By Greg Bluestein, Tia Mitchell, Patricia Murphy, and Adam Van Brimmer
PRISON OVERSIGHT. The U.S. House on Wednesday overwhelmingly approved legislation that would require more inspections of federal prisons, require the Bureau of Prisons inspector general to report recommendations to Congress and create an ombudsman to investigate complaints from staff, inmates or their families.
The bill is the brainchild of Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat, and was sponsored in the House by U.S. Rep. Lucy McBath, D-Marietta. But they brought in Republicans as cosponsors as a show of bipartisan support.
The House vote was 392-2, with the two dissenting votes coming from conservative Republicans outside Georgia. The measure now heads to the Senate for consideration.
BREAKING: The House just passed my bill to protect staff and incarcerated individuals in our federal prisons.
— Rep. Lucy McBath (@RepLucyMcBath) May 21, 2024
Proud to lead this important bill with @RepArmstrongND @SenOssoff @SenatorDurbin @SenatorBraunhttps://t.co/0yrfok4bv1