US Code

Public Law 119-73 (01/23/2026)

2 U.S.C. § 1961

Policing of Capitol Buildings and Grounds

(a)
1
1 See References in Text note below.
section 1969 of this titleProvidedsection 16 of title 18section 16 of title 18Provided further The Capitol Police shall police the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds under the direction of the Capitol Police Board, consisting of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol, and shall have the power to enforce the provisions of this section, sections 1922, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title  (and regulations promulgated under ), and chapter 51 of title 40, and to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violations of any law of the United States, of the District of Columbia, or of any State, or any regulation promulgated pursuant thereto: , That for the fiscal year for which appropriations are made by this Act the Capitol Police shall have the additional authority to make arrests within the District of Columbia for crimes of violence, as defined in , committed within the Capitol Buildings and Grounds and shall have the additional authority to make arrests, without a warrant, for crimes of violence, as defined in , committed in the presence of any member of the Capitol Police performing official duties: , That the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia are authorized to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violation of any such laws or regulations, but such authority shall not be construed as authorizing the Metropolitan Police force, except with the consent or upon the request of the Capitol Police Board, to enter such buildings to make arrests in response to complaints or to serve warrants or to patrol the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds. For the purpose of this section, the word “grounds” shall include the House Office Buildings parking areas and that part or parts of property which have been or hereafter are acquired in the District of Columbia by the Architect of the Capitol, or by an officer of the Senate or the House, by lease, purchase, intergovernment transfer, or otherwise, for the use of the Senate, the House, or the Architect of the Capitol.
(b)
For purposes of this section, “the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds” shall include any building or facility acquired by the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate for the use of the Senate for which the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate has entered into an agreement with the United States Capitol Police for the policing of the building or facility.
(c)
For purposes of this section, “the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds” shall include any building or facility acquired by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives for the use of the House of Representatives for which the Chief Administrative Officer has entered into an agreement with the United States Capitol Police for the policing of the building or facility.
(d)
section 167j of this title For purposes of this section, “United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds” shall include the Library of Congress buildings and grounds described under , except that in a case of buildings or grounds not located in the District of Columbia, the authority granted to the Metropolitan Police Force of the District of Columbia shall be granted to any police force within whose jurisdiction the buildings or grounds are located.

July 31, 1946, ch. 707, § 960 Stat. 719Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, § 739(g)(4)87 Stat. 829Pub. L. 101–520, title I, § 106104 Stat. 2264Pub. L. 102–392, title III, § 310106 Stat. 1723Pub. L. 102–397, title I, § 103106 Stat. 1950Pub. L. 107–117, div. B115 Stat. 2316Pub. L. 107–206, title I116 Stat. 876Pub. L. 108–7, div. H, title I, § 1016(c)117 Stat. 365Pub. L. 110–161, div. H, title I, § 1004(d)(1)(A)121 Stat. 2233Pub. L. 110–178, § 4(a)(1)121 Stat. 2551Pub. L. 111–145, § 6(d)(1)124 Stat. 54(, ; , (5), , ; , formerly § 106(a), , , renumbered § 106 and amended , , ; , , ; , §§ 901(c)(2), 903(c)(2), , , 2317; , §§ 902(b), 903(b), , ; , , ; , , ; , , ; , , .)

Editorial Notes

References in Text

act July 31, 1946, ch. 70760 Stat. 718This section and sections 1922, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title, referred to in subsec. (a), was in the original a reference to the act of , meaning , , which enacted this section, sections 1922, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title, and provisions set out as a note below. For complete classification of the act of , to the Code, see Tables.

Pub. L. 101–520104 Stat. 2254This Act, referred to in subsec. (a), probably means , , , known as the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991, which amended this section generally. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Tables.

Codification

Pub. L. 107–217, § 1116 Stat. 1062Section was classified to section 212a of former Title 40, prior to the enactment of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works, by , , .

Amendments

Pub. L. 111–145Pub. L. 110–161, § 1004(d)(1)(A)2010—Subsec. (d). repealed . See 2007 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 110–1782008—Subsec. (d). added subsec. (d).

