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QUESTION WILL BE TAKEN TOMORROW
ON THE POSTPONED QUESTION
WILL BE TAKEN TOMORROW.
THE CHAIR WILL
CLARIFY, RECORD VOTES WILL BE
TAKEN AT 6:30 TODAY.
FOR
WHAT PURPOSE DOES THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS RISE?
MR. SPEAKER, I MOVE
THAT THE HOUSE SUSPEND THE RULES
AND CONCUR IN THE SENATE
AMENDMENT TO H.R. 347, THE
FEDERAL RESTRICTED PLGS AND
GROUNDS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2011.
THE
CLERK WILL REPORT THE TITLE OF
THE BILL.
H.R. 347, AN TOOK THE
CORRECT AND SIMPLIFY THE
DRAFTING OF SECTION 1752
RELATING TO RESTRICTED BUILDINGS
OR GROUNDS OF TITLE 18, UNITED
STATES CODE, SENATE AMENDMENT.
PURSUANT TO THE RULE, THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS, MR. SMITH,
AND THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA,
20 MINUTES.
MR. JOHNSON, WILL EACH CONTROL
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, I ASK
UNANIMOUS CON SENT THAT ALL
MEMBERS MAY HAVE FIVE
LEGISLATIVE DAYS WITHIN WHICH TO
REVISE AND EXTEND THEIR REMARKS
AND INCLUDE EXTRANEOUS MATERIALS
ON THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R.
347 CURRENTLY UNDER
CONSIDERATION.
WITHOUT
OBJECTION.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
CONSUME.
MYSELF SUCH TIME AS I MAY
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, H.R.
347, THE FEDERAL RESTRICTED
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS AM PRO.
S ACT OF 2011, INTRODUCED BY
CONGRESSMAN TOM ROONY, MAKES
COMMONSENSE IMPROVEMENTS TO AN
EXISTING FEDERAL LAW THAT
PROHIBITS UNLAWFUL ACCESS TO THE
WHITE HOUSE, THE VICE
PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE AND OTHER
RESTRICTED AREAS.
CURRENT LAW PROHIBITS UNLAWFUL
ENTRIES UPON ANY RESTRICTED
BUILDING OR GROUND WHERE THE
PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT OR
OTHER PROTECTEE IS TEMPORARILY
VISITING.
HOWEVER THERE IS NO FEDERAL LAW
THAT EXPRESSLY PROHIBITS
UNLAWFUL ENTRY TO THE WHITE
HOUSE AND ITS GROUNDS OR THE
VICE PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE AND
ITS GROUNDS.
UNITED STATES SECRET SERVICE
MUST THEREFORE RELY UPON A
PROVISION IN THE DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA CODE WHICH ADDRESSES
ONLY MINOR MISDEMEANOR
INFRACTIONS WHEN SOMEONE
ATTEMPTS TO OR SUCCESSFULLY
CLIMBS THE WHITE HOUSE FENCE OR,
ITSELF.
WORSE, BREACHES THE WHITE HOUSE
H.R. 347 REMEDIES THIS PROBLEM.
IT SPECIFICALLY INCLUDES THE
WHITE HOUSE, THE VICE
PRESIDENT'S RESIDENCE AND THEIR
RESPECTIVE GROUNDS IN THE
DEFINITION OF RESTRICTED
BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS.
THE BILL ALSO CLARIFIES THAT THE
PENALTIES IN SECTION 1752 OF
TITLE 18 APPLY TO THOSE WHO
KNOWINGLY ENTER OR REMAIN IN ANY
BUILDING OR GROUNDS
SO.
WITHOUT LAWFUL AUTHORITY TO DO
CURRENT LAW DOES NOT INCLUDE
THIS IMPORTANT ELEMENT.
THE HOUSE PASSED THIS BILL ONE
YEAR AGO BY A VOTE OF 399-3.
EARLIER THIS MONTH THE SENATE
PASSED THE BILL BY UNANIMOUS
CONSENT.
THE SENATE ALSO COLLARIFIED THAT
THE REVISED LAW APPLIES TO
INDIVIDUALS THE SECRET SERVICE
IS REQUIRED TO PROTECT BY
STATUTE OR BY PRESIDENTIAL
MEMORANDUM.
H.R. 347 ENSURES THAT THE
PRESIDENT, THE FIRST FAMILY, THE
VICE PRESIDENT AND OTHERS HAD
ARE PROTECTED WHETHER THEY ARE
IN THE -- AND OTHERS ARE WHECTED
WHETHER THEY ARE IN THE HOUSE --
WHETHER -- PROTECTED WEATHER
THEY ARE IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
THIS ENJOYS OVERWHELMING
BIPARTISAN SUPPORT.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO SPOFFER
-- SUPPORT THIS BILL AND RESERVE
THE BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS RESERVES
HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
THANK YOU, MR.
SPEAKER.
I RISE IN SUPPORT OF H.R. 347 AS
BY THE SENATE.
WHICH WILL ASSIST THE SECRET
SERVICE IN PERFORMING THEIR
DUTIES.
OR THEIR PROTECTIVE DUTIES.
THE BILL BEFORE US TODAY WILL
HELP THE SECRET SERVICE CARRY
OUT ITS ROLE IN PROTECTING THE
PRESIDENT, VICE PRESIDENT AND
OTHER DIGNITARIES.
