I 

117TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 6971 

To establish a commission to promote information and media literacy, and 

for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

MARCH 8, 2022 

Mr. BEYER introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee 

on Education and Labor, and in addition to the Committee on Energy 

and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned 

A BILL 

To establish a commission to promote information and media 

literacy, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE; TABLE OF CONTENTS. 

4 (a) SHORT TITLE.—This Act may be cited as the 

5 ‘‘Educating Against Misinformation and Disinformation 

6 Act’’. 

7 (b) TABLE OF CONTENTS.— 

Sec. 1. Short title; table of contents. 


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Sec. 2. Definitions. 

TITLE I—COMMISSION TO SUPPORT INFORMATION AND MEDIA 

LITERACY AND ADDRESS MISINFORMATION AND 

DISINFORMATION 

Sec. 101. Establishment and duties. 

Sec. 102. Membership. 

Sec. 103. Hearings. 

Sec. 104. Commission personnel matters. 

Sec. 105. National strategy for information and media literacy and preventing 

misinformation and disinformation. 

Sec. 106. Report to Congress. 

Sec. 107. Authorization of appropriations. 

TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 

Sec. 201. Grants to improve the American public’s information and media literacy and resilience to misinformation and disinformation. 

Sec. 202. Study and report on information and media literacy among the American public. 

Sec. 203. Department of Education assessment. 

1 SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS. 

2 In this Act: 

3 (1) APPROPRIATE CONGRESSIONAL COMMIT4 TEES.—The term ‘‘appropriate congressional com5 mittees’’ means— 

6 (A) the Committee on Health, Education, 

7 Labor, and Pensions and the Committee on 

8 Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the 

9 Senate; and 

10 (B) the Committee on Education and 

11 Labor and the Committee on Science, Space, 

12 and Technology of the House of Representa13 tives. 

14 (2) ESEA TERMS.—The terms ‘‘elementary 

15 school’’, ‘‘local educational agency’’, ‘‘secondary 


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1 school’’, and ‘‘State educational agency’’ have the 

2 meanings given those terms in the Elementary and 

3 Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 7801 

4 et seq.). 

5 (3) INFORMATION LITERACY.—The term ‘‘infor6 mation literacy’’ means the integrated set of skills, 

7 knowledge, practices, and dispositions that prepares 

8 individuals to discover, interpret, and create infor9 mation ethically while gaining a critical under10 standing of how information systems interact to 

11 produce and circulate news, information and knowl12 edge (including digital information such as website 

13 and social media content). 

14 (4) INSTITUTION OF HIGHER EDUCATION.—The 

15 term ‘‘institution of higher education’’ has the 

16 meaning given that term in section 101 of the High17 er Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1001). 

18 (5) MEDIA LITERACY.—The term ‘‘media lit19 eracy’’ means the ability to access, analyze, evaluate, 

20 and participate in the creation and circulation of 

21 media messages regardless of format, including 

22 learning the skills and dispositions to seek out, criti23 cally evaluate, and create media messages and un24 derstand the role of media and algorithmic informa25 tion systems in society. 


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1 (6) SOCIAL MEDIA.—The term ‘‘social media’’ 

2 means forms of interactive, internet-based applica3 tions (such as websites for social networking and 

4 microblogging) through which users create online 

5 communities to share information, ideas, personal 

6 messages, and other content (such as videos). 

7 (7) STATE HIGHER EDUCATION AGENCY.—The 

8 term ‘‘State higher education agency’’ has the mean9 ing given that term in section 103 of the Higher 

10 Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C. 1003). 

11 TITLE I—COMMISSION TO SUP12 PORT INFORMATION AND 

13 MEDIA LITERACY AND AD14 DRESS MISINFORMATION 

15 AND DISINFORMATION 

16 SEC. 101. ESTABLISHMENT AND DUTIES. 

17 (a) ESTABLISHMENT.—There is established a com18 mission to be known as the ‘‘Commission to Support In19 formation and Media Literacy and Prevent Misinforma20 tion and Disinformation’’ (referred to in this Act as the 

21 ‘‘Commission’’). 

22 (b) DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.—The duties of the 

23 Commission are as follows: 

24 (1) Identify and assess programs and inter25 disciplinary resources relating to information and 


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1 media literacy in elementary, secondary, higher edu2 cation, and adult education programs, including 

3 by— 

4 (A) identifying and assessing programs 

5 and other educational materials made available 

6 by the Federal Government; 

7 (B) developing metrics to report on the 

8 status of information and media literacy edu9 cation in elementary, secondary, higher, and 

10 public informal education; 

11 (C) requesting that the Public Library 

12 Survey of the Institute of Museum and Library 

13 Services continue to collect such data on an on14 going basis; and 

15 (D) annually reporting on the status of 

16 such efforts. 

