I 
115TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6254 
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to promulgate regulations 
to ensure access to voice service in order to facilitate communications 
between, and reunification of, alien guardians and alien children, to 
provide for certain requirements relating to inmate calling services, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 27, 2018 
Mr. PALLONE (for himself, Ms. CLARKE of New York, Mr. GENE GREEN of 
Texas, Mr. MCNERNEY, Mr. RUSH, Mr. BUTTERFIELD, Ms. MATSUI, Mr. 
BEN RAY LUJA´N of New Mexico, Ms. SCHAKOWSKY, Mrs. DINGELL, Mr. 
CA´RDENAS, Mr. ENGEL, Mr. LOEBSACK, Mr. KENNEDY, Mr. MICHAEL 
F. DOYLE of Pennsylvania, Mr. WELCH, Ms. CASTOR of Florida, Mr. 
SARBANES, and Ms. ESHOO) introduced the following bill; which was re-
ferred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce 
A BILL 
To direct the Federal Communications Commission to pro-
mulgate regulations to ensure access to voice service 
in order to facilitate communications between, and reuni-
fication of, alien guardians and alien children, to provide 
for certain requirements relating to inmate calling serv-
ices, and for other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
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SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Compassionate Calling 
and Immigrant Family Reunification Act of 2018’’. 
SEC. 2. AVAILABILITY OF VOICE SERVICE TO ALIEN GUARD-
IANS AND ALIEN CHILDREN. 
(a) FCC REGULATIONS.—Not later than 10 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Commis-
sion shall promulgate regulations under section 254 of the 
Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) to provide 
for universal service support for, or regulations under 
other authority of the Commission under such Act to en-
sure, access to voice service by any alien guardian who 
is detained or incarcerated under the immigration laws (as 
defined in section 101(a)(17) of the Immigration and Na-
tionality Act (8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(17))) separately from the 
alien child of the alien guardian, and by the alien child, 
in order to facilitate communications between, and reunifi-
cation of, the alien guardian and the alien child. 
(b) REQUIREMENTS.—In promulgating the regula-
tions required by subsection (a), the Commission shall en-
sure access to voice service— 
(1) at the facility at which the alien guardian 
is detained or incarcerated and at the facility at 
which the alien child is detained; 
(2) at no charge to the alien guardian or the 
alien child; and 
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(3) until the alien guardian is reunited with the 
alien child. 
(c) CERTAIN
ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCEDURE
RE-
QUIREMENTS INAPPLICABLE.—Subsections (b) and (d) of 
section 553 of title 5, United States Code, shall not apply 
with respect to the regulations promulgated under sub-
section (a) or the promulgation of such regulations. 
(d) NO EFFECT ON EXISTING UNIVERSAL SERVICE 
SUPPORT.—Nothing in this Act or the regulations promul-
gated under subsection (a) shall reduce the amount of, or 
otherwise affect, any universal service support being pro-
vided under section 254 of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 254) as of the day before the date of 
the enactment of this Act. 
(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—Notwithstanding any other 
provision of law, the regulations promulgated under sub-
section (a) shall take effect on the date on which such 
regulations are promulgated. 
SEC. 3. INMATE CALLING SERVICES. 
Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the Sec-
ond Report and Order of the Commission in the matter 
of Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services (WC Dock-
et No. 12–375; FCC 15–136; adopted October 22, 2015) 
shall apply, in its entirety, beginning on the date of the 
enactment of this Act. 
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SEC. 4. DEFINITIONS. 
In this Act: 
(1) ALIEN
CHILD.—The term ‘‘alien child’’ 
means any individual not a citizen or national of the 
United States who— 
(A) has not been admitted into, or is not 
authorized to enter or remain in, the United 
States; 
(B) is under the age of 18; 
(C) is the child, sibling, other relative, or 
ward of an alien guardian who was detained or 
incarcerated; and 
(D) entered the United States with the 
alien guardian referred to in subparagraph (C). 
(2) ALIEN GUARDIAN.—The term ‘‘alien guard-
ian’’ means any individual not a citizen or national 
of the United States who— 
(A) has not been admitted into, or is not 
authorized to enter or remain in, the United 
States; 
(B) was detained or incarcerated; and 
(C) entered the United States with an 
alien child. 
(3) COMMISSION.—The term ‘‘Commission’’ 
means the Federal Communications Commission. 
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(4) VOICE SERVICE.—The term ‘‘voice service’’ 
has the meaning given such term in subsection 
(e)(8) of section 227 of the Communications Act of 
1934 (47 U.S.C. 227). The preceding sentence shall 
apply before the effective date of the amendment 
made to such subsection by subparagraph (C) of sec-
tion 503(a)(2) of division P of the Consolidated Ap-
propriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115–141) as if 
such amendment was already in effect. 
Æ 
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