Phone Justice needed now!
- vt-cure
- Sep 22, 2022
- 2 min read
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
SEPTEMBER 19, 2022
CONTACT
media@colorofchange.org
70 Grassroots Advocates, Civil Rights, Consumer Rights and Faith-based Organizations Urge Congress to Pass Just and Reasonable Communications Acts to Ensure Incarcerated People and their Loved Ones Can Stay Connected
Washington, D.C. — Today, more than 70 grassroots advocates, civil rights, consumer rights and faith-based organizations issued a joint-letter to congressional leaders urging an immediate House vote on H.R. 2489, the Martha Wright Prison Phone Justice Act, and S. 1541, the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, which would ensure incarcerated people can communicate with their loved ones without unjust call rates.
Both H.R. 2489 and S.1541 would restore the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) ability to protect communications between incarcerated people and their loved ones, who often face high phone costs and unjust and predatory commercial practices. The House passed the text of H.R. 2489 last Congress as part of the Heroes Act in 2020, and the Communications and Technology Subcommittee of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing on it last year. The coalition’s letter makes clear that legislation must pass Congress this year and that either bill will get the job done.
High communications costs have serious consequences for those impacted by the carceral system. Children cannot speak with incarcerated parents without sacrificing their financial security or giving up food or medication. Counsel cannot communicate with their clients who are in jail, jeopardizing their civil and due process rights. The passage of these bills would ensure protection against unjust rates by making it harder for companies to take advantage of incarcerated people and their families.
The letter sent to congressional leaders and full list of signatories can be shared upon request.
The signatories of the letter include Color Of Change, Common Cause, Media Justice, Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund, Black Women's Roundtable, American Association of People with Disabilities, Communications Workers of America, The Episcopal Church, Prison Policy Initiative, and dozens of other national and local organizations.
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Adult Friends for Youth
Advocates for Change
American Association of People with Disabilities
American Friends Service Committee
American Humanist Association
Americans for Prosperity
Arizonans for Rational Sex Offense Laws
Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC
Black Women's Roundtable
Center for Democracy & Technology
Center for Responsible Lending
Church of Scientology National Affairs Office
Color Of Change
Colorado-CURE, Inc.
Common Cause
Communications Workers of America
Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
Crossroads of Iowa
DC Justice Lab
Democracy Fund Voice
The Episcopal Church
Fight for the Future
Fines and Fees Justice Center
Florida FreePat
FREE! Families Rally for Emancipation and Empowerment
Free Press Action
Gellybean's Prison Out Reach
Hawai'i Health & Harm Reduction Center
Hawai‘i Friends of Restorative Justice
In Our Own Voice: National Black Women's Reproductive Justice Agenda
Incarcerated Nation Network
Just Future Project
Media Alliance
MediaJustice
Middle Ground Prison Reform
More Than Our Crimes
Muslim Advocates
Narrative Arts
National Capital Crime Assistance Network
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
National Consumer Law Center (on behalf of its low-income clients)
National Council of Asian Pacific Americans (NCAPA)
National CURE
NETWORK Lobby for Catholic Social Justice
Oblates of St Francis de Sales
OpenMedia
pa. CURE
Partners in Healthy Communities
Phoenix Reentry Resources
Prison Policy Initiative
The Prison Show
Project Hope to Abolish the Death Penalty
Public Knowledge
The Real Cost of Prisons Project
RIHD, INC
SMU Human Rights Program
Soul Solutions LLC
Southern Poverty Law Center Action Fund
Telecommunications for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, Inc. (TDI)
Titus House Ministries
T J W Family Charitable Foundation
Union for Reform Judaism
United Church of Christ Media Justice Ministry
Urbana-Champaign Independent Media Center
UV4SOR
Vermont CURE
Virginia Justice for Life
Voqual
The Washington Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights and Urban Affairs
Worth Rises
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