[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 13]
[House]
[Pages 18327-18332]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1600
                 COURT SECURITY IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2007

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 660) to amend title 18, United States Code, to protect 
judges, prosecutors, witnesses, victims, and their family members, and 
for other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the bill.
  The text of the bill is as follows:

                                H.R. 660

       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 ``Court Security Improvement 
     Act of 2007''.

          TITLE I--JUDICIAL SECURITY IMPROVEMENTS AND FUNDING

     SEC. 101. JUDICIAL BRANCH SECURITY REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Ensuring Consultation With the Judiciary.--Section 566 
     of title 28, United States Code, is amended by adding at the 
     end the following:
       ``(i) The Director of the United States Marshals Service 
     shall consult with the Judicial Conference of the United 
     States on a continuing basis regarding the security 
     requirements for the judicial branch of the United States 
     Government, to ensure that the views of the Judicial 
     Conference regarding the security requirements for the 
     judicial branch of the Federal Government are taken into 
     account when determining staffing levels, setting priorities 
     for programs regarding judicial security, and allocating 
     judicial security resources. In this paragraph, the term 
     `judicial security' includes the security of buildings 
     housing the judiciary, the personal security of judicial 
     officers, the assessment of threats made to judicial 
     officers, and the protection of all other judicial personnel. 
     The United States Marshals Service retains final authority 
     regarding security requirements for the judicial branch of 
     the Federal Government.''.
       (b) Conforming Amendment.--Section 331 of title 28, United 
     States Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``The Judicial Conference shall consult with the Director 
     of United States Marshals Service on a continuing basis 
     regarding the security requirements for the judicial branch 
     of the United States Government, to ensure that the views of 
     the Judicial Conference regarding the security requirements 
     for the judicial branch of the Federal Government are taken 
     into account when determining staffing levels, setting 
     priorities for programs regarding judicial security, and 
     allocating judicial security resources. In this paragraph,

[[Page 18328]]

     the term `judicial security' includes the security of 
     buildings housing the judiciary, the personal security of 
     judicial officers, the assessment of threats made to judicial 
     officers, and the protection of all other judicial personnel. 
     The United States Marshals Service retains final authority 
     regarding security requirements for the judicial branch of 
     the Federal Government.''.

     SEC. 102. FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE REPORTS.

       Section 105(b)(3) of the Ethics in Government Act of 1978 
     (5 U.S.C. App) is amended by striking subparagraph (E).

     SEC. 103. PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES TAX COURT.

       (a) In General.--Section 566(a) of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking ``and the Court of International 
     Trade'' and inserting ``, the Court of International Trade, 
     and any other court, as provided by law''.
       (b) Internal Revenue Code.--Section 7456(c) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to incidental powers of the 
     Tax Court) is amended in the matter following paragraph (3), 
     by striking the period at the end, and inserting ``and may 
     otherwise provide for the security of the Tax Court, 
     including the personal protection of Tax Court judges, court 
     officers, witnesses, and other threatened person in the 
     interests of justice, where criminal intimidation impedes on 
     the functioning of the judicial process or any other official 
     proceeding.''.

     SEC. 104. PROTECTION OF UNITED STATES TAX COURT.

       (a) In General.--Section 566(a) of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by striking ``and the Court of International 
     Trade'' and inserting ``, the Court of International Trade, 
     and the United States Tax Court, as provided by law''.
       (b) Internal Revenue Code.--Section 7456(c) of the Internal 
     Revenue Code of 1986 (relating to incidental powers of the 
     Tax Court) is amended in the matter following paragraph (3), 
     by striking the period at the end, and inserting ``and may 
     otherwise provide, when requested by the chief judge of the 
     Tax Court, for the security of the Tax Court, including the 
     personal protection of Tax Court judges, court officers, 
     witnesses, and other threatened persons in the interests of 
     justice, where criminal intimidation impedes on the 
     functioning of the judicial process or any other official 
     proceeding.''.
       (c) Reimbursement.--The United States Tax Court shall 
     reimburse the United States Marshals Service for protection 
     provided under the amendments made by this section.

TITLE II--CRIMINAL LAW ENHANCEMENTS TO PROTECT JUDGES, FAMILY MEMBERS, 
                             AND WITNESSES

     SEC. 201. PROTECTIONS AGAINST MALICIOUS RECORDING OF 
                   FICTITIOUS LIENS AGAINST FEDERAL JUDGES AND 
                   FEDERAL LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS.

