Safe Storage Lockers for House Office Buildings Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 1749
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Congress
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- Last Updated
- 2025-06-12T08:06:35Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Safe Storage Lockers for House Office Buildings Act" (H.R. 1749) aims to enhance the safety of House of Representatives employees working in Washington, D.C., by allowing them to securely store certain self-defense weapons in House office buildings. It addresses the gap between District of Columbia (D.C.) laws permitting these weapons for personal protection and federal restrictions prohibiting them inside federal buildings, amid high violent crime rates in D.C.
Key Provisions
- Authorization for Employees: House employees (including paid/unpaid interns and fellows) who are legally authorized under D.C. law to carry self-defense weapons outside federal buildings may bring these weapons into specified House office buildings under strict conditions:
- The weapon must be carried in compliance with D.C. law immediately before entry.
- Entry must occur through an external pedestrian entrance.
- The weapon must be stored immediately in a designated locker operated by the U.S. Capitol Police while the employee is inside.
- The weapon can only be retrieved when the employee leaves the building directly afterward.
- Covered Weapons: The bill specifies three types of self-defense weapons allowed for storage:
- Self-defense sprays (e.g., pepper spray, as defined in D.C.'s Firearms Control Regulations Act).
- Stun guns (non-lethal electric shock devices, as defined in the same D.C. law).
- Concealed firearms (handguns carried hidden, as defined in the D.C. law).
- Storage Lockers: The Capitol Police Board must design, install, and operate secure storage lockers at external pedestrian entrances to House office buildings within 180 days of enactment. The Board will also issue regulations to implement this.
- Definitions:
- "House office building" includes the Cannon, Longworth, Rayburn, Ford, and O'Neill buildings, plus the House wing of the U.S. Capitol (but excludes garages).
- "Employee" broadly covers staff, interns, and fellows assigned to House offices.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 5104(e)(1)(A) of Title 40, United States Code (which generally prohibits weapons in Capitol buildings), by adding an explicit exception for weapons stored under this Act. This creates a narrow carve-out to federal prohibitions, aligning them partially with D.C. self-defense permissions without fully lifting the ban on carrying weapons inside.
Potential Impacts
- On Government Agencies: The U.S. Capitol Police Board will face new operational responsibilities, including locker installation, maintenance, and regulation enforcement, potentially increasing costs and security protocols in House buildings.
- On Citizens: Primarily benefits House employees commuting on foot in high-crime D.C. areas by allowing secure storage, reducing vulnerability during work hours. It does not broadly affect D.C. residents or visitors but could indirectly influence federal workplace safety standards.
- On International Relations: No direct impact, as the bill is limited to domestic federal facilities in D.C.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- House of Representatives Employees: Direct beneficiaries, gaining access to secure storage for self-defense tools to protect against D.C. crime.
- U.S. Capitol Police Board: Responsible for implementing and overseeing the storage system, affecting their resource allocation and security procedures.
- Lawmakers and House Offices: May see improved staff morale and retention due to enhanced safety measures.
- D.C. Government and Residents: Indirectly involved, as the bill references D.C. laws but operates under federal authority, potentially highlighting tensions between local and federal regulations.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Introduces a targeted exception to federal weapons bans in sensitive government spaces, relying on D.C. licensing to ensure compliance and limit liability. It maintains strict storage requirements to uphold building security without altering broader firearm carry laws.
- Constitutional: Touches on Second Amendment considerations by facilitating self-defense rights for authorized individuals in a high-crime area, but confines this to storage only, avoiding challenges to federal prohibitions on possession inside government buildings.
- Political: Reflects concerns over urban crime in the nation's capital, potentially sparking debates on federal overrides of local laws or gun policy in federal workplaces. As a House-initiated bill, it underscores partisan priorities on personal safety for congressional staff.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Rep. Steube, W. Gregory [R-FL-17]
Recent Actions
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-27: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
- 2025-02-27: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Safe Storage Lockers for House Office Buildings Act — issued 2025-02-27 — PDF (5 pages)