119-HRES-797 Journalist Public Summary

Headline Summary

House resolution condemns book bans and urges schools and libraries to protect the freedom to read. [1]PEN America — Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution Calls on Local Governm…

What It Does

- States the House’s concern about rising book removals and reaffirms that free expression and the right to read are fundamental. It references longstanding Supreme Court principles on student speech and limits on removing library books. [1]PEN America — Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution Calls on Local Governm…[3]Justia (U.S. Supreme Court Center) — Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community…[4]Library of Congress — U.S. Reports: Board of Education v. Pico, 457 U.S. 853 (1…

- Urges local governments and school districts to use best‑practice review processes for challenged materials rather than mass removals. (Examples include the American Library Association’s selection and reconsideration toolkit.) [1]PEN America — Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution Calls on Local Governm…[5]American Library Association — Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for P…

- Responds to recent reports of book removals in military‑connected schools by calling for restored access and rescission of content‑based directives. (Recent coverage includes the Naval Academy’s removal of nearly 400 titles and PEN America’s count of DoDEA‑related bans.) [6]ABC News (Associated Press) — Naval Academy removes nearly 400 books from libra…[7]PEN America — Book Bans - PEN America (2025 overview)

Why it matters: Supporters argue widespread bans narrow what students can learn and chill educators’ work; PEN America documented 6,870 bans in the 2024–25 school year across 23 states and 87 districts. [8]PEN America — Latest PEN America Report Finds “Disturbing Normalization” of Boo…

Who’s For It

• Lead sponsors: Rep. Jamie Raskin in the House and Sen. Brian Schatz in the Senate; introduced during Banned Books Week. [1]PEN America — Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution Calls on Local Governm…
• Advocacy groups endorsing the push include PEN America and the American Library Association, among others noted by the sponsors. [9]U.S. Senator Brian Schatz (press release) — As Nationwide Book Bans Top 10,000,…
• Free‑expression and library groups cite First Amendment values and professional review standards as reasons to oppose bans. [10]American Library Association — The Freedom to Read Statement[5]American Library Association — Selection & Reconsideration Policy Toolkit for P…

Who’s Against It

• Many Republican lawmakers and parental‑rights advocates say removals target sexually explicit or age‑inappropriate content and give parents more say in school libraries. [11]Associated Press — Texas lawmakers set new standards to ban books from schools…
• Parent‑led groups (e.g., Moms for Liberty chapters) publicly back policies restricting access to titles they describe as sexually explicit. [12]Web search · turn 8 #1

What’s Next

This is a simple House resolution: it expresses the chamber’s view and doesn’t go to the President or become law. After introduction during Banned Books Week (October 8, 2025), it awaits potential committee action or a House vote. [2]Congress.gov (Library of Congress) — How Our Laws Are Made - Congress.gov Resou…[1]PEN America — Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution Calls on Local Governm…