# 116-hr-8363: Protecting Our Democracy Act

116-hr-8363, Protecting Our Democracy Act, is a 116th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA); status Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, 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. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8363
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 116-hr-8363
- Congress: 116
- Title: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- Status: Referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, the Budget, Transportation and Infrastructure, Rules, Foreign Affairs, Ways and Means, Intelligence (Permanent Select), and House Administration, 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.
- Introduced: 2020-09-23
- Sponsor: Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 92
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: no
- Last recorded action: 2025-11-18

## Summary

Protecting Our Democracy Act This bill addresses issues involving (1) abuses of presidential power; (2) checks and balances, accountability, and transparency; and (3) foreign interference in elections. Specifically, regarding abuses of presidential power, the bill requires the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the President to submit to Congress specified materials relating to certain pardons; prohibits self-pardons by the President; suspends the statute of limitations for any federal offense committed by a sitting President or Vice President; prohibits the acceptance of foreign or domestic emoluments, authorizes civil actions by Congress concerning foreign emoluments, and requires the President to make certain disclosures; and sets forth provisions regarding enforcement authority of the Office of Government Ethics and Office of Special Counsel jurisdiction. To address checks and balances, accountability, and transparency, the bill, among other things authorizes specified actions to enforce congressional subpoenas, requires appropriations to be made available for obligation in a timely manner, imposes limits on presidential declarations of emergencies, requires DOJ to maintain a log of communications between it and the White House regarding certain investigations, requires cause for removal of inspectors general, increases whistleblower protections, reauthorizes the Merit Systems Protection Board, and establishes penalties for political appointees who engage in prohibited political activities. To protect against foreign interference in elections, the bill requires federal campaign reporting of foreign contacts, requires federal campaigns to establish a foreign contacts compliance policy, and specifies that foreign donations to political campaigns and candidates of nonpublic information relating to a candidate are prohibited.

## Cosponsors (92)

- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- ELIOT ENGEL (D-NY), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1] (D-MA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] (D-NY), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2020-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] (D-MI), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Heck, Denny [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cuellar, Henry [D-TX-28] (D-TX), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] (D-CO), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] (D-TN), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castro, Joaquin [D-TX-20] (D-TX), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- PETER VISCLOSKY (D-IN), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Luján, Ben Ray [D-NM] (D-NM), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cox, TJ [D-CA-21] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Malinowski, Tom [D-NJ-7] (D-NJ), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Escobar, Veronica [D-TX-16] (D-TX), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Haaland, Debra A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (D-CT), 2020-09-29T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Shalala, Donna E. [D-FL-27] (D-FL), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33] (D-TX), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2020-10-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2020-11-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3] (D-MN), 2020-11-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2020-11-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2020-11-16T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2020-12-15T00:00:00.000Z

## Related bills

- 116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020
- 116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act
- 116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019
- 116-hr-4: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019
- 116-hr-1140: Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2020
- 116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act

## Sources
- [116-hr-8363 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/8363)

## Related
- [116-hr-7120: George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-7120)
- [116-hr-2382: USPS Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-2382)
- [116-hr-1773: Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1773)
- [116-hr-4: Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2019](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-4)
- [116-hr-1140: Rights for Transportation Security Officers Act of 2020](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-1140)
- [116-hr-8015: Delivering for America Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8015)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/116-hr-8363 (as of 2025-11-18).