1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 7661, the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which would violate First Amendment protections by giving politicians broad authority to restrict access to library materials for anyone under 18. This bill would modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit federal funds for programs or materials deemed sexually oriented for minors. While framed as child protection, H.R. 7661 fundamentally threatens the freedom to read by allowing government officials to determine whose stories belong on library shelves. The First Amendment protects the right to access information, and courts have consistently recognized that minors possess constitutional rights to receive information and ideas. Library materials are currently selected by trained literacy professionals who understand child development and community needs. These educators work to help young people become lifelong readers while respecting the rights of individual families to guide their own children's reading choices. H.R. 7661 would replace this professional judgment and parental authority with political censorship. The American Library Association, a nonpartisan organization with 150 years of experience supporting libraries, has strongly denounced this legislation. Rather than restricting access to information, Congress should support the Right to Read Act, which would strengthen evidence-based literacy instruction, ensure well-staffed and well-resourced school libraries, and protect educators and librarians who help young people discover books. Allowing politicians to ban books based on vague standards about sexual content creates a dangerous precedent for government censorship. Such restrictions disproportionately target stories about LGBTQ individuals, people of color, and other marginalized communities, effectively silencing diverse voices and experiences. I ask you to oppose H.R. 7661 and instead support policies that protect constitutional rights while empowering parents and professional educators to make appropriate decisions for children in their care.