# 119-hr-8645: New Pathways Act

119-hr-8645, New Pathways Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ); status introduced (as of 2026-10-03).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8645
- As of: 2026-10-03
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8645
- Congress: 119
- Title: New Pathways Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ)
- Cosponsors: 8
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-03

## Summary

**An Identification and Release Assistance program** would make sure federal prisoners leave custody with the IDs and immigration or citizenship papers they need to rebuild their lives. This bill would add rules to the Second Chance Act so the Bureau of Prisons helps people get REAL ID‑compliant photo IDs, Social Security cards, proof of citizenship or lawful status, employment authorization for eligible noncitizens, and help making a release plan when requested. - United States citizen covered individuals would receive a photo ID that meets REAL ID rules before release and assistance obtaining a Social Security card and proof of U.S. citizenship when possible. - Noncitizen covered individuals would get help from the Bureau in applying for proof of lawful status and, if not a lawful permanent resident, an employment authorization document, including forms and application assistance. - Direct-release prisoners could request help from a U.S. Probation System representative to develop a release plan before leaving custody.

## Cosponsors (8)

- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2026-04-30T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Help getting work papers for noncitizens: benefit, low. If enacted, the Bureau of Prisons would help qualifying lawfully present noncitizens get proof of status and work authorization from USCIS before release. The BOP would provide forms and instructions, help complete and submit USCIS forms with required documents, and give any received USCIS papers t…
- Probation help to build release plans: benefit, low. If enacted, a representative of the U.S. Probation System would help a direct-release prisoner develop a release plan, but only if the prisoner asks for help. The assistance must happen before the prisoner is released. The rule applies only when requested by a prisoner who will be directly released…
- REAL ID and citizenship documents: benefit, low. If enacted, the bill would require the Bureau of Prisons to provide eligible U.S. citizen prisoners a photo ID that meets REAL ID rules before release. The BOP would obtain a Social Security card and proof of citizenship for the person and give the person all documents it receives. If an outside Fe…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act
- 119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act
- 119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026

## Sources
- [119-hr-8645 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8645)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-3971: Domestic Workers Bill of Rights Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3971)
- [119-hr-3069: Medicare for All Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3069)
- [119-hr-7853: PrEP Access and Coverage Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7853)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8645 (as of 2026-10-03).