This bill, known as the "Stop Comstock Act," seeks to significantly revise several federal statutes that have historically been used to restrict access to certain materials. Its primary purpose is to eliminate prohibitions on the mailing, transportation, and importation of items previously categorized as "indecent," "immoral," or related to abortion. The legislation specifically targets sections 552, 1461, and 1462 of Title 18, United States Code , and section 305 of the Tariff Act of 1930 . The bill amends these sections by consistently striking language that broadly prohibited "indecent," "lewd," "lascivious," or "immoral" materials, including those defined as "means for procuring abortion." For instance, it removes the specific definition of "indecent" from Title 18 and replaces broad prohibitions with language that restricts only "obscene materials." These changes aim to narrow the scope of federal censorship laws, ensuring that only materials meeting the legal definition of obscenity remain prohibited from interstate commerce and importation. The overall impact would be to decriminalize the distribution and access to abortion-related information and other content previously restricted under the Comstock Act.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
This bill, known as the "Stop Comstock Act," seeks to significantly revise several federal statutes that have historically been used to restrict access to certain materials. Its primary purpose is to eliminate prohibitions on the mailing, transportation, and importation of items previously categorized as "indecent," "immoral," or related to abortion. The legislation specifically targets sections 552, 1461, and 1462 of Title 18, United States Code , and section 305 of the Tariff Act of 1930 . The bill amends these sections by consistently striking language that broadly prohibited "indecent," "lewd," "lascivious," or "immoral" materials, including those defined as "means for procuring abortion." For instance, it removes the specific definition of "indecent" from Title 18 and replaces broad prohibitions with language that restricts only "obscene materials." These changes aim to narrow the scope of federal censorship laws, ensuring that only materials meeting the legal definition of obscenity remain prohibited from interstate commerce and importation. The overall impact would be to decriminalize the distribution and access to abortion-related information and other content previously restricted under the Comstock Act.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.
Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on Ways and Means, 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.