WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, cosponsored the Rehabilitation through Reading Act, legislation led by U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representative Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO-05), to expand library resources and services to support the education and skills training of incarcerated Americans to improve opportunities upon their release.
“Everyone deserves the opportunity to learn and grow—and supporting efforts to make books, and skill-building tools more available to incarcerated people is a commonsense policy. Reading is fundamental, and reading reduces recidivism. Everyone deserves access to quality books,” said Senator Welch.
“Access to books, skills training and educational opportunities improves an individual’s chance of successfully reintegrating when returning to the community after a prison sentence,” said Senator Schiff. “These bills will help prepare those impacted to re-acclimate to life in the outside world and reduce recidivism. I’m proud to support those efforts.”
“Access to wide-ranging and quality books offer incarcerated Americans the opportunity to learn and sharpen valuable skills that will assist in their reintegration into society, helping them turn the page to a new chapter and better life,” said Rep. Cleaver. “I’m thankful for Senator Schiff’s partnership in introducing the Prison Libraries Act and the Rehabilitation through Reading Act as we seek to expand library resources in correctional facilities nationwide, thereby increasing educational opportunities, reducing recidivism, and creating stronger communities for all.”
The Rehabilitation through Reading Act enables individuals in custody to challenge book bans and provides greater transparency around Bureau of Prisons (BOP) book bans by requiring BOP to establish an independent commission to review decisions by BOP officials to ban books at facilities and give incarcerated individuals an opportunity to appeal those decisions, and set guidelines for what books can and cannot be banned.
In addition to Senator Welch, the Rehabilitation through Reading Act is cosponsored by Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), Mazie Hirono (D-Hawai’i), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.).
The Rehabilitation Through Reading Act is endorsed by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), American Library Association, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California, Californians for Safety and Justice, Ella Baker Center for Human Rights, and PEN America.
Senator Welch has been a leading advocate in the Senate for reducing recidivism and encouraging successful reintegration for incarcerated individuals, including the Second Chance Reauthorization Act, Fair Chance Jobs Month Resolution, and the First Step Act.
Read and download the full text of the bill.
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