S. 5238
Introduced in Senate · August 11, 2026August 4, 2026
Mr. Merkley (for himself, Ms. Duckworth, and Mr. Blumenthal) introduced the following bill; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To preserve the democratic republic of the United States from the overreach of authoritarian tactics.
Sec.; 1. Short title; table of contents.; TITLE I—DEFEND THE REFEREES; 101. Inspectors General Independence Act.; TITLE II—PROTECT THE INDEPENDENT, NONPARTISAN CIVIL SERVICE; 201. Reduction in Force Review Act.; 202. Agency reorganization.; TITLE III—CELEBRATE ONE NATION, INDIVISIBLE; 301. ICE Out of Our Faces Act.; 302. Accountability for unlawful immigration enforcement actions.; 303. Prohibition on racial profiling.; TITLE IV—REAFFIRM EQUAL JUSTICE UNDER LAW; 401. Short title.; 402. Definitions.; 403. Rule of construction.; PART I—PROCEDURES AND TEMPORARY PLACEMENTS FOLLOWING APPREHENSION; 411. Prohibition on family separation.; 412. Protections for noncitizen children.; 413. Nonadversarial asylum processing for noncitizen children.; 414. Standards for U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention of noncitizen children.; 415. Standards for U.S. Customs and Border Protection facilities housing noncitizen children.; 416. Modification of term “asylum officer” to exclude officers of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.; PART II—STANDARDS FOR DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CUSTODY OF UNACCOMPANIED NONCITIZEN CHILDREN; 420. Operation of foster care homes and childcare facilities.; 421. Notice of rights.; 422. Staffing and training.; 423. Required services.; 424. Evaluation for disability.; 425. Education.; 426. Recreation.; 427. Phasing out large congregate care facilities.; 428. Least restrictive setting.; 429. Foster family care.; 430. Additional requirements relating to children with disabilities and children with mental health needs.; 431. Minimizing transfers.; 432. Restrictive placements.; 433. Judicial review of placement.; 434. Family reunification efforts by Office of Refugee Resettlement.; 435. Standards relating to sponsors.; 436. Special considerations relating to release of children with disabilities.; 437. Procedures for release.; 438. Post-release services.; 439. Individuals attaining 18 years of age.; 440. Custody review by Ombudsperson.; PART III—EMERGENCIES AND INFLUXES; 441. Sense of Congress.; 442. Definitions.; 443. Placement.; 444. Planning for emergencies and influxes.; 445. Influx facility standards and staffing.; 446. Monitoring and oversight.; PART IV—LEGAL REPRESENTATION FOR UNACCOMPANIED NONCITIZEN CHILDREN; 451. Legal orientation presentations and legal screenings.; 452. Legal representation.; PART V—APPOINTMENT OF CHILD ADVOCATES AND IMPROVEMENTS TO IMMIGRATION COURTS; 461. Appointment of child advocates.; 462. Immigration court improvements.; PART VI—OVERSIGHT, MONITORING, AND ENFORCEMENT; 471. Office of the Ombudsperson for Unaccompanied Noncitizen Children in Immigration Custody.; 472. Data collection and reporting.; 473. Enforcement.; 474. Protection from retaliation.; 475. Mandatory access to detention facilities for Members of Congress.; PART VII—NONDISCRIMINATION; 476. Fair and equal treatment.; 477. Responsibilities of care providers.; PART VIII—INFORMATION SHARING AND DATA PROTECTION; 481. Separation of records.; 482. Prohibition on use for denial of relief or in removal proceedings.; 483. Disclosure.; 484. Prohibition on information sharing.; 485. Counseling records.; 486. Data protection for sponsors.; 491. Short title.; 492. Establishment and structure of the United States Immigration Courts.; 493. Employees.; 494. Budget and expenditures.; 495. Annual report.; 496. Application date; transitional provisions.; 497. Institutional transfer; continuity of proceedings.; 498. Review by the Judicial Conference; consultation requirements.; 499. Technical and conforming provisions.; TITLE V—STRENGTHEN FREE SPEECH; 501. Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act of 2025.; TITLE VI—REASSERT CONGRESS’S POWER OF THE PURSE; 601. Prohibition on rescissions.; 602. East Wing Modernization Project.; TITLE VII—FIGHT GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION; 701. Bribery, graft, and conflicts of interest.; 702. Ethics and conduct for the President and Vice President.; 703. Bringing Executive Accountability, Clarity, and Oversight Now (BEACON) Act.; 704. Transparency in the Administration’s Business Opportunities Act (TABOO Act).; 705. End Prediction Market Corruption Act.; 706. End Crypto Corruption Act.; 707. Stop Corrupt Gratuities Act.; 708. Change Corruption Act.; 709. Stop Trading on Predictions and Corrupt Bets Act.; 710. Prohibit Partisan Park Passes Act.; 711. Prohibition on use of funds by GSA.; TITLE VIII—ENSURE LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR ALL; 801. Disclosure of directives and inquiries from the Executive Office of the President to the Department of Justice.; 802. Prohibition on payments from judgment fund without congressional approval.; TITLE IX—PREVENT AUTHORITARIAN POLICING TACTICS ON AMERICA’S STREETS; 901. Preventing Authoritarian Policing Tactics on America’s Streets Act.; 902. Insurrection Act of 2026.; TITLE X—SAFEGUARD FREE AND FAIR ELECTIONS; 1011. Short title.; 1012. Prohibition on false AI-generated election media.; 1013. Prohibition on removal of names from voting rolls using unverified voter challenge databases.; 1014. Private right of action against Federal Government for use of Federal data in determining eligibility to vote.; 1015. GAO study and report.; 1016. Severability.; 1021. Election interference and law enforcement at polls.