A bill to amend the Act of July 31, 1946, as amended (40 U.S.C. 193a).
Public Law 97-143 · S. 1976 · 97th Congress · began in the Senate
Signed by Ronald Reagan (R) on Dec 29, 1981 · Congress
Sponsor: Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Cosponsors: None
Passage votes
- HouseVoice vote
- SenateVoice vote
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.
Authorizes the Capitol Police to protect, in any area of the United States, any Member or officer of the Congress and their immediate families if the Capitol Police Board determines that such protection is necessary.
Authorizes the Capitol Police to make arrests without warrant for any offense or felony cognizable under Federal laws while in the performance of their protective duties. Sets forth penalties for any person who knowingly and willingly interferes with such protective functions.
Includes the Capitol Police among those officers and employees of the United States the killing of whom requires punishment under the Federal homicide laws.
Committees
The record shows no committee referral for this bill.
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. 7 actions.
- Dec 29, 1981Became lawBecame law · Became Public Law No: 97-143.
- Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- Dec 22, 1981PresidentPresident · Presented to President.
- Dec 16, 1981FloorFloor · Passed House by Voice Vote.
- FloorFloor · Called up by House by Unanimous Consent.
- FloorFloor · Introduced in the Senate, read twice, considered, read the third time, and passed without amendment by Voice Vote.
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the Senate
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.