       (a) Offense.--Chapter 73 of title 18, United States Code, 
     is amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 1521. Retaliating against a Federal judge or Federal 
       law enforcement officer by false claim or slander of title

       ``Whoever files, attempts to file, or conspires to file, in 
     any public record or in any private record which is generally 
     available to the public, any false lien or encumbrance 
     against the real or personal property of an individual 
     described in section 1114, on account of the performance of 
     official duties by that individual, knowing or having reason 
     to know that such lien or encumbrance is false or contains 
     any materially false, fictitious, or fraudulent statement or 
     representation, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned 
     for not more than 10 years, or both.''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The chapter analysis for chapter 
     73 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by adding at 
     the end the following new item:

``1521. Retaliating against a Federal judge or Federal law enforcement 
              officer by false claim or slander of title.''.

     SEC. 202. PROTECTION OF INDIVIDUALS PERFORMING CERTAIN 
                   OFFICIAL DUTIES.

       (a) Offense.--Chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following:

     ``Sec. 119. Protection of individuals performing certain 
       official duties

       ``(a) In General.--Whoever knowingly makes restricted 
     personal information about a covered official, or a member of 
     the immediate family of that covered official, publicly 
     available--
       ``(1) with the intent to threaten, intimidate, or incite 
     the commission of a crime of violence against that covered 
     official, or a member of the immediate family of that covered 
     official; or
       ``(2) with the intent and knowledge that the restricted 
     personal information will be used to threaten, intimidate, or 
     facilitate the commission of a crime of violence against that 
     covered official, or a member of the immediate family of that 
     covered official,

     shall be fined under this title, imprisoned not more than 5 
     years, or both.
       ``(b) Definitions.--In this section--
       ``(1) the term `restricted personal information' means, 
     with respect to an individual, the Social Security number, 
     the home address, home phone number, mobile phone number, 
     personal email, or home fax number of, and identifiable to, 
     that individual;
       ``(2) the term `covered official' means--
       ``(A) an individual designated in section 1114;
       ``(B) a grand or petit juror, witness, or other officer in 
     or of, any court of the United States, or an officer who may 
     be serving at any examination or other proceeding before any 
     United States magistrate judge or other committing 
     magistrate;
       ``(C) a public safety officer (as that term is defined in 
     section 1204 of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets 
     Act of 1968) who is employed by a public agency that receives 
     Federal financial assistance; and
       ``(D) a paid informant or any witness in a Federal criminal 
     investigation or prosecution or in a State criminal 
     investigation or prosecution of an offense that is in or 
     affects interstate or foreign commerce;
       ``(3) the term `crime of violence' has the meaning given 
     the term in section 16; and
       ``(4) the term `immediate family' has the meaning given the 
     term in section 115(c)(2).''.
       (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections at the 
     beginning of chapter 7 of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by adding at the end the following new item:

``119. Protection of individuals performing certain official duties.''.

     SEC. 203. PROHIBITION OF POSSESSION OF DANGEROUS WEAPONS IN 
                   FEDERAL COURT FACILITIES.

       Section 930(e)(1) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended by inserting ``or other dangerous weapon'' after 
     ``firearm''.

     SEC. 204. CLARIFICATION OF VENUE FOR RETALIATION AGAINST A 
                   WITNESS.

       Section 1513 of title 18, United States Code, is amended by 
     adding at the end the following:
       ``(g) A prosecution under this section may be brought in 
     the district in which the official proceeding (whether 
     pending, about to be instituted, or completed) was intended 
     to be affected, or in which the conduct constituting the 
     alleged offense occurred.''.

     SEC. 205. MODIFICATION OF TAMPERING WITH A WITNESS, VICTIM, 
                   OR AN INFORMANT OFFENSE.

       (a) Changes in Penalties.--Section 1512 of title 18, United 
     States Code, is amended--
       (1) so that subparagraph (A) of subsection (a)(3) reads as 
     follows:
       ``(A) in the case of a killing, the punishment provided in 
     sections 1111 and 1112;'';
       (2) in subsection (a)(3)--
       (A) in the matter following clause (ii) of subparagraph (B) 
     by striking ``20 years'' and inserting ``30 years''; and
       (B) in subparagraph (C), by striking ``10 years'' and 
     inserting ``20 years'';
       (3) in subsection (b), by striking ``ten years'' and 
     inserting ``20 years''; and
       (4) in subsection (d), by striking ``one year'' and 
     inserting ``3 years''.

