For the People Act of 2021
Latest action · Aug 11, 2021 Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.
Progress
Where this bill reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.
- IntroducedMar 17, 2021
- Passed SenateNot reached
- Passed HouseNot reached
- To the PresidentNot reached
- Became lawNot reached
Summary
For the People Act of 2021
This bill addresses voter access, election integrity and security, campaign finance, and ethics for the three branches of government.
Specifically, the bill expands voter registration (e.g., automatic and same-day registration) and voting access (e.g., vote-by-mail and early voting). It also limits removing voters from voter rolls.
The bill requires states to establish independent redistricting commissions to carry out congressional redistricting.
Additionally, the bill sets forth provisions related to election security, including sharing intelligence information with state election officials, supporting states in securing their election systems, developing a national strategy to protect U.S. democratic institutions, establishing in the legislative branch the National Commission to Protect United States Democratic Institutions, and other provisions to improve the cybersecurity of election systems.
Further, the bill addresses campaign finance, including by expanding the prohibition on campaign spending by foreign nationals, requiring additional disclosure of campaign-related fundraising and spending, requiring additional disclaimers regarding certain political advertising, and establishing an alternative campaign funding system for certain federal offices.
The bill addresses ethics in all three branches of government, including by requiring a code of conduct for Supreme Court Justices, prohibiting Members of the House from serving on the board of a for-profit entity, and establishing additional conflict-of-interest and ethics provisions for federal employees and the White House.
The bill requires the President, the Vice President, and certain candidates for those offices to disclose 10 years of tax returns.
Recorded votes 1
Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.
| Roll call | Question | Result | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate 358 | On the Motion to Discharge S. 1 | Motion to Discharge Agreed to50–49 | Aug 11, 2021 |
Cosponsors 48
Members who signed on, in the order they did. All signed on Mar 17, 2021.
| Seat | Cosponsor | Signed on | |
|---|---|---|---|
| D-CA | Alex Padilla | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MN | Amy Klobuchar | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| I-ME | Angus S. King Jr. | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NM | Ben Ray Luján | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MD | Benjamin L. Cardin | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| I-VT | Bernard Sanders | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-HI | Brian Schatz | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NV | Catherine Cortez Masto | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NY | Charles E. Schumer | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MD | Chris Van Hollen | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-DE | Christopher A. Coons | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-CT | Christopher Murphy | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NJ | Cory A. Booker | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MI | Debbie Stabenow | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-CA | Dianne Feinstein | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MA | Edward J. Markey | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MA | Elizabeth Warren | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MI | Gary C. Peters | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-RI | Jack Reed | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NV | Jacky Rosen | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NH | Jeanne Shaheen | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-CO | John W. Hickenlooper | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-GA | Jon Ossoff | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MT | Jon Tester | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NY | Kirsten E. Gillibrand | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| I-AZ | Kyrsten Sinema | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NH | Margaret Wood Hassan | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-WA | Maria Cantwell | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-AZ | Mark Kelly | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-VA | Mark R. Warner | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NM | Martin Heinrich | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-HI | Mazie K. Hirono | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-CO | Michael F. Bennet | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-VT | Patrick J. Leahy | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-WA | Patty Murray | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-GA | Raphael G. Warnock | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-CT | Richard Blumenthal | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-IL | Richard J. Durbin | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-NJ | Robert Menendez | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-PA | Robert P. Casey Jr. | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-OR | Ron Wyden | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-RI | Sheldon Whitehouse | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-OH | Sherrod Brown | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-WI | Tammy Baldwin | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-IL | Tammy Duckworth | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-DE | Thomas R. Carper | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-VA | Tim Kaine | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
| D-MN | Tina Smith | Original | Mar 17, 2021 |
Committees 1
Where it was sent and what each committee and subcommittee did with it, in order.
| Chamber | Committee | What it did |
|---|---|---|
| Senate | Rules and Administration Committee | Referred Mar 17, 2021Hearings Mar 24, 2021Discharged Aug 11, 2021 |
Actions 7
Everything that happened, newest first.
- Aug 11, 2021Senate Committee on Rules and Administration discharged by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 358 (Pursuant to S. Res. 27, 117th Congress).(consideration: CR S6250)
- Aug 11, 2021Senate Committee on Rules and Administration discharged by Yea-Nay Vote. 50 - 49. Record Vote Number: 358 (Pursuant to S. Res. 27, 117th Congress). (consideration: CR S6250)
- Aug 11, 2021Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.
- May 11, 2021Committee on Rules and Administration. Failed to report favorably.
- Mar 24, 2021Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-14.
