Extreme Temperatures Injustice in Prisons Act of 2026

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 9591 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
  2d Session
                                H. R. 9591

 To improve response to, and preparation for, extreme temperatures, in
                    Federal correctional facilities.

_______________________________________________________________________

                    IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                              July 6, 2026

Ms. Adams (for herself, Mrs. McBath, Ms. Tlaib, Ms. Norton, Mrs. Watson
   Coleman, Mrs. McIver, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, Mr. Frost, and Ms.
  Velazquez) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Energy
    and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the
  Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall
           within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL

 To improve response to, and preparation for, extreme temperatures, in
                    Federal correctional facilities.

    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 ``Extreme Temperatures Injustice in
Prisons Act of 2026''.

SEC. 2. IN GENERAL.

    Not later than 5 years after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director of the Bureau of Prisons (hereinafter in this Act referred to
as the ``Director'') shall install or update, as appropriate, heating,
ventilation, and air conditioning systems in each correctional facility
operated by the Director, including by installing temperature reading
devices in each space with a human occupant in such a facility,
including each prison cell therein, and those commonly used by
incarcerated individuals and staff.

SEC. 3. INTERIM MONITORING.

    The Director shall regularly test and monitor the temperature in
each space referred to in section 2 during the period beginning on the
date of enactment of this Act and ending on the date that in the
interim of the installation of temperature reading devices across the
facilities.

SEC. 4. TEMPERATURE STANDARDS FOR INCARCERATED INDIVIDUALS.

    The Director shall develop and enforce mandatory written standards
for applicable to all institutions administered by the Director
regarding heat stress and cold stress, as it pertains to specific
institution work operations, recreational activities, and all
conditions of confinement related to the prevention and management of
heat-related and cold-related illnesses.

SEC. 5. STUDY AND DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES TO PROTECT VULNERABLE
              POPULATIONS.

    (a) Study.--The Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention shall--
            (1) study the effect of extreme temperature conditions in
        correctional facilities operated by the Director of the Bureau
        of Prisons, including the effect on the health and safety of
        incarcerated individuals and consideration of physical regional
        variations; and
            (2) shall develop recommendations for the Bureau of Prisons
        regarding safer practices.
    (b) Development of Guidelines.--In accordance with the Heat and
Medication Guidance for Clinicians issued by the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, the Director, in consultation with the
Assistant Director for the Health Services Division of the Bureau of
Prisons and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, and not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of
this Act, shall finalize rules to establish and enforce mandatory
standards to protect the medically vulnerable populations in facilities
operated by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons.

SEC. 6. TEMPERATURE STANDARDS FOR BUREAU OF PRISONS STAFF.

    Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the
Director shall implement the use of the wet-bulb globe temperature-
based NIOSH Recommended Exposure Limits and Recommended Alert Limits to
account for humidity when protecting staff from the hazards posed by
occupational heat exposure.

SEC. 7. REQUIRED AVAILABILITY OF MITIGATION OPTIONS.

    (a) Heat and Summer.--The Director shall ensure that heat
mitigation options, including cold-water bottles, cooling fans, and
cooling towels, are made available to inmates in all facilities
operated by the Director, outside of the commissary, at no cost, upon
request, and in sufficient supply when internal temperatures at
correctional facilities operated by the Director reach levels
determined to be dangerously high by the Director.
    (b) Cold and Winter.--The Director shall ensure that cold
mitigation options, including winter clothing, blankets, and other
necessary thermal items are made available to inmates in all facilities
operated by the Director, outside of prison commissary, at no cost,
upon request, and in sufficient supply when internal temperatures at
correctional facilities operated by the Director reach levels
determined to be dangerously low by the Director.

SEC. 8. ELECTRONIC RECORD KEEPING FOR SEASONAL TRAINING REQUIREMENTS.

    The Director shall establish an electronic record keeping system
for purposes of ensuring completion of seasonal training requirements
of personnel of the Bureau of Prisons on winter mitigation practices
and identifying heat-related illness symptoms.

SEC. 9. REPORT.

    (a) On Costs.--Not later than 2 years after the date of enactment
of this Act, and every 2 years thereafter, the Director shall submit a
report to Congress that sets forth the estimated cost of maintenance of
the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system of each
correctional facility operated by the Director and a progress update on
the installation or updating of the heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning system of each correctional facility operated by the
Director.
    (b) On Illnesses.--Not later than 1 year after the date of
enactment of this Act, and annually thereafter, the Director shall
submit a report to Congress that sets forth information about
temperature-related illnesses, injuries, and fatalities among
vulnerable populations in facilities that the Director operates,
including elderly people, pregnant people, and those with compromised
immune or compromised thermoregulatory systems (including
hyperthyroidism, hyperhidrosis).

SEC. 10. ANNUAL OVERSIGHT.

    The Inspector General of the Department of Justice shall, each
year, conduct an oversight inspection of--
            (1) each temperature reading device and each heating,
        ventilation, and air conditioning systems in each correctional
        facility operated by the Director;
            (2) the number of heat or cold-related illnesses, injuries,
        and fatalities in each such facility; and
            (3) the implementation of mitigating options in each such
        facility,
and publish a report thereon.

SEC. 11. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

    There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2031 to the Director of
the Bureau of Prisons to install and update Heating, Ventilation, and
Air Conditioning systems in all facilities operated by the Director.
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