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U.S. NEWS Friday 26 July 2024
Biden signs bill strengthening oversight of crisis-plagued U.S.

Bureau of Prisons after AP reporting

By MICHAEL R. SISAK and a corrective action plan
MICHAEL BALSAMO within 60 days.
Associated Press Last year, Inspector General
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- Michael Horowitz launched
dent Joe Biden signed an unannounced inspec-
into law on Thursday a bill tion program of federal
strengthening oversight of prison facilities that identi-
the crisis-plagued federal fied critical shortcomings,
Bureau of Prisons after re- including staff shortages
porting by The Associated in health and education
Press exposed systemic cor- programs, crumbling infra-
ruption, failures and abuse structure, and moldy and
in the federal prison system. rotten food being served to
The Federal Prison Over- inmates.
sight Act, which passed the The oversight bill “recogniz-
Senate on July 10 and the es the importance of our in-
House in May, establishes spection program,” Horow-
an independent ombuds- itz said. “We look forward
man to field and investigate to working with Congress to
complaints in the wake of expand its impact.”
sexual assaults and other Peters said the bill “really
criminal misconduct by enhances” what the in-
staff, chronic understaffing, spector general has been
escapes and high-profile President Joe Biden pauses as he concludes his address to the nation from the Oval Office of the doing, while also enabling
deaths.It also requires that White House in Washington, Wednesday, July 24, 2024, about his decision to drop his Democratic the agency to collect data
the Justice Department’s presidential reelection bid. Associated Press and spot problems more
inspector general conduct quickly. “We’ll be seeing
risk-based inspections of all to the additional oversight Bureau of Prisons, much of dependent federal prison more unannounced visits
122 federal prison facilities, and make that meaningful, it uncovered by AP report- ombudsman would collect from the inspector gener-
provide recommendations long-lasting change.” ing. Reps. Kelly Armstrong, complaints via a secure ho- al,” Peters told the House
to address deficiencies Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., in- R-N.D., and Lucy McBath, tline and online form and subcommittee.
and assign each facility troduced the oversight bill D-Ga., backed the House then investigate and report “And then I think the om-
a risk score. Higher-risk fa- in 2022 while leading an version of the bill. to the attorney general budsman position is very
cilities would then receive investigation of the Bureau “The human rights crisis and Congress dangerous powerful as well, for it to
more frequent inspections. of Prisons as chair of the behind bars in the United conditions affecting the have a place where indi-
Bureau of Prisons Director Senate Homeland Security States is a stain on Ameri- health, safety, welfare and viduals can bring forward
Colette Peters lauded the Committee’s subcommit- ca’s conscience,” Ossoff rights of inmates and staff. complaints and somebody
bill as she testifying before tee on investigations. said in a statement thank- Along with inspecting pris- is there to ensure that those
Congress this week. But, Ossoff and the bill’s two ing the bill’s other sponsors. on facilities, the legislation complaints are asked and
she told the House Judicia- other sponsors, Judiciary “The United States Con- requires the Justice Depart- answered.”
ry Subcommittee on Crime Committee Chair Sen. Dick gress will no longer toler- ment’s inspector general Biden signed a separate
and Federal Government Durbin, D-Ill., and Sens. Mike ate the ongoing and wide- to report any findings and Ossoff bill into law in De-
Surveillance that the agen- Braun, R-Ind., launched the spread abuse of those who recommendations to Con- cember 2022 requiring the
cy will need tens of millions Senate Bipartisan Prison Pol- are in Federal Bureau of gress and the public. The Bureau of Prisons to fix bro-
of dollars in additional fund- icy Working Group in Febru- Prisons’ custody.” Bureau of Prisons would ken surveillance cameras
ing “to effectively respond ary 2022 amid turmoil at the Under the legislation, an in- then need to respond with and install new ones. q

Harris says she’s ready to debate Trump and accuses him of

‘backpedaling’ from Sept. 10 faceoff

By JOSH BOAK and CHRIS Andrews following a trip to News host a debate.
MEGERIAN Indiana and Texas. Alex Conant, a Republican
Associated Press The Sept. 10 debate was consultant, said the de-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice one of two debates that bate could be “decisive.”
President Kamala Harris President Joe Biden and “It’s the only time voters re-
told reporters on Thursday Trump had agreed on. ally tune in,” he said.
that she’s “ready to de- The first one was hosted by This year’s campaign has
bate Donald Trump.” CNN on June 27, but Biden already shown the poten-
She accused him of “back- has since dropped out of tial power of a debate.
pedaling” away from a the race and endorsed Biden’s disastrous perfor-
previous agreement for Harris as his successor. mance on June 27 revived
a debate hosted by ABC Trump has said he would concerns that he was too
News on Sept. 10. prefer to shift the debate old for a second term. His
“I think the voters deserve to Fox News, but he would support within the Demo-
to see the split screen that be willing to face off with cratic Party crumbled, and Vice President Kamala Harris boards Air Force Two as she
departs from Ellington Airport in Houston, Thursday, July 25,
exists in this race on the Harris more than once. he ended his reelection 2024. Harris is returning to Washington, after delivering remarks
debate stage,” she said Harris did not respond to a bid on Sunday.q at a teachers’ union event.
after landing at Joint Base question about having Fox Associated Press