For Reginald Darby, a second chance changed everything. As a teenager, he faced court-ordered fines and community service, but his record was eventually expunged, allowing him to attend college and later work for Republican members of Congress. Now, as federal affairs director at the Clean Slate Initiative, Darby is urging lawmakers to extend that same opportunity to millions of Americans blocked from jobs by outdated federal records.
At issue are two bipartisan bills: the Clean Slate Act, introduced in the House by Reps. Lucy McBath (D-Ga.) and Nathaniel Moran (R-Texas), and in the Senate by Sens. Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-Del.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), and the Fresh Start Act, which would provide federal grants to help states implement their own record-sealing laws. Together, they aim to remove employment barriers that disproportionately affect those who have already paid their debt to society.
The economic toll of old records
A recent report from the Clean Slate Initiative, titled "The Economic Losses from Arrest and Conviction Records," estimates that these records are tied to $440 billion in lost earnings annually across the country. Even people never convicted face average annual earnings losses of $4,400, while those with nonviolent felony convictions lose an estimated $9,300 per year. These are not trivial sums for families trying to cover rent, save for emergencies, or fund a child's education.
The report also highlights that the damage persists even after more than a decade without further legal trouble. "Blanket exclusion can undermine public safety," Darby argues, because a steady job gives individuals a lawful income and a stake in their communities. "A fair opportunity to earn a living belongs in that calculation."
How the legislation would work
The Clean Slate Act would automate the sealing of qualifying federal non-conviction records and specified drug conviction records, subject to the bill's requirements. It also creates a petition process for other eligible records. For those never convicted, sealing an arrest record gives practical meaning to the presumption of innocence. The bill preserves law enforcement and national security access, and it reduces paperwork by applying standards automatically once criteria are met.
The Fresh Start Act complements this by helping states implement their own automated sealing and expungement programs through infrastructure grants, with reporting requirements to ensure transparency. Together, these measures address both federal and state barriers, as noted in related bipartisan efforts to streamline government processes.
Why now?
With workforce shortages and rising costs, lawmakers are increasingly focused on removing obstacles to employment. As debates over economic policy intensify, the Clean Slate Act offers a practical, bipartisan solution that could recover billions in lost earnings and reduce reliance on government assistance. Darby emphasizes that taxpayers have a stake in what happens after a sentence ends: "We should expect people returning to their communities to obey the law, find work, and take responsibility for their families. The government should make those expectations achievable."
Supporters also point to the broader benefits: more spending at local businesses, better returns on workforce training investments, and stronger communities. As bipartisan initiatives gain traction, the Clean Slate Act stands out as a measure that aligns with both economic and public safety goals.
Darby's personal story underscores the stakes. "Accountability should open a path back to contribution," he says. "And our laws should make that path possible." Congress now has the chance to turn that principle into policy.
