HR 7327 · 119th CongressIntroduced

Grants for children's book access

What the bill does

The Empowering Young Readers Act of 2026 would create a pilot program at the Department of Education to give grants to nonprofit and nongovernmental organizations. These grants, up to $200,000 each over two years, would be used to buy and distribute books to children, donate books to libraries, and host literacy events. The program would require applications to be judged on neutral criteria, not favoring any particular viewpoint.

Why it matters

The stakes

This bill aims to increase children's access to books and literacy programs, especially in communities that may lack such resources. The outcome could affect how many books reach children and whether local literacy rates improve.

The debate

What each side says

Supporters

The bill provides federal funding to help get books into the hands of children, which can support early literacy and a love of reading.bill
It requires grants to be awarded based on viewpoint-neutral criteria, ensuring that no particular political or cultural perspective is favored.bill
The program includes a report to Congress on how many books were distributed and any changes in child literacy rates, allowing for evaluation of its effectiveness.bill

Critics

The bill authorizes $10 million in spending, which some may see as an unnecessary federal expense when states and local communities already fund literacy programs.bill
The program could duplicate existing efforts by private charities and local libraries, potentially wasting taxpayer money.report

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Lobbying filings, contributions, and votes are public records shown side by side. The further down the chain, the further the money is from this bill. This page does not assert that money caused any vote.