Read for Reentry Act of 2026

Rick Larsen

Democrat · WA · Representative

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

• Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-5)Original· 2026-07-30
• Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA-4)Original· 2026-07-30
• Lateefah Simon (D-CA-12)Original· 2026-07-30
• Shri Thanedar (D-MI-13)Original· 2026-07-30
• Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA-37)Original· 2026-07-30

Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

2026-07-30

Source: Congress.gov

The Government Accountability Office would be required to study how prison libraries operate in both state and federal prisons, examining their resources, staffing, and how they serve incarcerated people. This research would help lawmakers understand what prison libraries currently offer and identify any gaps in services that might affect inmates' access to legal materials, education, and rehabilitation programs.

AI-assisted summary generated from the official bill metadata (title, subjects, actions) sourced from Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed. Always verify against the official text linked below.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H.R. 9986 Introduced in House (IH)] <DOC> 119th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 9986 To require a GAO study on State and Federal prison libraries, and for other purposes. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES July 30, 2026 Mr. Larsen of Washington (for himself, Mr. Cleaver, Ms. Kamlager-Dove, Ms. Simon, Mr. Johnson of Georgia, and Mr. Thanedar) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary _______________________________________________________________________ A BILL To require a GAO study on State and Federal prison libraries, and for other purposes. Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. This Act may be cited as the ``Read for Reentry Act of 2026''. SEC. 2. GAO STUDY. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall conduct a study on libraries and library services offered in State and Federal prisons, and submit to Congress a report, that-- (1) includes a description of any library services provided in such prisons; (2) identifies any sources of funding for such libraries and library services; (3) includes the demographic information of all incarcerated individuals in State and Federal prisons that offer library services, including-- (A) age; (B) race; (C) ethnicity; (D) gender identity; (E) level of education; (F) criminal background; and (G) length of incarceration; (4) identifies the prison recidivism rate for an individual released from a State or Federal prison that offers library services; (5) identifies the parole compliance rate for an individual released from a State or Federal prison that offers library services; (6) includes a description about workforce placement for individuals released from a State or Federal prison that offers library services; (7) identifies the rate of disciplinary infractions (as defined by the Director of the Bureau of Prisons) involving an incarcerated individual in a State or Federal prison that offers library services; and (8) includes any other relevant information or findings, as determined by the Comptroller General, with respect to such libraries and library services. <all>

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