The push comes as staffers and lawmakers are expected to informally start merging the House and Senate National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAAs) during the August recess. A coalition of advocacy groups is ramping up pressure on lawmakers to include criminal justice legislation in a must-pass defense bill.

ADVERTISEMENT The House-passed NDAA includes the Fair Chance Act, which prohibits the federal government and federal contractors from asking about a job applicant's criminal history before making a conditional offer of employment. The Senate's defense bill doesn't include the legislation.

Supporters are rolling out a new poll, obtained exclusively by The Hill ahead of its release, showing most Americans support the ideas behind the Fair Chance Act. The poll — conducted by GOP polling firm Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of the Justice Action Network, a coalition of outside groups supporting the bill — found that 83 percent of voters say they would support a proposal that allows employers to conduct background checks "but not until after applicants have had a chance to share their skills and qualifications." The poll — conducted by GOP polling firm Public Opinion Strategies on behalf of the Justice Action Network, a coalition of outside groups supporting the bill — found that 83 percent of voters say they would support a proposal that allows employers to conduct background checks "but not until after applicants have had a chance to share their skills and qualifications."

That percentage, according to the poll, includes 72 percent of GOP voters and 91 percent of Democratic voters. Overall, 15 percent say they would oppose such a proposal, including 24 percent of Republicans and 8 percent of Democrats.

"We've shown overwhelming public support, the administration has shown its support, and now we just need the Senate to include the amendment," said Holly Harris, the executive director of Justice Action Network. She added that she's "really hopeful that the leaders and those negotiating the bill will see both the policy value and the political value."

Thirty-nine percent also said they would be more likely to vote for their member of Congress if they supported the proposal, compared to 8 percent who say they would be less likely. Just over half, 51 percent, indicated it wouldn't make a difference.

The poll surveyed 800 registered voters nationwide from July 13-16 and has a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.

The push to include the legislation in the NDAA comes as lawmakers are out of Washington until September. When they return, they'll have a packed floor schedule, including funding the government by Oct. 1 to prevent a second shutdown.

"The Fair Chance Act builds off the success of the First Step Act and goes one step further by helping rehabilitated men and women gain meaningful employment nationwide," he said. "This bill has the potential change lives and help communities everywhere by reducing recidivism and bringing hope to families from coast to coast.”

— Jonathan Easley contributed