NEW YORK- Lawmakers have introduced joint legislation aimed at striking language from the U.S. Constitution that enshrines a form of slavery in American documents. The resolution was spearheaded by Democratic members in the House and Senate which amends the 13th Amendment's bannister's on chattel enslavement. The original amendment has permitted felons to be exploited for labor since the abolition of slavery 155 years ago.

Amendments like this are very rare as they require approval by two-thirds of the House and Senate and ratification by three-quarters of state legislatures. This amendment comes one month after voters in Nebraska and Utah approved initiatives amending their respective state constitutions to remove language similar to that of the 13th Amendment.

This amendment has a very dark history. Following the abolition of slavery, Southern states used this amendment to continue to exploit Black men and women for free labor through incarcerating them for petty crimes, essentiality allowing the re-enslavement of African Americans.

The minimum annual value of prison labor commodities at $2 billion, mostly coming from a system of convict leasing that allows people to work without legal protections and benefits all Americans should be entitled to.

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