# Understanding the Expanding Reentry Employment Assistance Act

This bill creates a federal grant program to help people who have been incarcerated get back on their feet through job training and employment support. The government would set aside hundreds of millions of dollars to fund organizations that work with formerly incarcerated adults and young people, helping them find jobs, earn credentials, and avoid returning to crime.

**Who This Affects and How**

The program targets two groups: young people ages 14-24 with justice system involvement, and adults 25 and older who were released from prison within the last three years. Organizations that could receive grants include nonprofits, community groups, local governments, and businesses. These organizations would use the money to provide job training, help people earn certifications in fields like healthcare or construction, offer mentoring, assist with getting driver's licenses, connect people with employers, and provide support services like mental health treatment or substance abuse counseling. The bill prioritizes funding for programs in high-crime and high-poverty neighborhoods, and gives extra consideration to organizations that start working with people before they're even released from prison.

**What the Money Covers**

The bill authorizes spending that starts at $250 million in 2023 and grows to $500 million by 2028. Most of this money goes directly to reentry programs, though up to 10 percent can cover administrative costs. The bill requires organizations to track their success—measuring how many participants get jobs, earn credentials, and avoid going back to prison—and the government must publish annual reports on how well these programs work. An independent evaluation will assess whether the programs actually reduce recidivism and improve people's employment prospects compared to similar individuals who didn't participate.

Expanding Reentry Employment Assistance Act

Espaillat, Adriano

Expanding Reentry Employment Assistance Act This bill provides statutory authority for the Department of Labor's Reentry Employment Opportunities program, which provides competitive grants to improve employment and training outcomes and reduce recidivism of justice-involved individuals.