2022: Fitzpatrick Voted To Authorize $10 Million Annually Through FY
2026 For Grants To Community-Based Non-Profits To Establish Community
Re-Entry Centers To Support Ex-Felons And Their Families And Lower
Recidivism In High-Risk Areas. In December 2022, according to
Congressional Quarterly, Fitzpatrick voted for the One Stop Shop
Community Reentry Program Act of 2021, which would "authorize $10
million annually through fiscal 2026 for new Justice Department grants
to community-based nonprofits to establish community reentry centers to
serve formerly incarcerated individuals and their families and reduce
recidivism in areas with a disproportionately high number of residents
who have been arrested or convicted of a criminal offense. Among other
provisions, it would require grant applicants to submit plans to work
with community leaders and develop needs assessment tools to identify
the needs of formerly incarcerated individuals and their families and
use such information to provide relevant and accessible reentry
services, including to facilitate access to employment, education and
vocational training, financial counseling, medical and mental health
services, transportation, housing and legal assistance. It would
establish program evaluation and reporting requirements and require the
DOJ to prioritize applicants that seek to employ formerly convicted or
incarcerated individuals. The bill would also authorize $1.5 million
annually through fiscal 2026 for DOJ grants to state, local and tribal
governments to operate toll-free hotlines with text message capability
that direct individuals to reentry services." The vote was on passage.
The House passed the bill by a vote of 259-167. The Senate did not take
substantive action on the bill. [House Vote 492,
12/1/22; Congressional
Quarterly, 12/1/22;
Congressional Actions, H.R.
3372]