PAST Act

Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.

Congressional Research Service

Official summary

Version 00 · Introduced in House · Dec 17, 2020

Promoting Accountability and Security in Transitions Act of 2020 or the PAST Act

This bill revises requirements for preservation of presidential records and requires that information be made available to the next administration in a timely fashion.

Specifically, the bill (1) requires the President to receive written guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) before destroying any records, (2) prohibits White House staff from using nonofficial electronic messaging accounts that cannot be easily copied or forwarded to official accounts, (3) establishes consequences for former Presidents who destroy presidential records, (4) requires former Presidents to cover the cost of digitizing records for display in a presidential library, and (5) requires NARA to ensure that newly inaugurated Presidents are granted easy access to national security information.

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People & committees

Who introduced it

Rep. Quigley, Mike [D-IL-5] · D–IL

Committees

Oversight and Government Reform Committee

0 cosponsorship records, including any withdrawals

Legislative record

Actions

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Dec 17, 2020
Referred to the House Committee on Oversight and Reform.
Dec 17, 2020
Introduced in House
Dec 17, 2020
Introduced in House

Primary sources

Bill text & related measures

Text links open the official source. We currently store references to these documents.

Introduced in House · Dec 17, 2020 Formatted Text PDF Formatted XML

Related bills identified by Congress.gov

Source last updated: Jan 10, 2026. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.

AI Conversation Starters

Explore the bill from different angles

Choose a perspective, copy a prompt, and paste it into your preferred AI. Each prompt includes the bill version and available official source links, and asks for counterarguments as well as supporting evidence.

Neutral evidence review

Objective

Analyze H.R.9022 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

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Discuss H.R.9022, 116th Congress: PAST Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/9022

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr9022/BILLS-116hr9022ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T19:34:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Analyze H.R.9022 as objectively as possible. Explain its main provisions, who would be affected, possible benefits and harms, implementation, exceptions, and uncertainties. Present the strongest arguments for and against it, and identify evidence needed to assess its public impact.

Fairness and public impact

Progressive lens

Examine H.R.9022 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

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Discuss H.R.9022, 116th Congress: PAST Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/9022

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr9022/BILLS-116hr9022ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T19:34:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.9022 through a progressive lens, focusing on fairness, access, economic inequality, and effects on vulnerable communities. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and distinguish stated goals from demonstrated outcomes.

Institutions and government scope

Conservative lens

Examine H.R.9022 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.9022, 116th Congress: PAST Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/9022

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr9022/BILLS-116hr9022ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T19:34:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.9022 through a conservative lens, focusing on fiscal responsibility, institutional stability, federalism, and the scope of government. Explain potential benefits, costs, and unintended consequences. Consider the strongest counterarguments and any provisions that challenge this perspective.

Individual rights and government power

Liberty lens

Examine H.R.9022 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.

View full prompt & sources

Discuss H.R.9022, 116th Congress: PAST Act

Official record: https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/house-bill/9022

Text version to examine: Introduced in House · 2020-12-17.

Official full text: https://www.congress.gov/116/bills/hr9022/BILLS-116hr9022ih.htm

Imported record last updated by the source: 2026-01-10T19:34:04Z. Verify current status and distinguish any later version from the version above.

Read the official text before answering. If you cannot access it, say so and ask me to provide it; do not assume a link means you have read the document. Distinguish proposals from enacted law, cite sources, and separate facts, interpretation, and uncertain predictions. Include counterarguments even when using a particular perspective.

Examine H.R.9022 through a civil-liberties and limited-government lens. Consider individual rights, privacy, voluntary choice, accountability, and government power. Explain tradeoffs, possible safeguards, and the strongest counterarguments without assuming the proposal is beneficial or harmful.