[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5465 Introduced in House (IH)]
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118th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5465
To require the head of each agency to allow members of Congress access
to certain Federal buildings, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
September 14, 2023
Mr. Alford (for himself, Mr. Smith of Missouri, Mr. Williams of Texas,
Mr. Luetkemeyer, Mr. Johnson of Louisiana, Mr. Hudson, Mr. Mann, Mr.
Donalds, Mr. Weber of Texas, Mr. C. Scott Franklin of Florida, Mr.
Fallon, Mr. Meuser, Mrs. Hinson, Mr. Clyde, Mr. Fry, Mr. Edwards, Ms.
Van Duyne, Mr. Moore of Alabama, Mr. Crane, Mr. Langworthy, Mr. Issa,
Mr. Burlison, Mr. Van Drew, Mr. Collins, Mr. Van Orden, Ms.
Malliotakis, and Mr. Jackson of Texas) introduced the following bill;
which was referred to the Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the head of each agency to allow members of Congress access
to certain Federal buildings, and for other purposes.
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 ``Congressional Access to Bureaucratic
Offices Act'' or the ``CABO Act''.
SEC. 2. ACCESS TO FEDERAL BUILDINGS.
(a) In General.--The head of each agency shall allow Members of
Congress and congressional staff members to access the building that
serves as the headquarters of such agency during regular business
hours.
(b) Requirements.--
(1) Identification.--The head of each agency shall require
a Member of Congress seeking access to a building described in
subsection (a) to provide congressional identification.
(2) Congressional staff.--The head of each agency shall
allow a congressional staff member to access a building
described in subsection (a) if--
(A) such staff member is accompanied by the Member
of Congress that employs the staff member; and
(B) such staff member provides a valid
congressional staff identification badge upon seeking
access to such building.
(c) Extenuating Circumstances.--The requirements of subsection (a)
shall apply during an extenuating circumstance and any restriction on
access to a building that is imposed on the public during such a
circumstance shall not apply to a Member of Congress or an applicable
congressional staff member.
(d) Exception for Areas Requiring Security Clearance.--The
requirements of subsection (a) shall not apply to any part of a
building for which a security clearance at the level of secret or
higher is required for entry.
(e) Definitions.--In this section:
(1) Agency.--The term ``agency'' has the meaning given such
term in section 551 of title 5, United States Code.
(2) Congressional identification.--The term ``congressional
identification'' means any form of identification issued to
Members by the Clerk or Sergeant at Arms of the House of
Representatives (in the case of a Member of the House of
Representatives) or by the Secretary or Sergeant at Arms and
Doorkeeper of the Senate (in the case of a Senator).
(3) Congressional staff member.--The term ``congressional
staff member'' means a full-time staff member of the House of
Representatives or the Senate.
(4) Extenuating circumstance.--The term ``extenuating
circumstance'' means an event for which--
(A) the President has declared an emergency
pursuant to section 202 of the National Emergencies Act
(50 U.S.C. 1622); or
(B) the Secretary of Health and Human Services has
declared an emergency pursuant to section 319 of the
Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 247d).
(5) Member of congress.--The term ``Member of Congress''
means a Member of the House of Representatives or a Senator.
SEC. 3. COMPLIANCE WITH CUTGO.
No additional amounts are authorized to be appropriated to carry
out this Act. Such Act shall be carried out using amounts otherwise
appropriated to the head of the agency.
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