[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 153 (Thursday, September 25, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S9459]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        SUPREME COURT POLICE ACT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 956, S. 3296.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.
  The bill clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 3296) to extend the authority of the United 
     States Supreme Court Police to protect court officials off 
     the Supreme Court Grounds and change the title of the 
     Administrative Assistant to the Chief Justice.

  There being no objection, the Senate proceeded to consider the bill.
  Mr LEAHY. Mr. President, before the Senate is important legislation I 
introduced months ago to extend for 5 years the authority of the U.S. 
Supreme Court Police to protect Supreme Court Justices when they leave 
the Supreme Court grounds. Senator Specter cosponsored this measure 
with me. We have extended the Court police's authority to protect 
Justices before, the last time in 2004. This authority expires at the 
end of this year.
  This is exactly the type of bill that should pass by unanimous 
consent without delay. I hotlined the bill and it was cleared on the 
Democratic side of the Senate for passage months ago, but I was told 
that there was a Republican objection. Although I would prefer to pass 
this measure clean, Senator Kyl has insisted on adding an amendment. I 
will consent to this amendment because this bill needs to pass to 
extend the Supreme Court police's authority. The time for passage is 
now, without further delay.
  Mr. REID. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Kyl 
amendment at the desk be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be read a 
third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table, 
and any statements relating to the bill be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The amendment (No. 5645) was agreed to as follows:

 (Purpose: To provide for a limitation on acceptance of honorary club 
                  memberships by justices and judges)

       At the end of the bill, add the following:

     SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON ACCEPTANCE OF HONORARY CLUB 
                   MEMBERSHIPS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Gift.--The term ``gift'' has the meaning given under 
     section 109(5) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.).
       (2) Judicial officer.--The term ``judicial officer'' has 
     the meaning given under section 109(10) of the Ethics in 
     Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
       (b) Prohibition on Acceptance of Honorary Club 
     Memberships.--A judicial officer may not accept a gift of an 
     honorary club membership with a value of more than $50 in any 
     calendar year.

  The bill (S. 3296), as amended, was ordered to be engrossed for a 
third reading, was read the third time, and pased, as follows:

                                S. 3296

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

     SECTION 1. UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT POLICE AND COUNSELOR 
                   TO THE CHIEF JUSTICE.

       (a) Extension of Authority of 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 ``2008'' and inserting ``2013''.
       (b) Counselor to the Chief Justice.--
       (1) Office of federal judicial administration.--Section 
     133(b)(2) of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     striking ``administrative assistant'' and inserting 
     ``Counselor''.
       (2) Judicial official.--Section 376(a) of title 28, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (A) in paragraph (1)(E), by striking ``an administrative 
     assistant'' and inserting ``a Counselor''; and
       (B) in paragraph (2)(E), by striking ``an administrative 
     assistant'' and inserting ``a Counselor''.
       (3) Administrative assistant to the chief justice.--
       (A) In general.--Section 677 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended--
       (i) in the section heading, by striking ``Administrative 
     Assistant'' and inserting ``Counselor'';
       (ii) in subsection (a)--

       (I) in the first sentence, by striking ``an Administrative 
     Assistant'' and inserting ``a Counselor''; and
       (II) in the second and third sentences, by striking 
     ``Administrative Assistant'' each place that term appears and 
     inserting ``Counselor''; and

       (iii) in subsections (b) and (c), by striking 
     ``Administrative Assistant'' each place that term appears and 
     inserting ``Counselor''.
       (B) Table of sections.--The table of sections for chapter 
     45 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by striking 
     the item relating to section 677 and inserting the following:

``677. Counselor to the Chief Justice.''.

     SEC. 2. LIMITATION ON ACCEPTANCE OF HONORARY CLUB 
                   MEMBERSHIPS.

       (a) Definitions.--In this section:
       (1) Gift.--The term ``gift'' has the meaning given under 
     section 109(5) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 (5 
     U.S.C. App.).
       (2) Judicial officer.--The term ``judicial officer'' has 
     the meaning given under section 109(10) of the Ethics in 
     Government Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.).
       (b) Prohibition on Acceptance of Honorary Club 
     Memberships.--A judicial officer may not accept a gift of an 
     honorary club membership with a value of more than $50 in any 
     calendar year.

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