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Concurrent Resolution on the Budget for Fiscal Year 2007

Date: May 17, 2006
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Civil Liberties and Civil Rights Government Budget and Spending


CONCURRENT RESOLUTION ON THE BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR 2007 -- (House of Representatives - May 17, 2006)

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Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I rise in support of the Congressional Black Caucus budget.

The problem of successfully reintegrating ex-offenders back into normal life is one of the major issues facing low income and minority communities throughout the Nation. This problem continues to fester throughout the United States of America. It is indeed a social as well as a public safety issue.

Nearly 650,000 people are being released from federal and state prisons this year. There are over 3,200 jails throughout the United States, the vast majority of which are operated by county governments. Each year, these jails will release in excess of 10,000,000 people back into the community. We will continue to have these massive releases over the next several years. The massive increase in incarceration in the United States that occurred during the past 25 years must now turn public attention toward the consequences of incarceration without providing meaningful rehabilitation measures and access to reentry programs and opportunities.

As we know, these large numbers of ex-offenders being released from prison will cause enormous public safety problems for many communities, especially where large numbers of ex-offenders will return and live in the same neighborhoods. The Justice Department reported that the cost of crime to victims is approximately $450 billion. Therefore, these communities will absorb the high cost of further victimization as a result of the presence of such a high number of ex-offenders.

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) is concerned about the Administration not requesting or adequately funding the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program, Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program, Gang Prevention, Juvenile Accountability Block Grant, Juvenile Delinquency Block Grants and other programs.

The Congressional Black Caucus recommends increasing the funding level up to $3.1 billion for justice programs and to expand the reentry programs for nonviolent ex-offenders to facilitate their transition from prison to normal community life. The CBC wants to ensure that specific programs are receiving adequate funding to prevent crime, increase public safety and reduce recidivism.

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