Supporting the Clean Slate Initiative

Second chances can change lives. As a teenager, I faced court-ordered penalties, including fines and community service. Later, my record was cleared, allowing me to pursue college and work for Republican Congress members. Accountability and progress shaped my journey, highlighting a crucial question for Congress: why keep barriers for people ready to contribute after meeting legal requirements?

Lawmakers aiming for a stronger workforce, self-sufficient families, and better taxpayer investment returns should pass the bipartisan Clean Slate Act. This legislation would remove barriers tied to eligible federal arrest and conviction records, offering more Americans a chance to earn a living.

The Clean Slate Initiative’s report, “The Economic Losses from Arrest and Conviction Records,” reveals how such records lead to $440 billion in lost earnings nationwide annually. Persistent employment and earnings disadvantages exist even among those never convicted or with more than a decade free of legal issues. Compared to peers without records, individuals with arrest or non-conviction records lost an estimated $4,400 yearly. For those with nonviolent felony convictions, the figure reaches $9,300. These amounts are significant for families covering expenses, saving for emergencies, or funding education. Lower earnings curb spending at local businesses.

While the $440 billion loss encompasses records beyond federal records targeted by the Clean Slate Act, and record sealing alone cannot recover all earnings, the evidence makes the cost of retaining employment barriers undeniable. Congress should begin addressing this by improving the federal records it controls.

Consider workers completing training programs, earning credentials, and applying for jobs, facing old records hindering opportunities. These workers satisfy policy requirements, yet employers miss potential hires, and taxpayer-funded training fails to yield employment. Workforce strategies should prioritize removing these obstacles alongside addressing skills gaps.

Public safety relies on offering second chances. A stable job provides lawful income and responsibilities worth safeguarding. Supporting stable lives is crucial for crime prevention. Blanket exclusion can thwart this goal, especially if old records poorly reflect current behavior. Taxpayers have interests once sentences end, expecting law abidance, employment, and family responsibility. The government must make these expectations feasible by eliminating employment barriers.

When eligible records obstruct qualified applicants, they undermine the self-sufficiency policies should encourage. Congress should assess record relief with the practicality seen in other safety measures: does this foster law-abiding conditions? A fair chance for employment is vital.

The bipartisan Clean Slate Act, introduced by Representatives Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas) and Senators Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), offers a practical federal solution. It automates sealing qualifying federal non-conviction and specific drug conviction records, meeting the bill’s criteria. It proposes a petition process for other eligible federal records.

For those never convicted, expunging eligible arrest records affirms the presumption of innocence. The bill sets eligibility limits and maintains access for designated security purposes. Automated sealing relies on established standards once requirements are satisfied, lowering paperwork burdens and ensuring consistent relief delivery. A person’s application skills shouldn’t affect access to legally available relief.

The complementary bipartisan Fresh Start Act supports automated record sealing and expungement in states via federal grants, helping states implement their laws. It requires reporting to assess progress. Combined, these measures address federal record barriers and assist state relief efforts.

My experiences affirm the potential of new opportunities. Congress should pass the Clean Slate Act and Fresh Start Act to enable more individuals to work, support families, and secure stable futures. Accountability should pave the way to contribution, and laws should ensure that path.

Reginald Darby is the federal affairs director at the Clean Slate Initiative and a former congressional staffer. Copyright 2026 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.