I 
117TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 6472 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for video teleconferencing 
for certain criminal proceedings, and for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JANUARY 21, 2022 
Mr. MORELLE (for himself, Mrs. FISCHBACH, and Mr. BACON) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To amend title 18, United States Code, to provide for video 
teleconferencing for certain criminal proceedings, and for 
other purposes. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE. 
This Act may be cited as the ‘‘Courtroom 
Videoconferencing Act of 2022’’. 
SEC. 2. SENSE OF CONGRESS. 
It is the sense of Congress that— 
(1) it is important to modernize Federal courts 
to allow for videoconferencing in certain criminal 
proceedings, which flexibility Congress authorized 
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under the CARES Act, which provided for such an 
option at the discretion of the chief judge of a dis-
trict court during the national emergency associated 
with the COVID–19 pandemic; 
(2) the efficiency and expediency gained from 
the flexibility authorized under the CARES Act 
should be made permanent; and 
(3) such an option should not impede constitu-
tional rights, but expand and protect them during 
times when meeting together may be difficult and in-
efficient. 
SEC. 3. VIDEO TELECONFERENCING FOR CERTAIN CRIMI-
NAL PROCEEDINGS. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 201 of title 18, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 3014 
the following new section: 
‘‘§ 3015. Video teleconferencing for certain criminal 
proceedings 
‘‘(a) IN GENERAL.—The chief judge of a district 
court may authorize the use of video teleconferencing, or 
telephone conferencing if video teleconferencing is not rea-
sonably available, for the following events: 
‘‘(1) Detention hearings under section 3142 of 
title 18, United States Code. 
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‘‘(2) Initial appearances under Rule 5 of the 
Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(3) Preliminary hearings under Rule 5.1 of 
the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(4) Waivers of indictment under Rule 7(b) of 
the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(5) Arraignments under Rule 10 of the Fed-
eral Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(6) Probation and supervised release revoca-
tion proceedings under Rule 32.1 of the Federal 
Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(7) Pretrial release revocation proceedings 
under section 3148. 
‘‘(8) Appearances under Rule 40 of the Federal 
Rules of Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(9) Misdemeanor pleas and sentencings as de-
scribed in Rule 43(b)(2) of the Federal Rules of 
Criminal Procedure. 
‘‘(10) Proceedings under chapter 403 (com-
monly known as the ‘Federal Juvenile Delinquency 
Act’), except for contested transfer hearings and ju-
venile delinquency adjudication or trial proceedings. 
‘‘(b) CONSENT.—Video conferencing or telephone 
conferencing authorized under subsection (a) may only 
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