H.R. 7247: Prison Libraries Act of 2026

119th Congress · introduced 2026-01-27 · Crime and Law Enforcement · Latest: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.

federal

What does this mean?

Official title

Prison Libraries Act of 2026

Plain summary

Prison Libraries Act of 2026 This bill directs the Department of Justice to establish a grant program to provide library services for incarcerated individuals.

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House), quoted unchanged (nonpartisan). Read the source.

What a vote does

A “Yea” vote

If it passes both chambers and is signed, it becomes law.

A “Nay” vote

If it is not passed, current law stays as it is.

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What does this mean? (plain words)

Official text

Prison Libraries Act of 2026

Source: Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)

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The strongest published arguments

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Officials and money

Sponsor: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] · 42 cosponsors

Cost estimate: No cost estimate published yet.

Cosponsors on this site

Shontel M. Brown (D-OH), Valerie P. Foushee (D-NC), Terri A. Sewell (D-AL), Lateefah Simon (D-CA), Henry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr. (D-GA), Ed Case (D-HI), Jesús G. "Chuy" García (D-IL), Cleo Fields (D-LA), Rashida Tlaib (D-MI), Shri Thanedar (D-MI), Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), LaMonica McIver (D-NJ), Dwight Evans (D-PA), Summer L. Lee (D-PA), Jasmine Crockett (D-TX), Julie Johnson (D-TX), Suzan K. DelBene (D-WA), Emily Randall (D-WA), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Don Bacon (R-NE), Ami Bera (D-CA), Jahana Hayes (D-CT), Mark Pocan (D-WI), Sarah McBride (D-DE), James P. McGovern (D-MA), Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-CA), Nanette Diaz Barragán (D-CA), Delia C. Ramirez (D-IL), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Gwen Moore (D-WI), Frederica S. Wilson (D-FL), Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR), Ilhan Omar (D-MN), Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Seth Moulton (D-MA), Jonathan L. Jackson (D-IL), Troy A. Carter (D-LA), Wesley Bell (D-MO)

Sponsor's campaign money: Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] reported raising $1.8 million (2025–2026). Details. Shown for context only; it does not mean any donor supported this bill.

Words on this page, explained (1)

Bill: A proposed law. It becomes law only if it passes the legislature and is signed by the president or governor (or a veto is overridden).

Plain meanings written from linked sources. All words.

Sources

Congressional Research Service summary (Introduced in House)
Congress.gov
Data: GovInfo BILLSTATUS bulk data (Library of Congress), BILLSTATUS-119hr7247.xml <https://www.govinfo.gov/bulkdata/BILLSTATUS/119/hr>

Record fed-us-cong119-hr7247 · catalog fed-us-congress-bills-cong119 · updated 2026-11-03 by psicol fed-bills