COBLE TO ATTEND WHITE HOUSE SIGNING
Washington,
Apr 8, 2008 -
As a leading congressional proponent of investigating new ways to deal with prison overcrowding, U.S. Rep. Howard Coble (R-NC) said he is honored to be asked by President Bush to attend a White House ceremony tomorrow when the President signs the Second Chance Act into law. Congressman Coble was an original cosponsor of H.R. 1593, which seeks to reduce the pressure on the nation’s prisons by funding reentry programs for those being released from incarceration.
“The Second Chance Act was originally introduced by Rep. Rob Portman (R-OH) during the 109th Congress,” Rep. Coble noted. “At that time, I was Chairman of the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security, and after learning more about its benefits, I quickly became one of its strongest supporters. During the 110th Congress, I became an enthusiastic supporter of the latest version of the bill.”
The Second Chance Act was approved by the Judiciary committee on March 28, 2007, by a voice vote and was approved by the full House on November 13, 2007, by a vote of 347-62. On March 11, 2008, the full Senate approved the Second Chance Act by unanimous consent. President Bush will sign the bill into law tomorrow.
The final version of H.R. 1593, the Second Chance Act, authorizes $165 million to fund prisoner reentry programs in Fiscal Year 2009 and Fiscal Year 2010. These programs focus on nonviolent substance abuse offenders, nonviolent offenders, nonviolent elderly inmates, family assistance, and research on prisoner reentry.
“If these programs are funded,” Rep. Coble stated, “local reentry groups will reap the greatest benefits, which will be used to help federal, state and local inmates reenter society. Currently, many nonviolent inmates are released without homes or jobs to which they can return and many do not have help finding their way back into society. They often windup committing new offenses and return to jail. I have said for years that prison overcrowding is a ticking bomb waiting to explode and the Second Chance Act will help diffuse prison overcrowding in federal, state and local facilities.”
The bill signing ceremony will be on Wednesday, April 9 at 10:30 a.m. in Room 350 of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building at the White House.
