PRIA, Government Policy, Made Personal

Summary

Authorizes the United States Capitol Police, under the Capitol Police Board, to protect any Member of Congress, an officer of Congress, and their immediate family anywhere in the United States when the Board decides it is needed. The Board can assign officers case-by-case. Capitol Police may arrest without a warrant for crimes they see, or for felonies if they have reasonable grounds to believe the person committed or is committing one. Anyone who knowingly and willfully obstructs or interferes can be fined up to $300, jailed up to one year, or both. Nothing here limits other federal or D.C. authorities from protecting these people. "United States" means each State, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories and possessions.

Title 2, §1966

The Congress, Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)Authority of the Capitol Police

Subject to the direction of the Capitol Police Board, the United States Capitol Police is authorized to protect, in any area of the United States, the person of any Member of Congress, officer of the Congress, as defined in section 4101(b) of this title, and any member of the immediate family of any such Member or officer, if the Capitol Police Board determines such protection to be necessary.

(b)Detail of police

In carrying out its authority under this section, the Capitol Police Board, or its designee, is authorized, in accordance with regulations issued by the Board pursuant to this section, to detail, on a case-by-case basis, members of the United States Capitol Police to provide such protection as the Board may determine necessary under this section.

(c)Arrest of suspects

In the performance of their protective duties under this section, members of the United States Capitol Police are authorized (1) to make arrests without warrant for any offense against the United States committed in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony; and (2) to utilize equipment and property of the Capitol Police.

(d)Fines and penalties

Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or interferes with a member of the Capitol Police engaged in the performance of the protective functions authorized by this section, shall be fined not more than $300 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both.

(e)Construction of provisions

Nothing contained in this section shall be construed to imply that the authority, duty, and function conferred on the Capitol Police Board and the United States Capitol Police are in lieu of or intended to supersede any authority, duty, or function imposed on any Federal department, agency, bureau, or other entity, or the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, involving the protection of any such Member, officer, or family member.

(f)“United States” defined

As used in this section, the term “United States” means each of the several States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and territories and possessions of the United States.

Editorial Notes

Codification Section was classified to section 212a–2 of former Title 40, prior to the enactment of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by Pub. L. 107–217, § 1, Aug. 21, 2002, 116 Stat. 1062.

§1966 Protection of Members of Congress, Officers of Congress, and Members of Their Families

Summary

Title 2, §1966

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Editorial Notes

Citations & Metadata