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HR8831119th CongressWALLET

Protecting Our Democracy Act

Sponsored By: Representative Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

Introduced

Summary

Limits on presidential power would be expanded to strengthen congressional oversight.

Show full summary

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.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

16 provisions identified: 5 benefits, 2 costs, 9 mixed.

Limit presidential emergency powers

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 approval. The President could not use emergency authority to create programs Congress withheld funding for. The bill would also limit some trade emergency powers and repeal Title III of the National Emergencies Act.

Online political ad transparency

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, views, first and last display dates/times, total cost (rounded to $100), purchaser identity and contact details, and, for non-candidate purchasers, a list of chief executives or board members. Platforms would show a visible sponsor label with the ad, keep records at least four years, and follow FEC rules the bill would direct the Commission to issue within 120 days.

More protections for federal employees

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. Agencies would have to give training after an employee's first Hatch Act violation. The MSPB would have faster stay deadlines (10 days) and employees could go to federal district court if MSPB delays; employees would keep explicit rights to petition Congress. The Office of Special Counsel would have exclusive rulemaking authority over its covered matters.

Stronger oversight of DOJ and budgets

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 could go to court to force agencies to make budget authority available or produce information after a short notice period. Reports about alleged Antideficiency Act violations would require more detail and the Attorney General would review and investigate suspected knowing and willful violations. Courts could enforce committee requests like subpoenas, and Members of Congress would be explicitly treated as FOIA requesters.

Ban foreign payments to senior officials

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 office. Violators could face civil penalties up to the payment value plus $5,000, criminal fines up to $50,000 or the payment value and up to one year in prison, and forfeiture of the payment. There is a safe harbor if the official did not solicit the payment, notifies OGE within 72 hours (and no later than 90 days), and returns or remits the payment. OGE must publish an initial list of designated senior officials within 90 days.

Accountability for Presidents and nominees

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 federal criminal statutes of limitations, and time would also toll civil suits seeking recovery of prohibited payments for periods when the person serves. The bill broadens what counts as an "official act," including pardons and offers of relief, which could change corruption prosecutions. Federal bribery rules would also expand to cover the President, Vice President, and apparent successful candidates, and to treat pardons and similar relief as things of value.

Presidential and candidate tax returns

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 due date each year; sitting Presidents and VPs must file the last 10 years within 30 days after enactment. The Treasury must provide requested returns to the FEC within 15 days, and the FEC and Treasury would jointly redact sensitive data before public release. The FEC may delay release up to 30 days if redaction is burdensome.

Stricter rules on foreign campaign contacts

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 annually on such notifications and follow-up actions. The bill would add criminal penalties for knowing and willful reporting violations—fines up to $500,000 and up to five years in prison—and higher penalties (up to $1,000,000) for knowingly hiding or destroying materials. It would also make certain foreign-government or foreign-party assistance (and nonpublic opposition research/polling provided to influence an election) a felony punishable by fines or up to five years in prison for acts after enactment.

Stronger ethics and Hatch Act rules

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 to $50,000. The Office of Government Ethics would get stronger powers to order disgorgement, divestiture, recusal, and fines, and must write rules for legal expense funds within one year that bar lobbyist and foreign‑agent contributions. Acting-official rules would tighten: first assistants generally must have served 30 days in the prior year, directed performers must have 1 year at the agency, time limits for acting service would shorten, and acting officials serving past limits must appear before committees periodically. The bill would also expand recusal rules and add protections for whistleblowers, including limits on sharing whistleblower identity and intelligence‑community disclosures.

Tighten online ads and foreign influence

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 seconds and include a 3-second audible statement. Platforms and broadcasters would have to make reasonable efforts not to let foreign nationals buy covered political communications. Political committees must adopt foreign-contact rules, notify treasurers of reportable foreign contacts within 3 days, and keep records for 3 years. Inaugural Committees for 2029 and later could not take money from non‑individuals or foreign nationals; individuals could give up to $50,000 (indexed beginning 2028); donations $1,000+ must be reported within 24 hours and donors of $200+ listed in the final report within 90 days.

Binding ethics pledge for appointees

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 or clients, add limits for recent registered lobbyists or foreign agents, and bar some golden‑parachute payments. Agencies and the Office of Government Ethics would implement and approve written ethics agreements, the Attorney General could bring enforcement actions, agencies could debar violators (including up to five years of lobbying bans), and the OMB Director could grant written waivers that must be made public within 10 days.

Court review for presidential dismissals

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 court would hear such dismissal motions, and the court must consider the sworn statement and any evidence of bad faith. The Justice Department inspector general would report to Congress if there is a good‑faith basis to think the dismissal was directed by the President or President‑elect, and the Attorney General would preserve related materials.

More White House transparency and oversight

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 White House, Vice President's residence, and other regular official locations within 90 days and update it every 90 days. The GAO would have to report in 60 days on reimbursable political events at the White House from January 1, 1997 through enactment. The Justice Department Office of Legal Counsel would also have to post final opinions online on a staged schedule, with narrow withholding rules and public withholding determinations.

Stronger budget oversight and limits

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 bar deferral or withholding of budget authority in the last 90 days before money expires and require apportionments to let agencies obligate funds at least 90 days before expiration. The GAO would be able to demand budget and appropriations materials within 20 days and sue in D.C. federal court to compel production if agencies do not comply.

