A bill to amend the Act of July 31, 1946, as amended, relating to the United States Capitol Grounds, and for other purposes.
Public Law 96-432 · H.R. 6331 · 96th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Oct 10, 1980 · Public Lands and Natural Resources
Sponsor: Rep. Elliott Levitas (D-GA-4)
Cosponsors (1): Rep. Harold Johnson
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Includes within the definition of the United States Capitol Grounds specified areas and portions of streets surrounding the Capitol, the Botanic Garden, the Capital Power Plants, and House Office Buildings. Revises the list of streets to be maintained and improved by the District of Columbia.
Authorizes the Capitol Police Board to detail police for police duty on the Capitol Grounds and the Library of Congress Grounds.
Suspends the prohibition against vendors operating on specified portions of the Capitol Grounds temporarily to permit the orderly relocation of such vendors.
Authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to acquire specified property for addition to the Capitol Grounds. Authorizes the Architect to enter into contracts and make necessary expenditures to carry out the purposes of this Act.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 12 actions.
- Oct 10, 1980Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 96-432.
- Oct 1, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- Sep 30, 1980PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 24, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Sep 22, 1980FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up under motion to suspend rules and pass in House.
- Apr 24, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- Jan 29, 1980CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.