PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT

On 2026-08-31, Representative Laurel M. Lee (R-FL-15) delivered a floor speech titled "PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT" in the House.

PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 137 (Monday, August 31, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 137 (Monday, August 31, 2026)] [House] [Pages H5268-H5270] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] {time} 1630 PRISON STAFF SAFETY ENHANCEMENT ACT Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the bill (S. 307) to address sexual harassment and sexual assault of Bureau of Prisons staff in prisons, and for other purposes. The Clerk read the title of the bill. The text of the bill is as follows: S. 307 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act''. SEC. 2. FINDINGS. Congress finds the following: (1) In 2023, the Office of the Inspector General of the Department of Justice released a report titled ``Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Committed by Inmates Toward Staff'' (in this section referred to as the ``Inspector General report''). (2) The Inspector General report examined all sanctioned inmate sexual incidents in the Bureau of Prisons (in this section referred to as the ``Bureau'') between fiscal years 2015 and 2021, and found that inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault is widespread. [[Page H5269]] (3) The Inspector General report further found that the Bureau does not collect adequate data on inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault and that, because of the Bureau's inadequate data, the Bureau has not been able to identify the full scope of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault. (4) The Inspector General report further found that the Bureau does not have systems to evaluate the effectiveness of the Bureau's strategies to mitigate inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault. (5) The Inspector General report made recommendations to the Bureau to address the failures in the Bureau's data collection and mitigation efforts, but the Bureau has not implemented these recommendations. SEC. 3. ADDRESSING SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND SEXUAL ASSAULT OF BUREAU OF PRISONS STAFF. (a) Definitions.--In this section: (1) Bureau.--The term ``Bureau'' means the Bureau of Prisons. (2) Correctional officer.--The term ``correctional officer'' has the meaning given the term in section 4051 of title 18, United States Code. (3) Inspector general.--The term ``Inspector General'' means the Inspector General of the Department of Justice. (4) Incarcerated individual.--The term ``incarcerated individual'' has the meaning given the term ``prisoner'' in section 4051 of title 18, United States Code. (5) Sexual assault.--The term ``sexual assault'' means an act described in subsection (b), (c), or (d) of section 920 of title 10, United States Code. (6) Sexual harassment.--The term ``sexual harassment'' means unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, or other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that explicitly or implicitly affect an individual's employment, unreasonably interfere with an individual's work performance, or create an intimidating, hostile, or offensive work environment. (b) Implementation of Recommendations by Bureau.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Bureau shall fully implement each recommendation in the report released by the Inspector General in 2023 titled ``Evaluation of the Federal Bureau of Prisons' Efforts to Address Sexual Harassment and Sexual Assault Committed by Inmates Toward Staff''. (2) Report.--If the Bureau has not fully implemented each recommendation referenced in paragraph (1) by the deadline under that paragraph, the Bureau shall submit a report to Congress by that deadline that includes an explanation of the failure to fully implement each recommendation and a detailed timeline for full implementation. (c) Data Analysis by Inspector General.-- (1) In general.--Not later than 1 year after the date as of which the Bureau has fully implemented each recommendation referenced in subsection (b)(1)-- (A) the Inspector General shall request from the Bureau, and the Bureau shall provide, updated data on the number and prevalence of sexual harassment and sexual assault incidents perpetrated by incarcerated individuals against a correctional officer or other employee of the Bureau during fiscal years 2022 through 2025; (B) the Inspector General shall conduct an analysis of the data described in subparagraph (A); and (C) the Inspector General shall provide Congress and the Attorney General with the analysis conducted under subparagraph (B) and any additional recommendations, including analysis of whether the Bureau has taken sufficient steps to identify the prevalence and scope of sexual harassment and sexual assault incidents perpetrated by incarcerated individuals against a correctional officer or other employee of the Bureau and to mitigate such incidents. (2) Analysis of punishments.--The analysis required under paragraph (1)(C) shall include an analysis of punishments for sexual harassment and sexual assault as of the date of enactment of this Act in facilities controlled by the Bureau of Prisons, including data on the use of such punishments during the 5-year period preceding the date of enactment of this Act. (d) Rulemaking by Attorney General.--Not later than 1 year after receiving the analysis under subsection (c), the Attorney General shall promulgate a rule adopting national standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and sexual assault perpetrated by an incarcerated individual against a correctional officer or other employee of the Bureau. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee) and the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Raskin) each will control 20 minutes. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Florida. General Leave Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their remarks and to include extraneous material on S. 307. The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the gentlewoman from Florida? There was no objection. Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, my bipartisan legislation to better protect the men and women who serve in our Federal corrections facilities. Every day, correctional officers and other Bureau of Prisons employees go to work in an environment that is inherently challenging and, at times, dangerous. We ask these law enforcement professionals to maintain order and security in Federal prisons, often working in close proximity to individuals who have been convicted of serious crimes. There are risks that come with that responsibility, but sexual harassment and sexual assault should never be accepted as simply part of the job. The scope of this problem is deeply troubling. A Department of Justice survey of Federal Bureau of Prisons employees found that 40 percent of them reported experiencing sexual harassment or sexual assault by an inmate--40 percent. These are men and women who are serving our country and protecting our communities. They deserve to know that their safety matters, that misconduct against them will be taken seriously, and that those responsible will face meaningful consequences. That is why I introduced the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act. This legislation takes a straightforward, fact-driven approach. First, it requires the Department of Justice inspector general to conduct a comprehensive review of the incidents and the effects of sexual harassment and sexual assault committed by incarcerated individuals against correction officers and other Bureau of Prisons employees. Importantly, we aren't just asking how often this is happening. The inspector general must also examine what happens to inmates who engage in this conduct, including what sanctions and consequences are available and how those consequences have actually been used over the preceding 5 years. That matters because rules on paper mean very little if they aren't effectively protecting the people who work inside these institutions. The inspector general will then report these findings to the Attorney General and to Congress. Based on that work, the Attorney General will be required to establish national standards for the prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and sexual assault against Bureau of Prisons personnel. This is what responsible oversight should look like: understand the scope of the problem, determine whether existing consequences are working, and establish clear standards to better protect the people we ask to do this difficult and dangerous work because, ultimately, this bill is about the men and women in the uniform. Our correction officers and prison employees are public servants. They maintain order in some of our Nation's most challenging institutions, and the work they do inside those walls keeps the rest of our communities safe. We ask a great deal from them, and we also should stand up for them. I am proud that this has been a bipartisan effort. I am grateful to Senators Marsha Blackburn and Jon Ossoff for their work advancing the Senate companion. Protecting the men and women who serve in our Federal prisons should not be a partisan issue. No correctional officer should have to accept sexual harassment or assault as a condition of their job. They deserve our respect. They deserve our support, and they deserve our action. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, and I reserve the balance of my time. Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Pr

Referenced legislation: S307, S307