[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 17 (Thursday, January 28, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S201]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. REED (for himself, Mr. Whitehouse, Mr. Wyden, and Mr. 
        Sanders):
  S. 127. A bill to support library infrastructure; to the Committee on 
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.
  Mr. REED. Mr. President, today I am introducing legislation to 
address the decades of underinvestment in our Nation's libraries by 
reinstating Federal support for library construction.
  Libraries are essential community institutions that give the public 
access to information and services that expand learning and promote 
economic opportunity. When we invest in our libraries, we are offering 
a helping hand and hope for the future. During natural disasters and 
economic upheaval, libraries offer the resources and information that 
help people get back on their feet. As the Rolling Stones' Keith 
Richards reportedly said, ``The public library is the great 
equalizer.''
  Over the last year, COVID-19 and the heightened attention to racial 
and economic inequality have made clear that investment in our 
communities should be a national priority as we work to lift people up 
and bring the country closer together. And that our investment in 
infrastructure must encompass vital community assets like schools and 
libraries and not just roads, bridges, and highways.
  And while we know libraries are more than buildings with books and 
computers, they are still buildings. For thirty years, the Federal 
government invested in the physical infrastructure of our libraries, 
but abandoned that program in the early 1990s. The intervening years 
have taken their toll on library facilities. Indeed, the average 
library building is now more than 40 years old and many need large-
scale improvements and modernization.
  On top of this longstanding underinvestment, the pandemic has forced 
libraries to adapt and innovate to meet the evolving needs of their 
communities despite limited financial resources. The American Library 
Association projects billions of dollars in losses to libraries over 
the course of the pandemic, at a time when reliance on libraries from 
low-income, underserved, and Tribal communities is increasing. The 
pandemic's outsized impact on vulnerable communities only heightens the 
urgency of investing in libraries.
  The Build America's Libraries Act would make $5 billion available 
over three years to support improvements to library facilities and 
invest in new library infrastructure to expand the reach of library 
services and programs. Priority is given to libraries that demonstrate 
the greatest need and predominantly serve underserved or distressed 
communities. The legislation also places emphasis on projects that seek 
to enhance facility safety, high-speed broadband access, accessibility 
for those with disabilities, or energy efficiency. Library construction 
funded by this legislation will directly boost our struggling economy 
by putting Americans to work and strengthening the facilities that 
connect patrons with educational and workforce training resources and 
local economic opportunities.
  Libraries have always anchored our communities, and as such, we 
should ensure their ability to provide critical services for years to 
come. I am pleased to be joined by Senators Whitehouse, Wyden, and 
Sanders in introducing this bill, which has the support of many 
organizations, including the American Library Association; American 
Indian Library Association; American Institute of Architects; American 
Society of Interior Designers; Association of Tribal Archives, 
Libraries, and Museums; Association for Rural & Small Libraries; Chief 
Officers of State Library Agencies; Council of State Archivists; 
Education Market Association; International WELL Building Institute; 
National Coalition for History; National Coalition for Literacy; 
National Digital Inclusion Alliance; National Summer Learning 
Association; Schools, Health & Libraries Broadband Coalition; and Urban 
Libraries Council. I hope that our colleagues will join us in 
cosponsoring the Build America's Libraries Act and work for its 
inclusion in any infrastructure package.
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