Sponsors (2)
The bill creates a public, multiagency Commission, standardized definitions, and measurement tools to better target and coordinate federal digital and information literacy efforts—potentially improving equity and program effectiveness—while imposing additional taxpayer costs, centralizing control in ways that may misclassify or exclude local pockets of need, and delaying immediate on-the-ground assistance through study and reporting requirements.
Low-income students, children, and underserved communities would receive targeted recommendations and clearer eligibility criteria that could expand access to digital and information literacy programs.
Federal agencies, state and local governments would gain a multiagency Commission and coordination plan to streamline digital literacy efforts, reduce duplication, and improve program implementation.
Federal adoption of standardized definitions and measurement methods for 'digital literacy' and 'information literacy' would give agencies an evidence base to target funding, evaluate outcomes, and improve program design.
Taxpayers and Congress would face additional administrative and staffing costs from creating and operating the Commission, studies, hearings, investigatory activities, and interagency coordination.
Centralized definitions, reliance on decennial Census thresholds, and tying 'low-income' to an external statute could misclassify need, exclude pockets of need in high-cost areas, reduce local flexibility, and create administrative complexity.
Study, reporting, and coordination requirements may delay direct assistance to communities that need immediate digital-resources and services by prioritizing planning and evidence-gathering over on-the-ground help.
Based on analysis of 7 sections of legislative text.
Creates a federal commission to study digital and information literacy, recommend measurement methods and policy actions, and report to Congress within two years.
Introduced January 30, 2026 by Shri Thanedar · Last progress January 30, 2026
Creates a federal commission to study digital and information literacy across the United States, with a focus on low-income and disadvantaged areas, and to identify best practices from abroad. The commission must hold public meetings, gather evidence and testimony, and deliver a report to Congress within two years with recommendations, a proposed federal measurement method, and a plan to improve interagency coordination. The law defines key terms (digital literacy, information literacy, disadvantaged area, low-income), sets membership and leadership rules for the commission, and authorizes hearings and evidence-gathering powers but does not explicitly provide funding.