# 117-hr-5314: Protecting Our Democracy Act

117-hr-5314, Protecting Our Democracy Act, is a 117th Congress bill sponsored by Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA); status Received in the Senate. (as of 2025-11-18).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5314
- As of: 2025-11-18
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 117-hr-5314
- Congress: 117
- Title: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- Status: Received in the Senate.
- Introduced: 2021-09-21
- Sponsor: Sen. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA] (D-CA)
- Cosponsors: 168
- 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 federal offenses committed by a sitting President or Vice President, prohibits the acceptance of foreign or domestic emoluments, and sets forth provisions regarding Office of Government Ethics and Office of Special Counsel jurisdiction and enforcement authority. To address checks and balances, accountability, and transparency, the bill authorizes specified actions to enforce congressional subpoenas, imposes limits on presidential declarations of emergencies, requires DOJ to maintain a log of specified communications between it and the White House, requires cause for removal of inspectors general, increases whistleblower protections, requires a candidate for President or Vice President to submit to the Federal Election Commission a copy of the individual's income tax returns for the 10 most recent taxable years, 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 (168)

- Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5] (D-MD), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Carolyn B. [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neal, Richard E. [D-MA-1] (D-MA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Yarmuth, John A. [D-KY-3] (D-KY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeLauro, Rosa L. [D-CT-3] (D-CT), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeFazio, Peter A. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Connolly, Gerald E. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Eshoo, Anna G. [D-CA-16] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jeffries, Hakeem S. [D-NY-8] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Swalwell, Eric [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Speier, Jackie [D-CA-14] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Porter, Katie [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Adams, Alma S. [D-NC-12] (D-NC), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Aguilar, Pete [D-CA-33] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Auchincloss, Jake [D-MA-4] (D-MA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bass, Karen [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Blumenauer, Earl [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Blunt Rochester, Lisa [D-DE] (D-DE), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bonamici, Suzanne [D-OR-1] (D-OR), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bourdeaux, Carolyn [D-GA-7] (D-GA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] (D-FL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cicilline, David N. [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clark, Katherine M. [D-MA-5] (D-MA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Correa, J. Luis [D-CA-46] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Demings, Val Butler [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deutch, Theodore E. [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Gallego, Ruben [D-AZ] (D-AZ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Raúl M. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Higgins, Brian [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Himes, James A. [D-CT-4] (D-CT), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson Lee, Sheila [D-TX-18] (D-TX), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7] (D-WA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jones, Mondaire [D-NY-17] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kildee, Daniel T. [D-MI-8] (D-MI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kilmer, Derek [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Kim, Andy [D-NJ] (D-NJ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lamb, Conor [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lawrence, Brenda L. [D-MI-14] (D-MI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lee, Barbara [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Andy [D-MI-9] (D-MI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lowenthal, Alan S. [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Malinowski, Tom [D-NJ-7] (D-NJ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Maloney, Sean Patrick [D-NY-18] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Matsui, Doris O. [D-CA-7] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBath, Lucy [D-GA-6] (D-GA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2] (D-MA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McNerney, Jerry [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2] (D-CO), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Alexandria [D-NY-14] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Payne, Donald M., Jr. [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Phillips, Dean [D-MN-3] (D-MN), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pingree, Chellie [D-ME-1] (D-ME), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pocan, Mark [D-WI-2] (D-WI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Price, David E. [D-NC-4] (D-NC), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Roybal-Allard, Lucille [D-CA-40] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruiz, Raul [D-CA-25] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Rush, Bobby L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sarbanes, John P. [D-MD-3] (D-MD), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherrill, Mikie [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Soto, Darren [D-FL-9] (D-FL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10] (D-WA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Norma J. [D-CA-35] (D-CA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trone, David J. [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wasserman Schultz, Debbie [D-FL-25] (D-FL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Sen. Welch, Peter [D-VT] (D-VT), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wild, Susan [D-PA-7] (D-PA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5] (D-GA), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2021-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Napolitano, Grace F. [D-CA-31] (D-CA), 2021-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Smith, Adam [D-WA-9] (D-WA), 2021-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pallone, Frank [D-NJ-6] (D-NJ), 2021-09-22T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Vargas, Juan [D-CA-52] (D-CA), 2021-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2021-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2021-09-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Trahan, Lori [D-MA-3] (D-MA), 2021-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2021-09-24T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bustos, Cheri [D-IL-17] (D-IL), 2021-09-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sánchez, Linda T. [D-CA-38] (D-CA), 2021-09-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] (D-CO), 2021-09-27T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2021-09-28T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5] (D-CT), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kaptur, Marcy [D-OH-9] (D-OH), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Allred, Colin Z. [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kahele, Kaiali'i [D-HI-2] (D-HI), 2021-10-12T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pappas, Chris [D-NH-1] (D-NH), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bishop, Sanford D. [D-GA-2] (D-GA), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wexton, Jennifer [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2021-10-15T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3] (D-NY), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bowman, Jamaal [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ruppersberger, C. A. Dutch [D-MD-2] (D-MD), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13] (D-OH), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2021-10-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Perlmutter, Ed [D-CO-7] (D-CO), 2021-11-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Manning, Kathy E. [D-NC-6] (D-NC), 2021-11-03T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doyle, Michael F. [D-PA-18] (D-PA), 2021-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2021-11-17T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Underwood, Lauren [D-IL-14] (D-IL), 2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2021-11-23T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cartwright, Matt [D-PA-8] (D-PA), 2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large] (D-VI), 2021-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2021-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Horsford, Steven [D-NV-4] (D-NV), 2021-12-02T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schrier, Kim [D-WA-8] (D-WA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cárdenas, Tony [D-CA-29] (D-CA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13] (D-GA), 2021-12-07T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9] (D-NY), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cooper, Jim [D-TN-5] (D-TN), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9] (D-IL), 2021-09-21T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Panetta, Jimmy [D-CA-19] (D-CA), 2021-12-01T00:00:00.000Z

## Votes

| Date | Chamber | Question | Result | Yea | Nay |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Motion to Recommit | Failed | 212 | 217 |
| 2021-12-09T00:00:00.000Z | house | On Passage | Passed | 220 | 208 |

## Related bills

- 117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 Crown Road Southwest in Atlanta, Georgia, as the "John R. Lewis Post Office Build…
- 117-hr-4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021
- 117-hr-3755: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021
- 117-hr-3488: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act
- 117-hr-2252: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021
- 117-hr-5: Equality Act

## Sources
- [117-hr-5314 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/5314)

## Related
- [117-hr-5577: To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 3900 C…](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5577)
- [117-hr-4: John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-4)
- [117-hr-3755: Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3755)
- [117-hr-3488: John Lewis Every Child Deserves a Family Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-3488)
- [117-hr-2252: Emmett Till and Mamie Till-Mobley Congressional Gold Medal Act of 2021](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-2252)
- [117-hr-5: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/117-hr-5314 (as of 2025-11-18).