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August 31, 2026
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Download official House Record PDFReturn to issue contextMs. 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.
(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.
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.
harassment and sexual assault should never be accepted as simply part of the job. The scope of this problem is deeply troubling.
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.
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.
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.
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 Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, which would require DOJ to improve the safety of Bureau of Prisons facilities across America. More specifically, S. 307 would make improvements to how BOP assesses and responds to sexual harassment and assault by inmates of staff members.
safety, to prepare people for successful reentry into
our communities, and to keep our communities safe. Yet, they often face threats of sexual harassment and sexual assault by inmates.
more than 7,000 surveyed BOP staff reported that they themselves had been sexually harassed by an inmate. The report found that reports of sexual harassment were even more prevalent among female staff members. Mr. Speaker, 69 percent of female BOP staff said they had been sexually harassed by an inmate on the job. This harassment included whistling, catcalling, genitalia exposure, sexual remarks, and sexual gestures.
really known because BOP has not adequately or consistently collected data on the problem. This has prevented BOP from taking effective action.
recommendations made in the 2023 IG report or explain why it cannot do so. It would also require BOP to provide updated data to the inspector general on the number and prevalence of inmate-on-staff sexual harassment and sexual assault episodes, require the IG to analyze the sufficiency of the data, and make any necessary recommendations to Congress and the Attorney General on how the Bureau of Prisons can reduce the pervasiveness of these incidents.
standards for prevention, reduction, and punishment of sexual harassment and assault committed by incarcerated individuals against BOP employees.
report, this act would improve BOP's data collection, training, and policies on both sexual harassment and assault. It would also require BOP to conduct regular risk assessments within individual facilities and across BOP, with an emphasis on the risks for female staff.
I applaud Senator Ossoff for his work on this legislation. He has worked to improve the conditions and safety of our Federal prisons for both the staff and inmates. I was proud to support passage of the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a bipartisan, bicameral bill that he led with my colleague, the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Crime, Congresswoman McBath. That bill was signed into law in 2024 and established new independent oversight of BOP. It received broad support from civil rights groups, prison employees, and criminal justice groups, but its full potential is yet to be realized. Congress should fully fund the Federal Prison Oversight Act so it can be fully implemented and add to the safety improvements in the bill before us today.
our prisons safer for inmates and staff alike. Such failures include years of systemic sexual assault of incarcerated women and whistleblower retaliation at one of the Federal woman's prisons in Dublin, California, that led to closure of the facility and criminal convictions of nine BOP officers, including the warden himself. This never should have happened. I hope we can continue to work together to make sure our prisons are safe for everybody who enters them, whether involuntarily as an inmate or voluntarily as a staff person.
environments in America. BOP has faced longstanding staffing challenges, from poor morale to ever-declining recruitment and retention rates. By working to reduce the intolerable sexual harassment and assault of staff members, this legislation would take an important step toward improving safety across BOP facilities and the ability of staff to carry out their crucial public safety mission.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support S. 307, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I have no further speakers. I am prepared to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. RASKIN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.
Mr. Speaker, I should note that the bill does not address staff-on- inmate sexual harassment or assaults, but the Prison Rape Elimination Act does. Yet, this administration has been actively dismantling the protections of this legislation. I hope we can work together on that as well.
prevent the sexual harassment and assaults of BOP staff members by inmates. It would also improve BOP's efforts to address this conduct if it takes place, and it will strengthen oversight of the Bureau of Prisons so we can improve the safety of staff working in every corner of the country. Nobody should fear harm of this kind while on the job, regardless of where they are employed in America.
Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleagues for their hard work on this bipartisan legislation. I encourage all of our colleagues to join us in supporting this legislation that has been broadly endorsed by organizations, including the American Correctional Association and the Fraternal Order of Police.
Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
{time} 1640
Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support the Prison Staff Safety Enhancement Act, and I yield back the balance of my time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lee) that the House suspend the rules and pass the bill, S. 307.
The question was taken.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.
Ms. LEE of Florida. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
The yeas and nays were ordered.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this motion will be postponed.