All Roll Calls
Yes: 392 • No: 2
118-hr-3019118th Congress
Federal Prison Oversight Act
Sponsored By: Representative McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
Became Law
Summary
Inspector General–led inspections of Bureau of Prisons facilities paired with a new Department of Justice Ombudsman expand independent oversight of prison conditions, staffing, and complaint handling across federal prisons.
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- Incarcerated people and families: The IG can interview people in custody, review records, and inspect living areas and care. IG reports must be issued within six months and the Bureau must publish a corrective action plan within 60 days.
- Staff and workplace protections: Inspections cover staff working conditions, staffing levels, medical and mental health services, and handling of violence or deaths. The Ombudsman can receive complaints, investigate retaliation, and monitor disciplinary actions, confirming receipt within five business days and deciding whether to act within 15 business days.
- Oversight and transparency: The law requires a risk-based inspection score and schedule delivered within 18 months. The IG gets broad record-review rights with 30-business-day production timelines and public posting of Bureau responses.
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2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Justice Department ombudsman for prison complaints
The Justice Department establishes an ombudsman within 1 year to take prison complaints. Incarcerated people, families, staff, judges, and Members of Congress can file by secure online form or hotline, with internal and outside channels for incarcerated people. The ombudsman confirms receipt in 5 business days and decides within 15 business days; it cannot charge fees, cannot revisit convictions, and this process does not replace grievance exhaustion rules. Communications are confidential like legal mail, and identities are protected when possible. The law bans retaliation against anyone who files or helps with these complaints, and the ombudsman sends criminal or administrative misconduct to the Inspector General.
Stronger prison inspections and reports
The Inspector General inspects Bureau-run prisons on a risk-based schedule. Within 18 months, the IG delivers a risk-scoring method to Congress, and higher-risk prisons get more frequent inspections. The IG publishes reports within 6 months after inspections, and the Bureau must post a corrective plan within 60 days. The IG can enter facilities at any time and interview people in private; staff cannot monitor these talks. After a written request, the Bureau must turn over records in 30 business days, or in 10 business days for deaths, threats of harm, or urgent medical issues.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6]
GA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Armstrong, Kelly [R-ND-At Large]
ND • R
Sponsored 4/28/2023
Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 5/18/2023
Rep. Rutherford, John H. [R-FL-5]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/24/2023
Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]
PA • D
Sponsored 5/24/2023
Rep. Lee, Laurel M. [R-FL-15]
FL • R
Sponsored 5/24/2023
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 5/30/2023
Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3]
MN • D
Sponsored 7/6/2023
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 7/6/2023
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 7/6/2023
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 7/6/2023
Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/10/2023
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 7/20/2023
Rep. Davis, Donald G. [D-NC-1]
NC • D
Sponsored 7/26/2023
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 9/5/2023
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 9/5/2023
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 9/5/2023
Rep. Scholten, Hillary J. [D-MI-3]
MI • D
Sponsored 9/5/2023
Rep. Moore, Barry [R-AL-1]
AL • R
Sponsored 9/13/2023
Rep. Mace, Nancy [R-SC-1]
SC • R
Sponsored 9/13/2023
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 10/17/2023
Rep. Miller, Carol D. [R-WV-1]
WV • R
Sponsored 11/14/2023
Rep. Donalds, Byron [R-FL-19]
FL • R
Sponsored 11/14/2023
Rep. Mooney, Alexander X. [R-WV-2]
WV • R
Sponsored 12/6/2023
Rep. Carter, Earl L. "Buddy" [R-GA-1]
GA • R
Sponsored 12/6/2023
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 1/30/2024
Rep. Loudermilk, Barry [R-GA-11]
GA • R
Sponsored 2/7/2024
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/1/2024
Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]
MN • D
Sponsored 3/1/2024
Rep. Reschenthaler, Guy [R-PA-14]
PA • R
Sponsored 3/1/2024
Rep. Grothman, Glenn [R-WI-6]
WI • R
Sponsored 3/1/2024
Rep. McMorris Rodgers, Cathy [R-WA-5]
WA • R
Sponsored 5/6/2024
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 5/6/2024
Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9]
WA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2024
Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/14/2024
Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7]
AZ • D
Sponsored 5/21/2024
Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2024
Rep. Ciscomani, Juan [R-AZ-6]
AZ • R
Sponsored 5/21/2024
Rep. Sorensen, Eric [D-IL-17]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/21/2024
Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/21/2024
Roll Call Votes
house vote • 5/21/2024
On Motion to Suspend the Rules and Pass, as Amended
Yes: 392 • No: 2