U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-OH) recently introduced the Reentry Employment Opportunities Act to codify into law the U.S. Department of Labor’s Reentry Employment Opportunities (REO) Program, which supports national, regional and local organizations that administer skills training programs.
“Providing reentry support services to vulnerable youth and young adults at risk of recidivism is vital to ensuring we give them a second chance at living up to their God-given potential,” said Sen. Portman, who on May 10 cosponsored S. 1534 with bill sponsor U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI).
Currently, the REO program operates as a pilot program authorized under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, meaning it does not have a dedicated funding stream and is funded through a piecemeal approach, according to information provided by Sen. Portman’s office, which said that S. 1534 would codify the REO program into law.
Sen. Portman noted that S. 1534 “builds on my previous work to ensure that those reentering society have access to the skills training and jobs necessary to contribute to their communities.”
The bill has been endorsed by the National Action Network, the National Youth Employment Coalition, #Cut50, the Center for Law and Social Policy, Rights4Girls, and the Safer Foundation.