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 BILL ALSO WOULD ADD THE
WHITE HOUSE AND VICE PRESIDENT'S
RESIDENCE TO THE DEFINITION OF
RESTRICTED AREAS PROTECTED UNDER
CURRENT LAW.
THE SENATE MADE MINOR CHANGES TO
THE BILL INCLUDING EXPANDING THE
BILL'S PROTECTIONS TO AREAS IN
WHICH THE SECRET SERVICE IS
PROTECTING A PERSON BY DIRECTION
OF A PRESIDENTIAL MEMORANDUM.
I SUPPORT THIS AMENDMENT.
THIS BILL WILL ASSIST THE SECRET
SERVICE WHICH DID NOT HAVE THIS
PROTECTIVE FUNCTION WHEN IT WAS
CREATED.
THE ROLE OF THE SECRET SERVICE
HAS EXPENDED GREATLY SINCE IT
WAS ESTABLISHED IN 1865 TO FIGHT
THE COUNTERFEITING OF U.S.
CURRENCY.
THE 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 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.
AND I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO
SUPPORT H.R. 347, I RESERVE THE
BALANCE OF MY TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA RESERVES
HIS TIME.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS IS
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
AS MUCH TIME AS HE MAY CONSUME
TO THE GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA,
MR. ROONEY, WHO IS THE SPONSOR
OF THIS LEGISLATION, ALSO A
MEMBER OF THE ARMED SERVICES
COMMITTEE AND A FORMER MEMBER OF
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM FLORIDA, MR.
ROONEY, IS RECOGNIZED FOR AS
MUCH TIME AS HE WISHES TO
CONSUME.
MR. SPEAKER, THE
PROTECTIONS PROVIDED BY UNITED
STATES SECRET SERVICE ARE VITAL
TO ASSESSING SECURITY THREATS
AND PROVIDING A SECURE
ENVIRONMENT FOR OUR NATION'S
LEADERS.
ONE KEY ASPECT OF THE SERVICE'S
MISSION IS TO SECURE BUILDINGS
AND GROUNDS WHERE OUR LEADERS
WORK AND LIVE.
INCLUDING THE WHITE HOUSE AND
THE NAVAL OBSERVATORY.
MY BILL WOULD EXPLICITLY PROTECT
THESE RESIDENCES OF THE
PRESIDENT AND THE VICE PRESIDENT
FROM INTRUDERS AND WOULD CLARIFY
-- CLARIFY CURRENT LAW TO
DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THOSE TWO
ARE ABLE TO ENTER THE GROUNDS
LAWFULLY LIKE THE SECRET SERVICE
AND THOSE WHO ARE ENTER WITHOUT
PERMISSION.
THIS BIPARTISAN BILL WOULD
IMPROVE EXISTING CRIMINAL LAW,
TO ENSURE THAT THE SECRET
SERVICE CAN CONTINUE TO
IMPLEMENT STRATEGIES THAT
PREVENT POTENTIALLY CATASTROPHIC
SECURITY BREACHES.
I URGE MY COLLEAGUES TO JOIN ME
IN SUPPORTING THIS COMMONSENSE
BIPARTISAN PIECE OF LEGISLATION,
TO PROTECT OUR NATION'S LEADERS
AND NATIONAL SECURITY.
I THANK MR. SMITH FROM TEXAS FOR
HIS LEADERSHIP ON THIS ISSUE AND
THE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE, AS WELL
AS MR. JOHNSON FROM GEORGIA.
AND WITH THAT, MR. SPEAKER, I
TIME.
YIELD BACK THE BALANCE OF MY
THE
GENTLEMAN YIELDS BACK THE
BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS
RESERVES.
RECOGNIZED.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
IF THE GENTLEMAN
FROM TEXAS IS READY TO CONCLUDE,
THEN I WILL HAVE AN
ANNOUNCEMENT.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA IS
RECOGNIZED.
MR. SPEAKER, WE'RE
PREPARED TO CLOSE AND HAVE NO
FURTHER SPEAKERS.
IN THAT CASE, I
WILL WAIVE THE BALANCE OF MY
TIME.
THE
GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA YIELDS
BACK THE BALANCE OF HIS TIME.
THE GENTLEMAN FROM TEXAS.
MR. SPEAKER, I YIELD
BACK THE BALANCE OF MY TIME AS
WELL.
THE
QUESTION IS WILL THE HOUSE
SUSPEND THE RULES AND CONCUR IN
347.
THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO H.R.
THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE.
THOSE OPPOSED, NO.
IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIR, 2/3
OF THOSE VOTING HAVING RESPONDED
IN THE AFFIRMATIVE --
ON THAT I REQUEST THE
THE
YEAS AND NAYS.
YEAS AND NAYS ARE REQUESTED.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF TAKING
THIS VOTE BY THE YEAS AND NAYS
WILL RISE AND REMAIN STANDING
UNTIL COUNTED.
A SUFFICIENT NUMBER HAVING
ARISEN, THE YEAS AND NAYS ARE
ORDERED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 8 OF RULE 20
FURTHER PROCEEDINGS ON THIS
QUESTION WILL BE POSTPONED.
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE 12-A OF RULE
1, THE CHAIR DECLARES THE HOUSE
IN RECESS UNTIL APPROXIMATELY