Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026

This bill would require the U.S. Secretary of Education to set up a pilot program within 180 days that gives competitive grants to nongovernmental or nonprofit organizations for book access activities. Grant money could be used to buy and give books to children under 19, donate books to public libraries, and host reading events such as book fairs and story times. Each grant would be up to $200,000 for two years, and applications would be reviewed using viewpoint-neutral criteria. The bill authorizes $10 million for fiscal year 2026 and requires a report to Congress on books provided and, where data exists, changes in child literacy rates. It states that libraries keep the ability to reject book donations.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Valerie P. Foushee Democrat sponsor
• 5 cosponsors