US Senate Bill Proposes Nationwide Book Bans in Public Schools
On June 24, Republican Senators Jim Banks from Indiana, James Lankford of Oklahoma, and Tommy Tuberville representing Alabama introduced Senate Bill 4925, which has been sent to the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. This legislation, along with House Bill 7661, referred to as the “Stop the Sexualization of Children Act,” seeks to modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 by banning federal funding for “sexually oriented material” in public educational institutions. Advocates for the freedom to read consider both bills as infringements on civil rights and LGBTQ+ representation. In contrast, House Bill 8235, the “Books Save Lives Act,” proposed by Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Presley of Massachusetts, mandates libraries to uphold diverse collections. Currently, neither HB 7661 nor SB 4925 is set for floor debate.
Key facts
- Senate Bill 4925 introduced June 24 by Republican Senators Jim Banks, James Lankford, and Tommy Tuberville
- Bill referred to Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- Companion House Bill 7661 also known as 'Stop the Sexualization of Children Act'
- Both bills would amend Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to ban federal funding for 'sexually oriented material'
- Definition includes content involving 'gender dysphoria or transgenderism'
- American Library Association issued action alert July 16; president Maria McCauley urged defense of school libraries
- Democratic Congresswoman Ayanna Presley introduced House Bill 8235 'Books Save Lives Act' requiring diverse collections
- HR 7661 passed House Education and Workforce Committee 18-13 in March; neither bill scheduled for floor vote
Entities
Institutions
- American Library Association
- Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
- House Education and Workforce Committee
- U.S. Senate
- U.S. House of Representatives
Locations
- Indiana
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Massachusetts
- United States