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Bill

HR 9835

Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act

119th Congress Introduced by Yassamin Ansari and 8 co-sponsors

Grants Members and staff broad access to public federal buildings for oversight, with ID rules, 24-hour access on request, and safeguards for sensitive areas.

Introduced in House
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · HR 9835

Overview

  • Bill: HR 9835, 119th Congress, 2nd Session
  • Title: Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act
  • Purpose: To grant Members of Congress and their staff access to public federal buildings for oversight purposes, including during public meetings and under extinuating circumstances, with defined identification requirements and security-era considerations.

Main Purpose and Intent

  • Establishes a statutory framework to ensure Members of Congress and congressional staff have access to public federal buildings during regular business hours and, upon request, outside those hours.
  • Aims to support constitutional oversight responsibilities by ensuring meaningful access to observe and inspect public buildings and activities within agencies.

Key Provisions and Changes

  • Access Rights
    • Each Member of Congress and congressional staff member will have access to any public building during regular business hours.
    • Public building access requires appropriate identification:
    • Members must present congressional identification.
    • Staff access requires accompaniment by the Member and a valid congressional staff ID.
    • 24-Hour Access on Request
    • Upon request, the Member or staff member shall have access outside regular hours within 24 hours.
    • Access during Public Meetings
    • If access is requested during a public meeting, access must be immediate.
  • Extenuating Circumstances
    • In extinuating circumstances (as defined later), access requirements can be relaxed: restrictions on public access during such circumstances do not apply to Members or their staff.
  • Security-Clearance Areas
    • For parts of a building requiring security clearance:
    • Within 24 hours of a request, a Member or their staff with appropriate clearance may access the relevant area if:
      • The Member is on a committee with jurisdiction over the agency; or
      • If not on such a committee, the Member has consent from the Committee Chair or Ranking Member.
  • Building Modifications
    • No temporary modifications to the building may be made to alter what a Member or staff can observe.
  • Definitions (Key Terms)
    • Access: Meaningful access to and observation of all parts of a public building to satisfy congressional oversight.
    • Congressional Identification: ID issued by House Clerk/Sergeant at Arms or Senate Secretary/Doorkeeper.
    • Congressional Staff Member: Full-time staff of either House or Senate.
    • Extenuating Circumstance: Events where a Presidential emergency declaration or a Department of Health and Human Services emergency declaration is in effect.
    • Public Building: As defined by 40 U.S.C. 3301, including contractor-owned facilities, intergovernmental service facilities, and facilities under contract with a federal entity.
    • Member of Congress: Any Senator or Representative.

Who Would Be Affected

  • Members of Congress (Senators and Representatives)
  • Congressional staff members (full-time staff for both chambers)
  • Public buildings and spaces that are within the federal building system (as defined)
  • Agencies and their security protocols in relation to access to different areas of their buildings

Procedural and Timeline Aspects

  • Introduction date: July 22, 2026
  • Referral: House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
  • No date provided for Senate action in the text; bill status shows only House referral and sponsorship
  • Access timelines are specified:
    • General access during business hours (immediate upon presenting ID)
    • 24-hour access upon request outside business hours
    • Immediate access during public meetings
    • 24-hour access to security-cleared areas, contingent on committee jurisdiction or consent from the Chair/Ranking Member

Potential Impacts and Considerations

  • Enhances congressional oversight by codifying broad access to public federal buildings.
  • Creates specific identification and accompaniment requirements for staff, potentially affecting staff workflow and security coordination.
  • Establishes safeguards to prevent unnecessary or de facto expansion of access in sensitive security areas, tying access to committee jurisdiction or leadership consent.
  • Prohibits temporary modifications to buildings that would change what Members can observe, preserving existing observation capabilities.
  • Provides a defined framework for access during emergencies or extinuating circumstances, potentially increasing presidential or agency influence over access limitations during crises.

If you’d like, I can compare this bill to existing access policies or draft a one-page briefing for committee members.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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