HR-10058-119
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Workforce.
Sponsored by Joseph Morelle (D-NY)
What it does
This bill would create a new federal grant program, administered by the Secretary of Education, that provides $5 million per year (fiscal years 2027–2031) to State library administrative agencies. Those agencies would then award competitive subgrants to local school districts that already operate summer lunch programs and where at least 50% of students in grades pre-K through 3rd grade are reading at or below grade level. Subgrant funds would be used to keep school libraries open during the summer for at least 6 weeks, provide literacy activities, and hire and train library staff.
Who benefits
Low-income children in grades pre-K through 3rd grade who are already participating in summer meal programs and who would gain access to school libraries and literacy activities. Parents of those children, who would have a structured learning environment available during summer months. State library administrative agencies, which would receive and distribute federal funds. Local school districts serving high-poverty populations, which would receive subgrant funding for staffing and programming. Community partner organizations involved in program delivery. Library staff and educators who would be hired or trained under the program.
Who is hurt
School districts that do not operate summer lunch programs, or where fewer than 50% of early-grade students are reading below grade level, would be ineligible — potentially excluding some high-need schools that narrowly miss the threshold. States or districts with limited administrative capacity may face difficulty navigating the competitive grant application process. Competing federal education or library programs may face indirect pressure on discretionary funding if appropriations are constrained. Taxpayers bear the cost of the $25 million authorization over five years.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that "summer slide" — the well-documented loss of reading skills during summer break — disproportionately affects low-income children, and that pairing library access with existing meal sites removes a key logistical barrier for families who already send children to those locations. They contend that targeting schools where at least half of early-grade students read below grade level ensures funds reach the highest-need communities, and that the modest $5 million annual authorization makes this a cost-effective, targeted complement to existing federal nutrition and education programs.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that the bill creates a new, duplicative federal bureaucracy — routing funds through state library agencies to school districts — when existing programs like Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act and the Library Services and Technology Act already fund literacy and library services for low-income students. They contend that the narrow eligibility criteria and small funding level ($5 million nationally) would produce minimal measurable impact on reading outcomes, and that decisions about summer library hours are better left to states and localities without a new federal grant structure.
Constitutional context
Congress has broad authority to fund education programs through its spending power (Art. I, §8), and the Supreme Court has consistently upheld conditional federal grants to states as constitutional. No active constitutional tension is implicated here; the bill does not delegate broad rulemaking authority to an agency in a way that would trigger the major questions doctrine under West Virginia v. EPA (2022), nor does it raise Commerce Clause scope questions under Lopez (1995).
Checks and balances
The Executive Branch (Secretary of Education) gains limited administrative authority to set grant application requirements and receive annual progress reports; Congress retains control through the annual appropriations process, and the five-year authorization sunset in 2031 requires reauthorization to continue.
Historical precedent
The Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA), administered through the Institute of Museum and Library Services, has long provided federal grants to state library agencies for literacy and access programs, establishing a precedent for this type of federal-to-state library funding structure.