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Protecting Our Constitution and Communities Act

USA119th CongressHR-3454| House 
| Updated: 5/15/2025
Sam T. Liccardo

Sam T. Liccardo

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (40)
April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Julie Johnson (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Pablo Jose Hernández (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Dave Min (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Derek Tran (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Sara Jacobs (Democratic)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Susie Lee (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)

Rules Committee, Budget Committee

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted
This bill, titled the "Protecting Our Constitution and Communities Act," significantly amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to reinforce Congress's exclusive power of the purse and prevent the executive branch from unlawfully withholding appropriated funds. It explicitly states that the President has no constitutional authority to impound funds and clarifies that compliance with the Act is a legal, not political, question for courts to decide. The bill also narrowly defines "contingencies" as unforeseen events requiring immediate, temporary adjustments, consistent with executive budgetary limits. A central provision establishes a private right of action , allowing any aggrieved person, state, or local government to file a civil lawsuit against the United States and federal employees for the unlawful withholding of budget authority. Such actions can seek preventive relief, including injunctions, and allow for the recovery of equitable and legal relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, with treble damages for bad faith violations. Federal employees are made personally liable for damages in cases of knowing violations, with various forms of immunity explicitly waived. The legislation also grants substantial deference to the Comptroller General's legal interpretations regarding the Act's enforcement and requires the Executive Branch to provide timely access to records for reviews. Any failure to comply with the Comptroller General's determination must be reported to Congress. Finally, the bill ensures justiciability by declaring that the failure to make budget authority available constitutes a final agency action not committed to agency discretion, thereby making it reviewable by courts.
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Timeline
May 15, 2025
Introduced in House
May 15, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • May 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 15, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

Economics and Public Finance

Protecting Our Constitution and Communities Act

USA119th CongressHR-3454| House 
| Updated: 5/15/2025
This bill, titled the "Protecting Our Constitution and Communities Act," significantly amends the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974 to reinforce Congress's exclusive power of the purse and prevent the executive branch from unlawfully withholding appropriated funds. It explicitly states that the President has no constitutional authority to impound funds and clarifies that compliance with the Act is a legal, not political, question for courts to decide. The bill also narrowly defines "contingencies" as unforeseen events requiring immediate, temporary adjustments, consistent with executive budgetary limits. A central provision establishes a private right of action , allowing any aggrieved person, state, or local government to file a civil lawsuit against the United States and federal employees for the unlawful withholding of budget authority. Such actions can seek preventive relief, including injunctions, and allow for the recovery of equitable and legal relief, including compensatory and punitive damages, with treble damages for bad faith violations. Federal employees are made personally liable for damages in cases of knowing violations, with various forms of immunity explicitly waived. The legislation also grants substantial deference to the Comptroller General's legal interpretations regarding the Act's enforcement and requires the Executive Branch to provide timely access to records for reviews. Any failure to comply with the Comptroller General's determination must be reported to Congress. Finally, the bill ensures justiciability by declaring that the failure to make budget authority available constitutes a final agency action not committed to agency discretion, thereby making it reviewable by courts.
View Full Text

Suggested Questions

Get AI-generated questions to help you understand this bill better

Timeline
May 15, 2025
Introduced in House
May 15, 2025
Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
  • May 15, 2025
    Introduced in House


  • May 15, 2025
    Referred to the Committee on the Budget, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
Sam T. Liccardo

Sam T. Liccardo

Democratic Representative

California

Cosponsors (40)
April McClain Delaney (Democratic)Yassamin Ansari (Democratic)Jared Huffman (Democratic)Gabe Amo (Democratic)Julie Johnson (Democratic)Joyce Beatty (Democratic)Emanuel Cleaver (Democratic)Darren Soto (Democratic)Raul Ruiz (Democratic)Pablo Jose Hernández (Democratic)Juan Vargas (Democratic)Troy A. Carter (Democratic)Eugene Simon Vindman (Democratic)Eric Swalwell (Democratic)Steve Cohen (Democratic)Dave Min (Democratic)Adriano Espaillat (Democratic)Ro Khanna (Democratic)Jasmine Crockett (Democratic)Henry C. "Hank" Johnson (Democratic)Derek Tran (Democratic)Stephen F. Lynch (Democratic)Sara Jacobs (Democratic)Marilyn Strickland (Democratic)Suhas Subramanyam (Democratic)Daniel S. Goldman (Democratic)Jerrold Nadler (Democratic)Brad Sherman (Democratic)Bonnie Watson Coleman (Democratic)Timothy M. Kennedy (Democratic)Salud O. Carbajal (Democratic)Jamie Raskin (Democratic)Sean Casten (Democratic)Julia Brownley (Democratic)Cleo Fields (Democratic)Lizzie Fletcher (Democratic)Kevin Mullin (Democratic)Susie Lee (Democratic)Rashida Tlaib (Democratic)Bradley Scott Schneider (Democratic)

Rules Committee, Budget Committee

Economics and Public Finance

  • Introduced
  • In Committee
  • On Floor
  • Passed Chamber
  • Enacted