HR 2489 United States House · 117th Congress

Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act

Summary
Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act This bill establishes requirements related to certain charges, practices, classifications, or regulations in connection with confinement facility (i.e., jail or prison) communications services. Specifically, the bill requires the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to establish maximum rates and charges that a provider of prison communications services may charge for such services. The bill provides interim rate caps until the FCC establishes such rates and charges. The bill requires a provider of prison communications services to assess all charges for communications on a per-minute basis for the actual duration of the communication, and it prohibits a provider from charging a per-communication or per-connection charge. A provider also may not charge an ancillary service charge except in certain circumstances. Further, the bill prohibits a provider from assessing a site commission, which is a payment or donation made to certain entities that operate or oversee a confinement facility.
Bill status in committee 1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Apr 2021
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Apr 13, 2021 Last action Apr 14, 2021
Floor votes

How they voted

No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Apr 14, 2021
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology.
lower
Apr 13, 2021
Committee
Referred to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
lower
Apr 13, 2021
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 48 co-sponsors

Sponsors

Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Photo of Bobby L. Rush
Bobby L. Rush
DDemocratic
IL
1
Co
Photo of A. Donald McEachin
A. Donald McEachin
DDemocratic
VA
4
Co
Photo of Adriano Espaillat
Adriano Espaillat
DDemocratic
NY
13
Co
Photo of Anna G. Eshoo
Anna G. Eshoo
DDemocratic
CA
16
Co
Photo of Ayanna Pressley
Ayanna Pressley
DDemocratic
MA
7
Co
Photo of Barbara Lee
Barbara Lee
DDemocratic
CA
12
Co
Photo of Bill Foster
Bill Foster
DDemocratic
IL
11
Co
Photo of Brad Sherman
Brad Sherman
DDemocratic
CA
32
Co
Photo of Danny K. Davis
Danny K. Davis
DDemocratic
IL
7
Co
Photo of Diana DeGette
Diana DeGette
DDemocratic
CO
1
Co
Photo of Donald M. Payne, Jr.
Donald M. Payne, Jr.
DDemocratic
NJ
10