Dear friend,

Holding our government accountable has long been one of my top priorities in Congress. This requires working with my colleagues to craft policy that will increase transparency and accountability across the three branches of our government. Last month, we introduced the Protecting our Democracy Act, a comprehensive bill that would do just that. This important legislation is a direct response to the current abuses of power exhibited by the White House and throughout the Administration. These important reforms will prevent future Presidents from exploiting loopholes to concentrate power and bring more accountability and transparency to our government. I am proud to share that my bill, the Accountability for Acting Officials Act, was included in this significant legislation. 

The Protecting our Democracy Act has three main focuses: to prevent presidential abuses, strengthen accountability, and protect our elections from corruption. This bill would prohibit self-pardons by the President, strengthen Congress’ ability to enforce lawfully issued subpoenas, and require political committees to report specific foreign contacts. These necessary reforms are crucial to rebuilding Americans’ trust in our government.

My colleagues and I discussed the importance of safeguarding our democracy during a recent panel hosted by the Center for American Progress.

The Accountability for Acting Officials Act would crack down on unconfirmed agency heads by limiting who can serve as an “acting” official and for how long. Our Constitution requires top Administration officials be vetted by Congress, but the President has repeatedly allowed “acting” officials to serve in their roles for months without ever being confirmed by the Senate. That means the American people don’t get to make their voices heard, through their elected Senators, on the high-level officials making policy decisions. It allows the President to place individuals in these critical positions who are unqualified for the job or unable to fulfill the responsibilities of the role. The President has shown us loopholes in the current law that guides this process, and now it’s time to close them. Administration officials must be held accountable to the American public and my bill would help make this a reality. 

I will continue to fight for government accountability and transparency for Orange County families. To stay up to date on how I’m representing you and California’s 45th district, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @RepKatiePorter.

Very truly yours,



Katie Porter

Member of Congress