Protecting Our Democracy Act

Bill Number

H.R. 8831

Origin Chamber

House

Congress

119th Congress, Session 2

Policy Area

Government Operations and Politics

Status

Introduced

Latest Action

2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Last Updated

2026-06-12T13:42:49Z

AI-Generated Summary

Summary of H.R. 8831, the Protecting Our Democracy Act

Purpose This bill seeks to safeguard democratic institutions by limiting potential misuse of executive authority, strengthening congressional oversight and spending control, increasing government transparency and ethics standards, protecting whistleblowers, and shielding elections from foreign influence.

Key Provisions

• Division A (Preventing Abuses of Presidential Power): Requires congressional review of certain pardons involving the president or associates; prohibits self-pardons; tolls statutes of limitations for offenses by sitting presidents or vice presidents; enforces the Constitution’s emoluments clauses through civil suits, disclosures, and limits on foreign payments; and protects investigations from improper presidential interference.
• Division B (Restoring Checks and Balances): Creates civil enforcement for congressional subpoenas with penalties; reforms impoundment rules to require timely spending of appropriated funds and more reporting; expands whistleblower protections across government, including the intelligence community; limits acting officials and strengthens the Hatch Act with higher penalties and new rules for political appointees; mandates presidential tax return disclosures; and establishes an Inspector General for the Executive Office of the President.
• Division C (Miscellaneous): Requires campaigns to report foreign contacts; bans foreign money in ballot initiatives and referenda; expands online political ad disclosure rules (“Honest Ads”); restricts creation of non-competitive civil service positions; prohibits use of federal property for political conventions; requires recusal by officials on matters involving recent private employers; and clarifies the definition of an “official act” in bribery cases.
• Division D: Includes a severability clause.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act to broaden “public communication” to include paid internet and digital ads and to require foreign contact reporting by campaigns.
• Updates the Impoundment Control Act and related budget laws to tighten congressional control over spending and require detailed reporting on expired or cancelled funds.
• Strengthens the Hatch Act by applying limits to the president and vice president on federal property, raising penalties, and adding criminal sanctions for knowing violations.
• Modifies title 18 and title 5 provisions on contracts, benefits for former presidents, emoluments enforcement, and ethics pledges for appointees.
• Creates new private rights of action for subpoena enforcement and certain whistleblower claims, and tolls statutes of limitations for presidential offenses.

Potential Impacts

• Government agencies: Executive branch officials face new disclosure, recusal, and reporting duties; agencies must respond faster to congressional requests and maintain detailed visitor and spending records.
• Citizens and elections: Increases public access to presidential tax information, campaign foreign contacts, and online ad sponsors; strengthens protections against foreign election interference.
• International relations: Tightens rules on foreign payments and emoluments, potentially affecting business and diplomatic interactions involving U.S. officials.
• Congress: Gains stronger enforcement tools for oversight and the power of the purse.

Main Stakeholders Affected

• The president, vice president, and senior political appointees.
• Members of Congress and congressional committees.
• Federal agencies, inspectors general, and civil servants.
• Political campaigns, parties, and candidates.
• Lobbyists, foreign nationals, and inaugural committees.
• Whistleblowers and the general public.

Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications

• Directly implements the Constitution’s emoluments clauses with new enforcement mechanisms and private suits.
• Raises separation-of-powers issues by expanding congressional tools to check executive actions on spending, investigations, and subpoenas.
• Applies ethics and speech restrictions (Hatch Act) to the president and vice president, potentially prompting constitutional challenges.
• Introduces civil penalties, private rights of action, and tolling of limitations periods that could increase litigation between branches.
• The severability clause is designed to preserve remaining provisions if any section is found invalid.

This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.

Sponsor

Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

Cosponsors (108)

Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42], Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25], Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1], Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3], Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large], Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44], Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3], Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1], Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8], Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2], Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26], Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24], Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7], Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1], Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14], Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5], Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9], Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2], Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2], Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30], Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6], Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7], Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4], Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1], Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17], Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10], Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3], Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6], Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37], Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7], Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11], Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22], Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10], Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8], Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4], Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9], Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7], Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9], Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5], Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4], Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2], Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4], Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1], Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51], Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4], Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32], Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2], Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] and 58 more

Recent Actions

• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, House Administration, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, and Intelligence (Permanent Select), for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
• 2026-05-14: Introduced in House
• 2026-05-14: Introduced in House

Bill Versions

• Protecting Our Democracy Act — issued 2026-05-14 — PDF (271 pages)

Related Bills

• S. 2838 (119th Congress)