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
To require a GAO study on State and Federal prison libraries, and for other purposes.
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.