Expressing solidarity with the New York State corrections officers striking for better working conditions.
This House resolution, H. Res. 208, expresses formal solidarity with New York State corrections officers who are striking to demand safer working conditions. It bases its support on described conditions such as dangerous work environments, a rising number of assaults on staff, and staffing shortages that have led to increased overtime. The resolution also criticizes Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State government for how corrections officers have been treated, and it urges the New York State Legislature to repeal the HALT Act, which the sponsors say makes facilities more dangerous by limiting corrections officers’ ability to discipline inmates (notably through solitary confinement). As a resolution, it is a statement of congressional sentiment and not a new or binding policy—its impact is primarily in signaling national legislative concern and aiming to influence public debate and state-level policy discussions.
Key Points
- 1The resolution expresses explicit solidarity with New York State corrections officers who are on strike to demand better working conditions.
- 2It condemns Governor Hochul and New York State for their treatment of corrections officers, drawing attention to safety concerns and staffing issues.
- 3It urges the New York State Legislature to expeditiously repeal the HALT Act, which the sponsors argue increases danger in correctional facilities by restricting officers’ disciplinary tools.
- 4The resolution references context such as rising assaults on staff (cited numbers) and substantial staffing declines from 2022 to 2025, as well as prior actions (e.g., temporary HALT Act suspensions) and ongoing disputes over safe staffing and conditions.
- 5It notes that the bill was introduced in the House on March 10, 2025, and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, signaling it is a non-binding sense of the House rather than a bill with numeric policy prescriptions to be enacted directly.