticeship Opportunities to Justice-Impacted Individuals Clears Committee, Heads to House Floor

WASHINGTON — Today, U.S. Representative David Trone (D-MD) announced that his bill, the Strengthening Apprenticeships for Justice Impacted Communities Act, which would provide much-needed funding and resources to strengthen and expand pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs to incarcerated and formerly incarcerated individuals, passed the Education and Labor Committee. The legislation now waits for action on the House floor.

Justice-impacted individuals face significant barriers to reentering the workforce, often having limited vocational skills and work experience. However, studies show that individuals who participate in a vocational or apprenticeship program while incarcerated are 28% more likely to be employed and 33% less likely to be reincarcerated than individuals who do not participate in these programs. Unfortunately, there is a large disparity between the quality and availability of pre-apprenticeship and apprenticeship programs in correctional facilities and outside.

The Strengthening Apprenticeships for Justice Impacted Communities Act would help provide a pathway for justice-impacted individuals to participate in Registered pre-apprenticeship and Apprenticeship programs that have the potential to greatly improve their employment outcomes once reentering the community. It would also provide resources to help individuals remain enrolled and complete these programs, such as support for the related costs of supplies and equipment, courses, transportation, child care, and housing.

“We have a criminal justice system that is far from just,” said Congressman David Trone. “If we want to reduce recidivism, we have to provide justice-impacted individuals the skills and experience necessary to thrive in the modern workforce. This bill will provide crucial opportunities for growth, education, and rehabilitation, and I am encouraged to see it passed out of the committee. I look forward to passing this bill in the House and working to create a brighter future for justice-impacted individuals across the country.”

To read bill text, click here.

To read a bill summary, click here.

Congressman David Trone was elected to the House of Representatives in November 2018 to serve the 6th District of Maryland, which includes all or part of Montgomery, Frederick, Washington, Allegany, and Garrett Counties. Trone serves on the Education and Labor, Foreign Affairs, and Joint Economic Committees, where he is fighting to make progress on issues that matter to Marylanders, including the opioid epidemic, criminal justice reform, and funding for medical research.

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