# 119-hr-8831: Protecting Our Democracy Act

119-hr-8831, Protecting Our Democracy Act, is a 119th Congress bill sponsored by Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD); status introduced; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-09-21).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8831
- As of: 2026-09-21
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Bill: 119-hr-8831
- Congress: 119
- Title: Protecting Our Democracy Act
- Status: introduced
- Introduced: 2026-05-14
- Sponsor: Rep. Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8] (D-MD)
- Cosponsors: 110
- Policy area: Government Operations and Politics
- Touches household money: yes
- Last recorded action: 2026-09-21

## Summary

**Limits on presidential power** would be expanded to strengthen congressional oversight. The bill would tighten rules on pardons and emoluments, narrow emergency powers, increase ethics and whistleblower protections, and give Congress new tools to enforce subpoenas and budget controls. - Families and voters would see stronger election integrity and ad transparency. Online platforms would keep public ad records for political ads above $500 and show clear sponsor notices. - Presidential candidates, the President, and senior officials would face tougher ethics and disclosure rules. The bill would require 10 years of tax returns, bar self‑pardons, and create civil and criminal penalties for prohibited foreign payments including up to $5,000 in civil fines and up to $50,000 in criminal fines. - Congress and watchdogs would get more enforcement power over the executive branch. The bill would let Congress sue to enforce subpoenas, let the Comptroller General compel budget authority and documents, and limit national emergency renewals to new congressional approval within specified session timelines.

## Cosponsors (110)

- Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1] (D-RI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3] (D-AZ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large] (D-VT), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3] (D-OH), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1] (D-MO), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8] (D-VA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2] (D-PA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7] (D-IN), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1] (D-HI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14] (D-FL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5] (D-MO), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9] (D-TN), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2] (D-CT), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2] (D-MN), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30] (D-TX), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6] (D-CO), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4] (D-PA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1] (D-CO), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1] (D-WA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17] (D-PA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3] (D-OR), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6] (D-MI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37] (D-TX), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7] (D-TX), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22] (D-FL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10] (D-FL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9] (D-TX), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7] (D-AZ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5] (D-MD), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4] (D-OR), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4] (D-MD), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4] (D-GA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32] (D-TX), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2] (D-WA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1] (D-CT), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3] (D-NM), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8] (D-MA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2] (D-RI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6] (D-MD), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4] (D-MN), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11] (D-NJ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7] (D-MD), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6] (D-MA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large] (D-DC), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6] (D-WA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2] (D-NC), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3] (D-VA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7] (D-AL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1] (D-NM), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4] (D-AZ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11] (D-MI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10] (D-VA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13] (D-MI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2] (D-MS), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1] (D-NV), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12] (D-MI), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7] (D-NY), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11] (D-VA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12] (D-NJ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24] (D-FL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29] (D-TX), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10] (D-NJ), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6] (D-PA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3] (D-IL), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2] (D-LA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43] (D-CA), 2026-05-14T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3] (D-PA), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5] (D-PA), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4] (D-VA), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large] (D-DE), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6] (D-IL), 2026-05-19T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1] (D-OH), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13] (D-NY), 2026-06-09T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27] (D-CA), 2026-06-11T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15] (D-NY), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z
- Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1] (D-NJ), 2026-09-10T00:00:00.000Z

