|
|
Press Releases |
For Immediate Release
01/15/09
Contact: |
Joe Brenckle - Republican Press Office 202-224-3991
|
|
Email This
Print This
|
|
|
Sen. Hutchison Introduces Bill to Prevent Cell Phone Use in Prison
Recent Cases of Inmates Using Smuggled Cell Phones Highlight Problem |
|
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), Texas’ senior Senator, and U.S. Representative Kevin Brady (R-TX) today introduced legislation, the Safe Prisons Communications Act of 2009, aimed at preventing prison inmates from using smuggled cellular phones.
“This legislation will fight criminal enterprises behind bars and protect innocent victims and public officials from harassment and threats from criminals,” said Sen. Hutchison. “Recent cases of prisoners smuggling cell phones behind bars highlight the need to use current technology to prevent this ability.”
The legislation will allow the Director of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, a Governor or the Governor’s designee (depending on whether a facility is federal or state-operated) to submit a petition to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) requesting to operate a wireless jamming device in a particular correctional facility. In determining whether to grant the petition, the FCC must consider, among other things, whether the jammer would interfere with emergency or public safety communications outside the prison’s walls. The FCC will test and approve devices for use by correctional facilities.
Current law prevents interference with wireless services. This is an important safeguard to ensure the dependability of 911 emergency calls, and serves to protect the rights of legitimate users of wireless services. This legislation provides a process for approval and use of jamming technology while continuing to protect public safety and legitimate use.
Recent news reports indicate that in Texas, authorities say death row inmate Richard Tabler used a smuggled cell phone to make threatening calls to a state senator. Tabler’s phone was found in the ceiling above a shower and officers found 11 additional phones belonging to other death row inmates while looking for it.
Corrections departments across the country are reporting a sharp increase in cell phones being smuggled into prison facilities. In some states, the number of cell phones confiscated has doubled over the past two years, while in others, smugglers are making brazen attempts, such as using slingshots to propel cell phones over prison fences, to get cell phones into the hands of prisoners.
# # #
|
|
|
Related Files
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
29th - |
Statement by Senator Hutchison on Senate Passage of Bill to Shift DTV Transition Date to June 12
-
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate tonight unanimously approved legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Following are excerpts from a floor statement by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee.
Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison:
...
|
|
|
|
|
26th - |
Senate Passes Bill to Shift DTV Transition Date to June 12
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The United States Senate today unanimously approved legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, released the following statement.
“I had serious concerns about shifting the digi...
|
|
|
26th - |
Rockefeller DTV Delay Bill Passes Senate
- Washington, DC – Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, issued the following statement after the U.S. Senate passed the DTV Delay bill by unanimous consent.
“Delaying the upcoming DTV switch is the right thing to do. I firmly believe that our nation is not yet ready to make this transition at this time. The S...
|
|
|
23rd - |
Statement by Senator Hutchison on Shift of DTV Transition Date
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today released the following statement on legislation to shift the nation’s digital television transition from February 17, 2009 to June 12, 2009.
“I had serious concerns about shifting the digital television transition without a sound plan t...
|
|
|
|
|
22nd - |
Rockefeller Announces Compromise on DTV Delay Bill
- Washington, DC – This evening, Senator John D. (Jay) Rockefeller IV (D-WV), Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, announced a bipartisan compromise to the DTV Delay Act introduced last week.
The amended DTV Delay Act will retain the extension of the digital transition date to June 12, 2009. Additionally, the agreement extends the Federal Communicatio...
|
|
|
21st - |
Senator Hutchison Welcomes New Republican Members of Commerce Committee
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today welcomed four new Republican members to the Senate Commerce Committee, Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Senator Sam Brownback (R-Kan.), Senator Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) and Senator Mike Johanns (R-Neb.).
“I am pleased to welcome Senators Isakson,...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
15th - |
Oceans Policy Scores Victory with Passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ocean conservation and research scored a major victory today with the passage of S. 22, the Omnibus Public Land Management Act of 2009. The act includes five bills, originally introduced in the 110th Congress under the leadership of Commerce Committee Chairman Daniel K. Inouye (D-Hawaii), that increase our knowledge of oceans and coastal areas, provide policymakers with i...
|
|
|
15th - |
current Press Release |
|
|
8th - |
Senator Hutchison: Too Early to Call for DTV Delay
- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas), Ranking Member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, today said it was too early to call for a delay to the digital television (DTV) transition scheduled for next month. Senator Hutchison stated that increased focus was needed to fix the anticipated coupon shortage before the transition date of February 17, ...
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|