H.R. 7661 — Stop the Sexualization of Children Act

This section designates the existing prohibitions on certain uses of Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) funds—such as for school construction (except as authorized), materials promoting sexual activity, obscene materials for minors, sex education without abstinence instruction, contraceptive distribution in schools, or dangerous weapons (with exceptions for educational activities like archery or hunting)—as subsection (a). It adds subsection (b), which prohibits ESEA funds from being used to develop, implement, facilitate, host, or promote any program or activity for children under the age of 18, or to provide or promote related literature or materials, that includes sexually oriented material (i.e., any depiction, description, or simulation of sexually explicit conduct as defined in 18 U.S.C. §2256(2)(A)-(B), or material involving gender dysphoria or transgenderism), including exposure to nude adults, individuals who are stripping, or lewd or lascivious dancing. Subsection (b) includes a rule of construction preserving ESEA funding for teaching (1) standard science coursework (e.g., biology, human anatomy and physiology); (2) texts of major world religions; (3) classic works of literature (i.e., those in Great Books of the Western World (2d ed. 1990), or referenced in specified Compass Classroom articles as of enactment); or (4) classic works of art (i.e., those depicted in Smarthistory guides to AP Art History, volumes 1-5 (2019-2020)).