# 119-hr-9545: HONEST Act of 2026

119-hr-9545, HONEST Act of 2026, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14] (R-GA); status introduced (as of 2026-07-15).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9545
- As of: 2026-07-15
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-9545
- Congress: 119
- Title: HONEST Act of 2026
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-06-30
- Sponsor: Rep. Fuller, Clay [R-GA-14] (R-GA)
- Cosponsors: 0
- Policy area: Crime and Law Enforcement
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2026-07-15

## Summary

**Heightened criminal penalties for federal officials and Members of Congress.** The bill would sharply increase punishments for a wide range of sex offenses when the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress and would also create a new federal adultery crime that applies only to those officials. - Federal officials and Members of Congress would face far tougher penalties. For many covered crimes the bill would make such offenders subject to fines and to death or life imprisonment. - Children, trafficking victims, and survivors of sexual abuse would be affected because the bill adds the heightened penalties to many Title 18 provisions. Examples include female genital mutilation, sex trafficking of children, aggravated sexual abuse, sexual abuse of minors or wards, abusive sexual contact, sexual exploitation and child pornography, selling or buying children, and transportation of minors. - Adultery by an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress would become a standalone federal offense. That crime would carry up to 1 year in prison, a fine, or both.

## Provisions PRIA read

- New adultery crime for officials: cost, low. This bill would create a new federal adultery offense that applies to officers of the United States and Members of Congress. It would apply when the conduct is in or affects interstate or foreign commerce and when the officer or the other person was married to someone else at the time. The law woul…
- Stronger penalties for federal officials: mixed, low. This bill would increase criminal penalties when a federal officer or Member of Congress commits certain sexual or child‑exploitation crimes. It would amend many federal statutes so such officers could be fined and face much longer prison terms, including life imprisonment or death where allowed. C…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-8324: Great American Healthcare Plan
- 119-hr-8827: ASSIMILATION Act
- 119-hr-10265: White House Fellows Program Authorization Act
- 119-hr-3184: PFAS Alternatives Act
- 119-hr-4397: Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025
- 119-hr-8300: Swalwell Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-9545 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/9545)

## Related
- [119-hr-8324: Great American Healthcare Plan](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8324)
- [119-hr-8827: ASSIMILATION Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8827)
- [119-hr-10265: White House Fellows Program Authorization Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-10265)
- [119-hr-3184: PFAS Alternatives Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-3184)
- [119-hr-4397: Muslim Brotherhood Terrorist Designation Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-4397)
- [119-hr-8300: Swalwell Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8300)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-9545 (as of 2026-07-15).