Pub. L. 110–161, § 1004(d)(1)(A)Pub. L. 110–178Pub. L. 111–1452007—Subsec. (d). , which made an amendment identical to that made by , was repealed by . See Effective Date of 2010 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 108–7section 1969 of this titlesection 212b of this title2003—Subsec. (a). substituted “this section, sections 1922, 1966, 1967, and 1969 of this title (and regulations promulgated under ), and chapter 51 of title 40” for “sections 193a to 193m, 212a, 212a–2, and 212b of this title and regulations promulgated under ,”.

Pub. L. 107–1172002—Subsec. (a). , §§ 901(c)(2)(A), 903(b)(2)(A), amended section identically, inserting “(a)” before “The Capitol Police shall police”.

Pub. L. 107–206Subsec. (b). redesignated subsec. (b) relating to buildings or facilities acquired by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives as (c).

Pub. L. 107–117, § 903(c)(2)(B), added subsec. (b) relating to buildings or facilities acquired by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.

Pub. L. 107–117, § 901(c)(2)(B), added subsec. (b) relating to buildings or facilities acquired by the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate.

Pub. L. 107–206Subsec. (c). redesignated subsec. (b) relating to buildings or facilities acquired by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives as (c).

Pub. L. 102–392Pub. L. 102–397Pub. L. 101–5201992— and amended directory language of identically. See 1990 Amendment note below.

Pub. L. 101–520Pub. L. 102–392Pub. L. 102–397section 212b of this titleProvided1990—, as amended by and , amended section generally. Prior to amendment, section read as follows: “The Capitol Police shall police the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds under the direction of the Capitol Police Board, consisting of the Sergeant at Arms of the United States Senate, the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, and the Architect of the Capitol, and shall have the power to enforce the provisions of sections 193a to 193m, 212a, 212a–2, and 212b of this title and regulations promulgated under , and to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violations of any law of the United States, of the District of Columbia, or of any State, or any regulation promulgated pursuant thereto: , That the Metropolitan Police force of the District of Columbia are authorized to make arrests within the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds for any violations of any such laws or regulations, but such authority shall not be construed as authorizing the Metropolitan Police force, except with the consent or upon the request of the Capitol Police Board, to enter such buildings to make arrests in response to complaints or to serve warrants or to patrol the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds. For the purpose of this section, the word ‘grounds’ shall include the House Office Building parking area.”

Pub. L. 93–198section 193a of this title1973— inserted reference to violations of any law of the District of Columbia and struck out “, with the exception of the streets and roadways shown on the map referred to in as being under the jurisdiction and control of the Commissioners of the District of Columbia” after “or to patrol the United States Capitol Buildings and Grounds”.

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date of 2010 Amendment

section 1004 of Pub. L. 110–161Pub. L. 111–145Pub. L. 110–161section 1004 of Pub. L. 110–161Pub. L. 110–178section 6(d) of Pub. L. 111–145section 1901 of this titleRepeal of by effective as if included in the enactment of and provisions amended by to be restored as if such section had not been enacted, and repeal to have no effect on the enactment or implementation of any provision of , see , set out as a note under .

Effective Date of 2008 Amendment

Pub. L. 110–178section 4(d) of Pub. L. 110–178section 167 of this titleAmendment by effective , see , set out as an Effective Date of Repeal note under .

Effective Date of 2003 Amendment

Pub. L. 108–7, div. H, title I, § 1016(d)117 Stat. 365

“The amendments made by this subsection [probably means this section, amending this section and sections 5101 and 5102 of Title 40, Public Buildings, Property, and Works] shall apply to fiscal year 2003 and each fiscal year thereafter.”
, , , provided that:

Effective Date of 2002 Amendments

section 902(b) of Pub. L. 107–206Pub. L. 107–117, div. Bsection 902(c) of Pub. L. 107–206section 2022 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the enactment of the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002, , see , set out as a note under .

section 903(b) of Pub. L. 107–206Pub. L. 107–117, div. Bsection 903(c) of Pub. L. 107–206section 2002 of this titleAmendment by effective as if included in the enactment of the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002, , see , set out as a note under .

section 901(c)(2) of Pub. L. 107–117section 2022(e) of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to fiscal year 2002 and each succeeding fiscal year, see .

section 903(c)(2) of Pub. L. 107–117section 2002(e) of this titleAmendment by applicable with respect to fiscal year 2002 and each succeeding fiscal year, see .

