Whereas every individual is endowed with human dignity and value; Whereas redemption and second chances are values of the United States; Whereas millions of individuals in the United States have a criminal record; Whereas hundreds of thousands of individuals return to their communities from Federal and State prisons every year; Whereas returning individuals have paid their debt after committing a crime but still face significant legal and societal barriers (referred to in this preamble as collateral consequences ); Whereas collateral consequences are mandatory and take effect automatically, regardless of— (1) a nexus to public safety; (2) the seriousness of the offense; (3) the time passed since the offense; or (4) the efforts of the individual to make amends or earn back the trust of the public; Whereas gaining meaningful employment is one of the most significant predictors of successful reentry and reducing future criminal activity; Whereas many individuals who have previously been incarcerated struggle to find employment because of collateral consequences which are often not directly related to the offense committed or any proven public safety benefit; Whereas many States have laws which prohibit an individual with a criminal record from working in certain industries or obtaining professional licenses; Whereas education has also been shown to be a significant predictor of successful reentry; Whereas an individual with a criminal record often has a lower level of educational attainment than the general population and has significant difficulty acquiring admission to and funding for educational programs; Whereas an individual convicted of certain crimes is often barred from receiving the financial aid necessary to acquire additional skills and knowledge; Whereas an individual with a criminal record also often faces collateral consequences in securing a place to live; Whereas an individual with a criminal record is often barred from seeking access to public housing