[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 108 (Monday, June 29, 2026)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E633-E634]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




INTRODUCTION OF THE FAIRNESS IN FEDERAL BUREAU OF PRISONS MEDICAL CARE 
                              ACT OF 2026

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON

                      of the district of columbia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, June 29, 2026

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, today, I introduce the Fairness in Federal 
Bureau of Prisons Medical Care Act of 2026. This bill would eliminate 
the copay the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) imposes on individuals in 
its custody when they visit a health care provider.
  Under BOP rules, individuals in its custody are required to ``pay a 
fee for health services of $2.00 per health care visit.'' While $2 may 
seem insignificant, individuals in BOP custody earn only twelve to 
forty cents per hour on their work assignments. Moreover, while copays 
can reduce unnecessary visits, we should be encouraging individuals in 
BOP custody to seek medical care before their conditions worsen and 
become more expensive for taxpayers. Preventive and early care are 
better for patients and taxpayers than costly treatments.

[[Page E634]]

  Under BOP rules, if an individual in BOP custody is found responsible 
through the disciplinary hearing process of having caused an injury to 
another person in BOP custody that required a visit to a health care 
provider, the offending individual is required to pay the $2 copay for 
the injured individual's visit. That rule would not change under this 
bill.
  I urge my colleagues to support this bill.

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