Stamps for Staying Connected Act

Summary#

This bill would let the Director of the Bureau of Prisons provide postage stamps to any inmate who does not have money or sufficient postage and who wants to mail something. The stamps must be first-class, domestic, 1-ounce stamps. The Director must start the program no later than six months after the law is passed and can only give stamps if money is provided in annual appropriations Acts. The Director can set rules to prevent abuse, including a rule that generally limits inmates to 5 stamps per week that cannot be saved for later. The 5-stamp weekly limit does not apply to mail related to legal proceedings or administrative remedy filings.

What it means for you#

• Inmates without funds: May receive up to 5 first-class, 1-ounce stamps each week so they can send mail. Stamps generally cannot be kept after the week they are given.
• Inmates with legal mail: Can get stamps for mail tied to legal cases or administrative remedies without the 5-stamp weekly limit.
• Bureau of Prisons: Must set limits and safeguards to prevent stamp abuse and start the program within six months of enactment, if money is provided by Congress.
• Families and correspondents: May see easier access to mailed communication from indigent inmates if the program is funded and implemented.

Expenses#

The bill says stamps will be provided "to the extent provided in advance in annual appropriations Acts," which means the program needs money approved in future spending bills. No publicly available information on estimated total costs or budget impacts is included in the bill text or metadata.

Proponents' View#

No publicly available information.

Opponents' View#

No publicly available information.