# 119-hres-1603: Expressing concern about the growing problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.

119-hres-1603, Expressing concern about the growing problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States., is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD); status introduced (as of 2026-10-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-1603
- As of: 2026-10-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hres-1603
- Congress: 119
- Title: Expressing concern about the growing problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-10-01
- Sponsor: Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 75
- Policy area: Arts, Culture, Religion
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-10-21

## Summary

**Protecting the freedom to read and opposing book bans.** This resolution would document widespread instances of censorship, urge schools and local governments to follow best practice guidelines, and call for repeal of federal directives that restrict access to books and learning materials. - Students and families: Highlights lost access to literature and diverse viewpoints, citing more than 12,000 reported bans affecting over 7,000 unique titles. - Educators and librarians: Urges protection for teachers and librarians and asks districts to use challenge processes recommended by library and education groups. - Federal institutions and grants: Notes removals from Department of Defense schools and academies and alleges revoked federal grants tied to race, gender, and LGBTQ+ topics, citing at least 596 DoDEA removals and nearly 400 removals from the U.S. Naval Academy library.

## Cosponsors (75)

- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11] (D-OH), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] (D-TX), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12] (D-PA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6] (D-OR), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-10-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5] (D-OR), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA), 2026-10-05T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-10-06T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10] (D-IL), 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-2763: American Family Act

## Sources
- [119-hres-1603 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-resolution/1603)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-51: Washington, D.C. Admission Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-51)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-2763: American Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-2763)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hres-1603 (as of 2026-10-21).