## Provisions PRIA read

- More protections for federal employees: benefit, medium. The bill would expand federal employee protections in several ways. It would protect workers who disclose censorship that risks lawbreaking, waste, or public‑health dangers, and it would clarify that starting or expanding non‑ministerial investigations and IG referrals are protected activity. Agenc…
- Stronger oversight of DOJ and budgets: benefit, medium. This bill would create new oversight tools for Congress and inspectors. The Attorney General would log certain DOJ–Executive Office communications and send those logs to the DOJ Inspector General every quarter. If the IG finds improper communications, it would tell the Judiciary Committees. GAO cou…
- Court review for presidential dismissals: benefit, low. The bill would require that if the Government seeks to dismiss a criminal prosecution against the President or President‑elect, the court must get a sworn statement from the Attorney General on whether the dismissal was ordered by the President or anyone acting at their direction. A three‑judge cou…
- More White House transparency and oversight: benefit, low. This bill would require the President to appoint an Inspector General for the Executive Office of the President within 120 days and direct that IG to do two classification-policy evaluations with reports to Congress. The President would have to create a public, searchable visitor database for the W…
- Stronger budget oversight and limits: benefit, low. The bill would make agency officers subject to discipline for violations of the Impoundment Control Act and require immediate reports to Congress, the Comptroller General, and the relevant Inspector General listing fund symbols, amounts, dates, who was responsible, and discipline imposed. It would…
- Ban foreign payments to senior officials: cost, medium. This bill would make it illegal for senior federal officials to accept gifts, payments, or titles from foreign governments without Congress first consenting. It would bar such payments for officials and for entities owned by a President, and add a two‑year post‑employment ban after leaving senior o…
- Ban party conventions on Federal property: cost, low. The bill would bar national party nominating conventions for President or Vice President from being held on Federal property, including White House grounds and certain Executive Residence buildings. A candidate or authorized committee that violates this rule could face a civil penalty equal to the…
- Limit presidential emergency powers: mixed, high. This bill would restrict how the President declares and renews national emergencies. Declarations would have to be published, list the laws to be used, and would end after 20 Senate session days and 20 House legislative days unless Congress approves. Renewals would need a yearly joint resolution of…
- Online political ad transparency: mixed, high. This bill would require very large online platforms (50 million+ monthly U.S. users) to keep a public, machine-readable record of each "qualified political advertisement" purchased by anyone who spends more than $500 on that platform in a year. Records would include a copy of the ad, audience, view…
- Accountability for Presidents and nominees: mixed, medium. If enacted, a former President finally convicted of certain felonies tied to time in office would lose Former Presidents Act payments and might have to repay amounts received after an initial conviction until the conviction is final. Time a President or Vice President serves would not count toward…
- Presidential and candidate tax returns: mixed, medium. The bill would require major‑party Presidential candidates to give the FEC income tax returns for the last 10 years no later than 15 days after becoming a covered candidate. The President and Vice President would have to file their current and prior nine years' returns with the FEC by the return du…
- Stricter rules on foreign campaign contacts: mixed, medium. The bill would require political committees to tell the FBI and FEC within one week after a "reportable foreign contact," and candidates, immediate family, or committee agents to tell the committee treasurer within three days. The FBI Director would have to report to intelligence committees annuall…
- Stronger ethics and Hatch Act rules: mixed, medium. The bill would expand who counts as a political appointee and make Hatch Act rules clearly apply to White House offices. The Office of Special Counsel could open Hatch Act investigations without a formal complaint and take cases to the Merit Systems Protection Board, which could fine officials up t…
- Tighten online ads and foreign influence: mixed, medium. If enacted, paid internet and digital ads would count as public campaign communications and FEC must issue rules within one year defining them. Online political posts that are paid would need clear disclaimers: audio must be audible for at least 3 seconds, video must show text for at least 4 second…
- Binding ethics pledge for appointees: mixed, medium. The bill would require Executive branch appointees appointed on or after January 20, 2025 to sign a binding ethics pledge before they start. The pledge would ban gifts from registered lobbyists during service, impose two‑year revolving‑door restrictions on certain matters tied to former employers o…
- Rules for foreign payments to officials: mixed, low. This bill would redefine what counts as an "emolument" and who is a covered official. It would require senior officials to notify the Office of Government Ethics before taking foreign payments and would bar receipt unless Congress approves by a concurrent resolution introduced within 90 days. Eithe…

## Related bills

- 119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act
- 119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025
- 119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act
- 119-hr-15: Equality Act
- 119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025
- 119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act

## Sources
- [119-hr-8831 on Congress.gov](https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/house-bill/8831)

## Related
- [119-hr-7973: Momnibus Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-7973)
- [119-hr-20: Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-20)
- [119-hr-5390: FAMILY Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-5390)
- [119-hr-15: Equality Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-15)
- [119-hr-1589: American Dream and Promise Act of 2025](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-1589)
- [119-hr-17: Paycheck Fairness Act](https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-17)
- [All bills in Congress](https://policyrisk.com/legislation)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/legislation/119-hr-8831 (as of 2026-09-21).