U.S. Senator Lisa Blunt Rochester is renewing her effort to expand job opportunities and reduce reentry barriers for Americans with low-level, nonviolent criminal records. Late last month, standing on the Capitol steps with a bipartisan group of lawmakers, she announced the reintroduction of the Clean Slate Act, legislation that would create a federal process to automatically seal select records — including nonviolent federal marijuana offenses.
“If you care about jobs or justice, this bill is for you,” Blunt Rochester told supporters. “People who’ve served their time and paid their debt deserve a second chance and a fresh start.”
The Clean Slate Act would be the first federal law of its kind. It builds on momentum seen across the country, where over a dozen states have passed similar measures. Delaware, Blunt Rochester’s home state, enacted its version last summer, potentially benefiting over 290,000 residents — though only a fraction have seen records sealed so far.
Backed by both Republicans and Democrats, including Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Laurel Lee (R-Fla.), the bill has growing bipartisan appeal. Blunt Rochester highlighted that criminal justice reform — including the Trump-era First Step Act — has long garnered cross-aisle support. “Republicans and Democrats may not agree on everything, but there are still issues that are evergreen,” she said.
The Clean Slate Initiative, led by Dr. Sheena Meade, has helped drive the movement nationally. Meade, who had her own arrest record from a bounced check in 2004, said the act is about “redemption, economic opportunity, and human dignity.”
Nearly one in three Americans have an arrest or conviction record, often facing steep challenges in employment, housing, and education. A report from the Initiative found two-thirds of people with sealed records in states like Pennsylvania and Michigan still struggled to pay bills and secure stable jobs.
Blunt Rochester, a former Delaware Labor Secretary, called the legislation central to her broader Jobs Agenda. “Whether it’s about efficiency, justice, or employment,” she said, “this bill is about unlocking potential and meeting workforce demands with compassion and common sense.”