     SEC. 206. MODIFICATION OF RETALIATION OFFENSE.

       Section 1513 of title 18, United States Code, is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)(1)(B)--
       (A) by inserting a comma after ``probation''; and
       (B) by striking the comma which immediately follows another 
     comma;
       (2) in subsection (a)(2)(B), by striking ``20 years'' and 
     inserting ``30 years'';
       (3) in subsection (b)--
       (A) in paragraph (2)--
       (i) by inserting a comma after ``probation''; and
       (ii) by striking the comma which immediately follows 
     another comma; and
       (B) in the matter following paragraph (2), by striking 
     ``ten years'' and inserting ``20 years''; and
       (4) by redesignating the second subsection (e) as 
     subsection (f).

     SEC. 207. GENERAL MODIFICATIONS OF FEDERAL MURDER CRIME AND 
                   RELATED CRIMES.

       Section 1112(b) of title 18, United States Code, is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``United States,'' and inserting ``United 
     States--'';
       (2) by striking ``Whoever is guilty of voluntary 
     manslaughter,'' and inserting the following:
       ``(1) subject to paragraph (3), whoever is guilty of 
     voluntary manslaughter'';
       (3) by striking ``Whoever is guilty of involuntary 
     manslaughter,'' and inserting the following:
       ``(2) subject to paragraph (3), whoever is guilty of 
     involuntary manslaughter'';
       (4) at the end of paragraph (2) (as designated by paragraph 
     (3)), by striking the period and inserting ``; and''; and
       (5) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(3) whoever is guilty of an offense under section 1114 or 
     chapter 73 that involved a killing shall--
       ``(A) in the case of voluntary manslaughter, be fined under 
     this title, imprisoned for not more than 20 years, or both; 
     and
       ``(B) in the case of involuntary manslaughter, be fined 
     under this title, imprisoned for not more than 10 years, or 
     both.''.

     SEC. 208. ASSAULT PENALTIES.

       Section 115 of title 18, United States Code, is amended in 
     subsection (b) by striking

[[Page 18329]]

     ``(1)'' and all that follows through the end of paragraph (1) 
     and inserting the following :
       ``(1) The punishment for an assault in violation of this 
     section is a fine under this title and--
       ``(A) if the assault consists of a simple assault, a term 
     of imprisonment for not more than one year, or both;
       ``(B) if the assault resulted in bodily injury (as defined 
     in section 1365), a term of imprisonment for not more than 10 
     years;
       ``(C) if the assault resulted in serious bodily injury (as 
     defined in section 1365), a term of imprisonment for not more 
     than 15 years; or
       ``(D) if a dangerous weapon was used during and in relation 
     to the offense, a term of imprisonment for not more than 30 
     years.''.

     SEC. 209. DIRECTION TO THE SENTENCING COMMISSION.

       The United States Sentencing Commission is directed to 
     review the Sentencing Guidelines as they apply to threats 
     punishable under section 115 of title 18, United States Code, 
     that occur over the Internet, and determine whether and by 
     how much that should aggravate the punishment pursuant to 
     section 994 of title 28, United States Code. In conducting 
     the study, the Commission shall take into consideration the 
     number of such threats made; the intended number of 
     recipients, whether the initial sender was acting in an 
     individual capacity or part of a larger group.

TITLE III--PROTECTING STATE AND LOCAL JUDGES AND RELATED GRANT PROGRAMS

     SEC. 301. GRANTS TO STATES TO PROTECT WITNESSES AND VICTIMS 
                   OF CRIMES.

       (a) In General.--Section 31702 of the Violent Crime Control 
     and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 U.S.C. 13862) is 
     amended--
       (1) in paragraph (3), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (2) in paragraph (4), by striking the period at the end and 
     inserting ``; and''; and
       (3) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(5) by a State, unit of local government, or Indian tribe 
     to create and expand witness and victim protection programs 
     to prevent threats, intimidation, and retaliation against 
     victims of, and witnesses to, violent crimes.''.
       (b) Authorization of Appropriations.--Section 31707 of the 
     Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994 (42 
     U.S.C. 13867) is amended to read as follows:

     ``SEC. 31707. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

       ``There are authorized to be appropriated $20,000,000 for 
     each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2012 to carry out this 
     subtitle.''.

