On February 24, 2026, H.R. 7661 was introduced into the U.S. House of Representatives. Despite its name,  the "Stop the Sexualization of Children Act" does nothing to protect children; instead, it unfairly implies that educators are harming the very students they have dedicated their lives to serving. H.R. 7661 takes away the rights of parents to guide their own children's reading, replacing family decisions with broad, government-driven restrictions. Though it currently only affects school libraries, we know from experience here in Louisiana that book bans work incrementally, one policy step at a time, until access to ideas and information is quietly but systematically removed. H.R. 7661 is the beginning of a nationwide system of censorship and information control, and should outrage every parent, every teacher, and every person who values Democracy. Write your representative now and tell them to stand up for families, educators, and the freedom to read.