Congresswoman Lee Applauds Passage of Second Chance and Medical Marijuana Protection Measures
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
May 30, 2014
Contact: Katherine Jolly (510) 763-0370
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Barbara Lee celebrated the passage of her amendment to increase funding for Second Chance Act programs in the Commerce-Science-Justice Appropriations bill. She also hailed the passage of an amendment she co-sponsored with Congressman Dana Rohrabacher that prohibits the use of funds by the Department of Justice to prevent states from implementing their own state laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.
“I’m pleased that today’s appropriations bill included my amendment to increase funding for Second Chance Act programs by $3 million,” said Congresswoman Barbara Lee. “Investing in programs that reduce recidivism and increase public safety makes both moral and fiscal sense. Individuals who have paid their debt to society deserve the opportunity to return home and make positive contributions to our community.”
Second Chance Act programs aid individuals in the transition out of incarceration and are a proven approach to reducing recidivism rates. Congresswoman Lee’s Second Chance Act amendment increases funding to programs that are working to improve outcomes for people returning to communities from incarceration by providing assistance in employment, housing, education, substance abuse, mental health and family counseling.
“The passage of our bipartisan amendment is a major milestone in our ongoing work in requiring the federal government to respect state medical marijuana laws,” said Congresswoman Lee. “This amendment sends a clear message – it’s past time to end the harassment of small business owners and people suffering from serious illnesses, and put our precious taxpayer dollars where they are truly needed. This is an important step forward and I urge the Senate to take up this measure.”
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Follow Barbara Lee on Facebook and Twitter at @RepBarbaraLee. To learn more, visit lee.house.gov.
Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees, the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip, as well as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (CPC), where she serves as the Co-Chair of the CPC Peace and Security Task Force.