17 (2) Develop and regularly update, not less fre18 quently than annually, a national strategy to pro19 mote information and media literacy in accordance 

20 with section 105 and coordinate the implementation 

21 of such strategy. 

22 (3) Report on how information on the internet 

23 and social media is created and consumed, with a 

24 particular focus on how disinformation and misin25 formation are spread. 


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1 (4) Develop age-appropriate materials to pro2 mote information and media literacy and education 

3 with a particular focus on misinformation and 

4 disinformation and disseminate such materials to the 

5 public. 

6 (5) Assess and report on strategies and tech7 niques to help students and the public at large judge 

8 the trustworthiness and reliability of information 

9 and images. 

10 (6) Promote information and media literacy and 

11 related educational efforts and materials at the 

12 State and local levels, including by promoting part13 nerships among Federal, State, and local govern14 ments and nonprofit organizations with recognized 

15 expertise in media literacy. These efforts include 

16 misinformation and disinformation educational and 

17 media literacy campaigns for the public. 

18 (7) Make recommendations to the appropriate 

19 congressional committees and the Secretary of Edu20 cation. 

21 (c) AREAS OF EMPHASIS.—In carrying out the duties 

22 specified in subsection (b), the Commission shall seek to— 

23 (1) increase public awareness of and education 

24 on— 


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1 (A) how to find and identify if information 

2 is from a trustworthy source; 

3 (B) how to craft arguments, when claims 

4 are supported by evidence, and how to analyze 

5 the validity of claims and strength of arguments 

6 being made; 

7 (C) methods to understand the difference 

8 between fact or opinion or a mixture thereof; 

9 (D) methods to identify misinformation 

10 and disinformation; 

11 (E) how to find and evaluate context for 

12 information from different sources; 

13 (F) how to detect manipulation of images 

14 or information on digital platforms; and 

15 (G) how influencers and various organiza16 tions target and manipulate audiences through 

17 digital platforms; 

18 (2) improve information and media literacy and 

19 education by encouraging individuals to develop re20 lated skills, including— 

21 (A) critical thinking skills, including how 

22 to identify the difference between credible and 

23 noncredible claims and information; 


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1 (B) awareness of the impact of 

2 disinformation and misinformation on individ3 uals and society; 

4 (C) increased familiarity and facility with 

5 new and digital media with a particular empha6 sis on techniques individuals may use to— 

7 (i) find reliable and trustworthy infor8 mation sources; and 

9 (ii) identify how information can be 

10 manipulated for the consumer; and 

11 (D) encourage habits that support the mo12 tivation to learn based on verifiably true facts 

13 when engaging with information sources; and 

14 (3) improve information and media literacy and 

15 resilience to misinformation and disinformation 

16 among students attending elementary schools, sec17 ondary schools, institutions of higher education, and 

18 adult education institutions. 

19 (d) CONSULTATION.—In carrying out the duties 

20 under subsection (b), the Commission shall actively con21 sult with experts in media and information literacy and 

22 experts in misinformation and disinformation, State and 

23 local educational agencies, and State higher education 

24 agencies as determined appropriate by the Commission. 


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1 (e) PERIODIC STUDIES.—The Commission may con2 duct periodic studies regarding the status of information 

3 and media literacy and educational resources in the 

4 United States, as the Commission determines appropriate. 

5 (f) MATERIALS IN OTHER LANGUAGES.—The Com6 mission may take such steps as are appropriate to support 

7 the development of information and media literacy and 

8 education materials in languages other than English. 

9 SEC. 102. MEMBERSHIP. 

10 (a) MEMBERSHIP.—The Commission shall be com11 posed of the following members: 

12 (1) The Secretary of Education, or the Sec13 retary’s designee. 

14 (2) The Director of the Institute of Museum 

15 and Library Sciences, or the Director’s designee. 

16 (3) The Chairman of the Federal Communica17 tions Commission, or the Chair’s designee. 

18 (4) The Chair of the Federal Trade Commis19 sion, or the Chair’s designee. 

20 (5) The Secretary of the Department of Health 

21 and Human Services, or the Secretary’s designee. 

