WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

HR 9545

HONEST Act of 2026

119th Congress Introduced by Clay Fuller

The bill hikes penalties for sex offenses by federal officials and lawmakers, including potential death or life imprisonment for many crimes, plus a new adultery offense.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9545

Overview

  • Bill: HR 9545 (HONEST Act of 2026)
  • Session: 119th Congress
  • Purpose: To increase penalties for sex offenses committed by federal officials, including officers of the United States and Members of Congress, and to create additional offenses and enhancements related to sexual misconduct, exploitation, and adultery by federal officials. The bill also carries the short title “Holding Officials to Necessary Ethical Standards and Transparency Act of 2026” or “HONEST Act of 2026.”

Main purpose and intent

  • Heighten consequences for sexual offenses when the offender is a federal official or Member of Congress.
  • Expand the scope of offenses with enhanced penalties that apply specifically to federal officials, aiming to deter misconduct and ensure accountability among high-ranking government personnel.

Key provisions and substantive changes

  1. Increased penalties for sex offenses by federal officials and Members of Congress (Section 2)

    • Female Genital Mutilation (18 U.S.C. § 116(a)): Adds that if the offender is a federal official or Member of Congress, the offense involves possible death or life imprisonment or imprisonment for any term of years, with fines as provided.
    • Civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct (18 U.S.C. § 250(b)): Adds a new subsection (7) for offenses where the offender is a federal official or Member of Congress, allowing penalty of death or life imprisonment in addition to fines.
    • Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion (18 U.S.C. § 1591(b)): Allows death or life imprisonment for offenses carried out by federal officials or Members of Congress.
    • Aggravated sexual abuse (18 U.S.C. § 2241): Extends penalties to include death or life imprisonment for federal officials or Members of Congress, in multiple subsections.
    • Sexual abuse of a minor, a ward, or an individual in federal custody (18 U.S.C. § 2243): Adds a provision for federal officials or Members of Congress to face death or life imprisonment.
    • Abusive sexual contact (18 U.S.C. § 2244): Adds enhanced penalties for federal officials or Members of Congress.
    • Sexual exploitation of children (18 U.S.C. § 2251(e)): Expands range to death or life imprisonment for officials or Members of Congress.
    • Selling or buying of children (18 U.S.C. § 2251A): Expands to death or life imprisonment for officials or Members of Congress.
    • Activities relating to material involving sexual exploitation of minors (18 U.S.C. § 2252(b)): Adds a new subsection allowing death or life imprisonment for officials or Members of Congress who violate or conspire to violate related provisions.
    • Possession or activities involving material constituting or containing child pornography (18 U.S.C. § 2252A(b)): Adds a new subsection for officials or Members of Congress with death or life imprisonment.
    • Sex abuse (18 U.S.C. § 2422): Extends penalties to death or life imprisonment for federal officials or Members of Congress in both subsections (a) and (b).
    • Transportation of minors (18 U.S.C. § 2423): Creates a new provision for offenses by federal officials or Members of Congress, allowing death or life imprisonment.

  2. Federal adultery offense for officials and Members of Congress (Section 3)

    • New offense added: 18 U.S.C. § 1925, “Adultery by officers of the United States and Members of Congress.”
    • Offense: If an official or Member engages in sexual intercourse with a married person, in interstate/foreign commerce, and knowingly does so while the other party is married to someone else, penalties include fines and imprisonment for not more than one year (or both).
    • Clerical amendment: Adds the new section to the Table of Sections for Chapter 93.

Who would be affected

  • Officers of the United States
  • Members of Congress
  • The bill explicitly targets federal officials for enhanced penalties across a broad range of sex-related offenses, including severe enhancements up to death or life imprisonment in many instances.

Procedural and timeline aspects

  • Introduced in the House on June 30, 2026 by Rep. Fuller.
  • Referred to the House Judiciary Committee (status: as of the action history, committee referral occurred on the same day).
  • No Senate action is listed in the provided text; typical progress would involve Senate consideration, potential amendments, and conference to reconcile differences if passed by both chambers.

Practical implications and considerations

  • The bill would dramatically expand the maximum penalties for many sex offenses when the offender is a federal official or Member of Congress, including the possibility of the death penalty in several provisions.
  • The addition of an adultery offense creates a new federal crime with penalties up to one year, but only applicable to officials and Members when sexual conduct occurs under specified interstate/commerce conditions.
  • The breadth of offenses covered (ranging from sexual abuse and exploitation of minors to trafficking and child pornography) signals a comprehensive attempt to address misconduct by people in high office, with substantial punitive consequences.

Note: The HONEST Act of 2026 as drafted expands penalties significantly and would have wide-ranging legal and constitutional considerations, including the application of capital punishment under federal law, which would raise important statutory and constitutional questions.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.