Access Denied: Eliminating Barriers and Increasing Economic Opportunity for Justice-Involved Individuals

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce (“the Chamber”) is committed to addressing systemic racism in America and removing barriers that make it more difficult to move up the economic ladder. All Americans should have the opportunity to earn their success, rise on their merit, and live their own American Dream. Far too often, the opportunity to obtain an education, secure a job, start a business, and provide for your family is determined by your skin color. These systemic inequalities hurt individuals, communities, our economy, and our society.

Last year, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce launched the Equality of Opportunity Initiative to develop real, sustainable solutions to help close race-based opportunity gaps in six areas: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth disparity. Systemic inequalities in these six areas perpetuate broader inequalities in our society, hold back individual and business success, and hinder economic growth.

Driven by data and informed by conversations with business, government, academic, and civic leaders, we developed the Equality of Opportunity Agenda to advance private sector solutions and best practices, scale impactful programs, and drive policy action at the federal, state, and local level. In early 2021, we launched task forces around our six main pillars: education, employment, entrepreneurship, criminal justice, health, and wealth disparity, as well as access to capital and supplier diversity. These conversations will bring together business, policy experts, and others to share and discuss strategies to advance progress on these issues and solutions in the years to come.

We appreciate the House Committee on Financial Services holding a hearing on “Access Denied: Eliminating Barriers and Increasing Economic Opportunity for Justice-Involved Individuals.” The hearing seeks to explore important policy issues related to second chance hiring that are critical to a strong workforce and closing the racial wealth gap.