     SEC. 302. ELIGIBILITY OF STATE COURTS FOR CERTAIN FEDERAL 
                   GRANTS.

       (a) Correctional Options Grants.--Section 515 of the 
     Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 
     3762a) is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a)--
       (A) in paragraph (2), by striking ``and'' at the end;
       (B) in paragraph (3), by striking the period and inserting 
     ``; and''; and
       (C) by adding at the end the following:
       ``(4) grants to State courts to improve security for State 
     and local court systems.''; and
       (2) in subsection (b), by adding at the end the following:

     ``Priority shall be given to State court applicants under 
     subsection (a)(4) that have the greatest demonstrated need to 
     provide security in order to administer justice.''.
       (b) Allocations.--Section 516(a) of the Omnibus Crime 
     Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3762b) is 
     amended--
       (1) by striking ``80'' and inserting ``70'';
       (2) by striking ``and 10'' and inserting ``10''; and
       (3) by inserting before the period the following: ``, and 
     10 percent for section 515(a)(4)''.
       (c) State and Local Governments To Consider Courts.--The 
     Attorney General may require, as appropriate, that whenever a 
     State or unit of local government or Indian tribe applies for 
     a grant from the Department of Justice, the State, unit, or 
     tribe demonstrate that, in developing the application and 
     distributing funds, the State, unit, or tribe--
       (1) considered the needs of the judicial branch of the 
     State, unit, or tribe, as the case may be;
       (2) consulted with the chief judicial officer of the 
     highest court of the State, unit, or tribe, as the case may 
     be; and
       (3) consulted with the chief law enforcement officer of the 
     law enforcement agency responsible for the security needs of 
     the judicial branch of the State, unit, or tribe, as the case 
     may be.
       (d) Armor Vests.--Section 2501 of title I of the Omnibus 
     Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. 3796ll) 
     is amended--
       (1) in subsection (a), by inserting ``and State and local 
     court officers'' after ``tribal law enforcement officers''; 
     and
       (2) in subsection (b)(1), by inserting ``State or local 
     court,'' after ``government,''.

     SEC. 303. GRANTS TO STATES FOR THREAT ASSESSMENT DATABASES.

       (a) In General.--The Attorney General, through the Office 
     of Justice Programs, shall make grants under this section to 
     the highest State courts in States participating in the 
     program, for the purpose of enabling such courts to establish 
     and maintain a threat assessment database described in 
     subsection (b).
       (b) Database.--For purposes of subsection (a), a threat 
     assessment database is a database through which a State can--
       (1) analyze trends and patterns in domestic terrorism and 
     crime;
       (2) project the probabilities that specific acts of 
     domestic terrorism or crime will occur; and
       (3) develop measures and procedures that can effectively 
     reduce the probabilities that those acts will occur.
       (c) Core Elements.--The Attorney General shall define a 
     core set of data elements to be used by each database funded 
     by this section so that the information in the database can 
     be effectively shared with other States and with the 
     Department of Justice.
       (d) Authorization of Appropriations.--There are authorized 
     to be appropriated to carry out this section such sums as may 
     be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2008 through 2011.

                   TITLE IV--LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS

     SEC. 401. REPORT ON SECURITY OF FEDERAL PROSECUTORS.

