To amend title 40, United States Code, to permit commercial filmmaking and photography on the United States Capitol grounds, and for other purposes.
Bill: H.R.7387 | Sponsor: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes (D-DC)
Policy area: Congress

Summary:
This bill authorizes the U.S. Capitol Police to issue permits allowing certain commercial filmmaking and photography activities on the grounds of the U.S. Capitol.

To amend title 40, United States Code, to permit commercial filmmaking 
  and photography on the United States Capitol grounds, 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. PERMITTING COMMERCIAL FILMMAKING AND PHOTOGRAPHY ON UNITED 
              STATES CAPITOL GROUNDS.

    (a) In General.--Section 5106 of title 40, United States Code, is 
amended by adding at the end the following new subsection:
    ``(d) Commercial Filmmaking and Photography.--
            ``(1) Authorization by capitol police.--Notwithstanding 
        section 5104(c) or any other provision of this chapter which 
        restricts commercial activity on the United States Capitol 
        Grounds, the Chief of the United States Capitol Police 
        (hereafter in this subsection referred to as the `Chief')--
                    ``(A) may issue a permit authorizing a person to 
                engage in appropriate commercial filmmaking and 
                photography activity on the United States Capitol 
                Grounds (other than any Capitol Buildings described in 
                section 5101), so long as the person only engages in 
                such activity during a period in which neither House of 
                Congress is in session; and
                    ``(B) under the terms and conditions of such a 
                permit, may require the person to whom the permit is 
                issued to pay an appropriate fee to cover any costs 
                incurred by the Architect of the Capitol as a result of 
                the issuance of the permit.
            ``(2) Types of activities and fees permitted.--For purposes 
        of paragraph (1)--
                    ``(A) commercial filmmaking and photography 
                activity shall be considered appropriate only if the 
                activity is similar to the types of commercial activity 
                permitted in Union Square prior to the transfer of 
                jurisdiction and control of Union Square to the 
                Architect of the Capitol under section 1202 of the 
                Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2012 (2 U.S.C. 
                1811 note); and
                    ``(B) a fee shall be considered appropriate only if 
                the fee is similar to the fee collected by the Director 
                of the National Park Service for commercial activity 
                permitted in Union Square prior to such transfer of 
                jurisdiction and control.
            ``(3) Use of fees.--Immediately upon receiving any fees 
        collected under paragraph (1)(B), the Chief shall transfer the 
        fees to the Capitol Trust Account established under section 
        213(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2014 (40 
        U.S.C. 5102 note).
            ``(4) Regulations.--The Chief shall carry out this 
        subsection in accordance with such regulations as the Capitol 
        Police Board may promulgate pursuant to the Board's authority 
        under section 14 of the Act of July 31, 1946 (2 U.S.C. 1969), 
        except that the Board shall promulgate the regulations in 
        consultation with the Committee on House Administration of the 
        House of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and 
        Administration of the Senate.
            ``(5) Union square defined.--In this subsection, the term 
        `Union Square' means the area for which jurisdiction and 
        control was transferred to the Architect of the Capitol under 
        section 1202 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2012 
        (2 U.S.C. 1811 note).''.
    (b) Conforming Amendment Relating to Capitol Trust Account.--
Section 213(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2014 (40 
U.S.C. 5102 note) is amended by striking ``subsection (b)(2)'' each 
place it appears and inserting ``subsection (b)(2) or section 5106(d) 
of title 40, United States Code''.
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