[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 103 (Thursday, July 22, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Pages S8727-S8728]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. HATCH (for himself and Mr. Leahy):
  S. 2742. A bill to extend certain authority of the Supreme Court 
Police, modify the venue of prosecutions relating to the Supreme Court 
building and grounds, and authorize the acceptance of gifts to the 
United States Supreme Court; to the Committee on the Judiciary.
  Mr. HATCH. Mr. President, the Federal courts propose legislation to 
improve their operational efficiency. Today, joined by Senator Leahy, I 
am introducing legislation requested by the Supreme Court of the United 
States. This bill is non-controversial and I hope the Senate can 
complete action on it in a timely manner after we return from our 
August recess.
  There are three sections to this bill which I will describe for the 
benefit of my colleagues.
  Section 1. Supreme Court Police Authority to Protect Court Officials 
Off of Court Grounds. This section would extend, for an additional four 
years, a ``sunset'' provision on authority of the Supreme Court Police 
to protect the Justices and other Court officials and official guests 
away from the Court building and grounds.
  This authority was established by Public Law 97-390 (12/29/82) and 
was for a three-year period. Since 1985, the authority has been renewed 
regularly, generally with three or four year extensions and now expires 
at the end of 2004. The extension of the sunset provision would permit 
the Court Police to carry out this function until 2008. The Court 
Police regularly provide protection for the Justices away from the 
Court, and in light of the heightened security threats to symbols of 
our government, it is vital that the Police's authority to carry out 
this function continue without interruption.
  Section 2. Venue for violations of Chapter 61 of Title 40. This 
section would add the United States District Court for the District of 
Columbia to the existing statute establishing venue for the prosecution 
of violations of statutes or regulations governing the Supreme Court 
building and grounds under 40 USCS Sec. Sec.  6131 et seq.
  Section 6137(b) currently permits prosecutions only in Superior 
Court. The amendment would provide an additional alternative, in light 
of the fact that there are prosecutions under these statutes where 
distinctly Federal interests are at stake.
  Prosecutions under this chapter include the following: Sale of 
articles, signs, and solicitation in Supreme Court Building and 
grounds; destruction of property in the Supreme Court

[[Page S8728]]

Building and grounds; possession of firearms, fireworks, unauthorized 
speeches, and objectionable language in the Supreme Court Building and 
grounds; and unauthorized parades, assemblages, and display of flags in 
the Supreme Court Building and grounds.
  Section 3. Gifts to the Supreme Court. This section would authorize 
the Chief Justice or his designee to accept, hold, administer and use 
gifts of personal property for official Court purposes. Monetary 
bequests would be turned over to the treasury.
  In 1978, Congress authorized the Director of the Administrative 
Office for United States Courts to receive gifts on behalf of the 
judiciary, recognizing at the time that the judiciary had already 
received gifts under its implied powers. [See 28 U.S.C. 
Sec. 604(a)(17)(B).] Generally, the Director does not have authority 
with respect to the Supreme Court, and this provision is intended to 
recognize that the Supreme Court has the authority to receive non-
monetary gifts on its own behalf. The language of the provision closely 
tracks the 1978 legislation authorizing the Director to receive gifts 
for the judiciary.
  Mr. President, I appreciate the cooperative effort that Senator Leahy 
and I have been able to undertake to bring this legislation to the 
Senate and am confident we can work together to ensure timely passage 
of this measure.
  I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the 
Record.
  There being no objection, the text of the bill was ordered to be 
printed in the Record, as follows:

                                S. 2742

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. EXTENSION OF AUTHORITY FOR THE UNITED STATES 
                   SUPREME COURT POLICE TO PROTECT COURT OFFICIALS 
                   OFF THE SUPREME COURT GROUNDS.

       Section 6121(b)(2) of title 40, United States Code, is 
     amended by striking ``2004'' and inserting ``2008''.

     SEC. 2. VENUE FOR PROSECUTIONS RELATING TO THE UNITED STATES 
                   SUPREME COURT BUILDING AND GROUNDS.

       Section 6137 of title 40, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking subsection (b) and inserting the following:
       ``(b) Venue and Procedure.--Prosecution for a violation 
     described in subsection (a) shall be in the United States 
     District Court for the District of Columbia or in the 
     Superior Court of the District of Columbia, on information by 
     the United States Attorney or an Assistant United States 
     Attorney.''.

     SEC. 3. GIFTS TO THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT.

       The Chief Justice or his designee is authorized to accept, 
     hold, administer, and utilize gifts and bequests of personal 
     property for the purpose of aiding or facilitating the work 
     of the United States Supreme Court, but gifts or bequests of 
     money shall be covered into the Treasury.
                                 ______