Support the Right to Read Act - HR 6440 & S 3365

I am writing to demand your full and immediate support for the Right to Read Act (H.R. 6440 / S. 3365), introduced by Rep. Jack Reed and Rep. Adelita Grijalva. This legislation is not optional—it is essential to reversing a growing literacy crisis and defending the fundamental freedoms that define our democracy. The facts are stark. National reading scores remain at historic lows, with nine-year-olds still performing near the lowest levels recorded in decades. At the very moment we should be expanding access to books, trained librarians, and literacy support, we are instead witnessing a coordinated surge in book bans and political attacks on school libraries across the country. This is not just misguided—it is dangerous. Censorship is replacing education. Ideology is replacing expertise. And students are paying the price. The Right to Read Act directly confronts this crisis with serious, evidence-based solutions. It would: • Invest $600 million annually in literacy programs and school libraries • Ensure students have access to certified, professionally trained school librarians • Expand access to diverse, high-quality reading materials that reflect the full American experience • Protect students’ First Amendment rights in school settings • Push back against the accelerating wave of book bans and censorship Let’s be clear: school libraries are not expendable. They are core educational infrastructure. Librarians are not optional staff—they are trained educators who teach students how to think critically, evaluate information, and navigate an increasingly complex world. Stripping schools of these resources widens achievement gaps, deepens inequality, and undermines the very purpose of public education. At a time when misinformation is rampant and democratic institutions are under strain, the ability to read freely, think independently, and access a wide range of ideas is more important than ever. The freedom to read is the foundation of the freedom to think—and without it, there is no informed citizenry. Failure to act is a choice—a choice to allow censorship to spread, literacy to decline, and opportunity to shrink for millions of students. I urge you to do your job: publicly support and actively advance the Right to Read Act (H.R. 6440 / S. 3365). Fight for literacy. Stand up for school libraries. Defend the constitutional rights of students in every community. Anything less is a failure to meet this moment. Our children deserve action—not excuses.