Congressman Turner released the following statement upon Appropriations Committee approval of the FY2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, which includes a provision he requested to prevent the Library of Congress from unilaterally censoring and eliminating its subject headings “Aliens” and “Illegal Aliens”:
“The Committee’s approval of this legislation brings us one step closer to preventing the Library of Congress from advancing these partisan interests and censorship. The Library of Congress is undermining its credibility and ignoring its responsibility to provide the American people with impartial and accurate access to its many resources.”
On March 22nd the Library of Congress announced its decision to unilaterally revise its subject heading “Aliens” and eliminate its subject heading “Illegal Aliens.”
On April 14th, Congressman Turner sent a letter to the Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee Tom Graves requesting language be included in the FY17 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill that would prohibit the Library of Congress from carrying out these changes.
On April 20th, the Legislative Branch Subcommittee advanced the FY17 funding measure, which included the provision requested by Congressman Turner.
On May 17, the Appropriations Committee approved the measure, which now awaits consideration on the House floor.
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