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S. 1 117th Congress Senate

For the People Act of 2021

Official title: 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… Show full official titleShow less

Official title: 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.

Introduced: March 17, 2021 Introduced by: Jeff Merkley Democratic · Oregon See on congress.gov
Government Operations and Politics Accounting and auditingAdministrative law and regulatory proceduresAdministrative remediesAdult day care
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This bill died when the 117th Congress ended
It never became law before the 117th Congress (2021–2022) adjourned, and bills don't carry over to the next Congress. It would have to be reintroduced. You can still save it for reference, but it won't receive updates.
 Everywhere this bill has been 7 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Aug 11, 2021
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.
Aug 11, 2021
Senate 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, 2021
Senate 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)
May 11, 2021
Committee on Rules and Administration. Failed to report favorably.
Mar 24, 2021
Committee on Rules and Administration. Hearings held. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 117-14.
Mar 17, 2021
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Mar 17, 2021
Introduced in Senate
 Votes taken on this bill 1
DateChamberWhat was voted onResultYes–No
Aug 11, 2021 Senate · vote #358 On the Motion to Discharge S. 1 Agreed To 50–49 See who voted →
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 Latest action August 11, 2021

Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 123.

 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

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.

 Related & companion bills 46
 Bill text 2 versions

Source documents hosted by congress.gov.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1
 Cosponsors 39
D
Baldwin, Tammy
Wisconsin · Mar 17, 2021
D
Bennet, Michael F.
Colorado · Mar 17, 2021
D
Blumenthal, Richard
Connecticut · Mar 17, 2021
D
Booker, Cory A.
New Jersey · Mar 17, 2021
D
Cantwell, Maria
Washington · Mar 17, 2021
D
Coons, Christopher A.
Delaware · Mar 17, 2021
D
Cortez Masto, Catherine
Nevada · Mar 17, 2021
D
Duckworth, Tammy
Illinois · Mar 17, 2021
D
Durbin, Richard J.
Illinois · Mar 17, 2021
D
Gillibrand, Kirsten E.
New York · Mar 17, 2021
D
Hassan, Margaret Wood
New Hampshire · Mar 17, 2021
D
Heinrich, Martin
New Mexico · Mar 17, 2021
D
Hickenlooper, John W.
Colorado · Mar 17, 2021
D
Hirono, Mazie K.
Hawaii · Mar 17, 2021
D
Kaine, Tim
Virginia · Mar 17, 2021
D
Kelly, Mark
Arizona · Mar 17, 2021
I
King, Angus S., Jr.
Maine · Mar 17, 2021
D
Klobuchar, Amy
Minnesota · Mar 17, 2021
D
Luján, Ben Ray
New Mexico · Mar 17, 2021
D
Markey, Edward J.
Massachusetts · Mar 17, 2021
D
Murphy, Christopher
Connecticut · Mar 17, 2021
D
Murray, Patty
Washington · Mar 17, 2021
D
Ossoff, Jon
Georgia · Mar 17, 2021
D
Padilla, Alex
California · Mar 17, 2021
D
Peters, Gary C.
Michigan · Mar 17, 2021
D
Reed, Jack
Rhode Island · Mar 17, 2021
D
Rosen, Jacky
Nevada · Mar 17, 2021
I
Sanders, Bernard
Vermont · Mar 17, 2021
D
Schatz, Brian
Hawaii · Mar 17, 2021
D
Schumer, Charles E.
New York · Mar 17, 2021
D
Shaheen, Jeanne
New Hampshire · Mar 17, 2021
Sinema, Kyrsten
· Mar 17, 2021
D
Smith, Tina
Minnesota · Mar 17, 2021
D
Van Hollen, Chris
Maryland · Mar 17, 2021
D
Warner, Mark R.
Virginia · Mar 17, 2021
D
Warnock, Raphael G.
Georgia · Mar 17, 2021
D
Warren, Elizabeth
Massachusetts · Mar 17, 2021
D
Whitehouse, Sheldon
Rhode Island · Mar 17, 2021
D
Wyden, Ron
Oregon · Mar 17, 2021
Cite this page click to expand
APA
U.S. Congress. (2026). S. 1: For the People Act of 2021. 117th Congress. Open America. https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1/
MLA
"S. 1: For the People Act of 2021." 117th Congress, 2026, Open America, https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1/.
Bluebook (legal)
S. 1, 117th Cong. (2026), https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1/.
Markdown link
[S. 1: For the People Act of 2021](https://openamerica.io/bill/117-S-1/)
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