S.Amdt. 4401

This amendment, submitted by Ms. Duckworth, aims to add a section to bill S. 1383 called the Correctional Facility Disaster Preparedness Act of 2026. Its purpose is to improve how the Bureau of Prisons handles major disasters, which include presidential declarations or events like natural disasters, extreme weather, and public health emergencies that damage facilities or disrupt services.

Key Changes and Additions

The amendment adds the following requirements:

• Annual Reporting: The Director of the Bureau of Prisons must provide an annual summary report to specific Senate and House committees, the Government Accountability Office, and the Inspector General of the Department of Justice. This report must cover:

  • Physical damage and the effects on staff and inmates, including injury and loss of life.
  • Access to essentials like medical care, food, water, and hygiene products.
  • Data on early release or home confinement requests and justifications for denials.
  • Visitation access for legal counsel and visitors.
  • Accommodations for inmates with disabilities and access to work or education programs.
  • Financial costs for repairs and impacts on staffing and equipment.
  • Other factors regarding the health, safety, and civil rights of the population.

• Accountability and Planning: The report must include a corrective action plan with a timeline to modernize emergency plans and specific legislative recommendations for Congress. Additionally, an official must be appointed within 90 days of the Act's enactment to manage the corrective action plan.

• National Institute of Corrections Updates: The amendment changes the composition and duties of the National Institute of Corrections by:

  • Increasing the number of members from ten to 14.
  • Requiring new members with specific backgrounds, including someone who was incarcerated or advocates for incarcerated people, an emergency response coordinator, a public health professional focused on communicable diseases, and a representative from the Bureau of Prisons labor union.
  • Mandating at least one public field hearing within one year to discuss incorporating medical care, food, water, visitation, disability accommodations, federal funding for repairs, and risk management best practices into emergency plans.