Sustaining Our Democracy Act
8/22/2023, 2:30 PMSummary of Bill HR 7992
The Sustaining Our Democracy Act, also known as Bill 117 HR 7992, is a piece of legislation currently being considered by the US Congress. The main goal of this bill is to strengthen and protect the democratic institutions of the United States.One key provision of the Sustaining Our Democracy Act is the establishment of a bipartisan commission to study and make recommendations on how to improve the functioning of American democracy. This commission would be made up of experts in various fields, including political science, law, and public policy.
Another important aspect of the bill is the allocation of funding to support state and local efforts to increase voter participation and ensure the integrity of elections. This includes providing resources for voter education, voter registration, and election security measures. Additionally, the Sustaining Our Democracy Act includes provisions to enhance transparency and accountability in government. This includes measures to increase disclosure of political spending, strengthen ethics rules for public officials, and improve oversight of lobbying activities. Overall, the Sustaining Our Democracy Act aims to address key challenges facing American democracy and promote a more inclusive and responsive political system. It is currently being debated in Congress, with supporters arguing that it is necessary to safeguard the integrity of the democratic process, while opponents raise concerns about the potential costs and implications of the proposed reforms.
Congressional Summary of HR 7992
Sustaining Our Democracy Act
This bill establishes and provides funds through FY2032 for the State Election Assistance and Innovation Trust Fund for purposes of promoting election activities.
Specifically, the bill establishes the Democracy Advancement and Innovation Program, through which the Office of Democracy Advancement and Innovation (also established by this bill) shall make allocations to states for carrying out democracy promotion activities. These activities include improving the administration of federal elections, recruiting and training nonpartisan election officials and poll workers, and increasing voting access.
The bill requires each state, in order to receive allocated funds, to (1) submit a plan for approval that describes how the state will distribute resources and carry out democracy promotion activities, and (2) establish uniform and nondiscriminatory state-based administrative complaint procedures.
The bill prohibits states from using funds for certain activities, including any activity that diminishes the ability of any eligible voter to participate in the electoral process.
