H.R. 8645: New Pathways Act

119th Congress · introduced 2026-04-30 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

New Pathways Act

Plain summary

New Pathways Act This bill revises existing requirements for the Bureau of Prisons (BOP) to help prisoners obtain identification documents prior to their release. With respect to U.S. citizens, the BOP must obtain and provide a Social Security card, a proof of U.S. citizenship document, and a photo identification card. With respect to noncitizens, the BOP must help obtain proof of lawful status and, if applicable, an employment authorization document.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

New Pathways Act

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] · 8 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Nydia M. Velázquez (D-NY), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Danny K. Davis (D-IL), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Al Green (D-TX), Kweisi Mfume (D-MD)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] reported raising $955,740 (2023–2024). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Words on this page, explained (3)

Authorization: A law that creates or continues a government program and says what it may do, often with a suggested spending ceiling. An authorization alone does not provide money; a separate appropriation does.
Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).
Securities: Financial investments that can be bought and sold, such as stocks and bonds.

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr8645.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr8645 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills