On National Day of Reading, Rep. Frost Highlights Surging School Book Bans and Reintroduces Fight Book Bans Act

On National Day of Reading, Rep. Frost Highlights Surging School Book Bans and Reintroduces Fight Book Bans Act

The "Fight Book Bans Act" Led by Reps. Frost, Wilson, and Raskin Would Provide Federal Funds to Schools Fighting Off Book Bans

WASHINGTON, D.C. - On National Day of Reading, Congressman Maxwell Alejandro Frost (FL-10), joined by Congresswoman Frederica Wilson (FL-24) and Congressman Jamie Raskin (MD-08), reintroduced the Fight Book Bans Act in response to a dramatic rise in school book censorship. Nearly 7,000 books were removed from school shelves this past year, more than double the number in 2023, when the bill was first introduced. Florida alone accounts for roughly one-third of all bans.

Intimidating state laws have forced school districts to pull thousands of important books, often against the wishes of educators and most parents. Polling shows only 12 percent of Americans support banning books in schools, yet many families must send their children to censored classrooms where students lose access to materials, from children's books to classics used in advanced placement courses.

The consequences are already being felt. The Department of Education recently investigated book bans in Georgia for creating a hostile environment for students. Across the country, banned titles include works warning against antisemitism like Maus and The Diary of Anne Frank, foundational texts such as Shakespeare's plays, and books like The Life of Rosa Parks, To Kill a Mockingbird, and Gender Queer, the majority of which reflect the experiences of Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ communities.

School districts often cannot fight these bans because the legal, logistical, and research costs exceed their budgets. Federal support is needed to protect academic freedom and ensure students have access to diverse, accurate educational materials.

The Fight Book Bans Act would allow the Department of Education to provide grants of up to $100,000 to school districts to cover the costs of opposing bad-faith book bans, with total funding capped at $15 million over five years. On a day dedicated to celebrating reading, this legislation underscores a simple principle: every child deserves a safe, welcoming school where they can learn from a full, uncensored education.

"Book bans in Florida and in states across the nation are a direct attack on our freedoms and liberties everywhere. As my home state shamefully leads the country in book bans, we cannot let this censorship and dismantling of our education system go unchecked," said Rep. Maxwell Frost. "What we are seeing in Florida and states like Texas, Utah, and Missouri are loud and clear attempts by far-right conservative leaders to silence and erase our Black, brown, Hispanic, and LGBTQ+ communities. The Fight Book Bans Act takes a stand against censorship to firmly stand on the side of history, education, our students, teachers, and schools who don't deserve to suffer the consequences of radical politics in the classroom. This is about protecting our libraries and protecting truth and history."

"As a former teacher and principal, I have watched a child discover their power in the pages of a book," said Rep. Frederica S. Wilson. "That is what education is meant to do. Yet in Florida, thousands of books by Black, brown, and LGBTQ+ authors are being banned. This is not protection. It is censorship that erases stories, hides history, and limits our children's imagination. Our schools should open doors, not build walls around knowledge. I stand with Rep. Maxwell Frost to fight these book bans because our children deserve truth, not fear. I will always stand on the side of freedom."

"Campaigns to remove books from schools and libraries are a hallmark of authoritarian and fascist regimes, and now the Trump Administration is rolling out its own national censorship program," said Rep. Raskin. "Many books are being targeted simply because they address the historical realities of racism and white supremacy or the life experiences of LGBTQ+ kids and their families. I'm proud to join Rep. Frost to reintroduce this bill to provide resources to the freedom-loving teachers, school librarians and school administrators working to keep books on our shelves and the multiple truths of human experience alive."

"Banning books in public schools is a dangerous infringement on students' First Amendment right to access information," said Jenna Leventoff, Senior Policy Counsel, American Civil Liberties Union. "Robust and diverse school libraries are critical to ensuring that all students, regardless of their family's income, education, race, or geographic location, have free and open access to the vast world of information each book contains. We thank Rep. Frost for working to ensure that schools have the resources they need to fight censorship and preserve the freedom to read."

"Every child should have access to books that reflect their lived experience and the world around them, but far right politicians are trying to censor LGBTQ+ inclusive literature from libraries and classrooms. It's our youth who pay the price for politicizing classrooms and bookshelves. Congressman Frost's Fight Book Bans Act reminds LGBTQ+ youth that they matter, and that queer literature is essential to building an education system that uplifts diversity."- Jennifer Pike Bailey, Director of Government Affairs, Human Rights Campaign

"Book bans are an affront to students' rights. We deserve to make decisions regarding our education, not politicians who seek to undermine our liberty to learn," said Cameron Samuels, Executive Director of Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT). "Censorship dictates our understanding of history and what is acceptable, reinforcing an unjust status quo and impacting our futures. Our nation's youngest generation must maintain the freedom to explore our curiosities, follow our passions, and discover ourselves through the lens of literature. Book bans won't help students succeed, but empowering students and facilitating constructive collaboration between families and educators will cultivate the future our youth deserve. As an organization led by high school and college students, we see firsthand the impacts of book bans and we are ready to say: no more." - Ayaan Moledina, Federal Policy Director, SEAT

"As Florida public school parents, we've seen our districts devote significant time and taxpayer dollars to responding to repeated book objections filed by a very small number of individuals, despite more than 95% of Florida's students having full access to the school library granted to them by their parents. Every formal challenge pulls staff, educators, and resources away from classrooms and student support. We need policies that protect the individual needs of families while ensuring our limited funds stay focused on educating our kids." - Stephana Ferrell, Co-Director, Florida Freedom to Read Project

"This persistent campaign to remove access to books in public schools is costing districts time, energy, and money. This bill would offer the financial support to help districts reject the book purge and maintain access to diverse and inclusive book collections. PEN America applauds this bill, which would provide grants to schools to cover expenses incurred in fighting off book bans. We thank Representatives Frost (D-FL), Raskin (D-MD) and Wilson (D-FL) for their leadership and commitment to fighting book bans and appreciate their decision to reintroduce the Fight Book Bans Act. We call on all members of Congress to support this bill, defend the right to read and fight the practice of banning books." - Kasey Meehan, Director, Freedom to Read

The Fight Books Ban Act is endorsed by: PEN America, American Library Association, Interfaith Alliance, ACLU, Human Rights Campaign, EveryLibrary, The Trevor Project, Catholics for Choice, Color of Change, UnidosUS, We Need Diverse Books, Equality Florida, Florida Freedom to Read Project, Students Engaged in Advancing Texas (SEAT), and NAACP DC

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