Ban party conventions on Federal property

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 fair market value of the convention or $50,000, whichever is greater, and could face up to five years in prison, or both. The rule would apply to conventions on or after enactment.

Rules for foreign payments to officials

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. Either House of Congress could sue in D.C. federal court to enforce the foreign-emoluments ban. If a court finds a violation, remedies could include injunctions, disgorgement to the Treasury, surrender of physical gifts to State, and limits on holding offices; the bill says no Treasury or appropriated funds may be used to pay any disgorgement.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Raskin, Jamie [D-MD-8]

MD • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Garcia, Robert [D-CA-42]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Morelle, Joseph D. [D-NY-25]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Amo, Gabe [D-RI-1]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Balint, Becca [D-VT-At Large]

    VT • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Barragán, Nanette Diaz [D-CA-44]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Beatty, Joyce [D-OH-3]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Bell, Wesley [D-MO-1]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Boyle, Brendan F. [D-PA-2]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Brownley, Julia [D-CA-26]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Carbajal, Salud O. [D-CA-24]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Carson, André [D-IN-7]

    IN • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Case, Ed [D-HI-1]

    HI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Castor, Kathy [D-FL-14]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Cleaver, Emanuel [D-MO-5]

    MO • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Cohen, Steve [D-TN-9]

    TN • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Courtney, Joe [D-CT-2]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Craig, Angie [D-MN-2]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Crockett, Jasmine [D-TX-30]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Crow, Jason [D-CO-6]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Davis, Danny K. [D-IL-7]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Dean, Madeleine [D-PA-4]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. DeGette, Diana [D-CO-1]

    CO • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Deluzio, Christopher R. [D-PA-17]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. DeSaulnier, Mark [D-CA-10]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Dexter, Maxine [D-OR-3]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Dingell, Debbie [D-MI-6]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Doggett, Lloyd [D-TX-37]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Foster, Bill [D-IL-11]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Frankel, Lois [D-FL-22]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Frost, Maxwell [D-FL-10]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. García, Jesús G. "Chuy" [D-IL-4]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Green, Al [D-TX-9]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Grijalva, Adelita S. [D-AZ-7]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Harder, Josh [D-CA-9]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Hoyer, Steny H. [D-MD-5]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Hoyle, Val T. [D-OR-4]

    OR • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Huffman, Jared [D-CA-2]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Ivey, Glenn [D-MD-4]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Jackson, Jonathan L. [D-IL-1]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Jacobs, Sara [D-CA-51]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Henry C. "Hank" [D-GA-4]

    GA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Johnson, Julie [D-TX-32]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Kelly, Robin L. [D-IL-2]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Kennedy, Timothy M. [D-NY-26]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Khanna, Ro [D-CA-17]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Krishnamoorthi, Raja [D-IL-8]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Larsen, Rick [D-WA-2]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Larson, John B. [D-CT-1]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Latimer, George [D-NY-16]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Leger Fernandez, Teresa [D-NM-3]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Levin, Mike [D-CA-49]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Lieu, Ted [D-CA-36]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Lofgren, Zoe [D-CA-18]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Lynch, Stephen F. [D-MA-8]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Magaziner, Seth [D-RI-2]

    RI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Mannion, John W. [D-NY-22]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. McClain Delaney, April [D-MD-6]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. McCollum, Betty [D-MN-4]

    MN • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Mejia, Analilia [D-NJ-11]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Mfume, Kweisi [D-MD-7]

    MD • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Mullin, Kevin [D-CA-15]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Nadler, Jerrold [D-NY-12]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Pelosi, Nancy [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Randall, Emily [D-WA-6]

    WA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2]

    NC • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Scott, Robert C. "Bobby" [D-VA-3]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Sewell, Terri A. [D-AL-7]

    AL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Sherman, Brad [D-CA-32]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Simon, Lateefah [D-CA-12]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Stansbury, Melanie A. [D-NM-1]

    NM • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Stanton, Greg [D-AZ-4]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Stevens, Haley M. [D-MI-11]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Thanedar, Shri [D-MI-13]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Thompson, Mike [D-CA-4]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Thompson, Bennie G. [D-MS-2]

    MS • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Titus, Dina [D-NV-1]

    NV • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Velázquez, Nydia M. [D-NY-7]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Walkinshaw, James R. [D-VA-11]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Wilson, Frederica S. [D-FL-24]

    FL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Garcia, Sylvia R. [D-TX-29]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. McIver, LaMonica [D-NJ-10]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Houlahan, Chrissy [D-PA-6]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Ramirez, Delia C. [D-IL-3]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Chu, Judy [D-CA-28]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2]

    LA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Waters, Maxine [D-CA-43]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 5/14/2026

  • Rep. Evans, Dwight [D-PA-3]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2026

  • Rep. Scanlon, Mary Gay [D-PA-5]

    PA • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2026

  • Rep. McClellan, Jennifer L. [D-VA-4]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2026

  • Rep. McBride, Sarah [D-DE-At Large]

    DE • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2026

  • Rep. Casten, Sean [D-IL-6]

    IL • D

    Sponsored 5/19/2026

  • Rep. Landsman, Greg [D-OH-1]

    OH • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2026

  • Rep. Espaillat, Adriano [D-NY-13]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 6/9/2026

  • Rep. Whitesides, George [D-CA-27]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 6/11/2026

  • Rep. Torres, Ritchie [D-NY-15]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

  • Rep. Norcross, Donald [D-NJ-1]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 9/10/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

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