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lEGISLATIVE ALERT

Background

H.R. 7661 is a proposed federal bill that would amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to withhold federal funding from schools whose libraries contain materials deemed to include certain viewpoints or topics. The bill's broad and vague language raises serious equal protection concerns, as it could be used to target books reflecting the diversity of American identities and experiences. In practice, it would function as a federally enforced nationwide book ban, pressuring schools and libraries to remove materials to avoid losing essential funding.

How You Can Help

• Contact your U.S. Representative

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Contact Your Representative 

To find your U.S. Representative click here. If you live and work in two different districts we encourage you to contact both. If you would like a form letter please see the template at the bottom of the page.

Representative Contacts

Template

Dear [Representative Last Name],

I am writing to urge you to oppose H.R. 7661, which would condition federal education funding on restrictions over what books and materials schools may provide to students.

This legislation represents an unwarranted federal intrusion into local decision-making. Educators, librarians, and community members — not Washington — are best positioned to make thoughtful, grade-appropriate decisions about school library collections. Using funding as leverage to pressure schools into removing books is not sound educational policy; it is government-directed censorship.

H.R. 7661 also raises serious civil rights concerns, as book restrictions of this kind disproportionately affect materials that reflect diverse identities and lived experiences. The freedom to read is a foundational American value, and a federal mandate that chills intellectual freedom sets a dangerous precedent for our democracy.

Public schools and libraries exist to broaden access to knowledge and diverse perspectives — the very foundations of informed citizenship and critical thinking. I urge you to reject this bill and defend every student's freedom to read.

Thank you for your time and service.

Sincerely,

[Your Name]

[Your Address]

[City, State, ZIP]

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Help Us, Help You

The Connecticut Library Association (CLA) is committed to standing up for all of CT’s libraries and the services they provide. We need you to be engaged in our advocacy efforts. It’s just not enough for CLA’s leadership to speak up. We need library leadership (directors and trustees), library staff, library Friends and library patrons to take a stand on behalf of CT’s libraries.