Digital Literacy and Equity Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
Introduced
Summary
A federal commission to study and improve digital and information literacy. The Digital Literacy and Equity Act of 2026 would create a Commission to measure current digital and information skills, review programs at all levels of government and abroad, and recommend equity-focused strategies to raise digital literacy in low-income and disadvantaged communities.
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- Families and disadvantaged communities: The Commission would examine digital and information literacy in low-income and disadvantaged areas, defined as places with median household income below 80% of the statewide median, and identify strategies to sustain improvements.
- Federal agencies and policymakers: Membership includes senior officials from Commerce, the Federal Communications Commission, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, plus appointed experts and up to five presidential appointees. The Commission would recommend a federal method to measure digital literacy and a plan to improve interagency coordination and must report its findings within two years.
- Educators and program designers: The Commission would assess the scope and effectiveness of federal, state, and local programs and study international practices to identify best practices for teaching digital and information literacy.
- Public access and accountability: The Commission would meet at least once every four months with public meetings allowed, hold hearings, take testimony, and receive evidence.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New federal digital literacy commission
This bill would create a federal Digital Literacy and Equity Commission. The Secretary of Education (or delegate) would chair it and the FCC Chair (or delegate) would be vice chair. Membership would include specified federal officials, three experts chosen by the chair, and up to five presidential appointees from agency heads or their delegates. The commission would meet within 90 days after enactment and at least once every four months, hold public hearings, and take testimony. Within two years after members are appointed, the commission would report to Congress with a national study, recommendations to improve digital and information literacy with an equity focus, a proposed way to measure digital literacy, and a plan to increase federal agency coordination.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Cosponsors
Grijalva
AZ • D
Sponsored 1/30/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov