Bipartisan Group In Congress Reintroduce Two Bills To Help States With Expungement
A bipartisan group of lawmakers in Congress has reintroduced two bills aimed at automatically expunging criminal records for certain non-violent federal marijuana offenses, while also offering support to states working to clear similar convictions.
Per Marijuana Moment
Sen. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-FL) are leading the reform push for the latest versions of the Clean Slate Act and Fresh Start Act, alongside other bipartisan and bicameral members.
“I call this my strange bedfellows bill, because when you look around at who is present, it is people who have felt and been through the process,” Blunt Rochester said at a press briefing on Wednesday. “It is people who have fought and advocated. It is Democrats, Republicans and independents. It is from all parts of the country that we see this.”
The legislation is “about redemption, but it’s also about the economy,” she added, noting the broader financial impact of putting up barriers to employment and housing for people with certain convictions on their records.
