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H.R. 1438 100th Congress House

Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987

Official title: A bill to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect family decency, and for other purposes.

Introduced: March 5, 1987 See on congress.gov
Crime and Law Enforcement Business and commerceBusiness recordsChild abuseChild molesting
More subjectsShow fewer subjects
Children and youthCivil procedureCommunications and BroadcastingComputer networksComputersCourts and Civil ProcedureCrime preventionForfeitureGovernment paperworkGovernment records, documents, and informationLabor and EmploymentPornographyScience and technologySex crimesSex-oriented businessesTelephoneTelevisionTelevision programsUnfair labor practices
This bill died when the 100th Congress ended
It never became law before the 100th Congress (1987–1988) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 9 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 11, 1988
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
Jun 16, 1988
Subcommittee Hearings Held.
May 26, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Crime.
Mar 30, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Labor-Management Relations.
Mar 12, 1987
Referred to Subcommittee on Telecommunications and Finance.
Mar 5, 1987
Referred to House Committee on The Judiciary.
Mar 5, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
Mar 5, 1987
Referred to House Committee on Education and Labor.
Mar 5, 1987
Introduced in House
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 Latest action August 11, 1988

Subcommittee Hearings Held.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987 - Amends the Federal criminal code to provide criminal penalties for the distribution of obscene matter. Subjects such obscene material, and any property derived from such material, to forfeiture.

Provides criminal penalties for obscene television broadcasts.

Requires any person who produces, distributes, or sells any visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct to maintain records containing proof of ages of the persons depicted and consent forms from such persons. Provides criminal penalties for violations of such recordkeeping requirements.

Provides criminal penalties for producing a visual depiction of sexually explicit conduct using performers between the ages of 18 and 21.

Provides criminal penalties for using a computer network to exchange information concerning visual depictions of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

Amends the Communications Act of 1934 to provide criminal penalties for making an obscene or indecent telephone communication for commercial purposes. (Current law provides such criminal penalties if made to a minor or to a person without his or her consent.)

Amends the National Labor Relations Act to make the employment of any person to participate in a commercial sexual performance an unfair labor practice.

Amends the Mann Act to make certain offenses gender neutral.

 Committees of jurisdiction 5
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APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). H.R. 1438: Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987. 100th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1438/
MLA
"H.R. 1438: Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987." 100th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1438/.
Bluebook (legal)
H.R. 1438, 100th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1438/.
Markdown link
[H.R. 1438: Omnibus Family Decency Protection Act of 1987](https://openamerica.io/bill/100-HR-1438/)
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