GREENSBORO, N.C. — Representative Mark Walker (R-NC) was home from Capitol Hill Monday to support criminal justice reform and reentry programs for those who have served time in prison.
Congressman Walker hosted a Prison to Prosperity Conversation in Greensboro based on the Prison to Prosperity Act he plans to introduce to Congress this year. WFMY News 2's Tracey McCain moderated the discussion.
Rep. Walker and criminal justice advocates invited the community to take part in a conversation about his Prison to Prosperity bill and what can be done to better help inmates re-enter the workforce after prison.
The three-person panel included Rev. Odell Cleveland, who heads the Prison Ministry at Mount Zion Baptist Church and AWOL Fitness owner Lynch Hunt, who wrote the book, Prison to Prosperity, ultimately inspiring Rep. Walker's bill.
Congressman Walker says the bill will help inmates re-enter the workforce faster after prison.
"Taxpayers are spending $70 billion each year to keep Americans incarcerated so just looking at from an economic standpoint it doesn't make any sense to keep them there. That's why it doesn't matter which side of the aisle you're on whether its Democrat, Libertarian or Republican, there is great cause or reason to get behind this and I believe that we're excited about getting this done and getting it signed into law."
Representative Walker hopes to have the bill signed into law by November 2020.
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