119-s1671

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 1671 Introduced in Senate

    (IS) ]

<DOC>

119th CONGRESS
 1st Session
 S. 1671

To define ``obscenity'' for purposes of the Communications Act of 1934, 
 and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

 IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

 May 8, 2025

 Mr. Lee introduced the following bill; which was read twice and 
 referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

_______________________________________________________________________

 A BILL

To define ``obscenity'' for purposes of the Communications Act of 1934, 
 and for other purposes.

 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

 This Act may be cited as the ``Interstate Obscenity Definition 
Act''.

SEC. 2. DEFINING OBSCENITY.

    (a) 

=== Definition. ===
-

    (1) In general.--

Section 3 of the Communications Act of 
 1934 (47 U.S.C. 153) is amended--
        (A) by redesignating paragraphs

    (38) through

    (59) as paragraphs

    (39) through

    (60) , respectively; and
        (B) by inserting after paragraph

    (37) the 
 following:
 ``

    (38) Obscene; obscenity.--
 ``
        (A) In general.--The term `obscene' or 
 `obscenity', when used in a manner or context that 
 explicitly refers to, or could apply to, a picture, 
 image, graphic image file, film, videotape, or other 
 visual depiction, includes a picture, image, graphic 
 image file, film, videotape, or other visual depiction 
 that--
 ``
            (i) taken as a whole, appeals to the 
 prurient interest in nudity, sex, or excretion;
 ``
            (ii) depicts, describes, or represents, 
 an actual or simulated sexual act or sexual 
 contact, actual or simulated normal or 
 perverted sexual acts, or lewd exhibition of 
 the genitals, with the objective intent to 
 arouse, titillate, or gratify the sexual 
 desires of a person; and
 ``
            (iii) taken as a whole, lacks serious 
 literary, artistic, political, or scientific 
 value.
 ``
        (B) Sexual act; sexual contact.--For purposes of 
 subparagraph
        (A) , the terms `sexual act' and `sexual 
 contact' have the meanings given those terms in 

section 2246 of title 18, United States Code.''.

    (2) Technical and conforming amendment.--

Section 271
            (c) (1)
        (A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 
 271
            (c) (1)
        (A) ) is amended by striking ``

section 3

    (47)
        (A) '' and 
 inserting ``

section 3

    (55)
        (A) ''.

    (b) Obscene or Harassing Telephone Calls in the District of 
Columbia or in Interstate or Foreign Communications.--

Section 223

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) of the Communications Act of 1934 (47 U.S.C. 223

    (a)

    (1)
        (A) ) 
is amended, in the undesignated matter following clause
            (ii) , by 
striking ``, with intent to abuse, threaten, or harass another 
person''.
 <all>