[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 111 (Tuesday, July 27, 2010)]
[House]
[Pages H6134-H6135]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FEDERAL RESTRICTED BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2010

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and 
pass the bill (H.R. 2780) to correct and simplify the drafting of 
section 1752 (relating to restricted buildings or grounds) of title 18, 
United States Code, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                               H.R. 2780

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

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Federal Restricted Buildings 
     and Grounds Improvement Act of 2010''.

     SEC. 2. RESTRICTED BUILDINGS OR GROUNDS.

       Section 1752 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to 
     read as follows:

     ``Sec. 1752. Restricted buildings or grounds

       ``(a) Whoever--
       ``(1) knowingly enters or remains in any restricted 
     building or grounds without lawful authority to do so;
       ``(2) knowingly, and with intent to impede or disrupt the 
     orderly conduct of Government business or official functions, 
     engages in disorderly or disruptive conduct in, or within 
     such proximity to, any restricted building or grounds when, 
     or so that, such conduct, in fact, impedes or disrupts the 
     orderly conduct of Government business or official functions;
       ``(3) knowingly, and with the intent to impede or disrupt 
     the orderly conduct of Government business or official 
     functions, obstructs or impedes ingress or egress to or from 
     any restricted building or grounds; or
       ``(4) knowingly engages in any act of physical violence 
     against any person or property in any restricted building or 
     grounds;

     or attempts or conspires to do so, shall be punished as 
     provided in subsection (b).
       ``(b) The punishment for a violation of subsection (a) is--
       ``(1) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more 
     than 10 years, or both, if--
       ``(A) any person, during and in relation to the offense, 
     uses or carries a deadly or dangerous weapon or firearm; or
       ``(B) the offense results in significant bodily injury as 
     defined by section 2118(e)(3); and
       ``(2) a fine under this title or imprisonment for not more 
     than one year, or both, in any other case.
       ``(c) In this section--
       ``(1) the term `restricted buildings or grounds' means a 
     posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted area of a 
     building or grounds--
       ``(A) where the President or other person protected by the 
     Secret Service is or will be temporarily visiting; or
       ``(B) so restricted in conjunction with an event designated 
     as a special event of national significance; and
       ``(2) the term `other person protected by the Secret 
     Service' means any person whom the United States Secret 
     Service is authorized to protect under section 3056 of this 
     title when such person has not declined such protection.''.

     SEC. 3. PAYGO COMPLIANCE.

       The budgetary effects of this Act, for the purpose of 
     complying with the Statutory Pay-As-You-Go Act of 2010, shall 
     be determined by reference to the latest statement titled 
     ``Budgetary Effects of PAYGO Legislation'' for this Act, 
     submitted for printing in the Congressional Record by the 
     Chairman of the House Budget Committee, provided that such 
     statement has been submitted prior to the vote on passage.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Virginia (Mr. Scott) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. I ask unanimous consent that all Members have 
5 legislative days to revise and extend their remarks and include 
extraneous material on the bill under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  H.R. 2780 will assist the Secret Service to perform their protective 
duties.
  Current Federal law prohibits individuals from entering or remaining 
in areas cordoned off as restricted because of protection being 
provided by the Secret Service. This bill would simply clarify that the 
prohibition under the existing statute only applies to those who do not 
have lawful authority to be in those areas.
  The men and women of the Secret Service conduct themselves with valor 
and professionalism while carrying out the protective function of their 
agency. They provide protection for a variety of people and events, 
including the President of the United States and national special 
security events. This bill will assist the men and women of the Secret 
Service in doing their jobs.
  I commend my colleague from Florida (Mr. Rooney) for his work on this 
bill, which eliminates the ambiguity in the present law. I urge my 
colleagues to support the bill.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ROONEY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States Secret Service began providing 
protective

[[Page H6135]]

services following the assassination of President McKinley in 1901. The 
Service's protection responsibilities have since expanded to include 
the First Family, the Vice President, former Presidents, heads of 
state, and others. This Service also provides protection at special 
events of national significance.
  To address this vital responsibility, the Secret Service must 
anticipate, recognize, and assess threat situations and initiate 
strategies to eliminate and reduce threats or security vulnerabilities.
  Key components to the Service's protection mission is securing the 
buildings and grounds where protectees work or visit. From the White 
House to a hotel ballroom, the Secret Service must provide a secure 
environment for the President and other protectees.
  H.R. 2780 ensures that the Secret Service has the ability to secure 
all necessary areas surrounding the restricted buildings and grounds 
that house our leaders, their families, and foreign heads of state.
  The bill clarifies section 1752 of title 18, which sets penalties for 
knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds 
without the lawful authority to do so. Currently written, the code does 
not distinguish between those who are there lawfully, such as Secret 
Service agents and other authorized staff, and those who are there 
without permission.
  This bill does not create any new authorities for the Secret Service 
and does not restrict the liberties of American citizens. H.R. 2780 
simply clarifies and improves existing criminal statutes that are 
necessary for the Secret Service to resolve security issues and 
implement prevention strategies before tragedy strikes.
  There have been enough climbing incidents at the White House fence 
for at least one Web site to dedicate itself to chronicling the 
escapades of ``White House fence jumpers.'' While some of these 
individuals are attempting a collegiate prank, other such breaches 
could be catastrophic.
  This bill will enable the United States Secret Service to continue to 
deliver the highest level of protective services, consistent with their 
proud tradition. I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
important legislation.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT of Virginia. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my 
time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 2780, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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