Stop Comstock Act.
HR 8796, the "Stop Comstock Act," removes outdated restrictions from federal law that previously banned the distribution of materials related to contraception and abortion as "obscene" or "indecent." The bill amends Title 18 and the Tariff Act by deleting references to "indecent," "immoral," "unlawful abortion," and "procuring abortion" from provisions governing obscene materials. It clarifies that the law only prohibits "obscene materials" in commerce, eliminating broad restrictions on reproductive health information. This directly affects internet platforms, healthcare providers, and individuals sharing reproductive health resources by removing legal barriers to their distribution.
Bill status
in committee
1 of 4 stages cleared
Introduction
Jun 2024
Committee Review
Floor Vote
President
Introduced Jun 21, 2024
Last action Dec 17, 2024
Floor votes
How they voted
No floor votes recorded yet.
Full legislative history
Actions timeline
Total actions
3
Key actions
0
Committee
2
Dec 17, 2024
Committee
Referred to the Subcommittee on Trade.
lower
Jun 21, 2024
Committee
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.
lower
Jun 21, 2024
Introduced
Introduced in House
lower
1 primary · 129 co-sponsors
Sponsors
Role
Legislator
Party
State
District
P
Becca Balint
DDemocratic
Co
Abigail Davis Spanberger
DDemocratic
Co
Adam B. Schiff
DDemocratic
Co
Adam Smith
DDemocratic
Co
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
DDemocratic
Co
Andrea Salinas
DDemocratic
Co
André Carson
DDemocratic
Co
Anna G. Eshoo
DDemocratic
Co
Ayanna Pressley
DDemocratic
Co
Barbara Lee
DDemocratic
Co
Betty McCollum
DDemocratic
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