[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 28 (Monday, February 28, 2011)]
[House]
[Pages H1372-H1374]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    FEDERAL RESTRICTED BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2011

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend 
the rules and pass the bill (H.R. 347) to correct and simplify the 
drafting of

[[Page H1373]]

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. 347

       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 2011''.

     SEC. 2. RESTRICTED BUILDING OR GROUNDS.

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

     ``Sec. 1752. Restricted building 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 any 
     posted, cordoned off, or otherwise restricted area--
       ``(A) of the White House or its grounds, or the Vice 
     President's official residence or its grounds;
       ``(B) of a building or grounds where the President or other 
     person protected by the Secret Service is or will be 
     temporarily visiting; or
       ``(C) of a building or grounds 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.''.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) and the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. 
Johnson) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.


                             General Leave

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous 
consent that all Members may have 5 legislative days to revise and 
extend their remarks and include extraneous materials on H.R. 347 
currently under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from California?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, at this time I 
yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rooney), the author 
of this bill, a distinguished former member of our Judiciary Committee 
and one who has just gotten over the mourning period because of his 
beloved Pittsburgh Steelers.
  Mr. ROONEY. I thank the gentleman from California.
  Mr. Speaker, the United States Secret Service began providing 
protective 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. The 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.
  A key component of the Service's protection mission is securing the 
buildings and grounds where those protected 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. 347 ensures that the Secret Service has the ability to secure 
all necessary areas surrounding restricted buildings and grounds that 
house our leaders, their families, and foreign heads of state. This 
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.

                              {time}  1440

  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. 347 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.
  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.
  Mr. JOHNSON of Georgia. I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I support H.R. 347, which will assist the Secret Service 
in performing their protective duties, and it does include the 
Pittsburgh Steelers organization in the confines of this legislation.
  The role of the Secret Service has expanded greatly since it was 
created in 1865 to fight the counterfeiting of U.S. currency. The 
Secret Service became part of the Treasury Department in 1883 and took 
on many additional investigative responsibilities with respect to 
safeguarding the payment and financial systems of the United States.
  It wasn't until 1894 that the Secret Service first started protecting 
our Presidents, and that protective role with respect to the President, 
Vice President, and other dignitaries has grown substantially since 
that time. The bill before us today will help the Secret Service carry 
out this protective function.
  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 under--excuse me. 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 bill also would add the White House and the Vice President's 
residence to the definition of restricted areas protected under current 
law.
  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 and national special security events.
  The Secret Service has other important functions which also deserve 
recognition. For example, the investigative role of the Secret Service 
has expanded greatly from protecting the currency against 
counterfeiting to investigating a wide variety of crimes related to 
this country's financial institutions and credit systems.
  I commend the gentleman from Florida, Representative Tom Rooney, for 
his work on this bill. I do sympathize with him in his loss. And I urge 
my colleagues to support H.R. 347.
  I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, I would ask all 
Members to support this reasonable legislation.
  I have no further requests for time, and I yield back the balance of 
my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Daniel E. Lungren) that the House 
suspend the rules and pass the bill, H.R. 347, as amended.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds 
being in the affirmative, the ayes have it.

[[Page H1374]]

  Mr. DANIEL E. LUNGREN of California. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand 
the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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