Congressman Turner released the following statement upon House passage of H.R. 5325, 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”: 

“Today the House acted to prevent the Library of Congress from engaging in partisanship and censorship. The Library of Congress has a duty to provide impartial and accurate access to Americans. I urge the Senate to pass this important legislation to keep Washington in check.” 

The language requested by Congressman Turner would require the Library of Congress to use subject headings consistent with the terminology of the United States Code, and not unilaterally change and eliminate its subject headings “Aliens” and “Illegal Aliens.”

On March 22, the Library of Congress announced its decision to unilaterally revise its subject heading “Aliens” and eliminate its subject heading “Illegal Aliens.” 

On April 14, Congressman Turner sent a letter to Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman 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 20, 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.

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