Effective Date of 1992 Amendments

Pub. L. 102–397, title I, § 103106 Stat. 1950, , , provided that the amendment made by section 103 is effective .

Pub. L. 102–392, title III, § 310106 Stat. 1723, , , provided that the amendment made by section 310 is effective .

Effective Date of 1973 Amendment

Pub. L. 93–198, title VII, § 771(d)87 Stat. 836Pub. L. 93–198Pub. L. 93–19887 Stat. 785, , , provided that the amendment made by is effective on , if a majority of the registered qualified electors in the District of Columbia voting on the charter issue in the charter referendum accepted the charter set out in title IV of , , . The charter was approved by the voters on .

Construction

Act July 31, 1946, ch. 707, § 16(b)60 Stat. 721

2 U.S.C. 192240 U.S.C. 5101section 1819 of this title2 U.S.C. 218319 Stat. 412 U.S.C. 19632 U.S.C. 196127 Stat. 32540 U.S.C. 810347 Stat. 3822 U.S.C. 202557 Stat. 390“Nothing in this Act [, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1969; to 5107, 5109, see References in Text note under ] shall be construed to repeal, amend, alter, or supersede (1) section 1820 of the Revised Statutes (U.S.C., title 40, sec. 193) [now ]; (2) an Act entitled ‘An Act to protect the public property, turf, and grass of the Capitol Grounds from injury’, approved (; U.S.C., title 40, sec. 214) [now ]; (3) except as provided in section 9 of this Act [], section 15 of an Act entitled ‘An Act for the preservation of the public peace and the protection of property within the District of Columbia’, approved (; U.S.C., title 40, sec. 101) [see ]; (4) the second proviso in the item ‘Capitol garages’ under the caption ‘Capitol Buildings and Grounds’ contained in an Act entitled ‘An Act making appropriations for the legislative branch of the Government for the fiscal year ending , and for other purposes’, approved (, 391; U.S.C., title 40, sec. 185a) [now ]; or (5) an Act entitled ‘An Act to authorize the use of part of the United States Capitol Grounds east of the Union Station for the parking of motor vehicles’, approved ().”
, , provided that:

Jurisdiction of United States Capitol Police Over Temporary Parking Areas During Construction of Judiciary Annex Building

Pub. L. 101–302, title III, § 313104 Stat. 245

“(a)
The supervision and jurisdiction of the United States Capitol Police shall extend over any area with respect to which the Architect of the Capitol has contracted, or otherwise entered into an agreement, for parking space in the Union Station parking garage to accommodate personnel of the United States Senate whose parking privileges have been affected by the construction of the Judiciary Annex Building, and over any area and streets necessary to carry out such supervision and to travel between such parking area and the United States Capitol Grounds.
“(b)
In carrying out such supervision, the United States Capitol Police shall have, within any such area or street, jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, to provide security for such personnel and property of such personnel and of the United States Senate within such area or street, and to make arrests for the violation of the laws and regulations of the United States and the District of Columbia.
“(c)
The provisions of subsections (a) and (b) shall be effective only during the period that there is in effect a contract or other agreement as referred to in subsection (a).”
, , , provided that:

Extension of United States Capitol Police Supervision

Pub. L. 95–17591 Stat. 1362

“That the supervision of the United States Capitol Police shall extend over that part or parts of the premises located at 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Southeast, Washington, District of Columbia, leased by the Office of Technology Assessment. In carrying out such supervision, the United States Capitol Police shall have within such part or parts jurisdiction, concurrent with that of the Metropolitan Police of the District of Columbia, to provide security for the personnel and property of the Office of Technology Assessment within such leased premises, and to make arrest therein for the violation of the laws and regulations of the United States and the District of Columbia.”
, , , provided: