H.R. 8543

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 8543 Introduced in House (IH)]

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119th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 8543

To authorize the construction of a ballroom on the grounds of the White 
House, and for other purposes.

_______________________________________________________________________

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

April 28, 2026

Mr. Fine introduced the following bill; which was referred to the 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure

_______________________________________________________________________

A BILL

To authorize the construction of a ballroom on the grounds of the White 
House, and for other purposes.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 
United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the ``Build the Ballroom Act''.

SEC. 2. FINDINGS; SENSE OF CONGRESS.

(a) Findings.--Congress finds the following:
(1) Under the current structure, the White House is unable 
to host formal events or state dinners for over 200 people 
because of space constraints.
(2) Larger formal events must be held off campus, which 
risks the security of the president.
(3) On March 30, 1981, John Hinckley Jr. shot President 
Ronald Reagan while he was leaving an event at the Washington 
Hilton.
(4) On April 25th, 2026, Cole Tomas Allen attempted to 
assassinate the President and his guests during White House 
Correspondents' Association dinner.
(b) Sense of Congress.--It is the sense of Congress that it is now 
time to build a ballroom located on the grounds of the White House 
which takes modern security concerns into account and will be able to 
serve the Office of the President far into the future.

SEC. 3. CONSTRUCTION OF BALLROOM ON WHITE HOUSE GROUNDS.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the President may 
construct a ballroom on the grounds of the White House that--
(1) is planned taking into account the needs of the 
President and the Executive Office of the President;
(2) is approved solely by the President;
(3) includes heating, electricity, and furniture;
(4) includes removal of any applicable existing structures; 
and
(5) is constructed as a permanent structure.
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