In the Congressional Record 20
Days the Record’s own index lists this bill, newest first, with the pages and the members it names. Pages starting H are the House, S the Senate, E Extensions of Remarks.
| Where | In the Record | Members | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senate | Debate and remarks S6250, S6251, S6252Motions S6250Recorded votes S6250motion to discharge | Charles E. Schumer D-NY (motion), Jeff Merkley D-OR, Joe Manchin III D-WV, Mitch McConnell R-KY, Sheldon Whitehouse D-RI, Ted Cruz R-TX | Aug 10, 2021 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S5115 | Mitch McConnell R-KY | Jul 28, 2021 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S4836 | Charles E. Schumer D-NY | Jul 13, 2021 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S4557, S4565–S4572 | Charles E. Schumer D-NY, Chuck Grassley R-IA, James M. Inhofe R-OK, Joni Ernst R-IA, Marsha Blackburn R-TN, Rick Scott R-FL, Roger Marshall R-KS, Roy Blunt R-MO, Shelley Moore Capito R-WV, Todd Young R-IN | Jun 16, 2021 |
| Senate | Debate and remarks S4523, S4527, S4533, S4537, S4539 | Charles E. Schumer D-NY, Deb Fischer R-NE, John Barrasso R-WY, John Cornyn R-TX, Tom Cotton R-AR | Jun 15, 2021 |
Research
What has been written about this bill: committee reports, cost estimates, the sponsor’s authority statement, printed hearings and the Congressional Research Service’s work.
Printed hearings 20
Hearings whose printed record names this bill, newest first: hearings on it, and wider hearings where it came up.
| Number | Hearing | Committee | Held |
|---|---|---|---|
| S. Hrg. 117-527 | SELECT PROVISIONS OF THE 1866 RECONSTRUCTION TREATIES BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES AND OKLAHOMA TRIBES155 pages | Indian Affairs Committee | Jul 27, 2022 |
| Serial No. 117-3 | HEARING ON THE JANUARY 6TH INVESTIGATION527 pages | Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol | Jun 13, 2022 |
| S. Hrg. 117-298 | WAYS TO STRENGTHEN THE ENERGY AND MINERAL PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE U.S. AND CANADA TO ADDRESS ENERGY SECURITY AND CLIMATE OBJECTIVES98 pages | Energy and Natural Resources Committee | May 17, 2022 |
| S. Hrg. 117-423 | LAWS AND ENFORCEMENT GOVERNING THE POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF TAX-EXEMPT ENTITIES113 pages | Finance Committee | May 4, 2022 |
| Serial No. 117-41 | SECURING DEMOCRACY: PROTECTING AGAINST THREATS TO ELECTION INFRASTRUCTURE AND VOTER CONFIDENCE62 pages | Homeland Security Committee | Jan 20, 2022 |
CRS reports 26
Congressional Research Service work that CRS links to this bill or the law it became, newest first.
About this bill 1
Products that name it in their title: its number, its law number or one of its short titles.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| IF11097 | H.R. 1 and S. 1: Overview and Related CRS Products Archived | Resource | May 17, 2021 |
Also cite it 25
Products on other subjects that cite it, usually among other measures.
| Product | Title | Kind | Published |
|---|---|---|---|
| R46406 | Voter Registration: Recent Developments and Issues for Congress | Report | Oct 30, 2026 |
| R46943 | Voter Registration Records and List Maintenance for Federal Elections | Report | Oct 30, 2026 |
| R45030 | Federal Role in Voter Registration: The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA) and Subsequent Developments | Report | Oct 29, 2026 |
| R45770 | The U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC): Overview and Selected Issues for Congress | Report | Sep 1, 2026 |
| IN11618 | Congressional Redistricting Criteria and Considerations | Insight | May 20, 2026 |
Related bills 46
Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.
| Bill | Title | Relationship | Latest action |
|---|---|---|---|
| HR 1 | For the People Act of 2021 | Related bill | Mar 11, 2021 |
| HR 65 | Same Day Registration Act of 2021 | Related bill | Jan 4, 2021 |
| HR 134 | Coretta Scott King Mid-Decade Redistricting Prohibition Act of 2021 | Related bill | Mar 1, 2021 |
| HRES 181 | Restoring Integrity in Democracy Resolution | Related bill | Mar 1, 2021 |
| HR 231 | Public Service Spending Integrity Act | Related bill | Jan 6, 2021 |
Titles 50
Every title it has carried, official and short, at each stage.
- Official Title as Introduced
- A bill to expand Americans' access to the ballot box, reduce the influence of big money in politics, strengthen ethics rules for public servants, and implement other anti-corruption measures for the purpose of fortifying our democracy, and for other purposes.