22 (6) Not fewer than seven experts, selected by 

23 the Secretary of Education, who represent diverse 

24 populations in the field of information and media lit25 eracy, including experts such as— 


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1 (A) members of the International Commu2 nication Association and Association for Edu3 cation in Journalism and Mass Communication; 

4 and 

5 (B) experts cited in relevant professional 

6 journals such as ‘‘First Monday, Journal of In7 formation Literacy’’, and ‘‘Communications in 

8 Information Literacy’’. 

9 (b) ALTERNATES.—Each member of the Commission 

10 may designate an alternate if the member is unable to at11 tend a meeting of the Commission. Such alternate shall 

12 be an individual who exercises significant decision-making 

13 authority in the organization of the member, as deter14 mined by the member concerned. 

15 (c) CHAIRPERSON.—The Secretary of Education or 

16 the Secretary’s designee shall serve as the Chairperson of 

17 the Commission. 

18 (d) MEETINGS.— 

19 (1) FREQUENCY.—The Commission shall meet 

20 at the call of the Chairperson— 

21 (A) not less frequently than once every 4 

22 months during the period of one year following 

23 the date of the initial meeting of the Commis24 sion under subsection (f); 


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1 (B) not less frequently than biannually 

2 after the expiration of such period; and 

3 (C) at such other times as the Chairperson 

4 determines appropriate to carry out this title. 

5 (2) OPEN TO PUBLIC.—All meetings of the 

6 Commission shall be open to the public. 

7 (e) QUORUM.—A majority of the members of the 

8 Commission shall constitute a quorum, but a lesser num9 ber of members may hold hearings. 

10 (f) INITIAL MEETING.—The Commission shall hold 

11 its first meeting not later than 60 days after the date of 

12 enactment of this Act. 

13 SEC. 103. HEARINGS. 

14 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission may hold such 

15 hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such 

16 testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission 

17 considers appropriate to carry out this title. 

18 (b) PARTICIPATION.—In hearings held under this 

19 subsection, the Commission shall consider inviting wit20 nesses from— 

21 (1) State and local educational agencies and 

22 State higher education agencies with expertise in in23 formation or media literacy; 

24 (2) recognized information or media literacy ex25 perts; and 


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1 (3) recognized experts in online hate, 

2 disinformation, and misinformation. 

3 SEC. 104. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS. 

4 (a) COMPENSATION OF MEMBERS.—Each member of 

5 the Commission shall serve without compensation. Mem6 bers of the Commission who are full-time officers or em7 ployees of the United States may not receive additional 

8 pay, allowances, or benefits by reason of their service on 

9 the Commission. 

10 (b) TRAVEL EXPENSES.—The members of the Com11 mission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per 

12 diem in lieu of subsistence, in accordance with applicable 

13 provisions subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United 

14 States Code. 

15 (c) DETAIL OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EMPLOY16 EES.—Any employee of the Federal Government may be 

17 detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and 

18 such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil 

19 service status or privilege. 

20 SEC. 105. NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR INFORMATION AND 

21 MEDIA LITERACY AND PREVENTING MISIN22 FORMATION AND DISINFORMATION. 

23 (a) IN GENERAL.—The Commission shall— 

24 (1) not later than 18 months after the date of 

25 enactment of this Act, develop a national strategy to 


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1 promote information and media literacy and resil2 ience to misinformation and disinformation among 

3 the American public; and 

4 (2) coordinate the efforts of the Federal Gov5 ernment to implement the strategy developed under 

6 paragraph (1). 

7 (b) ELEMENTS.—The strategy under subsection (a) 

8 shall— 

9 (1) be developed with the participation of State 

10 and local governments (including State higher edu11 cation agencies), nonprofit organizations, and insti12 tutions of higher education; 

13 (2) include strategies for— 

14 (A) increasing the general information and 

15 media literacy education level of the American 

16 public; 

17 (B) enhancing the public’s general under18 standing of how information platforms operate; 

19 and 

20 (C) encouraging members of the public to 

21 critically analyze information sources and recog22 nize manipulation, misinformation, and 

23 disinformation; and 

24 (3) include an assessment of existing efforts to 

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1 cation with a particular focus on misinformation and 

2 disinformation. 

3 (c) NATIONAL STRATEGY REVIEW.—On a periodic 

4 basis at times determined appropriate by the Commission, 

5 the Commission shall review the national strategy devel6 oped under subsection (b) and make such changes and rec7 ommendations as it determines necessary. 

8 SEC. 106. REPORT TO CONGRESS. 

9 (a) IN GENERAL.—Not later than 18 months after 

10 the date of the first meeting of the Commission, and annu11 ally thereafter, the Commission shall submit to the appro12 priate congressional committees a report on the progress 

13 of the Commission in carrying out this title. 

