I 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. R. 8748 
To construct dog relief areas on the United States Capitol Grounds, and 
for other purposes. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
JUNE 13, 2024 
Mrs. WATSON COLEMAN (for herself, Mr. MOSKOWITZ, Ms. WILD, Mr. CAR-
SON, Ms. JACKSON LEE, Mr. KEAN of New Jersey, and Ms. NORTON) 
introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on 
Transportation and Infrastructure 
A BILL 
To construct dog relief areas on the United States Capitol 
Grounds, 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 ‘‘Capitol Dog Relief 
Act’’. 
SEC. 2. DOG RELIEF AREA. 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Architect of the Capitol, in 
coordination with the House Office Buildings Commission, 
the Committee on House Administration of the House of 
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Representatives, and the Committee on Rules and Admin-
istration of the Senate, shall— 
(1) identify not less than 1 suitable location for 
a dog relief area on the United States Capitol 
Grounds; 
(2) approve a design for such area; 
(3) construct such area; and 
(4) construct any additional dog relief areas 
necessary to support the dogs on such Grounds or 
in Capitol Buildings. 
(b) DOG RELIEF AREA DESIGN.— 
(1) DESIGN REFERENCE.—The Architect may 
base the design referred to in subsection (a)(2) on 
a dog relief area not located on the United States 
Capitol Grounds. 
(2) DESIGN STANDARDS.—Each dog relief area 
constructed under subsection (a) shall adhere to 
standards— 
(A) described under the 2010 ADA Stand-
ards for Accessible Design adopted by the De-
partment of Justice (or any successor stand-
ards); and 
(B) developed by the Architectural Review 
Board of the Architect to preserve the historic 
character of the United States Capitol Grounds. 
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(c) DISPOSAL OF ANIMAL WASTE.— 
(1) SOLID WASTE DISPOSAL REQUIREMENT.— 
Each individual possessing a dog shall dispose of the 
solid waste produced by such dog on United States 
Capitol Grounds by placing such waste in a sealed 
plastic bag and placing such bag in a trash recep-
tacle. 
(2) VIOLATIONS.—An individual who violates 
paragraph (1) shall be fined— 
(A) in the case of a first violation, not 
more than $100; and 
(B) in the case of a violation following a 
first violation, not more than $500. 
(3) ENFORCEMENT.—The United States Cap-
itol Police may fine an individual under paragraph 
(2) for each violation under paragraph (1). 
(4) DISPOSITION
OF
FINES.—Fines collected 
pursuant to the authority provided under paragraph 
(2) shall be made available, without subsequent ap-
propriation, to the Architect for maintenance of the 
United States Capitol Grounds. 
(d) DEFINITIONS.—In this section: 
(1) CAPITOL BUILDINGS.—The term ‘‘Capitol 
Buildings’’ has the meaning given such term in sec-
tion 5101 of title 40, United States Code. 
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