Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
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119-hr-7247119th Congress
Prison Libraries Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Introduced
Summary
Creates a federal grant program, run by the Attorney General, to bring library services into correctional facilities and support reintegration, education, and reduced recidivism. This bill would fund prison libraries, digital access, and classroom-style programming to expand literacy, job skills, and post-secondary opportunities for incarcerated people.
Show full summary
- Incarcerated people: Grants would provide free access to physical books, ebooks, audiobooks, computers, internet, educational classes, and literacy or artistic programming. Fees for those services would be prohibited.
- States and territories: Eligible applicants must submit a plan, show facility population data, and prove an existing or planned physical library. Grants cover staffing, modern materials, safer and more welcoming infrastructure, digital access, and partnerships with public libraries; initial terms are one year and may be renewed annually for up to six years.
- Education and outcomes: The Attorney General must prioritize projects that add post-secondary components and show measurable impacts such as literacy gains and expanded post-release employment. Grantees must report activity and outcome data and follow library-management standards.
*Authorizes $10.0 million per year for fiscal years 2026–2031 for the grant program, increasing federal spending by up to $60.0 million over that period.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Grants to expand prison libraries
If enacted, this bill would create a federal grant program run by the Attorney General to fund library services for people in prison. It would authorize $10 million per year for each fiscal year 2026 through 2031 and require the program be set up within one year after enactment. States and U.S. territories would apply with a plan, proof of a physical library (or intent to create one), and facility demographic data; grants would be one-year awards that could be renewed annually up to six years total. Grant money would be used for library collections, librarians, literacy and job training, computer and internet access in libraries, post-secondary programming, and related library activities listed in the bill, and would not be used for food, general healthcare, transportation, or unrelated facility maintenance. People in prison would not be charged fees for access to physical books, ebooks or audiobooks, library computers and internet, printing, or required learning materials. The Attorney General would prioritize applicants that follow library standards, add post-secondary education, show measurable outcomes, ensure geographic diversity, set up reporting systems, and consult with the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 10/22/2026
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]
NC • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]
HI • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]
WA • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 1/27/2026
Rep. Bacon, Don [R-NE-2]
NE • R
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]
CA • D
Sponsored 3/17/2026
Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]
CT • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]
WI • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]
DE • D
Sponsored 4/20/2026
Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]
MA • D
Sponsored 5/12/2026
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/3/2026
Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25]
CA • D
Sponsored 6/4/2026
Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7]
MA • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Moore, Gwen [D-WI-4]
WI • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]
FL • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1]
OR • D
Sponsored 6/23/2026
Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]
MN • D
Sponsored 6/24/2026
Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6]
NJ • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]
WA • D
Sponsored 7/13/2026
Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]
MA • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 7/20/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov