Proclaiming a Declaration of Environmental Rights for Incarcerated People.

HRES 1178 is a non-binding resolution introduced by Rep. Pressley (D-MA) that declares incarcerated people in U.S. prisons, jails, and detention facilities have environmental rights. It outlines 12 specific rights, including the right to safe living conditions (free from hazards like toxic water, mold, and extreme temperatures), access to information about environmental risks, the right to refuse hazardous labor (e.g., asbestos removal), and the right to advocate for improvements without retaliation. The resolution applies to all people held in carceral facilities - over 2 million individuals - and emphasizes that environmental conditions in these settings disproportionately harm Black, Indigenous, Latino, and LGBTQ+ people. It does not create new laws but establishes principles for future legislative action, urging courts and lawmakers to recognize these rights.