Federal RuleAug 21
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DOL Rewrites Disability Rules for 'Merit-Based Opportunity' Push
RuleLabor DepartmentFederal Contract Compliance Programs OfficeSignificant Wallet
119-hr-4910119th Congress
Sustaining Our Democracy Act
Sponsored By: Representative Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
Introduced
Summary
Would create a federal Office and grant program to fund state and local upgrades that expand secure access to Federal elections. It would set up a State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund and direct annual allocations to states and local administrators for equipment, voter registration, outreach, polling access, cybersecurity, and support for election workers.
Show full summary
- Voters in underserved communities: Makes money available to increase access for people with disabilities, racial and language minorities, absentee Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act voters, and voters on Indian lands.
- State and local election administrators: Provides grants for upgrades like voting equipment and registration systems, expands early and mail voting access, and allows local administrators to receive payments directly for covered activities.
- States and program limits: Requires state plans, public reporting, and bars use of funds for voter intimidation, certain improper roll removals, lawsuits defending alleged suppression, and nonpaper-only voting machines without verifiable paper trails.
*If enacted, the bill would authorize $2.5 billion a year for fiscal years 2026–2035 to a new trust fund, increasing federal outlays.*
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 3 mixed.
Limits on election funds and enforcement
States that get this money would be barred from using it in ways that make it harder for eligible people to vote. Bans would include voter intimidation, blocking water or snacks in long lines, unreliable voter purges, risky or non‑compliant audits, using funds to fight voter‑suppression lawsuits, and buying voting machines without voter‑verifiable paper ballots. The U.S. Attorney General would be able to go to federal court to stop or fix violations. These guardrails would apply starting in fiscal year 2026.
Ten-year funding for state elections
This bill would set up a national Trust Fund with $2.5 billion each year from FY2026 through FY2035. Each year, the Director would split the total by the number of U.S. House districts to set a per‑district amount, and a State’s share would match its district count. After a plan is approved, Treasury would send the money to the Election Assistance Commission, which would pay local election offices for their work and the rest to the State; State payments would not expire. Funds could pay for better voting equipment and registration, more polling places and early/mail voting, cybersecurity, and recruiting, training, and protecting nonpartisan election workers, plus access for underserved voters, people with disabilities, language minorities, military voters, and voters on Indian lands. These allocations and uses would start in fiscal year 2026.
New federal office to run program
The bill would create an independent Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation, led by a Senate‑confirmed Director serving a six‑year term. The Director could hire key staff, issue rules (within 90 and 270 days of enactment), and report on the Program after each federal general election starting in 2026. The Office could hold some funds in reserve to cover its costs and protect the Trust Fund. Until the first Director is appointed, the OMB Director could run the Office for up to 24 months, with limits on any extension. Inspector General oversight would begin 180 days after the Director is appointed, and the President could remove the Director with written notice to Congress 30 days in advance.
State plans, local backup, and transparency
To receive money, each State’s chief election official would have to file a plan at least 90 days before the fiscal year; the Director would decide at least 45 days before it starts. Plans would explain activities, how funds reach local areas and underserved groups, and how a State‑treasury fund will hold and use the money; payments could be delayed until that fund is created by State law. States would file a year‑end report within 90 days and must offer a uniform complaint process; people could seek Director review or go to federal court in D.C. within 60 days. If a State misses the plan deadline, local governments could apply directly as “States,” with new timelines and a population‑based split of the State’s share. The Director would post plans, decisions, and State reports online starting in FY2026, with lawful redactions.
Definitions, deadlines, and legal backstops
The bill would set a simple rule for deadlines: if a due date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it would move to the next business day. It would define who counts as a “State” (including D.C. and U.S. territories) and what “Indian lands” include, to guide who can receive help. A severability clause would keep the rest of the Act in place if a court strikes down any part. These legal rules would take effect upon enactment.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Williams, Nikema [D-GA-5]
GA • D
Cosponsors
Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]
LA • D
Sponsored 10/1/2026
Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]
AL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Veasey, Marc A. [D-TX-33]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]
AZ • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Brown, Shontel M. [D-OH-11]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Budzinski, Nikki [D-IL-13]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]
IN • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Cherfilus-McCormick, Sheila [D-FL-20]
FL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Clarke, Yvette D. [D-NY-9]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]
MO • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Elfreth, Sarah [D-MD-3]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Fields, Cleo [D-LA-6]
LA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Figures, Shomari [D-AL-2]
AL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]
TX • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]
GA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Lee, Summer L. [D-PA-12]
PA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]
MA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]
VA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]
NJ • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Meeks, Gregory W. [D-NY-5]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Neguse, Joe [D-CO-2]
CO • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
DC • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Del. Plaskett, Stacey E. [D-VI-At Large]
VI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Salinas, Andrea [D-OR-6]
OR • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Schakowsky, Janice D. [D-IL-9]
IL • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]
CA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Strickland, Marilyn [D-WA-10]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Sykes, Emilia Strong [D-OH-13]
OH • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]
MS • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]
NV • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]
MI • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]
NY • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]
MD • D
Sponsored 8/5/2025
Rep. Scott, David [D-GA-13]
GA • D
Sponsored 8/26/2025
Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]
NY • D
Sponsored 9/3/2025
Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]
RI • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]
MO • D
Sponsored 10/3/2025
Rep. Jayapal, Pramila [D-WA-7]
WA • D
Sponsored 8/10/2026
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
View on Congress.gov