U.S. Rep. Guy Reschenthaler (R-PA) recently signed on as the lead original cosponsor of a bipartisan bill to support incarcerated pregnant women and their unborn children.
The congressman on March 1 introduced the Protecting the Health and Wellness of Babies and Pregnant Women in Custody Act of 2022, H.R. 6878, with bill sponsor U.S. Rep. Karen Bass (D-CA) and 22 other original cosponsors to establish a national standard of care to provide prenatal and post-delivery care to incarcerated women and their babies.
“Given the number of incarcerated women and girls has grown by more than 700 percent over three decades, it is critical that we establish a national standard of care for pregnant prisoners,” said Rep. Reschenthaler. “I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation and look forward to securing better outcomes for both mothers and babies.”
If enacted, H.R. 6878 also would ensure the Federal Bureau of Prisons captures accurate data on the health and mental health care needs of pregnant inmates; provides incentives for states to enact and enforce similar laws and policies; and require the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study on current practices for pregnant women in state and local jails and prisons, according to a bill summary provided by Rep. Reschenthaler’s office.
“Our prison system was not created with women in mind and as a result continually fails to provide basic necessities to tens of thousands of individuals who are incarcerated every single day,” Rep. Bass said. “I’m proud to be introducing this bipartisan bill to make sure that we are mindful and responsible for the health and wellness of pregnant women in prison.”
H.R. 6878 has garnered support from the American Psychological Association, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, the National Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, DreamCorps, the Vera Institute for Justice, the R Street Institute, and the American Conservative Union.