Congress is on its annual break, but that doesn’t mean your advocacy for libraries and access to books should be resting. Right now is prime time to make phone calls, write letters, send emails, and–if you can–show up at events and at the office of your representative.
There are four federal book ban bills right now. Each one would directly harm public school funding and would lead to widespread censorship–particularly of LGBTQ+ books.
RELATED STORIES
H.R. 7661:
S. 4925:
Literary Activism
News you can use plus tips and tools for the fight against censorship and other bookish activism!
H.R. 2616:
H.R. 8705:
- Dubbed the “CHARLIE Act,” after Charlie Kirk
- Would withhold funding from public schools that teach racial and gender inclusivity, creating the opportunity for rampant book bans
- Here’s what the bill would do.
- Contact your House representatives in opposition to this bill, which has passed out of the House education committee but is not yet on the House Union calendar.
Funding for public school and library internet is also on the chopping block. The Federal Communications Commission has proposed ending eRate, which would decimate budgets of public institutions no longer eligible for reduced-rate internet access. Here’s what cutting eRate would do. Take action by filing a statement with the FCC against such cuts. You can do that here.
There are plenty more opportunities for advocacy now and to come, as the federal government still has no budget for fiscal year 2027–meaning there’s also still no budget for the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Take half an hour this week for advocacy, and you’ll make tremendous strides in saving some of America’s amazing public goods.
Then, tell your own networks to do the same and help them through the process.