       (a) In General.--Not later than 90 days after the date of 
     the enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall submit 
     to the Committee on the Judiciary of the Senate and the 
     Committee on the Judiciary of the House of Representatives a 
     report on the security of assistant United States attorneys 
     and other Federal attorneys arising from the prosecution of 
     terrorists, violent criminal gangs, drug traffickers, gun 
     traffickers, white supremacists, those who commit fraud and 
     other white-collar offenses, and other criminal cases.
       (b) Contents.--The report submitted under subsection (a) 
     shall describe each of the following:
       (1) The number and nature of threats and assaults against 
     attorneys handling prosecutions described in subsection (a) 
     and the reporting requirements and methods.
       (2) The security measures that are in place to protect the 
     attorneys who are handling prosecutions described in 
     subsection (a), including threat assessments, response 
     procedures, availability of security systems and other 
     devices, firearms licensing (deputations), and other measures 
     designed to protect the attorneys and their families.
       (3) The firearms deputation policies of the Department of 
     Justice, including the number of attorneys deputized and the 
     time between receipt of threat and completion of the 
     deputation and training process.
       (4) For each requirement, measure, or policy described in 
     paragraphs (1) through (3), when the requirement, measure, or 
     policy was developed and who was responsible for developing 
     and implementing the requirement, measure, or policy.
       (5) The programs that are made available to the attorneys 
     for personal security training, including training relating 
     to limitations on public information disclosure, basic home 
     security, firearms handling and safety, family safety, mail 
     handling, counter-surveillance, and self-defense tactics.
       (6) The measures that are taken to provide attorneys 
     handling prosecutions described in subsection (a) with secure 
     parking facilities, and how priorities for such facilities 
     are established--
       (A) among Federal employees within the facility;
       (B) among Department of Justice employees within the 
     facility; and
       (C) among attorneys within the facility.
       (7) The frequency attorneys handling prosecutions described 
     in subsection (a) are called upon to work beyond standard 
     work hours and the security measures provided to protect 
     attorneys at such times during travel between office and 
     available parking facilities.
       (8) With respect to attorneys who are licensed under State 
     laws to carry firearms, the policy of the Department of 
     Justice as to--
       (A) carrying the firearm between available parking and 
     office buildings;
       (B) securing the weapon at the office buildings; and
       (C) equipment and training provided to facilitate safe 
     storage at Department of Justice facilities.
       (9) The offices in the Department of Justice that are 
     responsible for ensuring the security of attorneys handling 
     prosecutions described in subsection (a), the organization 
     and staffing of the offices, and the manner in which the 
     offices coordinate with offices in specific districts.
       (10) The role, if any, that the United States Marshals 
     Service or any other Department of Justice component plays in 
     protecting, or providing security services or training for, 
     attorneys handling prosecutions described in subsection (a).

                   TITLE V--MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

     SEC. 501. EXPANDED PROCUREMENT AUTHORITY FOR THE UNITED 
                   STATES SENTENCING COMMISSION.

       (a) In General.--Section 995 of title 28, United States 
     Code, is amended by adding at the end the following:
       ``(f) The Commission may--
       ``(1) use available funds to enter into contracts for the 
     acquisition of severable services for a period that begins in 
     1 fiscal year

[[Page 18330]]

     and ends in the next fiscal year, to the same extent as 
     executive agencies may enter into such contracts under the 
     authority of section 303L of the Federal Property and 
     Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 253l);
       ``(2) enter into multi-year contracts for the acquisition 
     of property or services to the same extent as executive 
     agencies may enter into such contracts under the authority of 
     section 304B of the Federal Property and Administrative 
     Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 254c); and
       ``(3) make advance, partial, progress, or other payments 
     under contracts for property or services to the same extent 
     as executive agencies may make such payments under the 
     authority of section 305 of the Federal Property and 
     Administrative Services Act of 1949 (41 U.S.C. 255).''.
       (b) Sunset.--The amendment made by subsection (a) shall 
     cease to have force and effect on September 30, 2010.

     SEC. 502. MAGISTRATE AND TERRITORIAL JUDGES LIFE INSURANCE.

       (a) In General.--Section 604(a)(5) of title 28, United 
     States Code, is amended by inserting after ``hold office 
     during good behavior,'' the following: ``magistrate judges 
     appointed under section 631 of this title, and territorial 
     district court judges appointed under section 24 of the 
     Organic Act of Guam (48 U.S.C. 1424b), section 1(b) of the 
     Act of November 8, 1877 (48 U.S.C. 1821), or section 24(a) of 
     the Revised Organic Act of the Virgin Islands (48 U.S.C. 
     1614(a)),''.
       (b) Effective Date.--The amendment made by subsection (a) 
     shall apply with respect to any payment made on or after the 
     first day of the first applicable pay period beginning on or 
     after the date of enactment of this Act.

     SEC. 503. ASSIGNMENT OF JUDGES.

