Washington, DC – Yesterday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science released a proposal to eliminate funding for juvenile justice intervention programs. U.S. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), who has been working with Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) on bipartisan legislation to reauthorize the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act, issued the statement below regarding the House bill:
“Chairman Grassley and I have been working on bipartisan legislation to strengthen accountability in juvenile justice programs while also ensuring that we’re helping kids get back on the right track. Our bill could put a real dent in the school-to-prison-pipeline and send an important message to kids, particularly those in poor or minority communities disproportionately affected by the system, that we care about them and want them to succeed. The House appropriations measure would cut funding for programs that help kids get a second chance and sends the exact opposite message at possibly the worst time in recent history. But this isn’t over. I’ll continue working with Chairman Grassley to reauthorize the JJDPA and to secure related appropriations in the Senate.”
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