Recognizing the designation of the week of April 24 through April 30 as the annual "National Reentry Week".
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 1222
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 2
- Policy Area
- Crime and Law Enforcement
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-05-06T19:58:19Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
This House Resolution (H. Res. 1222) officially recognizes the week of April 24 through April 30 each year as National Reentry Week. It highlights the challenges of mass incarceration in the U.S., high recidivism rates (reoffending after release), and the need for better support to help formerly incarcerated people successfully return to society.
Key Provisions
- Background "Whereas" clauses outline key facts:
- U.S. has 20% of world's prison population despite being 5% of global population; incarceration up 500% to 2 million people.
- Prisons face staffing shortages (e.g., Bureau of Prisons has 2,500+ vacant correctional officer positions).
- High costs: $80 billion federally, $64 billion for states annually.
- 1 in 3 U.S. adults has a criminal record; 95% of prisoners will be released.
- 35% of prisoners have mental health disorders; high recidivism (70%) due to barriers like unemployment, housing, education restrictions.
- 11.4 million cycle through jails yearly; 650,000 released from prisons annually.
- Resolved clause:
- Recognizes National Reentry Week.
- Affirms U.S. mass incarceration crisis and need for reentry programs to reduce recidivism, promote public safety, and provide stability.
- Calls for Congress to address reentry barriers by improving access to housing, education (in prison and post-release), job training, and mental health services.
- Encourages Department of Justice (DOJ) and Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to host reentry events and learning opportunities.
- Positions the week as a platform to discuss recidivism, support community solutions, and advocate for funding/policies on housing, training, and mental health.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- None. This is a non-binding resolution expressing the House's view; it does not create new laws, appropriate funds, or mandate actions.
Potential Impacts
- Government agencies: Encourages (but does not require) DOJ and BOP to participate in reentry activities; may influence future budgeting or policy priorities.
- Citizens: Raises public awareness of reentry issues, potentially leading to more community support for formerly incarcerated people and reduced recidivism over time.
- International relations: None directly mentioned.
- Overall: Symbolic impact to spotlight criminal justice reform, possibly spurring state/local initiatives or future legislation.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Formerly incarcerated individuals and their families (primary beneficiaries of reentry support).
- Incarcerated people, especially minorities overrepresented in prisons.
- Federal agencies: DOJ, BOP.
- State and local governments (bear high incarceration costs).
- Communities: Benefit from lower recidivism and safer neighborhoods.
- Advocacy groups and organizations providing housing, education, job training, and mental health services.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal/Constitutional: No enforceable changes; purely declarative (resolutions like this express congressional sentiment without legal force).
- Political: Signals bipartisan interest in criminal justice reform (introduced by Democrats, referred to Judiciary Committee); could build momentum for related bills on reentry funding or barrier removal, amid ongoing debates on incarceration costs and equity.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
Cosponsors (11)
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Recent Actions
- 2026-04-28: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2026-04-28: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Recognizing the designation of the week of April 24 through April 30 as the annual "National Reentry Week". — issued 2026-04-28 — PDF (6 pages)