[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 4319 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
S. 4319
To require an independent review process for the prohibition of books
at Bureau of Prisons facilities, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
April 16 (legislative day, April 14), 2026
Mr. Schiff (for himself, Ms. Hirono, Mr. Booker, Mr. Welch, and Mr.
Padilla) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require an independent review process for the prohibition of books
at Bureau of Prisons facilities, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Rehabilitation Through Reading Act
of 2026''.
SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.
In this Act:
(1) Director.--The term ``Director'' means the Director of
the Bureau of Prisons.
(2) Professional librarian.--The term ``professional
librarian'' means a librarian who has a master's degree from a
program accredited by the American Library Association.
SEC. 3. BANNED BOOKS IN PRISONS.
(a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment
of this Act, the Director shall establish a Publication Review
Committee for the purpose of approving or disapproving the availability
of books at Bureau of Prisons facilities.
(b) Members.--The Publication Review Committee shall consist of not
fewer than 5 members, including the Ombudsman established under section
2 of the Federal Prison Oversight Act (Public Law 118-71), 1 individual
who is a professional librarian employed by the Bureau of Prisons, 1
individual in the custody of the Bureau of Prisons, and 1 individual
with knowledge or expertise in First Amendment law.
(c) Procedures.--
(1) Prohibiting a book.--Following the date of the
establishment of the Publication Review Committee, the Director
may only prohibit a book at Bureau of Prisons facilities if--
(A) the Director submits a request in writing to
the Publication Review Committee to approve such
prohibition, including a detailed explanation of the
reason for prohibiting the book; and
(B) the Publication Review Committee approves such
request.
(2) Appeal of a prohibited book.--An individual in the
custody of the Bureau of Prisons may submit to the Publication
Review Committee an appeal to reverse the prohibition of a book
in Bureau of Prisons facilities.
(3) Determinations.--
(A) In general.--Not later than 90 days after the
date on which a request or appeal is submitted to the
Publication Review Committee under paragraph (1) or
(2), as applicable, the Publication Review Committee
shall issue a final determination in writing approving
or disapproving the availability of the book at Bureau
of Prisons facilities in accordance with subparagraph
(B).
(B) Reason for prohibiting a book.--
(i) In general.--A book may not be
prohibited in order to eliminate a disfavored
viewpoint or disfavored content.
(ii) Considerations.--In determining
whether the prohibition of a book is based on a
disfavored viewpoint or disfavored content, the
Publication Review Committee shall determine
whether the prohibition is substantially
motivated by the viewpoint of the book,
including if the book is deemed unpopular or
repugnant, or otherwise violates the rights of
incarcerated individuals to access information.
(C) Discretion.--Except as provided in subparagraph
(B), a determination issued by the Publication Review
Committee shall be at the discretion of the Publication
Review Committee and shall not require approval from
the Director.
(4) Maintaining access to a book.--If an appeal is filed
under paragraph (2) prior to the removal of the book from any
library of any Bureau of Prisons facility, the book shall not
be removed until the Publication Review Committee has made a
final determination regarding the appeal.
SEC. 4. ANNUAL REPORTING REQUIREMENT.
Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year following
the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall submit to the
Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the Committee on the
Judiciary of the House of Representatives an annual report detailing
any books that were prohibited during the preceding fiscal year,
including a summary of each appeal filed pursuant to section 3(c)(2)
and the status and final outcome, as applicable, of each appeal.
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