Following this week’s votes in the House and Senate to pass the FIRST STEP Act, Business Roundtable today released the following statements from Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase and Chairman of Business Roundtable, and Wes Bush, Chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman, applauding this important bipartisan progress on criminal justice reform:
“The bipartisan reforms of the FIRST STEP Act will help build stronger U.S. communities and a healthier economy, in which more Americans have opportunities to create a successful life for themselves and their family,” said Jamie Dimon, Chairman and CEO of JPMorgan Chase and Chairman of Business Roundtable. “For too long, a destructive cycle of joblessness and crime has devastated formerly incarcerated Americans. This important bipartisan legislation seeks to break that cycle, removing barriers to employment, boosting workforce readiness and supporting a more inclusive, vibrant and diverse U.S. economy.”
“Business Roundtable applauds the House and Senate for taking important action to deliver meaningful bipartisan criminal justice reform,” said Wes Bush, Chairman and CEO of Northrop Grumman and Chair of the Business Roundtable Education and Workforce Committee. “By providing greater access to education and workforce training in prison, the FIRST STEP Act will not only help reduce recidivism among formerly incarcerated individuals – the bill will create real pathways for these Americans to secure employment and return to society successfully.”