(WASHINGTON)— PEN America today welcomed the introduction of the Stop Censoring Military Families Act in response to federal bans on books in Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools. The bill was introduced by Reps. Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8) and Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA-6) and would reinstate all books removed from DOD schools’ classrooms and libraries and protect school curricula from future censorship by the Trump administration or any future administration.
Earlier this year, 596 books were pulled from the shelves of DoDEA schools, including the Advanced Placement psychology study guides, titles about diversity, puberty, and racism, Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore as well as Vice President JD Vance’s memoir Hillbilly Elegy.
In response, Ian Schwab, PEN America’s director of governmental affairs, issued the following comments:
“It is shameful that we need a federal bill to remind the current administration to stop censoring the education of schoolchildren in military schools. Unfortunately, censorship in DoDEA schools remain an ongoing concern, whether by efforts to restrict access to books, prohibit words or suppress curricular content. It is vital that we stand against this censorship and reverse these restrictions on education. This bill is a step toward doing so, and we applaud representatives Raskin and Houlahan for introducing it. We call on congressional leaders to support the bill in order to respect the children of military families being educated around the world.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.