Congressional Spending Bill Includes Fattah-Supported Investments in Justice Reinvestment, Youth Mentoring

WASHINGTON, Jan. 27, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a Senior Member of the Appropriations Committee announced that four of his key justice priorities were included in the bipartisan Congressional Spending Bill passed and signed into law earlier this month.  As lead Democrat on the Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) subcommittee, Fattah worked together with Chairman Frank Wolf (R-VA) to fund youth mentoring, the Justice Reinvestment Initiative (JRI), the Second Chance Act, and the Byrne-JAG program in the final legislation.

The Justice Reinvestment Initiative will receive $27.5 million, an increase of $21.9 million; included in these funds is $1 million for the Colson Prison Task Force that will examine Federal corrections policy.

"There is a growing consensus among those in government, law enforcement, academia, and beyond, that our current prison system is failing us and we must start aggressively looking at justice alternatives to increase public safety in our communities, while reducing the costly strains of managing an increasing prison population," Fattah said. "Since 2010, JRI has pursued innovative, data-driven work to reduce prison system costs and reinvest these funds into evidenced-based policy solutions. JRI has seen impressive results, and the new Colson Prison Task force will offer enhanced recommendations and hopefully spur action towards prison reform. "

Also included in the legislation was $88.5 million for youth mentoring programs. Fattah, one of the lead Congressional supporters of mentoring, has pushed for more federal funding and partnerships that support mentoring programs nationwide.  Earlier this year, Fattah helped initiate an agreement between NASA and the Boys and Girls Club of America (BGCA) to infuse the agency's science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) content into BGCA's mentoring programs.

Additionally, the bill includes $67.75 million for the Second Chance Act, and $376 million for the Byrne-JAG program. Overall, the bill provided $27.4 billion for the Department of Justice, an increase of $1.9 billion above the FY13 post-sequester level.

Click here to view remarks Congressman Fattah made on the House floor in support of the investments included in the 2014 spending bill.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah