U.S. Congress: Rep. Jamie Raskin and Sen. Brian Schatz Introduce Bicameral Resolution Condemning Book Bans

From Rep. Jamie Raskin:

Today, Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced a resolution condemning an escalating censorship crisis that has removed and targeted thousands of books from the shelves of schools, libraries and universities across the country.

The bicameral resolution, coinciding with Banned Books Week, reinforces congressional recognition of students’ First Amendment rights and affirms that the freedom to read is essential to a strong democracy. In the 2023-2024 school year alone, PEN America  documented over 10,000 instances  of individual books being banned, nearly triple the previous academic year. Many bans have removed books from public shelves with characteristics that would be targeted by Project 2025, which  additionally proposes  labeling teachers and librarians who distribute such books as sex offenders.

“By filling our libraries with a diversity of stories, we help our students understand new perspectives rather than suppressing their freedom to think, read and write independently,” said Rep. Raskin. “We must close this chapter of censorship and, rather than continuing to take a page from the world’s dictators and autocrats, turn our attention to the resources students need to succeed. I am grateful to Senator Schatz for his partnership on this resolution.”

“Any attempt to ban books because someone has an ideological disagreement or doesn’t believe in capturing the full scope of history is un-American,” said Senator Schatz. “Freedom of expression is a founding principle of our count ry, and it’s up to all of us to stand up against these attacks on this fundamental right.”

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The resolution is endorsed by the American Library Association (ALA), Banned Books Week Coalition, the Center for American Progress, the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, EveryLibrary, Interfaith Alliance, JCRC of Greater Washington, Jewish Community Relations Council of Broward County (Florida), Jewish Community Relations Council of Portland, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, National Book Foundation, National Coalition Against Censorship, National Council of Jewish Women, National Council of Teachers of English, National Education Association, National LGBTQ Task Force Action Fund, PEN America, PFLAG National, Red Wine and Blue Education Fund, The Sikh Coalition, Jewish Community Relations Council for Tucson & Southern Arizona, and Urban Libraries Council (ULC).

In the House, the resolution is cosponsored by 43 Members of Congress, including Reps. Colin Allred (TX); Suzanne Bonamici (OR); Joyce Beatty (OH); Shontel M. Brown (OH); Julia Brownley (CA); Ed Case (HI); Sean Casten (IL); Joaquin Castro (TX); Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick (FL); Judy Chu (CA); Emanuel Cleaver, II (MO); Jim Costa (CA); Lloyd Doggett (TX); Veronica Escobar (TX); Lizzie Fletcher (TX); Lois Frankel (FL); Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL); Raul M. Grijalva (AZ); Jahana Hayes (CT); Jared Huffman (CA); Glenn Ivey (MD); Henry C. “Hank” Johnson (GA); Summer Lee (PA); Barbara Lee (CA); Teresa Leger Fernandez (NM); Ted Lieu (CA); Jim McGovern (MA); Grace Meng (NY); Eleanor Holmes Norton (DC); Scott Peters (CA); Chellie Pingree (ME); Mark Pocan (WI); Katie Porter (CA); Delia Ramirez (IL); Raul Ruiz (CA); Andrea Salinas (OR); Mary Gay Scanlon (PA); Jan Schakowsky (IL); David Scott (GA); Darren Soto (FL); Shri Thanedar (MI); Rashida Tlaib (MI); and Nikema Williams (GA).

Direct to Full Text of the Resolution
7 pages; PDF.

Read the Complete Release (about 1265 words)

Statements (We Will Update with Others as they Become Available)

• NCAC Endorses As Nationwide Book Bans Rep. Raskin and Sen. Schatz Bicameral Resolution Condemning Book Bans
  Statement From EveryLibrary: Supporting the 2024 Banned Books Week Congressional Resolution
• Statement From PEN America: Congressional Resolution Highlights Unprecedented Censorship in Schools, Calls on Local Governments to Protect the Right to Learn and Read

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