Bill · S. 951· Senate(119-S-951)
Stop Comstock Act
- Introduced
- 3/11/2025
- Last activity
- 3/11/2025 — Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- Sponsored by
- Tina Smith
- Cosponsors
- - 27 - 0
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill, known as the "Stop Comstock Act," aims to revise several sections of the United States Code and the Tariff Act of 1930. Specifically, it proposes changes to Title 18, including sections 552, 1461, and 1462. The bill also amends section 305 of the Tariff Act of 1930. These revisions involve striking specific language related to "indecent" or "immoral" uses and mentions of abortion.
Yes
Would women be better off under this?+8
By removing restrictive language regarding abortion, the bill facilitates greater access to reproductive healthcare services.
Does this make abortion easier to get?+8
The bill strikes language that could be used to prohibit the movement of abortion-related materials through commerce.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
-
Removal of specific language from Title 18 The bill strikes language in section 552 that includes "or means for procuring abortion, or other articles of indecent or immoral use or tendency," which changes how the law defines certain materials (Section 2, subsection a, 1).
-
Streamlining definitions of obscene materials In section 1461, the bill replaces descriptive language with the phrase "All obscene materials are declared," which simplifies the text (Section 2, subsection a, 2A).
-
Modification of commerce and material descriptions In section 1462, the bill modifies the descriptions regarding commerce and the carriage or importation of materials (Section 2, subsection a, 3B and 3C).
-
Changes to the Tariff Act of 1930 The bill strikes language in section 305(a) regarding "immoral" use and "unlawful abortion" (Section 2, subsection b, 1).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Alterations to the Tariff Act of 1930 The bill strikes specific provisions in section 305(a) regarding the Secretary and certain drugs (Section 2, subsection b, 2).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Good For Women+8
- Healthcare
- Improves Abortion Access+8
- 4/29/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 4/1/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/27/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 3/11/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
- 25 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Michael BennetDemocrat · Colorado
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocrat · Nevada
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
John FettermanDemocrat · Pennsylvania
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
John HickenlooperDemocrat · Colorado
Mazie HironoDemocrat · Hawaii
Martin HeinrichDemocrat · New Mexico
Maggie HassanDemocrat · New Hampshire
Amy KlobucharDemocrat · Minnesota
Angus KingIndependent · Maine
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Christopher MurphyDemocrat · Connecticut
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Alex PadillaDemocrat · California
John ReedDemocrat · Rhode Island
Jacky RosenDemocrat · Nevada
Adam SchiffDemocrat · California
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Brian SchatzDemocrat · Hawaii
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocrat · Rhode Island
Mark WarnerDemocrat · Virginia
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts