Rehabilitation Through Reading Act of 2026

This bill would require the Director of the federal Bureau of Prisons to create a Publication Review Committee within 90 days to approve or disapprove books in federal prisons. The committee would have at least 5 members, including the prison oversight Ombudsman, a Bureau librarian, a person in Bureau custody, and a person with First Amendment law expertise. The Director could ban a book only by sending a written request with reasons and getting the committee's approval, and people in custody could appeal a book ban to the committee. Books could not be banned to remove a disfavored viewpoint or content, and the committee would have to decide requests and appeals in writing within 90 days. The Director would also report each year to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees on banned books and appeals.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Adam B. Schiff Democrat sponsor
• 4 cosponsors