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PROPOSED RESOLUTION
A RESOLUTION OF THE COOK COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS HONORING CONGRESSMAN DANNY K. DAVIS FOR HIS COMMITMENT TO ENPOWERING INDIVIDUALS AND GRANTING NEW OPPORTUNITUES THROUGH THE SECOND CHANCE ACT ON ITS 10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY.
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis was chosen by the people of the Seventh Congressional District to serve as their representative in Congress on November 5th of 1996, and has since been an effective voice for his constituents and the United States of America; and,
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has committed himself to preserving democracy, protecting and maintaining women’s rights, voting rights, protecting our environment, criminal justice reform, and creating second chances for individuals; and,
WHEREAS, over 2.2 million people have been detained and are being held in American prisons, 95% of those inmates will eventually be released back to society; and,
WHEREAS, every year more than 650,000 offenders are released from our American prisons and 30,000 of those offenders are from Illinois; and,
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis gave light to the reentry crisis facing those who have already paid their debt to society, and started a conversation to create solutions to connect families and stabilize our communities; and,
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis on April 9, 2008 successfully passed the Second Chance Act legislation providing non-profit faith, and community-based organizations with mentoring grants to develop support programs such as drug treatment, housing, job training, medical care, and education; and,
WHEREAS, Congressman Davis has empowered individuals to reenter society successfully by providing transitional assistance to ex-offenders through organizations like Safer Formulation, TASK, Gateway, Interfaith, Habilitative services, and St. Leonards to cope with the challenges of reentry; and,
WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act has helped provide 700 grants to 49 states, resulting in an investment of more than $300 million into organizations assisting ex-offenders reentering communities; and,
WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act has drastically reduced statewide recidivism rates as a result of reentry services provided by the legislation; and,
WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act has enhanced the lives of more than 137,000 men, women, and youths returning from prisons, jails, and juvenile detention facilities, by providing assistance with their transition; and,
WHEREAS, The Second Chance Act is an example of bipartisan legislation that has had an enormous impact on people returning from prisons; and,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the President and Cook County Board of Commissioners that the work honor and dedication of Congressman Danny K. Davis in passing The Second Chance Act is honored and celebrated on its 10 year anniversary.
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