■ LAC Celebrates Passage of Second Chance Act

On March 13th, 2008, Congressman Danny Davis (D-IL) hosted a press conference at the National Press Club in Washington, DC to celebrate the recent passage of the "Second Chance Act" reentry legislation in Congress. Joining Congressman Davis was Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH); Former Congressman and Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Jack Kemp; Melody Heaps, President of the Center for Health and Justice at TASC; Paul Samuels, President and Director of the Legal Action Center; and a number of other supporters of the Second Chance Act.

 

■ Urge Passage Of “The Second Chance Act Of 2007”

May 2007: The Second Chance Act, legislation that seeks to help States and localities better address the needs of individuals reentering the community from the criminal justice system, was reintroduced in the House of Representatives on March 20th and in the Senate on March 30th. This legislation would provide grants to States and local areas to begin to address the need for drug and mental health treatment, job training and education opportunities, and housing, as well as other critical services for individuals when they return to the community.

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■ Advocacy Alert: Mental Health Parity Act

April 2007: Achieving parity in insurance coverage for alcohol, drug and mental health treatment is imperative at a time when the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has estimated the annual economic cost of alcohol and other drug problems in America to be more than $400 billion. The PAUL WELLSTONE MENTAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION EQUITY ACT OF 2007 will improve access to lifesaving mental health and addiction treatment by limiting the discriminatory barriers that have kept thousands of Americans with mental health and substance use disorders from receiving the care they desperately need.

 

■ FY 08 Federal Funding Alert

April 07: Please contact your U.S. Senators and Representatives today and ask them to
increase funding for drug and alcohol prevention, treatment, education &
research programs

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■ Legislation Modifies Ban On Financial Aid to Students with Drug Convictions

February 2005: Legal Action Center lauds change in the law that will increase student financial aid eligibility for individuals
with prior drug convictions, including thousands of people in recovery from drug addiction. Under the new law, students who were convicted of drug crimes prior to their enrollment and application for federal financial aid will be eligible for aid and will no longer be subject to a ban that delays or denies federal financial assistance.

 

■ Repeal Ban On Food Stamps And Welfare For People With Drug Felony Convictions

April 2003: LAC urges Congressional committees to end the ban on eligibility for TANF (welfare) assistance and food stamps for individuals with drug felony convictions, many of whom are mothers supporting children, and to request the availability of comprehensive drug and alcohol treatment for welfare recipients who need it.

 

■ Recovery Now Initiative and Charitable Choice

February 2003: The Legal Action Center praised President Bush for his strong statements in support of alcohol and drug treatment and recovery and announcement of a new treatment initiative during his State of the Union Address.
In a position paper, LAC "supports the view that faith-based organizations should be encouraged to provide quality alcohol and drug treatment and prevention services," but emphasizes that they "must be held accountable to the same standards of care, performance and licensure or certification as all other licensed or certified programs so that patients receive appropriate, quality care for this medical condition."