# 119-hr-8325: Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026

119-hr-8325, Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO); status introduced (as of 2026-10-24).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8325
- As of: 2026-10-24
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8325
- Congress: 119
- Title: Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-04-16
- Sponsor: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO)
- Cosponsors: 1
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-24

## 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. - 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.

## Cosponsors (1)

- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-10-22T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More book access for incarcerated people: benefit, medium. 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…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026
- 119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act
- 119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act
- 119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act
- 119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026
- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8325 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8325)

## Related
- [119-hr-9877: Health Equity and Accountability Act of 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9877)
- [119-hr-6644: 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-6644)
- [119-hr-8870: BUILD America 250 Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8870)
- [119-hr-7977: Energy Bills Relief Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7977)
- [119-hr-7481: Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2026](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7481)
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8325 (as of 2026-10-24).