Stop Comstock Act
Sponsored By: Representative Balint
Introduced
Summary
Narrows federal obscenity rules to focus on "obscene" materials rather than the broader labels like "indecent" or abortion‑related items. It also updates cross‑references and tariff language that govern commerce and import of such materials.
Show full summary
- Sellers, publishers, and importers: The bill removes the words "indecent" and abortion‑related qualifiers from several criminal and tariff statutes, narrowing which materials federal law targets.
- Customs, postal, and border officials: Changes to the Tariff Act strike "immoral" and related provisos and simplify the statutory wording that governs imported materials.
- Internet platforms and commerce regulators: The bill revises cross‑references to Section 230 and replaces broader commerce language with a narrower "obscene material" standard, shifting how those statutes reference platform and commerce rules.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Fewer import limits for publishers and suppliers
This bill would narrow customs rules on banned items. It would remove "immoral" and abortion language from the customs law and shorten a proviso about the Secretary’s authority. Importers, customs brokers, and suppliers would face simpler rules. Obscene items would still be barred. If enacted, these changes would apply upon enactment.
Fewer mailing limits for publishers and shippers
This bill would narrow federal rules on mailing and moving content. It would drop the word "indecent" and abortion-related phrases from mail and shipping laws. It would simplify what counts as covered items and update a legal cross-reference to section 230(f)(2). Publishers, online platforms, carriers, and mailers would face fewer legal limits. Obscene material would still be illegal. If enacted, these changes would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Balint
VT • D
Cosponsors
Scanlon
PA • D
Sponsored 3/11/2025
Watson Coleman
NJ • D
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Amo
RI • D
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Auchincloss
MA • D
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Barragan
CA • D
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Beatty
OH • D
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Bera
CA • D
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Bonamici
OR • D
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Brown
OH • D
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Brownley
CA • D
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Carbajal
CA • D
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Carson
IN • D
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Casten
IL • D
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Carter (LA)
LA • D
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Casar
TX • D
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Case
HI • D
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Cherfilus-McCormick
FL • D
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Chu
CA • D
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Cleaver
MO • D
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Cohen
TN • D
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Connolly
VA • D
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Craig
MN • D
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Crockett
TX • D
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Davis (IL)
IL • D
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Dean (PA)
PA • D
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DeGette
CO • D
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DeLauro
CT • D
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DelBene
WA • D
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Deluzio
PA • D
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DeSaulnier
CA • D
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Dexter
OR • D
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Doggett
TX • D
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Espaillat
NY • D
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Evans (PA)
PA • D
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Figures
AL • D
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Foushee
NC • D
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Frankel, Lois
FL • D
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Friedman
CA • D
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Frost
FL • D
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Garamendi
CA • D
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Garcia (CA)
CA • D
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Garcia (IL)
IL • D
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Garcia (TX)
TX • D
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Gomez
CA • D
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Gottheimer
NJ • D
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Grijalva
AZ • D
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Huffman
CA • D
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Ivey
MD • D
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Jacobs
CA • D
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Jayapal
WA • D
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Johnson (GA)
GA • D
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Kamlager-Dove
CA • D
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Keating
MA • D
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Kelly (IL)
IL • D
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Kennedy (NY)
NY • D
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Khanna
CA • D
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Krishnamoorthi
IL • D
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Landsman
OH • D
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Larsen (WA)
WA • D
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Larson (CT)
CT • D
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Latimer
NY • D
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Lee (NV)
NV • D
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Lee (PA)
PA • D
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Leger Fernandez
NM • D
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Lieu
CA • D
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Lynch
MA • D
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Magaziner
RI • D
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McBride
DE • D
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McClain Delaney
MD • D
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McCollum
MN • D
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McClellan
VA • D
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McIver
NJ • D
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Menendez
NJ • D
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Min
CA • D
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Moulton
MA • D
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Mullin
CA • D
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Nadler
NY • D
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Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
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Ocasio-Cortez
NY • D
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Omar
MN • D
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Pettersen
CO • D
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Pocan
WI • D
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Ramirez
IL • D
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Raskin
MD • D
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Ross
NC • D
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Ryan
NY • D
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Salinas
OR • D
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Schakowsky
IL • D
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Schneider
IL • D
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Sewell
AL • D
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Sherman
CA • D
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Sherrill
NJ • D
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Stansbury
NM • D
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Stanton
AZ • D
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Strickland
WA • D
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Swalwell
CA • D
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Sykes
OH • D
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Takano
CA • D
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Thanedar
MI • D
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Titus
NV • D
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Tlaib
MI • D
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Tokuda
HI • D
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Tonko
NY • D
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Trahan
MA • D
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Vargas
CA • D
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Velazquez
NY • D
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Wasserman Schultz
FL • D
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Waters
CA • D
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Williams (GA)
GA • D
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Wilson (FL)
FL • D
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McGarvey
KY • D
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Hayes
CT • D
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Beyer
VA • D
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Bynum
OR • D
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Clarke (NY)
NY • D
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Johnson (TX)
TX • D
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Morrison
MN • D
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Correa
CA • D
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Goodlander
NH • D
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Ansari
AZ • D
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Bell
MO • D
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Perez
WA • D
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Soto
FL • D
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Foster
IL • D
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Elfreth
MD • D
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Tran
CA • D
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Thompson (CA)
CA • D
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Simon
CA • D
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Fletcher
TX • D
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Torres (NY)
NY • D
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Levin
CA • D
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Escobar
TX • D
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Jackson (IL)
IL • D
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Horsford
NV • D
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Hoyle (OR)
OR • D
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Stevens
MI • D
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Randall
WA • D
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Pingree
ME • D
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Cisneros
CA • D
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Mannion
NY • D
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Vindman
VA • D
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Moskowitz
FL • D
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Davids (KS)
KS • D
Sponsored 3/24/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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