14 (b) CONTENTS.—Each report required under sub15 section (a) shall include— 

16 (1) a copy of the national strategy developed 

17 under section 105; 

18 (2) information concerning the implementation 

19 of the duties of the Commission; 

20 (3) an assessment of the availability, utilization, 

21 and effectiveness of existing information and media 

22 literacy and educational materials; 

23 (4) a brief summary of the information and 

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1 garding the dissemination and impact of such mate2 rials; 

3 (5) a brief summary of any hearings conducted 

4 by the Commission, including a list of witnesses who 

5 testified at such hearings; 

6 (6) information about any activities of the Com7 mission planned for the year following the date of 

8 the report; and 

9 (7) such other information as the Commission 

10 determines appropriate. 

11 SEC. 107. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 

12 There are authorized to be appropriated such sums 

13 as may be necessary to carry out this title. 

14 TITLE II—DEPARTMENT OF 

15 EDUCATION ACTIVITIES 

16 SEC. 201. GRANTS TO IMPROVE THE AMERICAN PUBLIC’S 

17 INFORMATION AND MEDIA LITERACY AND 

18 RESILIENCE TO MISINFORMATION AND 

19 DISINFORMATION. 

20 (a) IN GENERAL.—Beginning after the Commission 

21 completes the development of the national strategy under 

22 section 105, the Secretary of Education shall carry out 

23 a program under which the Secretary awards grants, on 

24 a competitive basis, to one or more qualified nonprofit or25 ganizations, including institutions of higher education, to 


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1 develop educational materials, multimedia awareness cam2 paigns, and programming to support information and 

3 media literacy and to combat misinformation and 

4 disinformation for the greater American public. 

5 (b) RELATIONSHIP TO COMMISSION ACTIVITIES.— 

6 The Secretary of Education shall carry out the grant pro7 gram under this section in a manner that reflects the find8 ings of the Commission with respect to— 

9 (1) supporting public awareness of information 

10 and media literacy; 

11 (2) improving individual information and media 

12 literacy skills; 

13 (3) improving how information and media lit14 eracy is addressed in educational settings; and 

15 (4) improving the public’s resilience to misin16 formation and disinformation. 

17 (c) MULTILINGUAL MATERIALS.—In carrying out the 

18 program under subsection (a), the Secretary may award 

19 grants for the development of educational materials, 

20 multimedia awareness campaigns, and programming in 

21 languages other than English as the Secretary determines 

22 appropriate. 

23 (d) PERFORMANCE MEASURES.—The Secretary shall 

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1 ness of the activities carried out with grants under this 

2 section. 

3 (e) REPORT.—On an annual basis during each year 

4 of the grant program under this section, the Secretary 

5 shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees 

6 a report on the status of the program. 

7 (f) AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.—There 

8 are authorized to be appropriated to carry out this section 

9 $3,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2022, 2023, and 2024. 

10 SEC. 202. STUDY AND REPORT ON INFORMATION AND 

11 MEDIA LITERACY AMONG THE AMERICAN 

12 PUBLIC. 

13 (a) STUDY REQUIRED.—The Secretary of Education 

14 shall conduct a study to evaluate the extent of information 

15 and media literacy among the American public. 

16 (b) ELEMENTS.—The study under subsection (a) 

17 shall examine the extent of the American public’s knowl18 edge and awareness of— 

19 (1) how social media content is created; 

20 (2) how members of the public make choices 

21 about information as they consume, create, and 

22 share it; 

23 (3) how intermediary technologies for search 

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1 cation or suppression of news, information, opinion, 

2 and disinformation; 

3 (4) methods to search and evaluate the reli4 ability of information; 

5 (5) how news is gathered and reported and how 

6 that process differs from opinion writing and infor7 mation presented in talk-show formats; and 

8 (6) how disinformation and misinformation are 

9 shared and circulated. 

10 (c) REPORT REQUIRED.—Not later than one year 

11 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of 

12 Education shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

13 committees a report on the findings and conclusions the 

14 study conducted under subsection (a), together with— 

15 (1) recommendations for legislative or adminis16 trative action based on such study; and 

17 (2) recommendations for improving information 

18 and media literacy and resilience to misinformation 

19 and disinformation among the American public. 

20 SEC. 203. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ASSESSMENT. 

21 (a) EFFECTIVENESS STUDY.—The Secretary of Edu22 cation shall conduct an assessment of the effectiveness of 

23 the Commission in promoting information and media lit24 eracy and education in accordance with title I. 


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1 (b) REPORT TO CONGRESS.—Not later than 3 years 

2 after the date of enactment of this Act, the Department 

3 of Education shall submit to the appropriate congressional 

4 committees a report on the results of the study conducted 

5 under subsection (a). 

Æ 


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