Expressing concern about the growing problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States.
- Bill Number
- H.Res. 797
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Civil Rights and Liberties, Minority Issues
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Last Updated
- 2025-12-06T06:46:59Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose of the Legislation
H. Res. 797 is a non-binding House resolution aimed at highlighting the increasing issue of book bans in schools and libraries across the United States. It expresses concern over these bans as threats to freedom of expression, reaffirms constitutional protections for free speech and reading, and urges actions to protect access to diverse literature.
Key Provisions Outlined
The resolution includes a series of "Whereas" clauses that provide background and evidence, followed by six main resolved actions:
- Express concern: Acknowledges the growing problem of book banning and threats to free expression nationwide.
- Reaffirm commitments: Supports First Amendment protections (the constitutional right to free speech) for writers and readers, opposing government censorship.
- Call for best practices: Urges local governments and school districts to follow guidelines from organizations like the American Library Association when handling book challenges (formal complaints about specific books).
- Protect rights: Encourages local entities to safeguard students' learning opportunities and educators' and librarians' abilities to provide diverse books reflecting various viewpoints.
- Return removed books: Demands the immediate restoration of books removed from Department of Defense (DoD) schools due to executive orders issued since January 2025.
- Repeal restrictions: Calls for the revocation of executive orders and directives that impose content-based limits on reading and learning in public schools.
Significant Changes to Existing Law Introduced
This resolution does not amend or create new laws, as it is a declarative measure without legal force. It does not alter statutes but references existing Supreme Court rulings, such as Tinker v. Des Moines (1969), which protects student speech rights in schools, and Board of Education v. Pico (1982), which limits book removals based on political bias. It critiques recent state laws and executive actions but proposes no enforceable changes.
Potential Impacts
- On government agencies: Could pressure the Department of Education, DoD, and agencies like the National Endowment for the Arts to review and reverse policies on book removals and grants related to diversity topics. It highlights issues like the DoD's removal of over 596 books and nearly 400 from military academies.
- On citizens: May raise public awareness, encouraging parents, students, and communities to advocate for open access to books, potentially reducing unreported censorship in schools and libraries. It notes harms to marginalized groups, such as those affected by bans on LGBTQ+ or race-related content.
- On international relations: References the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (Article 19 on freedom of opinion), positioning U.S. book bans as contrary to global democratic standards, which could influence America's image abroad but has no direct foreign policy effects.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- Students: Particularly those from marginalized backgrounds (e.g., racial minorities, LGBTQ+ individuals), who lose access to diverse stories and perspectives.
- Educators and librarians: Face a "chilling effect" (fear of reprisal) in a punitive environment, limiting their professional choices.
- Authors and creators: Works by diverse voices, including classics like To Kill a Mockingbird and books on civil rights, are suppressed.
- Parents and community members: Seek schools and libraries open to curiosity without ideological restrictions.
- Government entities: Local school districts, states (e.g., Florida, Texas with high ban numbers), and federal bodies like DoD and the Department of Education, which are called to act.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal and constitutional: Reinforces First Amendment principles by citing Supreme Court precedents against viewpoint-based censorship, framing book bans as potential violations of free speech rights. It contrasts U.S. protections with authoritarian tactics, without creating new legal obligations.
- Political: Introduced by over 40 Democratic representatives and referred to committees on Education, Judiciary, and Armed Services, it critiques state-level censorship laws since 2021 (leading to ~23,000 bans) and executive actions on topics like race and gender. As a partisan measure, it may spark debates on education policy and cultural issues but lacks binding authority, serving mainly as a symbolic statement to guide future legislation.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (59)
Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12], Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6], Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20], Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20], Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28], Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Costa, Jim [D-CA-21], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3], Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13], Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26], Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1], Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12], Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3], Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36], Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8], Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10], Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6], Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large], Rep. Peters, Scott H. [D-CA-50], Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1], Rep. Pressley, Ayanna [D-MA-7], Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3], Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25], Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6], Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5], Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9], Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7], Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12], Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14], Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] and 9 more
Recent Actions
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Referred to the Committee on Education and Workforce, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, and Armed Services, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-10-08: Submitted in House
- 2025-10-08: Submitted in House
Bill Versions
- Expressing concern about the growing problem of book banning and the proliferation of threats to freedom of expression in the United States. — issued 2025-10-08 — PDF (9 pages)