Statement from EveryLibrary Opposing H.R.7661

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 dictating 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.

Sign the petition opposing H.R. 7661 and defend the freedom to read.

This legislation raises serious concerns that extend beyond censorship and intellectual freedom. As drafted, H.R.7661 risks embedding discriminatory outcomes through the mechanism of book restrictions, particularly where those restrictions disproportionately affect materials reflecting diverse identities and experiences. In the current political climate, framing school libraries as sites of harm rather than learning will deepen social tensions rather than resolve them. Policymakers should carefully consider the broader implications of this approach and not advance the bill. 

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 grade-appropriate materials. A one-size-fits-all mandate from Washington undermines professional judgment and chills intellectual freedom nationwide.

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EveryLibrary believes:

• The freedom to read is a foundational American value.
• Decisions about library collections should be made locally, not dictated through federal funding threats.
• Students benefit from access to a wide range of literature that reflects the diversity of American life and experience.
• Government pressure to restrict ideas sets a dangerous precedent that weakens democratic norms.

At a time when our nation needs more civic understanding, empathy, and critical thinking, we should expand access to information, not narrow it.

EveryLibrary calls on members of Congress to reject H.R. 7661 and any effort to use federal power to regulate what Americans are allowed to read.

We remain committed to defending libraries, supporting intellectual freedom, and ensuring that every community can access the books and ideas that strengthen democracy.