# 117-s-1541: Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022

117-s-1541, Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL); status became_law; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-01-05).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-1541
- As of: 2026-01-05
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-s-1541
- Congress: 117
- Title: Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act of 2022
- Status: became_law
- Introduced: 2021-05-10
- Sponsor: Sen. Duckworth, Tammy [D-IL] (D-IL)
- Cosponsors: 13
- Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-01-05

## Summary

**This law requires just and reasonable rates for inmate communications** and expands federal oversight to cover audio, video, and other technologies inmates use to contact people outside a facility.

## Cosponsors (13)

- Sen. Portman, Rob [R-OH] (R-OH), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Schatz, Brian [D-HI] (D-HI), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. King, Angus S., Jr. [I-ME] (I-ME), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Markey, Edward J. [D-MA] (D-MA), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gillibrand, Kirsten E. [D-NY] (D-NY), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Warren, Elizabeth [D-MA] (D-MA), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Casey, Robert P., Jr. [D-PA] (D-PA), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blumenthal, Richard [D-CT] (D-CT), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Wyden, Ron [D-OR] (D-OR), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Klobuchar, Amy [D-MN] (D-MN), 2021-05-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2021-05-26T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Coons, Christopher A. [D-DE] (D-DE), 2022-09-27T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- Fairer prices for prison calls and video: benefit, medium. The law requires prices for inmate communications to be just and reasonable. It covers all ways people in prison connect, including phone calls and video chats. It is not limited to per-call charges. This applies now and protects people who pay to talk with someone in prison.
- FCC timeline and rules for prison call rates: mixed, low. The FCC must issue rules 18 to 24 months after the law’s enactment. When setting rates, it can use industry or provider average costs. It must consider safety and security costs and differences by facility size. These choices can raise or lower prices. The rules cover phone and video services used…
- No mandate for prison phone or video: mixed, low. The law does not require prisons or jails to offer phone or video service. It also does not block safety and security measures for those services. State and local rules stay in place. This applies now.

## Related bills

- 117-s-475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act
- 117-sres-748: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Jackie Walorski.
- 117-s-4587: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act
- 117-sres-621: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Orrin G. Hatch.
- 117-sres-593: A resolution relating to the death of Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., former United States Senator for the State of Arkansas.
- 117-sres-565: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Don Young.

## Sources
- [117-s-1541 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/1541)

## Related
- [117-s-475: Juneteenth National Independence Day Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-475)
- [117-sres-748: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Jac…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-748)
- [117-s-4587: Benjamin Berell Ferencz Congressional Gold Medal Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-4587)
- [117-sres-621: A resolution honoring the life and legacy of the late Senator Orrin G. Hatch.](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-621)
- [117-sres-593: A resolution relating to the death of Kaneaster Hodges, Jr., former United Stat…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-593)
- [117-sres-565: A resolution honoring and celebrating the life and legacy of Representative Don…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-sres-565)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-s-1541 (as of 2026-01-05).