Kim Kardashian West and President Trump highlight the power of criminal justice reform

Last December, President Donald J. Trump signed the First Step Act—the first major overhaul of the U.S. criminal justice system in more than a decade.

For too long, our prison system has failed incarcerated Americans. Oversentencing kept many people behind bars for years after they’d paid their debts to society and were ready to rejoin and reinvest in their communities. Others left prison ill-equipped for employment and life on the outside. As a result, many succumbed to crime and re-imprisonment.

Watch: Kim Kardashian West at the White House

In just four months after President Trump signed the First Step Act, more than 1,000 requests for a reduced sentence were granted. Soon, thousands more who were once subjected to unfair sentencing will get a second chance.

Today, the President discussed the next step in making justice reform a lasting success: empowering Americans to find jobs—and a purpose—after leaving prison. For former inmates, the difficulty of reentering society was often made even tougher because of scarce opportunities for employment. That needs to change.

“As a result of the booming economy, we are bringing Americans who have been on the sidelines back into the workforce—including former inmates,” President Trump said.

The Trump Administration is taking additional action to encourage U.S. companies to invest in “second chance” hiring. The Department of Labor, for example, will grant $2 million to States this month for bonds that incentivize businesses to hire and train former offenders.

That opportunity can begin while inmates are still completing their sentences. For those currently incarcerated, the Department of Education is expanding an initiative to make Pell Grants available for their education and training.

President Trump is helping all Americans earn a second chance.

Washington Examiner: Criminal justice reform is already working.

The governors leading the way on getting more Americans hired

Earlier this year, the White House asked America’s governors to share their top priorities for 2019. Their answers echoed one of President Trump’s most important agenda items: workforce development for Americans of all stripes.

This afternoon, a bipartisan group of governors met with both President Trump and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump to discuss clearing any obstacles standing in the way of true economic mobility for our workers.

President Trump: “Tremendous progress” on fulfilling careers

These governors have been innovators in tackling that challenge, breaking down barriers such as restrictive occupational licensing, a lack of quality job training, and access to child care in their states. At the table today were Governors Doug Ducey (R-AZ), Brian Kemp (R-GA), David Ige (D-HI), Kim Reynolds (R-IA), Chris Sununu (R-NH), Tom Wolf (D-PA), Bill Lee (R-TN), and Mark Gordon (R-WY).

“One of the most rewarding things is to see people coming off the sidelines and back into the workforce,” Ivanka Trump said during today’s discussion. “Whether it’s criminal justice reform, second chance hiring, all the work we’re doing around skills training—employers are getting creative.”

The Pledge to America’s Workers: 9.8 million opportunities and climbing!

Video of the day: A historic F-35 White House flyover

Yesterday, President Trump welcomed Polish President Andrzej Duda and Mrs. Agata Kornhauser-Duda to Washington with a historic F-35 fighter jet flyover of the White House.