Ensuring OB–GYN Care in Prisons Act
Sponsored By: Representative Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
Introduced
Summary
Guaranteed access to OB-GYN care for female prisoners is the bill’s main goal. It would require a full-time American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology certified OB-GYN at every federal facility that houses women and set specific services, protections, and reporting rules.
Show full summary
- Women in custody would gain routine OB-GYN services including menstrual health and pain management, contraceptive counseling and access, diagnosis and treatment of gynecological conditions, cancer screening consistent with clinical guidelines, and trauma-informed care for survivors of sexual violence.
- Pregnant prisoners would receive pregnancy screening, prenatal care, postpartum care and recovery, and postpartum depression screening. The Director would report annually to Congress on visits, births, high-risk pregnancies, and pregnancy-related deaths for incarcerated people and newborns.
- The Bureau of Prisons would need at least one board-certified OB-GYN on full-time staff at each facility that houses women. Each woman would be seen by an OB-GYN no later than 14 days after arrival.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
OB-GYN care for women in prison
This bill would require one full-time OB-GYN at every federal prison that houses women. Vacancies would have to be filled within 42 days. Each woman would have an initial visit within 14 days of imprisonment. OB-GYNs would provide menstrual care and pain management. They would offer contraception counseling and access. They would diagnose and treat gynecological conditions and perform cancer screenings per clinical guidelines. They would provide prenatal care, pregnancy screenings, postpartum care, and check for postpartum depression. Care would follow trauma-informed standards for sexual violence survivors. Prisoners would give informed consent for exams and could refuse non-emergency care. Care would be provided in the prisoner's preferred language. The Director would have to set up referrals to other medical specialists when needed. Transport and security arrangements would not be allowed to delay referred care, and care would not be denied for cost or staffing reasons.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Johnson (GA)
GA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Randall
WA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]
NY • D
Sponsored 2/26/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Schakowsky
IL • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 3/3/2026
Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]
FL • D
Sponsored 3/16/2026
Adams
NC • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 3/27/2026
Stansbury
NM • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]
CA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 5/14/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov