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To require a GAO study on State and Federal prison libraries, and for other purposes.
Summary
- Requires the Comptroller General to conduct a study on libraries and library services offered in State and Federal prisons.
- Requires the study to be completed within one year of enactment and submitted to Congress as a report.
- Requires the report to include descriptions of library services, funding sources, and demographic information about incarcerated individuals using the services including age, race, ethnicity, gender identity, education level, criminal background, and length of incarceration.
- Requires the report to identify recidivism rates, parole compliance rates, and workforce placement outcomes for individuals released from prisons offering library services.
- Requires the report to identify rates of disciplinary infractions involving incarcerated individuals in prisons offering library services and any other relevant findings.
AI-generated plain-language summary of the bill text — neutral, and may be imperfect. See the full text below for the exact wording.
Sponsor (1)
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA)
5 cosponsors
Actions (2)
- Jul 30, 2026 Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary. · house
- Jul 30, 2026 Introduced in House
Text versions (1)
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Full text
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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