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 conside…
This bill eliminates language in several federal criminal statutes (18 U.S.C. §§552, 1461, 1462) and in section 305(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 that refers to “indecent,” “immoral,” or “means for procuring abortion,” and it updates phrasing around carriage, importation, and distribution of obscene materials. The amendments remove or replace statutory references that historically criminalized mailing or importing materials related to abortion and certain contraceptive or 'indecent' items.
Progressives emphasize reproductive access and free‑speech gains.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a direct statutory amendment package aimed at adjusting criminal and customs prohibitions related to obscene/indecent materials and certain referenced terms.
This bill eliminates language in several federal criminal statutes (18 U.S.C. §§552, 1461, 1462) and in section 305(a) of the Tariff Act of 1930 that refers to “indecent,” “immoral,” or “means for procuring abortion,” and it updates phrasing around carriage, importation, and distribution of obscene materials.
The amendments remove or replace statutory references that historically criminalized mailing or importing materials related to abortion and certain contraceptive or 'indecent' items.
Several lines in the provided text are truncated, but the overall intent is to rescind Comstock-era prohibitions in federal mail and customs law and to modernize related statutory language.
High ideological salience, federal criminal law changes, and lack of compromise features lower odds despite narrow textual approach.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a direct statutory amendment package aimed at adjusting criminal and customs prohibitions related to obscene/indecent materials and certain referenced terms. It identifies specific code sections to change, which is appropriate for substantive legal change, but the statutory-edit instructions in the provided text are partially unclear or fragmented and the bill omits implementation details such as effective date, definitions, transitional rules, fiscal considerations, and oversight provisions.
Progressives emphasize reproductive access and free‑speech gains.
These are examples from the analysis, not a ranked list of the most-affected groups.
Progressives emphasize reproductive access and free‑speech gains.
Likely strongly supportive.
The bill undoes 19th‑century 'Comstock' prohibitions that criminalized distribution of abortion information, contraceptives, and other sexual materials, aligning with reproductive rights and free‑speech priorities.
Supporters would view it as restoring privacy and access.
Cautiously inclined to support if narrowly tailored.
The bill modernizes obsolete language but needs clear safeguards for public health, minors, and regulatory enforcement.
A centrist would weigh civil‑liberty gains against practical enforcement and safety considerations.
Likely opposed.
The bill removes longstanding statutory prohibitions against mailing certain 'indecent' or abortion‑related items, raising concerns about weakening obscenity standards, enabling distribution of abortion drugs, and undermining traditional moral and regulatory guardrails.
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Reached or meaningfully advanced
Still ahead
Still ahead
Still ahead
High ideological salience, federal criminal law changes, and lack of compromise features lower odds despite narrow textual approach.
The bill has not accumulated any surfaced votes yet.
Progressives emphasize reproductive access and free‑speech gains.
High ideological salience, federal criminal law changes, and lack of compromise features lower odds despite narrow textual approach.
Relative to its intended legislative type, this bill is a direct statutory amendment package aimed at adjusting criminal and customs prohibitions related to obscene/indecent materials and certain referenced terms. It id…
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