Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
Introduced
Summary
This bill would create an independent Publication Review Committee to decide which books are available in Bureau of Prisons facilities. It would constrain the Bureau Director's ability to remove books by requiring committee approval and give incarcerated people a formal appeal route for bans.
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- Incarcerated people would get a clear appeal process to challenge prohibited books. If an appeal is filed before removal, the book must remain until the committee issues a final decision, which must arrive within 90 days.
- Bureau of Prisons administrators would have to submit a written request with a detailed explanation before banning a book and could only ban a title if the committee approves that request. Bans motivated by a disfavored viewpoint or content are not permitted.
- The committee would have at least five members, including the Ombudsman from the Federal Prison Oversight Act, a professional librarian employed by the Bureau, an individual in custody, and a First Amendment expert. The Director would also send annual reports to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees within 30 days after each fiscal year listing prohibited books and appeal outcomes.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
1 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
New prison book review committee
If enacted, the bill would require the Director of the Bureau of Prisons to create a Publication Review Committee within 90 days. The committee would have at least five members, including the Ombudsman, a BOP professional librarian, one person in custody, and a First Amendment expert. After the committee is set up, the Director would only be able to seek a book ban by sending a written request with detailed reasons and getting the committee's approval. An inmate could appeal a book ban to the committee, and if an appeal is filed before removal the book would remain available until the committee issues a final written decision within 90 days. The committee would be barred from banning books simply to eliminate a disfavored viewpoint or disfavored content.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov