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119-hr-8325119th Congress

Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

Introduced

Summary

Would create an independent Publication Review Committee to approve or block books in Bureau of Prisons libraries. It would set who sits on the panel, a 90‑day decision clock, appeal rights for inmates, and annual reporting on banned books.

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  • Incarcerated people: Gives inmates a formal right to appeal a book prohibition and prevents removal of a book while an appeal is pending. The Committee must issue a final determination within 90 days of a request or appeal.
  • Prison administration: Requires the Director to submit a written request with a detailed explanation before banning a book and gives the Committee authority to approve or deny prohibitions. Committee determinations generally do not need the Director's approval.
  • Oversight and speech protections: The panel must have at least 5 members, including the ombudsman, a Bureau librarian, someone in custody, and a First Amendment expert. It must consider whether a ban targets a disfavored viewpoint and send an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees summarizing prohibited books and appeals.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

More book access for incarcerated people

If enacted, the Bureau of Prisons Director would have to create a Publication Review Committee within 90 days. The committee would have at least five members, including the Ombudsman from the Federal Prison Oversight Act, one professional Bureau librarian with an ALA‑accredited master's degree, one person in BOP custody, and one First Amendment expert. The committee would issue a written decision on any book approval or prohibition within 90 days of a request or appeal. The Director could only seek a book ban by sending a written request with a detailed explanation and getting committee approval. An inmate could appeal a prohibition, and if the appeal is filed before a book is removed, the book would not be removed until the committee decides. The committee would not be allowed to approve bans meant to eliminate a disfavored viewpoint. The Director would also have to send an annual report to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 30 days after each fiscal year end listing prohibited books and appeal outcomes.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

MO • D

Cosponsors

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 10/22/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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