Sponsors (23)
Official title: To prohibit the use of physical force by executive branch personnel against Members of Congress conducting oversight in their official capacity, and for other purposes.
Introduced July 10, 2025 by Summer Lee · Last progress July 10, 2025
The bill strengthens Members of Congress's ability to perform oversight on federal property and clarifies screening rules, but does so at the cost of added security and enforcement challenges and likely legal disputes over definitions.
Members of Congress can conduct oversight visits on federally controlled property without risk of being physically detained, preserving congressional oversight and accountability.
Visitors and staff on federal property remain subject to lawful security screening, so building safety protocols and threat screening continue to be enforced while preserving oversight access.
Members of Congress and agency staff get a broadly defined standard for "covered oversight" and "federally controlled property," reducing ambiguity about when protections apply during inspections or investigations.
Taxpayers and law-enforcement could face increased security risks or operational complications at sensitive sites (including detention centers) because Members receive broad protections that may limit normal security responses.
Federal officers and contractors will face legal limits on using force during oversight encounters, which may reduce their ability to control uncooperative or dangerous situations.
Federal agencies, staff, and taxpayers may see increased litigation and operational uncertainty because disputes over what qualifies as a "covered oversight activity" or a "clear and imminent" threat are likely.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Prohibits executive branch personnel from using force, detaining, or physically interfering with Members of Congress conducting official oversight on federally controlled property absent a clear imminent threat.
Prohibits executive branch officers, agents, contractors, or employees from using physical force, detaining, removing, or otherwise physically interfering with Members of Congress who identify themselves, present valid congressional ID, are on federally controlled property, are conducting oversight in their official capacity, and do not pose a clear and imminent threat to persons or property. The measure preserves lawful security screening and does not block responses to immediate physical threats. Defines covered oversight activities to include review, monitoring, supervision, investigation, and visits (scheduled or unscheduled) related to law execution, court-order compliance, or administration of federal programs, and defines federally controlled property broadly to include owned, leased, operated, occupied, or contracted federal buildings, land, detention centers, and field sites.