1. United States
2. Ga.
3. Letter

I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 7661, the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which would fundamentally undermine the freedom to read and parental rights in our communities. This bill would modify the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to prohibit federal funds for programs or materials deemed sexually oriented for anyone under 18, giving politicians unprecedented authority to determine which stories belong on library shelves. The American Library Association, a nonpartisan organization with 150 years of experience supporting libraries, has strongly denounced this legislation. They emphasize a critical point: library materials are currently selected by trained literacy professionals who understand child development and community needs, not by political actors with varying agendas. Parents, not politicians, should guide their own children's reading choices. H.R. 7661 is not fundamentally about protecting children. It is about restricting whose stories are allowed in libraries and schools. This broad censorship authority threatens the diverse voices and experiences that help young people understand themselves and the world around them. It undermines families' rights to make their own decisions about what their children read. Instead of restricting access, I urge you to support the Right to Read Act, which takes a constructive approach by supporting well-staffed and well-resourced school libraries, strengthening evidence-based literacy instruction, and protecting educators and librarians who help young people discover books. This legislation would actually advance literacy and learning rather than limiting it. I ask that you publicly oppose H.R. 7661 and work to ensure it does not advance. Our communities need libraries that serve all families, not political censorship that restricts access to information and stories. Please stand with parents, librarians, and the freedom to read by rejecting this harmful legislation.