When I think about entrepreneurship, I think about resilience. I think about people who see opportunity where others see obstacles — who transform challenges into innovation and refuse to let circumstances define their future. That's why I urge Congress to pass the New Start Act: legislation that recognizes a truth too many overlook — some of America's most promising entrepreneurs are sitting behind bars.

Sens. Ed Markey (D-Mass.) and Cory Booker (D-N.J.) have introduced groundbreaking legislation to create a five-year pilot program through the Small Business Administration. It would award grants of $100,000 to $500,000 annually to organizations training currently and formerly incarcerated individuals in entrepreneurship. This isn't just smart policy — it's an essential economic strategy.

This approach works because it addresses both immediate needs and long-term potential. Technology training programs across the country are proving that individuals impacted by the justice system can excel in accessible, high-demand fields — from building responsive websites and integrating AI tools into software applications to managing data analytics projects — when given proper support and opportunity.

The results speak for themselves. Programs nationwide are achieving strong employment outcomes and significantly reduced recidivism rates. Graduates earn competitive starting salaries while saving taxpayers thousands annually by avoiding........

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