Democrats Push to Repeal 1873 Comstock Act Amid Abortion Access Concerns

Legislation aims to prevent the archaic law from being used to restrict abortion rights nationwide.

The Comstock Act bans mailing materials related to abortion, contraception, and other 'obscene' content.
Sen. Tina Smith and Rep. Becca Balint are leading efforts to repeal the law's abortion-related provisions.
The law has gained renewed attention following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision overturning Roe v. Wade.
Anti-abortion activists view the Comstock Act as a tool to implement a national abortion ban without new legislation.
The Biden administration argues the law does not apply to lawful abortions, but concerns remain about future enforcement.