H.R. 5465 — Introduced in House

I 118th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 5465 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. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Congressional Access to Bureaucratic Offices Act or the CABO Act. 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. 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.