House Democrats Introduce Bill to Guarantee Congressional Access to Federal Buildings
House Democrats, led by Rep. Don Beyer (D-Va.), introduced the Congressional Oversight and Agency Access Act (H.R. 9835) on Wednesday, aiming to establish government-wide rules ensuring members of Congress and their staff can access federal buildings and contractor-operated facilities for oversight. The bill mandates access during business hours and within 24 hours for secure areas, even during declared emergencies. It comes amid a legal dispute over a Trump administration policy requiring seven days' notice for congressional visits to immigration detention facilities, which a federal judge temporarily blocked. Beyer cited personal experiences of being denied access to USAID, the U.S. Institute of Peace, and ICE facilities. The bill is cosponsored by eight other House Democrats and supported by the Project on Government Oversight, which argues it reaffirms Congress's constitutional oversight authority.
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