Bill > SR16

This Resolution urges Congress to propose an amendment to the United States Constitution to completely abolish slavery and indentured servitude, including as a punishment for individuals convicted of a crime. While the Thirteenth Amendment, adopted in 1865, is commonly understood to have ended slavery and indentured servitude, it contains an exception that allows these practices for those convicted of a crime. The Resolution highlights concerns about the current prison system, noting that a significant portion of the world's incarcerated population is in the U.S., with a substantial number held in private correctional facilities that profit from low-cost prison labor, often paying incarcerated workers very little or nothing at all, and that this work rarely develops skills for post-release employment. Therefore, the Resolution calls for a constitutional amendment to ensure that no form of slavery or involuntary servitude exists within the United States.