I 

116TH CONGRESS 

2D SESSION H. R. 8228 

To amend title 5, United States Code, to prohibit the use of Federal property 

for political conventions or fundraising, and for other purposes. 

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 

Mr. PHILLIPS (for himself, Mr. CICILLINE, Mr. LEVIN of California, Mr. PANETTA, Mr. MALINOWSKI, Ms. ESCOBAR, Ms. BONAMICI, Mr. COOPER, 

Mr. NEGUSE, and Mr. SWALWELL of California) introduced the following 

bill; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform 

A BILL 

To amend title 5, United States Code, to prohibit the use 

of Federal property for political conventions or fundraising, and for other purposes. 

1 Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa2 tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 

3 SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 

4 This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Our Lawn Act’’. 

5 SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL PROPERTY FOR 

6 POLITICAL CONVENTIONS OR FUNDRAISING. 

7 (a) IN GENERAL.—Subchapter III of chapter 73 of 

8 title 5, United States Code, is amended by inserting after 

9 section 7325 the following: 


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1 ‘‘§ 7325a. Prohibition on use of Federal property for 

2 certain political activities 

3 ‘‘(a) A convention of a national political party held 

4 to nominate a candidate for the office of President or Vice 

5 President, or any event at which a contribution is solicited 

6 or accepted for the campaign for election of any candidate 

7 for Federal office (as such terms are defined in section 

8 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971), may 

9 not be held on or in any Federal property. 

10 ‘‘(b) Any candidate or the authorized committee of 

11 the candidate under the Federal Election Campaign Act 

12 of 1971 which was responsible for a convention or event 

13 in violation of subsection (a) shall be subject to an assess14 ment of a civil penalty equal to the fair market value of 

15 the cost of the convention or event (as the case may be) 

16 or $50,000, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more 

17 than five years, or both. 

18 ‘‘(c) In this section, the term ‘Federal property’ 

19 means any building, land, or other real property owned, 

20 leased, or occupied by any department, agency, or instru21 mentality of the United States, including the White House 

22 grounds and the White House (including the Old Execu23 tive Office Building, the West Wing, the East Wing, the 

24 Rose Garden, and the Executive Residence, but not includ25 ing the second floor of the Executive Residence).’’. 


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1 (b) CLERICAL AMENDMENT.—The table of sections 

2 for such subchapter is amended by inserting after the item 

3 relating to section 7325 the following: 

‘‘7325a. Prohibition on use of Federal property for certain political activities.’’. 

4 (c) APPLICATION.— 

5 (1) IN GENERAL.—This Act and the amend6 ments made by this Act shall apply to any conven7 tion or event described in section 7325a(a) of title 

8 5, United States Code, as added by subsection (a), 

9 occurring on or after the date of enactment of this 

10 Act. 

11 (2) TRAVEL.—Nothing in this Act or the 

12 amendments made by this Act shall be construed to 

13 limit or otherwise prevent the President or Vice 

14 President from using vehicles (including aircraft) 

15 owned or leased by the Government for travel to or 

16 from any such convention or event. 

Æ 


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