- Short Title(s) as Introduced
- For the People Act of 2021
- Short Title(s) as Introduced for portions of this bill
- Redistricting Reform Act of 2021
- Democracy Restoration Act of 2021
- Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2021
- Voter Registration Efficiency Act
- Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021
- Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act
- SWAMP FLYERS Act
- Stop Waste And Misuse by Presidential Flyers Landing Yet Evading Rules and Standards Act
- Empower Act of 2021
- Fair Elections Now Act of 2021
- Honest Ads Act
- DISCLOSE Act of 2021
- Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2021
- Short Titles for portions of this bill from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
- DISCLOSE Act of 2021
- Empower Act of 2021
- Fair Elections Now Act of 2021
- Presidential Inaugural Committee Oversight Act
- Stand By Every Ad Act
- Honest Ads Act
- Democracy Is Strengthened by Casting Light On Spending in Elections Act of 2021
- Prevent Election Hacking Act of 2021
- SAVE VOTERS Act
- Stop Automatically Voiding Eligible Voters Off Their Enlisted Rolls in States Act
- Redistricting Reform Act of 2021
- Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act of 2021
- Democracy Restoration Act of 2021
- Deceptive Practices and Voter Intimidation Prevention Act of 2021
- Voter Registration Modernization Act of 2021
- Election Security Act
- Voter Empowerment Act of 2021
- Voter Registration Efficiency Act
- Automatic Voter Registration Act of 2021
- Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act
- CLEAR Act
- Connecting Lobbyists and Electeds for Accountability and Reform Act
- SWAMP FLYERS Act
- Stop Waste And Misuse by Presidential Flyers Landing Yet Evading Rules and Standards Act
- Ethics in Public Service Act
- Transition Team Ethics Improvement Act
- Conflicts from Political Fundraising Act of 2021
- Executive Branch Comprehensive Ethics Enforcement Act of 2021
- White House Ethics Transparency Act of 2021
- Presidential Conflicts of Interest Act of 2021
- Executive Branch Conflict of Interest Act
- Stop Super PAC–Candidate Coordination Act
- Restoring Integrity to America’s Elections Act
- Help America Run Act
- Short Title(s) from PCS (Placed on Senate Calendar) bill text
- For the People Act of 2021
Subjects
Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Government Operations and Politics.
- Accounting and auditing
- Administrative law and regulatory procedures
- Administrative remedies
- Adult day care
- Advisory bodies
- Aviation and airports
- Broadcasting, cable, digital technologies
- Business records
- Buy American requirements
- Census and government statistics
- Child care and development
- Civil actions and liability
- Computer security and identity theft
- Congressional agencies
- Congressional districts and representation
- Congressional elections
- Congressional operations and organization
- Congressional oversight
- Constitution and constitutional amendments
- Corporate finance and management
- Crime prevention
- Criminal investigation, prosecution, interrogation
- Criminal justice information and records
- Criminal procedure and sentencing
- Defense spending
- Department of Justice
- Digital media
- Diplomacy, foreign officials, Americans abroad
- Disability and health-based discrimination
- Disability and paralysis
- Disability assistance
- Election Assistance Commission
- Elections, voting, political campaign regulation
- Emergency medical services and trauma care
- Employment and training programs
- Europe
- Evidence and witnesses
- Executive agency funding and structure
- Family relationships
- Federal district courts
- Federal Election Commission (FEC)
- Federal officials
- Federal-Indian relations
- Financial services and investments
- Foreign and international banking
- Foreign language and bilingual programs
- Fraud offenses and financial crimes
- Government employee pay, benefits, personnel management
- Government ethics and transparency, public corruption
- Government information and archives
- Government Operations and Politics
- Government Publishing Office (GPO)
- Government studies and investigations
- Health care coverage and access
- House of Representatives
- Immigration status and procedures
- Infectious and parasitic diseases
- Intelligence activities, surveillance, classified information
- Internet and video services
- Internet, web applications, social media
- Judges
- Judicial procedure and administration
- Judicial review and appeals
- Labor-management relations
- Legislative rules and procedure
- Library of Congress
- Licensing and registrations
- Marketing and advertising
- Members of Congress
- Motor vehicles
- News media and reporting
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Office of Government Ethics
- Performance measurement
- Photography and imaging
- Political advertising
- Political parties and affiliation
- Postal service
- Presidents and presidential powers, Vice Presidents
- Public contracts and procurement
- Public participation and lobbying
- Public transit
- Right of privacy
- Rural conditions and development
- Russia
- Securities
- Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
- Sound recording
- State and local finance
- State and local government operations
- Subversive activities
- Supreme Court
- Tax administration and collection, taxpayers
- Tax-exempt organizations
- Telephone and wireless communication
- Television and film
- Transportation costs
- Travel and tourism
- U.S. Postal Service
- U.S. territories and protectorates
- Voting rights
Text 2
Each version as it was printed, newest first.
- Aug 11, 2021Placed on Calendar Senate
- Mar 17, 2021Introduced in Senate
Everything here is as published by Congress: the summary is the Congressional Research Service's, the action wording is the clerks', and the subjects are the Library of Congress's. How far it got is read from the actions themselves, taking the most recent one of each kind, so a bill that failed a vote and later passed is shown as having passed. Records come from this bill on Congress.gov and govinfo.gov; cost estimates are the Congressional Budget Office's, and the hearings are the printed hearings GovInfo publishes, which can appear months after the hearing.
