A resolution expressing support for the designation of April 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026, as "Fair Chance Jobs Month".

119th Congress Introduced by Cory Booker and 9 co-sponsors

Designates April 2026 as Fair Chance Jobs Month to promote policies that reduce barriers to employment for individuals with criminal records.

Submitted in Senate

Purpose and Intent

SRES 700 is a Senate resolution that expresses support for designating April 2026 as “Fair Chance Jobs Month.”

The resolution aims to highlight and promote policies and practices that provide fair access to employment for individuals with criminal records, supporting the broader policy goal of reducing barriers to employment and improving second-chance opportunities.

Key Provisions and Provisions (What the Resolution Does)

Formal designation: The resolution designates a specific timeframe (April 1, 2026, through April 30, 2026) as Fair Chance Jobs Month.

Recognition and advocacy: It calls on federal offices, agencies, local governments, employers, and organizations to observe the month by raising awareness about fair chance hiring practices and the importance of second-chance employment.

Encouragement of initiatives: The measure encourages stakeholders to promote policies and programs that remove unnecessary barriers to employment for individuals with arrest or conviction records, consistent with existing civil rights and equal employment opportunity laws.

Affected Parties and Impact

Primary beneficiaries: Individuals with criminal records seeking employment, particularly those facing barriers due to prior convictions.

Employers and workplaces: Employers are encouraged to participate in fair chance hiring practices and to recognize and reduce policies that disproportionately hinder job opportunities for people with criminal histories.

Public and private sector stakeholders: Federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit organizations, and businesses are urged to observe and support the observance of Fair Chance Jobs Month.

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

Status: Referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on April 29, 2026.

Legislative action: The bill has been submitted in the Senate and is awaiting committee consideration. As a resolution, it does not have the force of law requiring funding and is primarily a symbolic and advocacy instrument.

Sponsorship: Co-sponsors include several prominent senators (e.g., Amy Klobuchar, Elizabeth Warren, Dick Durbin, Peter Welch, Ed Markey, Tammy Duckworth, Cory Booker, Mazie Hirono, Tina Smith, Alex Padilla), signaling cross-partisan support for fair chance hiring principles.

Notes for Readers

This is a non-binding resolution intended to express support and encourage participation in observing Fair Chance Jobs Month.

It aligns with ongoing federal and state efforts to expand employment opportunities for people with criminal records through fair hiring practices, rehabilitation considerations, and exemption from broad, blanket employment bans where not legally required.

If you’d like, I can compare this resolution to existing fair-chance hiring policies or provide related statistics on employment outcomes for individuals with criminal records.

Bill