HR-5314 : Still Just a Bill

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.

Action Timeline

Action DateTypeTextSource
2021-12-13IntroReferralReceived in the Senate.Senate
2021-12-09FloorThe Clerk was authorized to correct section numbers, punctuation, and cross references, and to make other necessary technical and conforming corrections in the engrossment of H.R. 5314.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorMotion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.House floor actions
2021-12-09VoteOn passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 220 - 208 (Roll no. 440).House floor actions
2021-12-09VoteOn motion to recommit Failed by the Yeas and Nays: 212 - 217 (Roll no. 439).House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorThe previous question on the motion to recommit was ordered pursuant to clause 2(b) of rule XIX.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorMr. Davis, Rodney moved to recommit to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. (text: CR H7616)House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorThe previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorUNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on agreeing to amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed. (consideration: CR H7613)House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorPOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Ocasio-Cortez amendment No. 25, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 838, the House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ocasio-Cortez amendment No. 25.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorPOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Carolyn B. Maloney en bloc No. 2, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendments and by voice vote, announced that the noes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 838, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carolyn B. Maloney amendment en bloc No. 2.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorPOSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Carolyn B. Maloney en bloc No. 1, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendments and by voice vote, announced that the ayes had prevailed. Mr. Comer demanded the yeas and nays and the Chair postponed further proceedings until a time to be announced.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorDEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 838, the House proceeded with 20 minutes of debate on the Carolyn B. Maloney amendment en bloc No. 1.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorDEBATE - The House continued with debate on H.R. 5314.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorDEBATE - The House proceeded with one hour of debate on H.R. 5314.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorRule provides for consideration of H.R. 5314, S. 1605 and S. 610 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Rule makes in order for the Speaker may entertain motions offered by the Majority Leader or a designee that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule XV with respect to multiple measures that were the object of motions to suspend the rules on certain legislative days.House floor actions
2021-12-09FloorConsidered under the provisions of rule H. Res. 838. (consideration: CR H7562-7617)House floor actions
2021-12-07FloorRules Committee Resolution H. Res. 838 Reported to House. Rule provides for consideration of H.R. 5314, S. 1605 and S. 610 with 1 hour of general debate. Previous question shall be considered as ordered without intervening motions except motion to recommit. Measure will be considered read. Specified amendments are in order. Rule makes in order for the Speaker may entertain motions offered by the Majority Leader or a designee that the House suspend the rules as though under clause 1 of rule XV with respect to multiple measures that were the object of motions to suspend the rules on certain legislative days.House floor actions
2021-09-22CommitteeReferred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.House committee actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralReferred 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.House floor actions
2021-09-21IntroReferralIntroduced in HouseLibrary of Congress

Sponsor :

Rep. Schiff, Adam B. [D-CA-28]
See Cosponsors

Policy Area :

Government Operations and Politics
See Subjects
  • Administrative law and regulatory procedures
  • Administrative remedies
  • Appropriations
  • Budget process
  • Civil actions and liability
  • Congressional committees
  • Congressional oversight
  • Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
  • Criminal procedure and sentencing
  • Defense spending
  • Department of Justice
  • Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
  • Employment discrimination and employee rights
  • Evidence and witnesses
  • Executive agency funding and structure
  • Federal officials
  • Federal-Indian relations
  • Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
  • Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
  • Government information and archives
  • Government studies and investigations
  • House of Representatives
  • Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
  • Judicial procedure and administration
  • Judicial review and appeals
  • Labor standards
  • Lawyers and legal services
  • Legal fees and court costs
  • Merit Systems Protection Board
  • Military operations and strategy
  • Office of Government Ethics
  • Office of Special Counsel
  • Political parties and affiliation
  • Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
  • Research administration and funding
  • Right of privacy
  • Scientific communication
  • Senate
  • Tariffs
  • Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
  • War and emergency powers

Related Bills

See Related Bills