       Section 296 of title 28, United States Code, is amended by 
     inserting at the end of the second undesignated paragraph the 
     following new sentence: ``However, a judge who has retired 
     from regular active service under section 371(b) of this 
     title, when designated and assigned to the court to which 
     such judge was appointed, shall have all the powers of a 
     judge of that court, including participation in appointment 
     of court officers and magistrates, rulemaking, governance, 
     and administrative matters.''.

     SEC. 504. SENIOR JUDGE PARTICIPATION IN THE SELECTION OF 
                   MAGISTRATES.

       Section 631(a) of title 28, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking ``Northern Mariana Islands'' the first place it 
     appears and inserting ``Northern Mariana Islands (including 
     any judge in regular active service and any judge who has 
     retired from regular active service under section 371(b) of 
     this title, when designated and assigned to the court to 
     which such judge was appointed)''.

     SEC. 505. GUARANTEEING COMPLIANCE WITH PRISONER PAYMENT 
                   COMMITMENTS.

       Section 3624(e) of title 18, United States Code, is amended 
     by striking the last sentence and inserting the following: 
     ``Upon the release of a prisoner by the Bureau of Prisons to 
     supervised release, the Bureau of Prisons shall notify such 
     prisoner, verbally and in writing, of the requirement that 
     the prisoner adhere to an installment schedule, not to exceed 
     two years except in special circumstances, to pay for any 
     fine imposed for the offense committed by such prisoner, and 
     of the consequences of failure to pay such fines under 
     sections 3611 through 3614 of this title.''.

     SEC. 506. STUDY AND REPORT.

       The Attorney General shall study whether the generally open 
     public access to State and local records imperils the safety 
     of the Federal judiciary. Not later than 18 months after the 
     enactment of this Act, the Attorney General shall report to 
     Congress the results of that study together with any 
     recommendations the Attorney General deems necessary.

     SEC. 507. REAUTHORIZATION OF FUGITIVE APPREHENSION TASK 
                   FORCES.

       Section 6(b) of the Presidential Threat Protection Act of 
     2000 (28 U.S.C. 566 note; Public Law 106-544) is amended--
       (1) by striking ``and'' after ``fiscal year 2002,''; and
       (2) by inserting ``, and $10,000,000 for each of the fiscal 
     years 2008 through 2012'' before the period.

     SEC. 508. INCREASED PROTECTION OF FEDERAL JUDGES.

       (a) Minimum Document Requirements.--
       (1) Minimum requirements.--For purposes of section 
     202(b)(6) of the REAL ID Act of 2005(49 U.S.C. 30301 note), a 
     State may, in the case of an individual described in 
     subparagraph (A) or (B) of paragraph (2), include in a 
     driver's license or other identification card issued to that 
     individual by the State, the address specified in that 
     subparagraph in lieu of the individual's address of principle 
     residence.
       (2) Individuals and information.--The individuals and 
     addresses referred to in paragraph (1) are the following:
       (A) In the case of a Justice of the United States, the 
     address of the United States Supreme Court.
       (B) In the case of a judge of a Federal court, the address 
     of the courthouse.
       (b) Verification of Information.--For purposes of section 
     202(c)(1)(D) of the REAL ID Act of 2005 (49 U.S.C. 30301 
     note), in the case of an individual described in subparagraph 
     (A) or (B) of subsection (a)(2), a State need only require 
     documentation of the address appearing on the individual's 
     driver's license or other identification card issued by that 
     State to the individual.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Michigan (Mr. Conyers) and the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Coble) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Michigan.


