A bipartisan group of congressional members has introduced a bill that would mandate the sealing of criminal records in certain cases where marijuana convictions are non-violent.
Last week, Reps. Lisa Blunt Rochester and Nancy Mace of the D-DE and R-SC introduced the Clean Slate Act. The Clean Slate Act would provide relief for people who were arrested but not convicted of other crimes.
The previous version was approved by the House Judiciary Committee in the past year. The bill was not ultimately considered on the floor.
Blunt Rochester stated in a recent press release that the Clean Slate Act was one of her top priorities since she became a member of Congress. “With 90% of employers performing background checks and 4/5 landlords and 3/5 universities doing the exact same thing, we understand how important it is to provide those who have paid their debts to society with a clean slate.
I am looking forward to working with colleagues from across the aisle to pass this legislation that will create equal economic opportunity for millions. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/F6WKeVZUF0
Rep. Lisa Blunt Rochester April 27th, 2023
She said: “As we continue facing workforce shortages that are impacting industries and our economy across the nation, it is more important than ever to do everything we can to create equal economic opportunities for millions of Americans.” “I am looking forward to working with colleagues from both sides of the aisle in Congress to pass this important legislation and send it directly to President Biden.”
The Bill will establish a new procedure for people to petition courts for sealing records for non-violent crimes that are not eligible for automatic sealing. If the court denies their first request, they can repeat it after two years.
District courts could also appoint an attorney to help “indigent petitioners” with their requests to seal records.
We Americans believe in second chances. We believe in redemption. Mace stated. The Clean Slate Act is a necessary bill. It would allow Americans who have paid off their debts to society the chance to rebuild their lives. This bill is a step towards reforming our criminal justice system, which should focus on rehabilitation and giving people a second chance.
President Joe Biden granted a mass pardon to thousands of people convicted of federal cannabis possession crimes last year. However, this action had a limited impact, since presidential pardons don’t affect the visibility or record of convictions.
The president’s pardon only applies to those who committed the crime before or the day the proclamation was made in October last year.
Clean Slate Act is supported by a wide range of institutions including American Conservative Union (ACU), Brennan Center for Justice (BCN), Center for American Progress (CAP), Clean Slate Initiative (CSI), JPMorgan Chase Justice Action Network, LinkedIn, R Street, and R Street.
The Clean Slate Act, according to Nan Gibson, Executive Director of the JPMorgan Chase Policy Center said, “will help people find stable careers by streamlining and automating the process.”
Gibson stated that “this measure will allow companies like JPMorgan Chase to continue to connect people to meaningful career paths, opening doors for opportunity to transform lives, lift communities, and strengthen the economy,” Gibson added.
Sheena M. Meade, CEO, The Clean Slate Initiative said, “Congress has the power to open up opportunities for millions in America through the Clean Slate Act.”
She said, “The bipartisan champion of second chances shows broad agreement that past mistakes should not be a lifetime sentence to poverty.” “States are leading the way in second chances. Now it is time for Congress do its part.”
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The 118th Congress has introduced a number of bills to reform marijuana laws.
The Senate Banking Committee has already scheduled an hearing for next Wednesday , where the bill is expected to be discussed.
Last month, bipartisan lawmakers from the House and Senate reintroduced a bill to give insurance companies a safe harbor if they work with licensed marijuana business.
Rep. Brian Mast, R-FL, introduced legislation last week to protect Second Amendment rights for people who use marijuana legally in states. This would allow them to buy and possess firearms they are currently prohibited to have under federal law.
Reps. Dave Joyce, R-OH and Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, D-NY have introduced a bill that would provide federal grants to encourage state and local marijuana expulsions.
Last month, Joyce, along with House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffreys (D-NY), filed a bill to help prepare the federal government to legalize marijuana. The measure directed the Attorney General to create a commission that would study cannabis and make recommendations on how to regulate it in a similar way to alcohol.
A Top Federal Official at a Senate hearing touts the’significant potential’ of psychedelics
The original post Federal Marijuana Records Will Be Sealed Automatically Under New Bipartisan Congressional Bill was published on Marijuana Moment.
