Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA)
Pregnant Women in Custody Act
A Democratic bill with 19 Democratic cosponsors · See all 19 cosponsors
Last activity — Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Pregnant Women in Custody Act aims to address the health needs of women related to pregnancy and childbirth while in custody. It establishes requirements for data collection regarding the health and care of pregnant women in the criminal justice system. The bill mandates the provision of nursery or residential services to support mother-infant bonding and lactation. It also requires specific health services, including prenatal education and nutritional accommodations. Additionally, the Act prohibits the use of restrictive housing and certain restraints during pregnancy, labor, and postpartum recovery. Finally, it provides for the transfer of women with high-risk pregnancies to residential reentry centers.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +9
Would women be better off under this?
The bill significantly improves healthcare, nutritional standards, and physical protections for pregnant women in custody.
- Scored +7
Would children be better off under this?
The bill protects infants through mandatory bonding time and nursery services.
- Scored +7
Does this make mental health care easier to get?
The bill mandates evidence-based screening and treatment for mental health conditions, including postpartum depression.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Enhanced Family Unity: The bill requires the provision of nursery or residential services that allow a mother and infant to remain together after delivery and permit regular contact (Section 4).
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Improved Lactation Support: Women will have access to lactation counseling and physical tools or equipment to assist with lactation (Section 4).
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Guaranteed Bonding Time: The Act ensures a minimum bonding time of 60 minutes between a mother and her newborn (Section 4).
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Access to Essential Health Services: Women of reproductive age in Bureau of Prisons facilities will have access to contraception and testing for pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases upon request (Section 5).
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Nutritional Protections: The bill requires appropriate diet modifications, including prenatal vitamins and a prohibition on withholding food or serving food used as punishment (Section 5).
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Comprehensive Education: Pregnant women will receive prenatal education and counseling covering topics such as parental rights, family preservation, and the health and safety risks of pregnancy and postpartum depression (Section s 5).
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Mental Health and Substance Use Support: The Act mandates evidence-based screening for mental health conditions and substance use disorders, and directs the Bureau of Prisons to use best efforts to provide appropriate treatment (Section 5).
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Care for High-Risk Pregnancies: Women with high-risk pregnancies can be transferred to a Residential Reentry Center with adequate healthcare, provided they agree to the transfer (Section 8).
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Protection from Restrictive Housing: The bill prohibits holding pregnant women in restrictive housing or shackling/restraining them during pregnancy, labor, or delivery, except in specific circumstances (Section 6 and Section 7).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Limited Exceptions for Restrictive Housing: An incarcerated woman may still be placed in restrictive housing if a Bureau of Prisons official determines it is a necessary temporary response to behavior posing a serious and immediate risk of physical harm (Section 6 and Section 7).
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Transfer Requirements for High-Risk Care: While providing a benefit, the transfer of high-risk pregnant women to a Residential Reentry Center is contingent upon the woman agreeing to the transfer (Section 8).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would women be better off under this? — The bill significantly improves healthcare, nutritional standards, and physical protections for pregnant women in custody. Would children be better off under this? — The bill protects infants through mandatory bonding time and nursery services. Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — The bill provides essential healthcare and nutritional support to women in the justice system who may face economic hardship.
- Healthcare
- Does this make mental health care easier to get? — The bill mandates evidence-based screening and treatment for mental health conditions, including postpartum depression.
- Governance And Ideology
- Does this make what the government does easier for the public to see? — The bill requires the publication of statistics and annual reports regarding the treatment of pregnant women in custody.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Does this make child care cost less? — The bill supports family unity by providing nursery services that allow mothers and infants to remain together.
- 9/1/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/16/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 5/19/2026
- 3 Cosponsors added.
- 5/13/2026
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- 5/8/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Border Security and Enforcement.
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Oversight, Investigations, and Accountability.
- 5/7/2026
- Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on the Budget, and Homeland Security, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 7 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in House
3 bills Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Joyce BeattyDemocrat · Ohio
Julia BrownleyDemocrat · California
André CarsonDemocrat · Indiana
Danny DavisDemocrat · Illinois
Adriano EspaillatDemocrat · New York
Jesús GarcíaDemocrat · Illinois
Henry JohnsonDemocrat · Georgia
Jonathan JacksonDemocrat · Illinois
Christian MenefeeDemocrat · Texas
Eleanor NortonDemocrat · District of Columbia
Joe NeguseDemocrat · Colorado
Delia RamirezDemocrat · Illinois
Emily RandallDemocrat · Washington
Terri SewellDemocrat · Alabama
Emilia SykesDemocrat · Ohio
Lateefah SimonDemocrat · California
Dina TitusDemocrat · Nevada
Rashida TlaibDemocrat · Michigan
Bonnie Watson ColemanDemocrat · New Jersey