The Environmental Health in Prisons Act, introduced by Democrats, aims to address the impact of environmental stressors on U.S. prison populations. This legislation proposes the establishment of an independent advisory panel to research and recommend policies for federal prisons, jails, and detention centers to mitigate environmental threats and improve health outcomes. According to a 2017 study, hundreds of these facilities are within three miles of Superfund sites with toxic waste and pollutants.
Senator Edward Markey and Representative Ayanna Pressley, along with incarcerated members of the African American Coalition Committee at Norfolk-MCI, emphasize the need to ensure clean air, water, and dignified living conditions for inmates. The bill asserts the fundamental right to a safe and healthy environment for the incarcerated.
If passed, federal agencies like the Bureau of Prisons and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would be required to report on environmental stressors such as extreme temperatures and substandard drinking water in facilities. The bill highlights the hazardous work conditions inmates face, often without proper protective gear or safety protocols.
The legislation also proposes grants for state, local, and tribal carceral facilities to collect data on environmental conditions in prisons and jails. Many prisons in the South and Midwest lack universal air conditioning, and almost half of U.S. prisons are downstream from contaminated water sources, risking long-term health effects for nearly a million inmates.
Supporters of the bill argue that gathering environmental health data in federal facilities is long overdue. They view the racial disparities in prisons and the treatment of inmates as extensions of broader environmental injustices impacting Black and brown communities. William Ragland, an inmate leader, notes that toxic prison environments perpetuate the pollution affecting marginalized communities nationwide.
Link: NBCNews
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