EveryLibrary strongly opposes H.R. 7661 and any federal legislation that conditions education funding on restrictions about what books and materials schools may make available to students.
This bill places the federal government in the position of influencing what young people are permitted to read by threatening to withhold funding if certain viewpoints or topics appear in school collections. Using financial leverage to pressure schools to remove books is not educational policy. It is a federal intrusion into local decision-making and a direct challenge to the freedom to read.
Public schools and libraries exist to provide broad access to knowledge, ideas, and diverse perspectives. Educators, librarians, and local communities are best positioned to make thoughtful decisions about age-appropriate materials. A one-size-fits-all mandate from Washington undermines professional judgment and chills intellectual freedom nationwide.
