January 30, 2026
Mr. Thanedar (for himself and Mrs. Grijalva) introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
To establish the Digital Literacy and Equity Commission, and for other purposes.
Section 1. Short title
This Act may be cited as the Digital Literacy and Equity Act of 2026
.
Sec. 2. Establishment
There is established a commission to be known as the Digital Literacy and Equity Commission
(in this Act referred to as the Commission
).
Sec. 3. Duties
The Commission shall conduct a study on digital literacy and equity, including—
(1)
the state of digital literacy and information literacy in the United States, including—
(A)
Federal, State, and local programs aimed at increasing digital literacy and information literacy; and
(B)
an analysis of digital literacy and information literacy in low-income areas and disadvantaged areas;
(2)
programs in other countries with the goal of increasing digital literacy and information literacy; and
(3)
the identification of strategies and best practices to maintain increased levels of digital literacy and information literacy in the United States.
Sec. 4. Membership
(a) Number and appointment
The Commission shall be composed of—
(1)
the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information or the delegate of the Assistant Secretary;
(2)
the Chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission or the delegate of the Chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission;
(3)
the Chief of the Wireless Telecommunications Bureau of the Federal Communications Commission or the delegate of the Chief;
(4)
the Director of the Institute of Museum and Library Services or the delegate of the Director;
(5)
the Secretary of Education or the delegate of the Secretary;
(6)
the Secretary of Health and Human Services or the delegate of the Secretary;
(7)
the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development or the delegate of the Secretary;
(8)
3 members appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission—
(A)
with knowledge or expertise in digital literacy and equity;
(B)
from the public or private sector, including—
(i)
Federal, State, or local employees;
(ii)
former Members of Congress; or
(iii)
employees of academic institutions and non-governmental organizations; and
(C)
who represent diverse economic, professional, and cultural backgrounds; and
(9)
not more than 5 members appointed by the President, from among the heads of Federal agencies, or delegates of the heads of Federal agencies, who the President determines would be beneficial to the Commission.
(b) Chairperson; vice chairperson
The Secretary of Education or the delegate of the Secretary shall serve as the Chairperson of the Commission, and the Chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission or the delegate of the Chairperson of the Federal Communications Commission shall serve as the Vice Chairperson of the Commission.
(c) Meetings
(1) First meeting
Not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Chairperson of the Commission shall hold a meeting of the Commission.
(2) Subsequent meetings
The Commission shall meet not less than once every 4 months at a time and place determined by the Chairperson of the Commission, and may hold such other meetings as the Chairperson of the Commission determines are necessary to carry out this Act.
(3) Public access
All meetings of the Commission shall be open to the public.
(d) Quorum
A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser number may hold hearings.
Sec. 5. Powers of the Commission
(a) Hearings and sessions
The Commission may, for the purpose of carrying out this Act, hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission considers appropriate.
(b) Powers of members and agents
Any member or agent of the Commission may, if authorized by the Commission, take any action that the Commission is authorized to take by this section.
Sec. 6. Report
Within 2 years after the appointment of the members of the Commission, the Chairperson of the Commission shall submit to the Congress a report that contains—
(1)
the results of the study required by section 3;
(2)
recommendations on how to improve and maintain the digital literacy and information literacy of individuals in the United States and education in the United States relating to digital literacy and information literacy through early education and community outreach, with a particular focus on increasing equity in the availability of digital literacy and information literacy resources;
(3)
recommendations for the Federal Government to create and implement a method to measure digital literacy in the United States, in order to aid future efforts to address digital literacy; and
(4)
a plan to increase interagency coordination to improve digital literacy services provided by the Federal Government.
Sec. 7. Definitions
In this Act:
(1) Digital literacy
The term digital literacy
means the ability to use information and communication technologies to find, evaluate, create, and communicate information, requiring both cognitive and technical skills.
(2) Disadvantaged area
The term disadvantaged area
means a community with an annual median household income that is less than 80 percent of the statewide annual median household income, determined on the basis of the latest available decennial census of the United States.
(3) Information literacy
The term information literacy
means—
(A)
the ability to recognize when information is needed; and
(B)
the ability to locate, evaluate, and use needed information effectively.
(4) Low-income
The term low-income
has the meaning given that term in section 1303 of the Housing and Community Development Act of 1992 (12 U.S.C. 4502).