Duckworth Applauds FCC for Unanimously Passing Final Rule to Implement Her Bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act That Will Eliminate Unreasonable Prison Phone Rates and Reduce Recidivism by Helping Families Sustain Connections with Loved Ones

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] — Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) applauded the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for unanimously voting 5-0 to move forward and implement the Senator’s bipartisan Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act, an historic law that honors the legacy of the late Martha Wright-Reed by completing the mission she began over two decades ago to end egregious prison phone rates that gouged innocent family members and prevented these Americans from regularly communicating with incarcerated loved ones—despite studies indicating that preserving familial relationships helps reduce recidivism rates.

“For far too long, too many families were forced to spend outrageous amounts of money simply to speak on the phone with their incarcerated loved ones, denying children the comfort of hearing their parents’ voices and preventing spouses from being able to say a simple ‘I’m here for you’ to their partners,” said Senator Duckworth. “With the FCC finally passing this rule, my Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act will finally be implemented, fulfilling the mission of the late Martha Wright-Reed to eliminate unjust and unreasonable prison phone rates and end the predatory status quo that enabled prison telecom providers to gouge the families of incarcerated Americans. I’m proud to have led the charge to enact this bipartisan law and I look forward to seeing it bring families closer, reduce recidivism rates and make our communities stronger.”

“Two decades ago, Martha Wright filed a petition calling on the FCC to do something about the unconscionable rates families of the incarcerated pay for communications.  People in prison are often separated from their families by hundreds of miles, and families may lack the time and means to make regular visits.  So calls from payphones are often the only way to stay connected.  But the price of an individual call can be as much as many of us pay for an unlimited monthly plan.  This is not just a strain on the household budget.  It harms all of us because regular contact with family can reduce recidivism,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel. “Senator Tammy Duckworth saw what was happening and decided we needed a new law.  She was right.  Working with former Representative Bobby Rush and others in Congress, Senator Duckworth championed the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act.  It honored the trailblazing work of its namesake and gave us new authority to address this problem. Martha Wright passed away eight years ago.  Today, we honor her as we implement this new law.  Her legacy reminds us that it is never too late for justice and it is never too late to do the right thing.”

This bipartisan legislation led by Senator Duckworth is named after the late Martha Wright-Reed—a blind grandmother who experienced the injustice of being forced to spend hundreds of dollars per month to remain in contact with her grandson because she could not write letters nor travel long distances to make in-person visits. Ms. Wright-Reed’s leadership began with her petition to the FCC more than two decades ago that prompted the Commission to begin efforts to end outrageously high prison phones rates. Her legacy inspired Senator Duckworth’s successful effort to author and pass bipartisan legislation that restored and modernized the FCC’s legal authority to finally fully act on the late Martha Wright-Reed’s original plea for the FCC to ensure rates for prison communications services are just and reasonable for all. More information on the Martha Wright-Reed Just and Reasonable Communications Act is available here.

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