Title: Compassionate Calling and Immigrant Family Reunification Act of 2018
Policy area: Science, Technology, Communications

Summary:
Compassionate Calling and Immigrant Family Reunification Act of 2018
This bill directs the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to promulgate regulations to ensure access to voice service by any alien guardian who is detained or incarcerated under the immigration laws separately from the alien child of such guardian, and by the alien child, to facilitate communications between, and reunification of, such guardian and child.
The FCC shall ensure 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 guardian or child, and (3) until the guardian is reunited with the child.
The Second Report and Order of the Commission in the matter of Rates for Interstate Inmate Calling Services (adopted October 22, 2015) shall apply, beginning on the date of this bill's enactment. The report adopts comprehensive reform of all aspects of inmate calling services.

[Congressional Bills 115th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 6254 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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 
 Lujan of New Mexico, Ms. Schakowsky, Mrs. Dingell, Mr. Cardenas, 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 referred to the Committee on 
                          Energy and Commerce

_______________________________________________________________________

                                 A BILL


 
     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.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

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 GUARDIANS AND ALIEN 
              CHILDREN.

    (a) FCC Regulations.--Not later than 10 days after the date of the 
enactment of this Act, the Commission 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 ensure, 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 Nationality 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 reunification of, the alien 
guardian and the alien child.
    (b) Requirements.--In promulgating the regulations required by 
subsection (a), the Commission shall ensure 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
            (3) until the alien guardian is reunited with the alien 
        child.
    (c) Certain Administrative Procedure Requirements Inapplicable.--
Subsections (b) and (d) of section 553 of title 5, United States Code, 
shall not apply with respect to the regulations promulgated under 
subsection (a) or the promulgation of such regulations.
    (d) No Effect on Existing Universal Service Support.--Nothing in 
this Act or the regulations promulgated under subsection (a) shall 
reduce the amount of, or otherwise affect, any universal service 
support being provided 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 subsection (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 Second Report and 
Order of the Commission in the matter of Rates for Interstate Inmate 
Calling Services (WC Docket 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.

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 guardian'' 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.
            (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 section 
        503(a)(2) of division P of the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 
        2018 (Public Law 115-141) as if such amendment was already in 
        effect.
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