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H.R. 10129House119th Congress (2025-2027)In Committee

Stamps for Staying Connected Act of 2026

Sponsored by Grace MengRep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
Introduced August 20, 2026

AI-Generated Summary

Updated August 25, 2026 at 4:40 AM UTC

The Stamps for Staying Connected Act of 2026 would let the Bureau of Prisons give free postage stamps to inmates who cannot afford them. It aims to help those prisoners stay in touch with family, friends, and legal representatives. The program would start within six months of the law’s passage and would be funded only if money is included in the annual budget.

Key Provisions

  • The BOP Director may provide postage stamps to any inmate who has no funds and needs to send mail, including legal or administrative correspondence.
  • The provision of stamps is limited to the amount appropriated in the annual budget.
  • Inmates can receive up to five first‑class, domestic, 1‑ounce stamps per week, and unused stamps cannot be saved for later weeks, except for stamps needed for legal or administrative filings.

Legislative Activity

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1 earlier action
HouseIntro Referral Latest Action

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

August 20, 2026

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HouseIntro Referral

Introduced in House

August 20, 2026

HouseIntro Referral

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

Judiciary Committee

August 20, 2026

Bill Text

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Introduced in HouseIssued August 20, 2026

I

119th CONGRESS

2d Session

H. R. 10129

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

August 20, 2026

Ms. Meng (for herself, Ms. Clarke of New York, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Ms. Norton, Ms. Velázquez, and Mrs. Watson Coleman) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

A BILL

To authorize the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to provide postage stamps to indigent inmates.

1.

Short title

This Act may be cited as the Stamps for Staying Connected Act of 2026.

2.

Provision of postage stamps by Director of the Bureau of Prisons

(a)

In general

Beginning on the date that is not later than 6 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons of the Department of Justice (hereinafter referred to as the Director) shall, to the extent provided in advance in annual appropriations Acts, provide postage stamps to any inmate who has neither funds nor sufficient postage and who wishes to mail any matter (including any mail pertaining to a legal proceeding and any other mail).

(b)

Restrictions

The Director shall impose such restrictions as the Director may determine appropriate on the provision of postage stamps under subsection (a) to prevent abuse, including the accumulation of stamps for unauthorized exchanges between inmates. Such restrictions may include the following:

(1)

The Director may not provide more than 5 stamps each week to an inmate, and such stamps may not be collected after the week they are made available. The limitation under this paragraph does not apply in the case of any stamp for mail pertaining to a legal proceeding or an administrative remedy filing.

(2)

The stamps provided may only be in the denomination for first-class, domestic, 1-ounce mailing.