                             General Leave

  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, 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 Michigan?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Sadly, Mr. Speaker, our Nation's judiciary has been the repeated 
targets of death threats and sometimes even violent acts. In 2005, for 
example, the family members of a Federal judge in Chicago were 
murdered. Two weeks later, a State judge, court reporter, and a 
sheriff's deputy were killed in an Atlanta courthouse. And so it is 
these acts of violence in the judiciary that bring us together.
  Along with others, we have begun on the Judiciary Committee to 
realize the need for legislation that will perhaps try to deal more 
effectively with these concerns of safety in the courts. So I am 
pleased that the gentleman from Virginia, the chairman of the 
Subcommittee on Crime, Bobby Scott; and Judge Louie Gohmert of Texas, a 
distinguished member of the committee, have joined with me in this 
effort.
  What we seek to do is improve the security for court officers and the 
safeguards of judges and their families. We achieve this objective by 
making several revisions in the current law.
  First, we make the current redaction authority of Federal judges 
under the Ethics and Government Act permanent. What this provision will 
do is prevent would-be aggrieved litigants and others who might use a 
Federal judge's personal information to determine how they might 
threaten him or her or a family member of the court.
  Another thing we do in this legislation is authorize an additional 
$120 million for the United States Marshals Service over the course of 
the next 6 years. These monies will enable the service to increase 
ongoing investigations and expand protective services that are 
currently provided to the Federal judiciary. This is a long overdue 
item, and we were glad that we reached authorizing agreement on it.
  The bill also makes it a Federal offense to publish the personal 
information of a judge, law enforcement officer, or witness with the 
intent to cause some act of intimidation or harassment, or to commit a 
crime of violence. This measure authorizes $100 million over the course 
of the next 5 fiscal years to create and expand the witness protection 
programs to assist witnesses and victims of crime.
  It has taken a couple years to put these various pieces together in 
the bill, and we think that time for its passage is immediate, if not 
overdue, and I urge my colleagues to give favorable consideration to 
this very commonsense proposal.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H.R. 660, the Court Security 
Improvement Act of 2007. This legislation is a bipartisan effort, as 
the chairman just mentioned, to improve the security of those who 
administer our justice system, as well as those who serve as witnesses, 
victims, and their families.
  In recent years, Mr. Speaker, we have seen an increase in violence 
and threats against judges, prosecutors, defense counsel, law 
enforcement officers, courthouse employees; and the list is virtually 
endless. It is critical that we address this violence in order to 
preserve the integrity of, and the public confidence in, our justice 
system.

[[Page 18331]]

