# Environmental Health in Prisons Act Summary
This bill addresses hazardous environmental conditions in prisons, jails, and other detention facilities across the United States. It requires federal prison officials to monitor and publicly report data on environmental stressors—including air quality, water quality, temperature, mold, and pest infestations—at all federal facilities. Within two years of enactment, federal agencies must also provide incarcerated people and facility staff with clear, understandable information about environmental health risks they face and available protective measures.
The legislation establishes a grant program offering $50 million annually through 2029 to states, local governments, and tribal nations to improve environmental conditions in their facilities through infrastructure upgrades, programs that reduce incarceration, and other interventions. The federal government will spend $10 million annually for the same period to implement pilot improvements at five or more federal facilities. The bill prohibits retaliation against anyone who reports environmental health problems and creates legal remedies for those penalized for providing such information, allowing them to sue for damages and attorney fees.
The bill stems from documented disparities: incarcerated people suffer higher rates of chronic illness and are exposed to extreme heat, contaminated water, poor air quality, and proximity to hazardous waste sites. The legislation requires detailed environmental impact analyses before federal prison construction or expansion and mandates consideration of alternatives like reducing incarceration rather than building new facilities.
Take Action
Your position
Add a comment
to comment on this bill.
Annotate the text
Highlight any passage on the Summary or Full Text tab to attach a note. Annotations appear on the Annotations tab.