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119-s-4319119th Congress

Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026

Sponsored By: Senator Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

Introduced

Summary

Creates a Publication Review Committee to govern which books are available in federal prison libraries and to protect incarcerated people's access to information. This bill would set who must serve on the committee, limit the Director's ability to ban books alone, require timely appeals, and force annual reporting to Congress.

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  • Would make it harder to remove books without review. A book can be prohibited only after the Director sends a written request to the Publication Review Committee (PRC) and the PRC approves. An incarcerated person may appeal and if the appeal is filed before removal the book stays available until the PRC issues a final decision within 90 days.
  • Would create a PRC of at least five members that must include the Ombudsman from the Federal Prison Oversight Act, one professional librarian employed by the Bureau of Prisons, one person in custody, and one First Amendment expert. The PRC's determinations are discretionary and generally do not need further approval by the Director.
  • Would increase transparency for Congress. The Director would have to send the House and Senate Judiciary Committees an annual report within 30 days after each fiscal year ends listing prohibited books and summarizing every appeal and its outcome.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

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

More book access for federal inmates

If enacted, the Director of the Bureau of Prisons would have to set up a Publication Review Committee within 90 days. The committee would have at least five members, including the Ombudsman, one professional librarian employed by the Bureau, one person in custody, and a First Amendment expert. After the committee is set up, the Director could only ban a book by submitting a written request with a detailed reason. The committee would have to approve any such ban before it could take effect. People in Bureau custody would be able to appeal book bans to the committee, and a book would not be removed if an appeal is filed before removal. The committee would have to issue a written final decision within 90 days of a request or appeal. The Director would also have to send Congress an annual report within 30 days after each fiscal year end listing prohibited books and summaries and outcomes of appeals.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA]

CA • D

Cosponsors

  • Sen. Hirono, Mazie K. [D-HI]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Booker, Cory A. [D-NJ]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

  • Sen. Padilla, Alex [D-CA]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 4/16/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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