H.R. 4910: Sustaining Our Democracy Act
This bill, titled the "Sustaining Our Democracy Act," aims to enhance the administration of federal elections in the United States through the establishment of a Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program. Here’s an outline of its major provisions:
1. Establishment of the Program
The bill creates a program that will allocate funds from a newly established "State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund" to each state for various democracy promotion activities. The funding will be available for each fiscal year starting from 2026.
2. Fund for Democracy Advancement
The Trust Fund will have an initial appropriation of $2.5 billion for each fiscal year from 2026 through 2035. The amounts will be utilized to finance state-specific allocations under the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program.
3. Activities Funded
States can use these funds for several key democracy promotion activities, including:
- Improving election administration: Upgrading voting equipment, enhancing voter registration systems, securing voting locations, expanding polling places, and promoting cybersecurity measures.
- Recruiting and training election officials: Especially focusing on nonpartisan election workers and protecting them from potential threats during their work.
- Increasing access to voting: Particularly for underserved communities and individuals with disabilities, including expanding access to early voting and mail-in ballots.
4. State Plans
To receive funds, each state must submit a plan detailing how they intend to use the allocations for the aforementioned activities. The plan must address:
- The specific activities the state will undertake.
- The intention to retain and reserve funds for future use.
- Strategies to address geographic and racial disparities in resource distribution.
- A detailed budget for proposed activities and uses of the funds.
5. Payment and Transparency Provisions
The bill includes measures for transparency, requiring states to publicly report how they use the allocated funds within 90 days after the end of the fiscal year. Additionally, the Director of the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation will maintain a publicly accessible website detailing state plans, approval statuses, and reports on fund usage.
6. Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation
The bill establishes an independent Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation to oversee the program. The office will be headed by a director appointed by the President. Responsibilities will include administering the program, monitoring the trust fund, providing oversight, and ensuring compliance with regulations.
7. Prohibitions and Regulations
The bill includes provisions that prohibit the misuse of funds. States cannot use the funds for activities that would demean voting rights or intimidate voters. This includes activities that threaten election integrity or restrict voter participation.
Furthermore, states must establish administrative complaint procedures to address any violations of the act, with provisions for public notification and review of complaints.
8. Effective Dates
The provisions of this act will be effective from the fiscal year 2026 and continue thereafter.
Relevant Companies
- LDOS (Leidos Holdings, Inc.) - May be impacted through contracts related to cybersecurity and elections technology.
- ESSA (Essence Group Holdings Corporation) - Potential engagement in voting outreach technology or services.
This is an AI-generated summary of the bill text. There may be mistakes.
Sponsors
52 bill sponsors
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TrackNikema Williams
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TrackYassamin Ansari
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TrackDonald S. Beyer, Jr.
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TrackShontel M. Brown
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TrackNikki Budzinski
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TrackAndré Carson
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TrackSean Casten
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TrackSheila Cherfilus-McCormick
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TrackYvette D. Clarke
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TrackEmanuel Cleaver
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TrackJasmine Crockett
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TrackSuzan K. DelBene
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TrackChristopher R. Deluzio
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TrackLloyd Doggett
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TrackSarah Elfreth
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TrackDwight Evans
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TrackCleo Fields
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TrackShomari Figures
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TrackJesús G. "Chuy" García
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TrackAl Green
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TrackJonathan L. Jackson
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TrackHenry C. "Hank" Johnson, Jr.
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TrackJulie Johnson
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TrackSydney Kamlager-Dove
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TrackRobin L. Kelly
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TrackRaja Krishnamoorthi
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TrackSummer L. Lee
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TrackStephen F. Lynch
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TrackApril McClain Delaney
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TrackJennifer L. McClellan
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TrackLaMonica McIver
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TrackGregory W. Meeks
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TrackKweisi Mfume
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TrackDave Min
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TrackKevin Mullin
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TrackJoe Neguse
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TrackEleanor Holmes Norton
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TrackStacey E. Plaskett
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TrackDelia C. Ramirez
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TrackAndrea Salinas
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TrackJanice D. Schakowsky
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TrackRobert C. "Bobby" Scott
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TrackTerri A. Sewell
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TrackLateefah Simon
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TrackMarilyn Strickland
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TrackEmilia Strong Sykes
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TrackShri Thanedar
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TrackBennie G. Thompson
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TrackDina Titus
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TrackRashida Tlaib
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TrackPaul Tonko
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TrackMarc A. Veasey
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Actions
2 actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Aug. 05, 2025 | Introduced in House |
| Aug. 05, 2025 | Referred to the House Committee on House Administration. |
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