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CONGRESSWOMAN SHEILA JACKSON LEE HOLDS PRESS CONFERENCE TO INTRODUCE HR 5130 - THE ‘STOP INFANT MORTALITY AND RECIDIVISM REDUCTION ACT OF 2016’ (SIMARRA ACT)

May 6, 2016

“Give infants born to incarcerated mothers a chance to succeed in life,” stated Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee

What: HR 5130 - The “Stop Infant Mortality and Recidivism Reduction Act of 2016” or the “SIMARRA Act,” will permit the Bureau of Prisons to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of the Federal prison system for pregnant offenders by establishing a pilot program of critical-stage, developmental nurseries in Federal prisons for children born to inmates. The “SIMARRA Act” will decrease unprecedentedly high, current infant mortality rates and allow inmate mothers to provide healthy and safe gestation to protect their unborn, as well as bond with infants during their first 30 months of life, designated by the CDC as one of the most critical stages of development.

Who: Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, other Members of Congress, The Children’s Defense Fund, NAACP, National Organization of Women (NOW) and Hour Children

Where: 234 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, DC

Date: Thursday May 12, 2016

Time: 2:30pm

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