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HR9835119th Congress

Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act

Sponsored By: Representative Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

Introduced

Summary

This bill would guarantee direct access to public federal buildings for Members of Congress and their full-time staff to carry out constitutional oversight. It also sets timelines and rules for after-hours entry, emergencies, and access to secured areas.

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  • Members must present congressional identification and staff may enter only when accompanied by the Member who employs them and carrying a staff badge. After-hours access requests must be granted within 24 hours.
  • Members get immediate entry during public meetings and restrictions during declared emergencies cannot block access. The bill also bars temporary changes to a building intended to hide what a Member or staff can observe.
  • Access to parts of a building that normally require security clearance must be provided within 24 hours if the Member serves on the committee with jurisdiction. If not, a Member can gain that access with the consent of the committee Chair or Ranking Member, and the definition of "public building" covers contractor-owned and intergovernmental facilities.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

1 provisions identified: 0 benefits, 0 costs, 1 mixed.

More access for Congress to buildings

This bill would let any Member of Congress get meaningful access to public federal buildings during regular business hours. Congressional staff would only enter with the Member who employs them and a valid staff badge. Members or qualifying staff would get after-hours access and access to security areas within 24 hours of a request. Access must be immediate during public meetings and would still apply during declared national or public-health emergencies. Buildings could not be temporarily changed to hide what Members can see. "Public building" would include contractor-owned or contracted facilities and places used under intergovernmental agreements.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Beyer, Donald S. [D-VA-8]

VA • D

Cosponsors

  • Rep. Hayes, Jahana [D-CT-5]

    CT • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Ansari, Yassamin [D-AZ-3]

    AZ • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]

    DC • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Watson Coleman, Bonnie [D-NJ-12]

    NJ • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Takano, Mark [D-CA-39]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Garamendi, John [D-CA-8]

    CA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Tonko, Paul [D-NY-20]

    NY • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Moulton, Seth [D-MA-6]

    MA • D

    Sponsored 7/22/2026

  • Rep. Tlaib, Rashida [D-MI-12]

    MI • D

    Sponsored 7/27/2026

  • Rep. Fletcher, Lizzie [D-TX-7]

    TX • D

    Sponsored 8/6/2026

  • Rep. Subramanyam, Suhas [D-VA-10]

    VA • D

    Sponsored 9/24/2026

Roll Call Votes

No roll call votes available for this bill.

View on Congress.gov
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