  The murders of family members of U.S. District Judge Joan Lefkow and 
the brutal slayings of Judge Rowland Barton and his court personnel in 
Atlanta are just a few of the many examples that underscore the need to 
better protect those who serve our judiciary and their respective 
families.
  According to the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, almost 700 
threats a year are made against Federal judges. In numerous cases, it 
has been necessary to assign Federal judges security details for fear 
of attack by terrorists, violent gangs, drug organizations, and 
disgruntled litigants.
  The problem of witness intimidation and threats has also continued to 
grow, particularly at the State and local levels, where few resources 
are available to protect witnesses, victims, and their families.
  H.R. 660 improves coordination between the United States Marshals 
Service and the Federal judiciary and bolsters security measures for 
Federal prosecutors handling the dangerous trials against terrorists, 
drug organizations, and other organized crime figures.
  This bill also prohibits public disclosure on the Internet and other 
public sources of personal information about judges, law enforcement 
officers, victims, and witnesses, and protects Federal judges and 
prosecutors from organized efforts to harass and intimidate them 
through false filings of liens or other encumbrances against personal 
property.
  Additionally, H.R. 660 provides grants to State and local courts to 
improve their security services. I want to thank the majority for 
working with us to include other important provisions that were not in 
the original legislation.
  Under our bipartisan agreement, the legislation we consider today, 
Mr. Speaker, also contains increased criminal penalties for assaults 
against Federal law enforcement officers, makes permanent the redaction 
authority for judges filing ethics disclosure forms, and reauthorizes 
the Presidential Threat Task Forces.
  Although we were unable to include in this legislation a provision 
that ensures retired and off-duty police officers permission to carry 
firearms under a Federal law enacted in 2004, I appreciate Chairman 
Conyers' and Subcommittee Chairman Scott's promise to move and pass on 
suspension the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act of 2007, which 
accomplishes that goal.
  It is imperative, it seems to me, Mr. Speaker, that we continue to 
work together on a bipartisan effort to ensure that judges, witnesses, 
courthouse personnel, and law enforcement officers do not have to face 
threats and violence when discharging their duties.
  At the State and local level there is a dire need to provide basic 
security services in the courtroom and for witnesses. H.R. 660 
represents a significant first step in this area.
  Mr. Speaker, when I served as chairman of the Crimes Subcommittee in 
the previous Congress, the House passed legislation to improve court 
security, only to see it die in the other body. I commend Chairman 
Conyers, the distinguished gentleman from Michigan; Ranking Member 
Smith, distinguished gentleman from Texas; as well as Crime 
Subcommittee Chairman Scott, the distinguished gentleman from Virginia; 
and another distinguished gentleman from Virginia, Representative 
Forbes, for their continued leadership on this issue, and hope that we 
can successfully get this legislation across the finish line.
  Finally, I want to acknowledge what Chairman Conyers did, what 
Ranking Subcommittee Chairman Bobby Scott did, and the effects, as you 
mentioned, Mr. Chairman, of Congressman Louie Gohmert, the 
distinguished gentleman from Texas who himself is a former judge. These 
three gentlemen were tireless advocates for better judicial security, 
and I urge my colleagues to support this critical bipartisan measure.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. CONYERS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
for these closing remarks.
  I agree with Howard Coble, the gentleman from North Carolina, that 
our Nation's court system and those who work there must function in a 
safe and professional environment, and that is what we are improving in 
this measure. We have worked together in great harmony and cooperation, 
and the measure helps in a substantial way to promote better security 
for our judiciary and other court personnel, and I urge our colleagues 
to support the passage of this critical measure.
  Ms. JACKSON-LEE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of 
H.R. 660, the ``Court Security Improvement Act of 2007.'' This 
legislation will go a long way toward enhancing the security and 
integrity of our judicial system and the able men and women who 
comprise the Federal judiciary.
  Mr. Speaker, let me quote the Chief Justice of the Texas Supreme 
Court: ``Our democracy and the rule of law depend upon safe and secure 
courthouses.'' That is because an independent judiciary is essential 
for a regime based on the rule of law. Nothing can do more to undermine 
the independence of the judiciary than the very real threat of physical 
harm to members of the judiciary or their families to intimidate or 
retaliate. In 1979, U.S. District Court Judge John Wood, Jr., was 
fatally shot outside of his home by assassin Charles Harrelson. The 
murder contract had been placed by Texas drug lord Jamiel Chagra, who 
was awaiting trial before the judge.
  In 1988, U.S. District Court Judge Richard Daronco was murdered at 
his house by Charles Koster, the father of the unsuccessful plaintiff 
in a discrimination case. The following year, U.S. Circuit Court Judge 
Richard Vance was killed by a letter bomb sent to his home. The letter 
bomb was attributed to racist animus against Judge Vance for writing an 
opinion reversing a lower-court ruling to lift an 18-year desegregation 
order from the Duval County, Florida schools.
  In this age of the global war on terror, the danger faced by Federal 
judges, judicial officers, and court personnel is real, as illustrated 
by the three murders noted above. The recent and tragic murder of U.S. 
District Court Judge Joan Humphrey Letkow's husband and mother reminds 
us that the danger has not abated.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 660 provides a three-pronged legislative response 
to the security challenges facing our judicial institutions and 
personnel. First, it directs the U.S. Marshals Service to consult with 
the Judicial Conference regarding the security requirements for the 
judicial branch, in order to improve the implementation of security 
measures needed to protect judges, court employees, law enforcement 
officers, jurors and other members of the public who are regularly in 
Federal courthouses.
  The bill also extends authority to redact information relating to 
family members from a Federal judge's disclosure statements required by 
the Ethics in Government Act and removes the sunset provision from the 
redaction authority, thus making the redaction authority permanent.
  Mr. Speaker, H.R. 660 also enhances the security and protection of 
judicial personnel and their families by making it a criminal offense 
to maliciously record a fictitious lien against a Federal judge or 
Federal law enforcement officer. This new crime and punishment is 
intended to deter individuals from attempting to intimidate and harass 
Federal judges and employees by filing false liens against their real 
and personal property.
  The bill also makes it a crime to publish on the Internet restricted 
personal information concerning judges, law enforcement, public safety 
officers, jurors, witnesses, or other officers in any U.S. Court. The 
penalty for a violation is a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years. 
Additionally, the bill increases the maximum penalty for killing or 
attempting to kill a witness, victim, or informant to obstruct justice 
or in retaliation for their testifying or providing information to law 
enforcement by increasing maximum penalties.
  All in all, Mr. Speaker, this bill makes a substantial contribution 
to the enhancement of security of judicial institutions and personnel. 
I urge all members to join me in supporting this beneficial 
legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. COBLE. Mr. Speaker, I have no requests for time, and I too yield 
back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Michigan (Mr. Conyers) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 660, 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.

[[Page 18332]]



                          ____________________