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HR2029119th Congress

Stop Comstock Act

Sponsored By: Representative Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

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, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

VT • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Auchincloss

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Barragan

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Bonamici

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Carson

    IN • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Casten

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Casar, Greg [D-TX-35]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Cherfilus-McCormick

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Cohen

    TN • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Connolly

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Craig

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Crockett

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Davis (IL)

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • DelBene

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Espaillat

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Foushee, Valerie P. [D-NC-4]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Friedman

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Gomez

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Gottheimer, Josh [D-NJ-5]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Grijalva

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Ivey

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Johnson (GA)

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Keating

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Kennedy (NY)

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Khanna

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Susie [D-NV-3]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • McBride

    DE • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • McCollum

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • McClellan

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Menendez, Robert [D-NJ-8]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Mullin

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Ocasio-Cortez

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Omar, Ilhan [D-MN-5]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Pettersen, Brittany [D-CO-7]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2]

    WI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Ryan, Patrick [D-NY-18]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Schakowsky

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Schneider, Bradley Scott [D-IL-10]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Sewell

    AL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Sherrill

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Stansbury

    NM • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Swalwell

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Tokuda, Jill N. [D-HI-2]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Trahan

    MA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Wilson (FL)

    FL • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. McGarvey, Morgan [D-KY-3]

    KY • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 3/11/2025

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 3/18/2025

  • Rep. Bynum, Janelle S. [D-OR-5]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Morrison, Kelly [D-MN-3]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2025

  • Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 3/26/2025

  • Rep. Goodlander, Maggie [D-NH-2]

    NH • D

    Sponsored 4/3/2025

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 4/8/2025

  • Rep. Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp [D-WA-3]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 4/9/2025

  • Soto

    FL • D

    Sponsored 4/28/2025

  • Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/7/2025

  • Elfreth

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2025

  • Rep. Tran, Derek [D-CA-45]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/29/2025

  • Thompson (CA)

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/23/2025

  • Simon

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/24/2025

  • Fletcher

    TX • D

    Sponsored 7/29/2025

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/29/2025

  • Levin

    CA • D

    Sponsored 8/12/2025

  • Escobar

    TX • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Jackson (IL)

    IL • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 9/2/2025

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 9/9/2025

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 9/30/2025

  • Randall

    WA • D

    Sponsored 10/17/2025

  • Pingree

    ME • D

    Sponsored 11/7/2025

  • Cisneros

    CA • D

    Sponsored 1/7/2026

  • Mannion

    NY • D

    Sponsored 2/5/2026

  • Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 2/12/2026

  • Rep. Moskowitz, Jared [D-FL-23]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 2/17/2026

  • Rep. Davids, Sharice [D-KS-3]

    KS • D

    Sponsored 3/24/2026

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 4/21/2026

  • Rep. Goldman, Daniel S. [D-NY-10]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/12/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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