Our Lawn Act
Bill: H.R.6116 | Sponsor: Rep. Phillips, Dean (D-MN)
Policy area: Government Operations and Politics

Summary:
Our Lawn Act
This bill prohibits certain political events from being held on federal property.
Specifically, the bill explicitly prohibits conventions of national political parties and fundraising events for congressional, presidential, and vice-presidential candidates from being held on or in any federal property, including the White House and surrounding grounds. Violations are subject to civil penalties, imprisonment, or both.

To amend title 5, United States Code, to prohibit the use of Federal 
   property for political conventions or fundraising, and for other 
                               purposes.

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

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

    This Act may be cited as the ``Our Lawn Act''.

SEC. 2. PROHIBITION ON USE OF FEDERAL PROPERTY FOR POLITICAL 
              CONVENTIONS OR FUNDRAISING.

    (a) In General.--Subchapter III of chapter 73 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended by inserting after section 7325 the following:
``Sec. 7325a. Prohibition on use of Federal property for certain 
              political activities
    ``(a) A convention of a national political party held to nominate a 
candidate for the office of President or Vice President, or any event 
at which a contribution is solicited or accepted for the campaign for 
election of any candidate for Federal office (as such terms are defined 
in section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971), may not 
be held on or in any Federal property.
    ``(b) Any candidate or the authorized committee of the candidate 
under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 which was responsible 
for a convention or event in violation of subsection (a) shall be 
subject to an assessment of a civil penalty equal to the fair market 
value of the cost of the convention or event (as the case may be) or 
$50,000, whichever is greater, or imprisoned not more than five years, 
or both.
    ``(c) In this section, the term `Federal property' means any 
building, land, or other real property owned, leased, or occupied by 
any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States, 
including the White House grounds and the White House (including the 
Old Executive Office Building, the West Wing, the East Wing, the Rose 
Garden, and the Executive Residence, but not including the second floor 
of the Executive Residence).''.
    (b) Clerical Amendment.--The table of sections for such subchapter 
is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 7325 the 
following:

``7325a. Prohibition on use of Federal property for certain political 
                            activities.''.
    (c) Application.--
            (1) In general.--This Act and the amendments made by this 
        Act shall apply to any convention or event described in section 
        7325a(a) of title 5, United States Code, as added by subsection 
        (a), occurring on or after the date of enactment of this Act.
            (2) Travel.--Nothing in this Act or the amendments made by 
        this Act shall be construed to limit or otherwise prevent the 
        President or Vice President from using vehicles (including 
        aircraft) owned or leased by the Government for travel to or 
        from any such convention or event.
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