An Act to provide for protection of the spouses of major Presidential and Vice-Presidential nominees.
PL 94-408 (H.R.15371), enacted 09/11/1976

PUBLIC LAW 94-408—SEPT. 11, 1976 
90 STAT. 1239 
Public Law 94-408 
94th Congress 
An Act 
To provide for protection of the spouses of major Presidential and Vice 
Presidential nominees. 
Be it enacted hy the Senate and House of Rejyresentatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled^ That subsection (a) 
of the first section of the Act of June 6, 1968, Public Law 90-331, 82 
Stat. 170, is amended by adding the following sentence at the end 
thereof: "Upon request of a Presidential or Vice Presidential nominee 
of a major political party, as determined by the Secretary after con-
sultation with the advisory committee, the Secretary may authorize 
the United States Secret Service to furnish protection to the spouse of 
such major Presidential or Vice Presidential nominee, except that 
such protection shall not commence more than sixty days prior to the 
general Presidential election.". 
SEC. 2. Section 3056 of title 18, United States Code, is amended to 
read as follows: 
"(a) Subject to the direction of the Secretary of the Treasury, the 
United States Secret Service, Treasury Department, is authorized to 
protect the person of the President of the United States, the members 
of his immediate family, the President-elect, the Vice President or 
other officer next in the order of succession to the Office of President, 
and the Vice President-elect, and the members of their immediate fam-
ilies unless the members decline such protection; protect the person of 
a former President and his wife during his lifetime, the person of a 
widow of a former President until her death or remarriage, and minor 
children of a former President until they reach sixteen years of age, 
unless such protection is declined; protect the person of a visiting head 
of a foreign state or foreign government and, at the direction of the 
President, other distinguished foreign visitors to the United States and 
official representatives of the United States performing special mis-
sions abroad; detect and arrest any person committing any offense 
against the laws of the United States relating to coins, obligations, and 
securities of the United States and of foreign governments; detect and 
arrest any person violating any of the provisions of sections 508, 
509, and 871 of this title and, insofar as the Federal Deposit Insur-
ance Corporation, Federal land banks, joint-stock land banks and 
Federal land bank associations are concerned, of sections 218, 221, 433, 
493, 657, 709, 1006, 1007, 1011, 1013, 1014, 1907, and 1909 of this title; 
execute warrants issued under the authority of the United States; 
carry firearms; offer and pay rewards for services or information look-
ing toward the apprehension of criminals; pay expenses for unforeseen 
emergencies of a confidential nature under the direction of the Secre-
tary of the Treasury and accounted for solely on his certificate; and 
perform such other functions and duties as are authorized by law. In 
the performance of their duties under this section, the Director, Dep-
uty Director, Assistant Directors, Assistants to the Director, inspec-
tors, and agents of the Secret Service are authorized to make arrests 
without warrant for any offense against the United States committed 
in their presence, or for any felony cognizable under the laws of the 
United States if they have reasonable grounds to believe that the 
Sept. 11, 1976 
[H.R. 15371] 
Presidential 
candidates. 
Spouse 
protection. 
18 u s e 3056 
note. 
Secret Service 
powers. 
18 
use 
508, 
509, 
871. 
18 
use 
218, 
221, 
433, 
493, 
657, 709, 1006, 
1007, 1011, 
1013, 1014, 
1907, 1909. 
90 STAT. 1240 
PUBLIC LAW 94-408—SEPT. 11, 1976 
person to be arrested has committed or is committing such felony. 
Moneys expended from Secret Service appropriations for the purchase 
of counterfeits and subsequently recovered shall be reimbursed to the 
appropriation current at the time of deposit. 
Penalty. 
"(b) Whoever knowingly and willfully obstructs, resists, or inter-
feres with an agent of the IJnited States Secret Service or other Fed-
eral law enforcement agent engaged in the performance of the 
protective functions authorized by this section, by the Act of June 6, 
1968 (82 Stat. 170) or by section 1752 of title 18, United States Code, 
shall be fined not more than $300 or imprisoned not more than one 
year or both.". 
Approved September 11, 1976. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY: 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, VoL 122 (1976): 
Sept. 2, considered and passed House. 
Sept. 7, considered and passed Senate.