Vermont is one of two states without a Residential Reentry Center 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned U.S. Attorney General Nominee Pamela Bondi at her confirmation hearing. In addition to pressing Ms. Bondi on President-elect Trump’s threats against political opponents, he discussed Vermont-focused priorities related to the justice system—including the importance of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Trump Administration working with the Vermont Delegation and the Governor to identify candidates to be the U.S. Attorney for Vermont.  Ms. Bondi also indicated her support for Vermont to secure a Residential Reentry Program. Vermont is one of two states in the country without a Residential Reentry Center, which Sen. Welch has advocated for in the Senate. 

Watch the Senator’s full remarks below:   

“We’re going to have a new U.S. Attorney in the State of Vermont. In the last Trump Administration, the Justice Department and the Trump Administration worked closely with Senator Leahy, a Democrat, and with Governor Scott, a Republican, and came up with a consensus choice. And I seek your assistance in helping make sure that we are successful in getting a very competent U.S. Attorney in Vermont, and hopefully with the cooperation of Governor Scott—a Republican, as I mentioned—and Senator Sanders and me,” stated Senator Welch. 

Pam Bondi, Attorney General Nominee, responded: “Senator, as I discussed with you in our meeting, I look forward to working with you and cooperating with you and learning about many of the issues you have in Vermont.”  

Senator Welch continued: “We are one of two states that does not have a Residential Reentry Program. That is outrageous in my mind. I know you worked on the First Step Act, but our federal judges, our federal prosecutors, our federal public defenders are all in support of a Residential Reentry Program. Our state and Hawaii are the only two states without it. Our justice system and officials believe that we need it. And I seek your energetic assistance in helping us get that Residential Reentry Program.” 

Attorney General Nominee Pam Bondi testified: “I didn’t realize you were the only two states without a reentry program. We started that when I was a prosecutor and those are so vitally important. One thing that I just learned is the Bureau of Prisons—98% of people in the Bureau of Prisons will be released. They’re not serving life sentences. So, we must do everything we can when people are in prison to rehabilitate them for when they get out. And that is why reentry is so vital. We tell people: ‘get out of prison and become a productive member of society, go get a job,’ yet people don’t know how to go find a drivers license, they don’t know how to get to work.” 

“I appreciate your help on that. Thank you very much. And I have confidence that you will do that given your history on the First Step Act and other things that you did,” said Senator Welch. 

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