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H. R. 9545

HONEST Act of 2026

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-06-30)

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for increased penalties for sex offenses committed by officers of the United States and Members of Congress, and for other purposes.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Holding Officials to Necessary Ethical Standards and Transparency Act of 2026” or the “HONEST Act of 2026”.

2. Increased penalties for sex offenses committed by officers of the United States and Members of Congress

(a) Female genital mutilation

Section 116(a) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting before the period at the end the following: “, or if the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life”.

(b) Penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct

Section 250(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(7) in the case of an offense with respect to which the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(c) Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion

Section 1591(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “or” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(3) if the offense was carried out by an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, by a fine under this title, and by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(d) Aggravated sexual abuse

Section 2241 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting before the period at the end the following: “, or if the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life”;

(2) in subsection (b), by inserting before the period at the end the following: “, or if the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life”; and

(3) in subsection (c), by inserting after “not less than 30 years or for life” the following: “, or if the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life”.

(e) Sexual abuse of a minor, a ward, or an individual in Federal custody

Section 2243 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f) Offenses by Federal officials or Members of Congress
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, commits an offense under this section shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(f) Abusive sexual contact

Section 2244 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d) Offenses by Federal officials or Members of Congress
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, commits an offense under this section shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(g) Sexual exploitation of children

Section 2251(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by inserting after “not less than 35 years nor more than life” the following: “, but if such person is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, such person shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life”.

(h) Selling or buying of children

Section 2251A of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in subsection (a), by inserting after “and by a fine under this title” the following: “, or if the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life”; and

(2) in subsection (b), by inserting after “and by a fine under this title” the following: “, or if the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life”.

(i) Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors

Section 2252(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3) Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a), shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(j) Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography

Section 2252A(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4) Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a), shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(k) Sexual abuse

Section 2422 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(l) Transportation of minors

Section 2423 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as subsection (h) through (j), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:

(g) Offenses by Federal officials
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, commits an offense under this section shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

3. Federal adultery offense for officers of the United States and Members of Congress

(a) Offense

Chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1925. Adultery by officers of the United States and Members of Congress
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly engages in sexual intercourse (including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex) with a person, and at the time of such conduct, the officer or Member or the person with whom the officer or Member engaged in such conduct, was married to another person, shall be fined under this title, and imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(b) Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1925. Adultery by officers of the United States and Members of Congress.

Workspace/Typeset/Bill

H. R. 9545

HONEST Act of 2026

Shown here: Introduced in House (2026-06-30)

To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for increased penalties for sex offenses committed by officers of the United States and Members of Congress, and for other purposes.

1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the “Holding Officials to Necessary Ethical Standards and Transparency Act of 2026” or the “HONEST Act of 2026”.

2. Increased penalties for sex offenses committed by officers of the United States and Members of Congress

(a) Female genital mutilation

(b) Penalties for civil rights offenses involving sexual misconduct

Section 250(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (5)(B), by striking “and” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (6)(B), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; and”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(7) in the case of an offense with respect to which the offender is an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(c) Sex trafficking of children or by force, fraud, or coercion

Section 1591(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) in paragraph (1), by striking “or” at the end;

(2) in paragraph (2), by striking the period at the end and inserting “; or”; and

(3) by adding at the end the following:

(3) if the offense was carried out by an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, by a fine under this title, and by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(d) Aggravated sexual abuse

Section 2241 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(e) Sexual abuse of a minor, a ward, or an individual in Federal custody

Section 2243 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(f) Offenses by Federal officials or Members of Congress
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, commits an offense under this section shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(f) Abusive sexual contact

Section 2244 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(d) Offenses by Federal officials or Members of Congress
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, commits an offense under this section shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

(g) Sexual exploitation of children

(h) Selling or buying of children

Section 2251A of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(i) Certain activities relating to material involving the sexual exploitation of minors

Section 2252(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(3) Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a), shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(j) Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography

Section 2252A(b) of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

(4) Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, violates, or attempts or conspires to violate, subsection (a), shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisoned for any term of years or for life.

(k) Sexual abuse

Section 2422 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(l) Transportation of minors

Section 2423 of title 18, United States Code, is amended—

(1) by redesignating subsections (g) through (i) as subsection (h) through (j), respectively; and

(2) by inserting after subsection (f) the following:

(g) Offenses by Federal officials
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, commits an offense under this section shall be fined under this title, and punished by death or imprisonment for any term of years or for life.

3. Federal adultery offense for officers of the United States and Members of Congress

(a) Offense

Chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1925. Adultery by officers of the United States and Members of Congress
Whoever, being an officer of the United States or a Member of Congress, in or affecting interstate or foreign commerce, knowingly engages in sexual intercourse (including genital-genital, oral-genital, anal-genital, or oral-anal, whether between persons of the same or opposite sex) with a person, and at the time of such conduct, the officer or Member or the person with whom the officer or Member engaged in such conduct, was married to another person, shall be fined under this title, and imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.

(b) Clerical amendment

The table of sections for chapter 93 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:

1925. Adultery by officers of the United States and Members of Congress.